Grand Prix Wrestling

Grand Prix Wrestling
AcronymGPW, AGPW
Founded1960s; 2001
HeadquartersMoncton, New Brunswick
Founder(s)Emile Duprée
Owner(s)Emile Duprée (1977–1986?; 2001–2023)
Paul Peller (1986–1992?)
Mike Zinck (2001)
FormerlyAtlantic Grand Prix Wrestling (1977–1991, 2015, 2017)
Canadian Championship Wrestling (1992)

Grand Prix Wrestling (GPW) was a professional wrestling promotion run and owned by Emile Duprée. It toured parts of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. It has no connection with Paul Vachon's Grand Prix Wrestling promotion of Montreal in the 1970s.

History

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Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling

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Originally known as Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling (AGPW), the regional circuit has been around since the early 1960s. During the 60s and the 70s AGPW was so popular it became a hit in the Maritimes. AGPW cards were held in Moncton, New Brunswick on Monday nights, Halifax, Nova Scotia on Thursdays, Berwick, Nova Scotia on Saturday evenings and along other small towns in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Every summer, there were two big championships up for grabs: The United States Heavyweight Championship and the North American Tag Team Championship. Others included the European Heavyweight Championship and the Maritime Heavyweight Championship. The European Heavyweight Championship was held more by Killer Karl Krupp than any other wrestler and The Maritime Heavyweight Title was held most often by Stephen Petitpas. During the late 1980s, the United States Heavyweight Championship was changed to the International Heavyweight Championship.

Rising Sun In The Maritimes Tour

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Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling returned to the Maritimes in 2013 for a summer tour. The roster featured former WWE wrestler Rene Dupree, All Japan Pro Wrestling star Seiya Sanada, She Nay Nay, Bellatrix star Erin Angel, midget wrestlers Lil' Fabio and Lil' Poppa Pump, The Masked Thunderbolt, Kwan Chang, Jeremy Prophet, Bobby Sharp, Spiderman and Japanese star, Daiki Inaba. The tour kicked off in Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island with a show featuring a special guest appearance by Japanese legend The Great Muta.

The tour continued with Prince Edward Island shows in Souris and O'Leary. Nova Scotia shows included: Springhill, Bridgewater, two in Berwick, Tatamagouche, Truro, Cheticamp, North Sydney, Baddeck and Antigonish. The New Brunswick portion of the tour included shows in: Cocagne (three times), Neguac, Lameque, Chipman, Fredericton Junction, Blacks Harbour, Baie St. Anne, Minto, Petit-Rocher, Doaktown and Sunny Corner. The tour was very successful and it brought a lot of escalation toward what is now known as the 2014 New Era Tour that featured Rene Dupree, Yasufumi Nakanoue, Butcher Vachon, Bobby Sharp, Jeremy Prophet, the return of the Cuban Assassin and many more. Towns featured on the tour included Neguac, Black's Harbour and Minto (New Brunswick), O'Leary, Borden-Carleton and Souris (Prince Edward Island), and Sydney, Baddeck, Berwick, Truro and Springhill (Nova Scotia).

Eastern Canada Tour

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In May 2015, AGPW held a tour across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.[1]

