Ultimate Pro Wrestling

California-based independent professional wrestling promotion

Ultimate Pro Wrestling (UPW) was a California-based independent pro wrestling company owned and operated by Rick Bassman,^[1] that operated from 1999–2007.

The company had working relationships with Pro Wrestling Zero1 and World Wrestling Entertainment. It served as a developmental company for WWE, where they would scout wrestlers and send others for training, from 2006 to 2007.^[2] Some of the major names to go on to stardom are John Cena, Samoa Joe, The Miz, and Christopher Daniels. The promotion was featured on a Discovery Channel special called Inside Pro Wrestling School.

Notable alumni

Deceased individuals are indicated with a dagger (†).

• Melina Perez
• Rick Bassman
• B-Boy
• Mike Bell †
• The Blue Meanie
• Jack Bull
• Cheerleader Melissa
• Melissa Coates †
• Christopher Daniels
• Head Bitch in Charge
• Jon Heidenreich
• Horshu
• Tom Howard
• Ivory
• Tony Jones †
• Evan Karagias
• Al Katrazz
• Frankie Kazarian
• Mike Knox
• Paul London
• Scott Lost
• The Miz
• Michael Modest
• Donovan Morgan
• Chris Mordetzky
• Nova
• Human Tornado
• Shinjiro Otani
• Adam Pearce
• The Prototype (John Cena)
• Daniel Puder
• Tyler Reks
• Puma
• Quicksilver
• Ricky Reyes
• Davey Richards
• Rocky Romero
• Ruckus
• Joey Ryan
• Keiji Sakoda †
• Samoa Joe
• Scorpio Sky
• Skulu †
• Babi Slymm
• Bison Smith
• Spanky
• Solo Snuka
• Masato Tanaka
• Chase Tatum †
• Sylvester Terkay
• Brett Wagner
• Tommy Drake

Tag Teams:

• The Ballard Brothers (Shane and Shannon) and Cheerleader Melissa
• Los Cubanitos (Ricky Reyes and Rocky Romero)
• Evolution (Frankie Kazarian and Nova)
• Hardkore Inc. (Adam Pearce, Hardkore Kidd, and Al Katrazz)
• Team Emblem (Keiji Sakoda, Masato Tanaka, and Shinjiro Otani)

Championships

• UPW Heavyweight Championship
• UPW Lightweight Championship
• UPW Tag Team Championship
• UPW Southern California/Shoot Championship
• UPW No Holds Barred Championship
• NWA/UPW/Zero1 International Junior Heavyweight Championship

UPW Heavyweight Championship

The UPW Heavyweight Championship was a championship contested for by Heavyweight wrestlers in Ultimate Pro Wrestling.^[3][4]

UPW Lightweight Championship

The UPW Lightweight Championship was a championship contested for by Cruiserweight wrestlers in Ultimate Pro Wrestling.^[5][6]

UPW Tag Team Championship

The UPW Tag Team Championship was a secondary title contested for in Ultimate Pro Wrestling.^[7][8]

UPW Southern California Heavyweight Championship

The UPW Southern California Heavyweight Championship was a secondary title contested for in Ultimate Pro Wrestling.^[10]

UPW No Holds Barred Championship

The UPW No Holds Barred Championship was a secondary title contested for in Ultimate Pro Wrestling.^[11]

UPW Internet Championship

The UPW Internet Championship was a secondary title contested for in Ultimate Pro Wrestling.^[12]

UPW Women's Championship

See also

• List of independent wrestling promotions in the United States

References

1. Harris, Keith (6 September 2011). "Bill Goldberg still hates Vince McMahon, may wrestle soon in Africa". Retrieved 19 June 2016.
2. "WrestlingClassics.com Message Board: UPW becomes new WWE developmental territory". wrestlingclassics.com.
3. "UPW Heavyweight Title (California)". Wrestling-Titles.com.
4. "Solie's Title Histories: UPW". www.solie.org.
5. "UPW Lightweight Title (California)". Wrestling-Titles.com.
6. "Solie's Title Histories: UPW". www.solie.org.
7. "UPW Tag Team Title (California)". Wrestling-Titles.com.
8. "Solie's Title Histories: UPW". www.solie.org.
9. Hoops, Brian (May 30, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (May 30): Inoki beats Andre to win MSG league, Garea & calhoun win WWWF Tag titles, Gagne vs. Funk Jr., UFC booker wins title". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
10. "UPW Southern California Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles.com.
11. "UPW No Holds Barred Title (California)". Wrestling-Titles.com.
12. "UPW Internet Title (California)". Wrestling-Titles.com.

External links

• www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ca/s/upw
• www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/upw