California-based independent professional wrestling promotion
Ultimate Pro Wrestling Acronym UPW Founded 1999 Defunct 2007 Headquarters California Founder(s) Rick Bassman Owner(s) Rick Bassman
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 (†).
Tag Teams:
Championships
UPW Heavyweight Championship
The UPW Heavyweight Championship was a championship contested for by Heavyweight wrestlers in Ultimate Pro Wrestling.[ 3] [ 4]
Wrestler
#
Date
Location
Notes
Sylvester Terkay
1
February 1, 1999
Mission Viejo, California
Won a Battle royal to become first champion
Aaron Baker
1
1999
Santa Ana, California
Mike Bell
2
November 1999
Santa Ana, California
Vacant
N/A
January 9, 2000
N/A
Mike Bell was stripped of the title.
Bad Boy Basil
1
January 27, 2000
Santa Ana, California
Defeated J. D. Dempsey in a tournament final.
Smelly
1
March 29, 2000
Santa Ana, California
The Prototype
1
April 27, 2000
San Diego, California
Smelly
1
May 24, 2000
Santa Ana, California
Staz
1
August 23, 2000
Santa Ana, California
Christopher Daniels
1
October 12, 2000
Costa Mesa, California
Samoa Joe
1
March 14, 2001
Santa Ana, California
Mikey Henderson
1
November 27, 2001
Hollywood, California
Vacant
N/A
November 27, 2001
N/A
stripped for no-show
Christopher Daniels
2
March 13, 2002
Santa Ana, California
Defeats Samoa Joe and Frankie Kazarian in a 3-way match.
Tom Howard
2
May 8, 2002
Santa Ana, California
Defeated Christopher Daniels in a tournament final, stripped of the title on June 3.
Vacant
N/A
June 3, 2002
N/A
Adam Pearce
1
July 11, 2003
Anaheim, California
Defeated Chris Mordetzsky in a tournament final.
Tom Howard
1
October 22, 2003
Santa Ana, California
Inactive
N/A
2007
N/A
UPW Lightweight Championship
The UPW Lightweight Championship was a championship contested for by Cruiserweight wrestlers in Ultimate Pro Wrestling.[ 5] [ 6]
Wrestler
#
Date
Location
Notes
Prodigy
1
January 27, 2000
Santa Ana, California
Won a Battle royal to become first champion
Rick Bassman
1
January 27, 2000
Santa Ana, California
Bassman [who was the company's owner] stole the title belt and named himself champion.
Prodigy
2
February 23, 2000
Santa Ana, California
The Enterprise
1
March 15, 2000
Hollywood, California
Title might be vacant later in the month.
Savvy
1
March 28, 2000
Santa Ana, California
Won a Battle royal . Might have been for a vacant belt.
The Enterprise
2
March 29, 2000
San Diego, California
Won a Battle royal . Stripped of the title on May 24, 2000, for being over the title's weight limit.
Stretch
1
May 24, 2000
Santa Ana, California
Won a Battle royal for the vacant title.
B-Boy
1
June 2000
San Diego, California
Stretch
2
June 10, 2000
Santa Ana, California
Drunk Irishman
1
July 20, 2000
Huntington Beach, California
Later had to vacate the title due to injury.
Stretch
3
July 29, 2000
Huntington Beach, California
Won a tournament for the vacant title.
Mikey Henderson
1
August 23, 2000
Santa Ana, California
Vacates the title on October 12, 2000, to create the Ultimate Pro Wrestling Southern California title .
Prodigy
3
November 8, 2000
Santa Ana, California
Won a Battle royal for the vacant title
B-Boy
2
May 30, 2001
Santa Ana, California
Frankie Kazarian
1
August 15, 2002
Santa Ana, California
This was a 2 out of 3 falls Triple Threat Match also involving Spanky . The first fall was for Spanky's Zero1 International Junior Heavyweight Championship and the second fall was for B-Boy's UPW Lightweight title.
Lil Nate
1
February 23, 2005
Santa Ana, California
UPW Tag Team Championship
The UPW Tag Team Championship was a secondary title contested for in Ultimate Pro Wrestling.[ 7] [ 8]
Tag Team
#
Date
Location
Notes
The Ballard Brothers(Shane & Shannon)
1
December 2, 1999
Hollywood, California
Won a Battle royal to become first champions.
Team Hardcore(Justin Sane & Hardkore Kidd )
1
March 2000
Santa Ana, California
The Ballard Brothers(Shane & Shannon)
2
March 28, 2000
Santa Ana, California
Jobbers-R-Us(Billy Kim & Troubled Youth)
1
April 19, 2000
Santa Ana, California
Los Cubanitos (Ricky Reyes & Rocky Romero )
1
April 27, 2000
San Diego, California
The Ballard Brothers(Shane & Shannon)
3
May 24, 2000
Santa Ana, California
Team Hardcore(Justin Sane & Hardkore Kidd)
2
July 1, 2000
Huntington Beach, California
This was a phantom title change meaning it never actually took place.
The Ballard Brothers(Shane & Shannon)
4
July 15, 2000
Huntington Beach, California
Phantom title change. Stripped on January 31, 2001.
Evolution(Frankie Kazarian & Nova )
1
May 30, 2001
Santa Ana, California
Won a tournament for the vacant titles. [ 9]
The Ballard Brothers(Shane & Shannon)
5
May 8, 2002
Santa Ana, California
Funky Billy Kim (2) & B-Boy
1
January 8, 2003
Santa Ana, California
The Ballard Brothers(Shane & Shannon)
6
March 15, 2003
Laughlin, Nevada
Hardkore Inc.(Hardkore Kidd (3) & Al Katrazz )
1
April 25, 2003
Anaheim, California
The Ballard Brothers(Shane & Shannon)
7
February 20, 2004
Anaheim, California
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
Champion
#
Date
Location
Notes
Erica Porter
1
April 25, 2003
Anaheim, CA
Beat Savvy to become champion.
See also
References
External links
Championships and accomplishments
Active championships
Heavyweight Junior heavyweight Women's
Defunct championships Tournaments
Personnel Governing bodies
Partnerships
History Programming
Home bases
Personnel Notable rivalries and matches Affiliated properties Defunct businesses Notable acquisitions Investments Related companies
Partnerships
Championships Accomplishments
Brand extension International Miscellaneous