Alumni

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Male wrestlers
Birth name: Ring name(s): Tenure: Notes
Ángel Acevedo The Cuban Assassin / The Cuban Commando 1979–1980
1982
1984–1985
1989
1992
1999–2000
Richard Acevedo The Cuban Assassin / Cuban Assassin #2 1999
2005–2006
2008
Kevin Ali Mentallo 2001
Orest Antonation Bill Cody 1982–1983
Dennis Baldock Bobby Bass 1980
1982
Craig Baranieski Dino Ventura 1987-1988
Roland Barriault Frenchie Lamont 2005–2006
Vince Billotto Vinnie Valentino 1988
Bob Brown† Bob Brown 1983
1988
1990
Kerry Brown † Rick Valentine 1982–1983
Masahiro Chono Tokyo Chono 1988
Allen Coage† Bad News Brown 1997
Adam Copeland Sexton Hardcastle 1997
Leonce Cormier† Leo Burke 1979–1980
1982–1983
1988–1992
1998–1999
Jean-Louis Cormier† Rudy Kay 1982–1983
Romeo Cormier† Bobby Kay 1982–1983
1990
Yvon Cormier† The Beast 1982
1988–1990
1999–2000
John Cozman† Danny Young 1984
Covey Christ Covey Christ, Maritime Messiah 2017
Ruben Cruz Hercules Ayala Cortez 1982
Scott D'Amore Scott D'Amore / Masked Super Warrior #2 1997–1998
Sean Dunster Rick the Bruiser 1998
Gerard Ethifier Gerry Morrow 1989
Adam Filangeri Phil Atlas 2008
Steve Finley† Wayne Gillis 1988–1989
Clifford Fraser Farmer Brooks 1988
Rudolph Freed Rudy Diamond 1988
Jean Gagné† Frenchy Martin 1983
Gary Gallant Wildman Austin 1997
1998–2000
2005–2006
Hubert Gallant Hubert Gallant 1980
1982–1983
Damian Gibbs Damian Gibbs 2015
Edward Giovannetti Lenny Montana 1983–1984
Emile Goguen Emile Dupre 1979–1980
1988
Jeff Goguen Jeff Duprée 2005–2006
2008
René Goguen René Duprée / René Rougeau 1998–2001
2006
2008
2015
2017
Jose Gomez Tony Russo 1983–1984
Archie Gouldie† Archie Gouldie 1984
Troy Gregory T Gregory Windham 1987-1989
Scott Grimez Giant Pharaoh 2015
Neil Guay Big John the Quebec Lumberjack 1982
Junji Hirata Sonny Two Rivers 1997–1998
Joseph Hitchen Joe E. Legend 1998–1999
Steven Hoy Steve Casey 1989
Mike Hughes Mike Hughes 1999
2004
Scott Ingraham Scott Savage 2005
Donald Jardine† The Spoiler 1983
Gary Jessome Duke MacIsaac 2005
Ron Johnson Bull Johnson 1983
David Kochen Buddy Lane 1984–1985
1988–1990
Yusuke Kodama Yusuke Kodama 2015
Paul Koziar Flesh Gordon 2001
Jody Kristofferson Jody Kristofferson 2015
Glen Kulka Glen Kulka 1997
Larry Liger The Great Malumba 1982–1983
1988
Michael Lozanski† Mike Lozanski 1990
Ryan Mader Lincoln Steen 2005
2006-2017
Robert Maillet The Acadian Giant / Kurrgan 1991–1992
1999–2000
Paul Marcoux Hans Schultz 2000–2001
Vern May Vance Nevada 2001
Karl Moffat Hans Herman 1985
George Momberg† Karl Von Krupp 1979
1982
Devon Nicholson Hannibal 2017
Robert Nutt† Ron Starr 1989
1991
Gregory Nykoliation Eddie Watts 1988–1989
1991–1992
2000
2005
Tod Olsen Ole Olsen 1991
Paul Pellerin Paul Peller 1979–1980
1982–1983
1988–1990
1992
Corey Peloquin Chi Chi Cruz 1990
1999–2000
Stephen Petitpas Steve Petitpas 1979–1980
Michel Pigeon† Jos LeDuc 1984
Lanny Poffo† Lanny Poffo 1983
Alastair Ralphs Buddy Austin 2008
Timothy Reid Timothy Flowers 1990
William Reso Christian Cage 1997
Steven Romero† Jay Youngblood 1983
Robert Roode Jr. Bobby Roode 2000
Victor Rosettani Vic Rossitani / Vic Rossi 1983
Marc Roussel Marko Estrada 2005
2015
André René Roussimoff André the Giant
Seiya Sanada Seiya Sanada 2015
David Savelli Spiderman 2015
Aaron Schlosser Ruffy Silverstein 2001
Mark Sciarra Rip Rogers 1988
1990
1997
Robert Sharp Bobby Sharp 2015
Mike Shaw† Man Mountain Mike 1985
David Sherwin† Goldie Rogers 1979–1980
1991–1992
Reginald Siki Sweet Daddy Siki 1983–1984
Chuck Simpson Chuck Simms 1999
Robert Smedley Bobby Blaze 1991–1992
Peter Smith The Mighty Hercules 1998–1999
Tom Stanton† The Super Destroyer 1985
Rick Taras Rick Patterson 1985
1992
Roger Theriault Butcher Vachon 1988–1990
1992
1998–1999
2006
2008
Edward White† Sailor White 1988
1991
Chad Wicks Chad Dick 2006
Jay York† The Alaskan 1979
1982–1983
Unknown Alex North / The French Mystic / The French Mystique 2008
Unknown The Brute 1979
1981
Unknown Carlos Valderama 2017
Unknown Cliff McDonald 2000
Unknown Greg Evans 1997
Unknown Jesse Bieber 2015
Unknown Iron Mike Lyons 2006
Unknown Jonathan Holliday 1988
Unknown Jon Michaels 1997
Julien Young Julien Young 2005
Eric Doucet Markus Burke 2015
Unknown Mike McFly / Mad Dog McFly / Mad Dog Neilson / Stan Neilson 2000–2001
Unknown Pat Brady 1989
Unknown Randy Scott 1983
Unknown The Rebel 2006
Unknown Rico Frederico 1991
Unknown Robert Scarpino 2001
Unknown Rock Evans 2001
Unknown Rodney Blackbeard 1997
Unknown Russian Bigfoot 1988
Unknown Ryan Rogan 2017
Ryan Babineau Ryan Storm/Wrestling Spider-Man 2005–2006
Unknown Scott Sandlin 1989
Troy Merrick Sexton Phoenix 2006
Unknown T.G. Stone 1983
Mathieu Titus Titus 2005–2006
Todd McPhee Todd Douglas 2000
2005–2006
Unknown Todd McPhee 1991–1992
Unknown Tommy Osbourne 2006
Unknown The UFO 1979
1988
Unknown Z-ro 2006
Female wrestlers
Birth name: Ring name(s): Tenure: Notes
Athanasia Alexopoulos She Nay Nay 2006
2008
Krista Hanakowski Krysta Kiniski 2006
Peggy Lee† Peggy Lee 1983
Erin Marshall Erin Angel 2008
Betty Wade-Murphy Joyce Grable 1982–1983
Unknown Éve 2017
Unknown Kat Von Heez 2015
Unknown Penny Mitchel 1982
Unknown Stacy Thibault 2017
Unknown Tessa Blanchard 2015
Midget wrestlers
Birth name: Ring name(s): Tenure: Notes
Shigeri Akabane† Little Tokyo 1983
Marcel Gauthier† Sky Low Low 1980
1988
Harold Lang† Cowboy Lang 1983
Louis Waterhouse, Jr. Little Louie 1999
Stables and tag teams
Tag team/Stable(s) Members Tenure(s)
The Burkes Bobby Kay and Rudy Kay 1982
The Cuban Assassins Angelo Castro and Raiul Castro 1982
The Cuban Commandos The Cuban Assassin and Gerry Morrow 1989
The Masked Super Warriors Masked Super Warrior #1 and Masked Super Warrior #2 1997
The Rock 'n' Roll Rebel Express Dino Ventura and Kid Dynamite 1987

