As the organization’s top star and promoter Cleveland would become a solid territory and had an even more notable distribution network. He would later be billed as a World Champion in Japan (NWF) where he would battle Japanese legends such as Antonio Inoki. That championship would later become a product of New Japan and in the latter half of his career Powers would be a stalwart in the Tokyo based promotion.
311. Johnny Powers
Johnny Powers challenged Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF Heavyweight Championship many times in the early 60’s in Pennsylvania and Toronto and he main evented in Minnesota, Detroit and Texas but his biggest contribution was as a promoter in the Cleveland area with the NWF promotion.
The Bullet Points
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Other Aliases:
Dennis Waters (Real Name)
The Golden Adonis
Lord Anthony Lansdown
The Blonde Bomber
- Billed From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Key Championships Held:
NWA (Buffalo) United States Tag Team (2) 1w/Moose Cholak & 1w/Great Igo4
NWA (Ohio/Buffalo) North American Heavyweight (2)
NWF Heavyweight (2)
NWF North American Heavyweight (12)
NWF World Tag Team (2) 1w/Jacques Rougeau Sr. & 1w/Pat Patterson.
- Why they will get in: Powers has a far more important part in wrestling history than he is given credit for.
- Why they won't get in: The WWE doesn’t give him that credit either.
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Five Greatest Matches/Moments: 1. Wrestled WWWF Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino to a No Contest in Philadelphia (10/10/64)
2. Beat Verne Gagne by DQ in an AWA World Heavyweight Championship match in Minneapolis (7/22/67)
3. Defeats Waldo Von Erich for the NWF North American Title (5/27/71)
4. Regained the NWF Heavyweight Title by defeating Johnny Valentine (10/19/72)
5. Loses the NWF Heavyweight Title to Antonio Inoki but magnifies the title in the process (10/10/73)
Should Johnny Powers be in the Hall of Fame?
Definitely put him in! - 87.5%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 6.3%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 0%
No opinion. - 0%
No opinion. - 0%
No way! - 6.3%
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