Championships

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Key
Reign The reign number for the specific set of wrestlers listed
Event The event promoted by the respective promotion in which the championship was won
N/A The specific information is not known
— Used for vacated reigns so as not to count it as an official reign
(n) Indicates that a title change took place "no later than" the date listed.[Note 1]
  Indicates that there was a period where the lineage is undocumented due to the lack of written documentation

AGPW International Heavyweight Championship

[edit]
Key
No. Overall reign number
Reign Reign number for the specific champion
Days Number of days held
No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref.
Date Event Location Reign Days
 2  Leaping Lanny  1978 (NLT)  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
 3  Randy Savage  July 18, 1978 (NLT)  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
Championship history is unrecorded from July 18, 1978 (NLT) to 1979.
 !3  Leaping Lanny  1979  GPW show N/A  2  N/A     
 4  Randy Savage  March 13, 1979  GPW show Halifax, Nova Scotia  2       
Championship history is unrecorded from March 13, 1979 to July, 1979 (NLT).
 5  Killer Karl Krupp  July, 1979 (NLT)  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
Championship history is unrecorded from July, 1979 (NLT) to May 18, 1983 (NLT).
 6  Frenchy Martin  May 18, 1983 (NLT)  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
Championship history is unrecorded from May 18, 1983 (NLT) to August 4, 1983 (NLT).
 7  Leo Burke  August 4, 1983 (NLT)  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
Championship history is unrecorded from August 4, 1983 (NLT) to 1984.
— Vacated  1984 — — — —  Championship vacated for unknown reasons  
Championship history is unrecorded from 1984 to May 30, 1985 (NLT).
 8  Super Destroyer  May 30, 1985 (NLT)  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
 9  Killer Karl Krupp  July 10, 1985 (NLT)  GPW show N/A  2  N/A     
 10  Super Destroyer  1985  GPW show N/A  2  N/A     
 11  Steve Pettipas  1985  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
 12  Ron Starr  1985  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
Championship history is unrecorded from 1985 to July, 1986 (NLT).
 13  Leo Burke  July, 1986 (NLT)  GPW show N/A  2  N/A     
 14  Frenchy Martin  July, 1986 (NLT)  GPW show Moncton, New Brunswick  2  N/A     
Championship history is unrecorded from July, 1986 (NLT) to June 19, 1987 (NLT).
 15  Ron Starr  June 19, 1987 (NLT)  GPW show N/A  2  N/A     
Championship history is unrecorded from June 19, 1987 (NLT) to September 1987.
— Vacated  September 1987 — — — —  Championship vacated for unknown reasons  
Championship history is unrecorded from September 1987 to July 14, 1987 (NLT).
 16  Rip Rogers  July 14, 1987 (NLT)  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
 17  Leo Burke  August 18, 1988  GPW show Halifax, Nova Scotia  3  N/A     
 18  Ron Starr  1989  GPW show N/A  3  N/A     
 19  Dynamite Kid  1989  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
Championship history is unrecorded from 1989 to July 1, 1987 (NLT).
 20  Leo Burke  July 1, 1987 (NLT)  GPW show N/A  4  N/A     
 21  Ron Starr  July 20, 1989 (NLT)  GPW show N/A  3  N/A     
 22  Leo Burke  August 11, 1990 (NLT)  GPW show N/A  5  N/A     
Championship history is unrecorded from August 11, 1990 (NLT) to 1990.
 23  Rip Rogers  1990  GPW show N/A  2  N/A     

AGPW United States Heavyweight Championship

[edit]
Key
No. Overall reign number
Reign Reign number for the specific champion
Days Number of days held
(NLT) Championship change took place "no later than" the date listed
No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref.
Date Event Location Reign Days
 1  David von Schultz  June 26, 1980 (NLT)  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
Championship history is unrecorded from June 26, 1980 (NLT) to July, 1982 (NLT).
 2  Rick Valentine  July, 1982 (NLT)  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
 3  Leo Burke  July, 1982 (NLT)  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
Championship history is unrecorded from July, 1982 (NLT) to May 18, 1983 (NLT).
 4  Rick Valentine  May 18, 1983 (NLT)  GPW show N/A  2  N/A     
 5  Leo Burke  July 21, 1982 (NLT)  GPW show Halifax, Nova Scotia  2  N/A     
— Vacated  September 1987 — — — —  Held up when match between Burke and The Spoiler ended in controversy.  
 7  Leo Burke  September 8, 1983  GPW show Halifax, Nova Scotia  3  N/A  Defeated The Spoiler in a rematch for the vacant title.  
— Deactivated  1984 — — — —  Title is retired.

AGPW Maritimes Heavyweight Championship

[edit]
Key
No. Overall reign number
Reign Reign number for the specific champion
Days Number of days held
(NLT) Championship change took place "no later than" the date listed
No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref.
Date Event Location Reign Days
 1  Steve Pettipas  May 1984  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
Championship history is unrecorded from May 1984 to 1985.
 2  Super Destroyer  1985  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
 3  Steve Pettipas  1985  GPW show N/A  2  N/A     

AGPW North American Tag Team Championship

[edit]
Key
No. Overall reign number
Reign Reign number for the specific champion
Days Number of days held
(NLT) Championship change took place "no later than" the date listed
No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref.
Date Event Location Reign Days
 1  The Cuban Assassin and Carpetbagger  March 3, 1978  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
Championship history is unrecorded from March 3, 1978 to July, 1979 (NLT).
 2  The Cuban Assassin and Goldie Rogers  July, 1979 (NLT)  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
Championship history is unrecorded from July, 1979 (NLT) to June 26, 1980 (NLT).
 3  Leo Burke and Hubert Gallant  June 26, 1980 (NLT)  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
 4  The Cuban Assassin and Bobby Bass  1980  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
 5  Leo Burke and Steve Pettipas  August, 1980 (NLT)  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
Championship history is unrecorded from August, 1980 (NLT) to June 10, 1982 (NLT).
 6  The Cuban Assassins
(Angelo Castro and Raoul Castro) 		 June 10, 1982 (NLT)  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
Championship history is unrecorded from June 10, 1982 (NLT) to June 1, 1983 (NLT).
 7  Bull Johnston and Vic Rossitani  June 1, 1983 (NLT)  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
 8  Frenchy Martin and Rick Valentine  September, 1983 (NLT)  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
Championship history is unrecorded from September, 1983 (NLT) to May 1984.
 9  Bob Brown and Great Pogo Langie  May 1984  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
Championship history is unrecorded from May 1984 to May 1984.
 10  Bob Brown and Great Pogo Langie  May 1984  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
Championship history is unrecorded from May 1984 to 1985.
 11  The Cuban Assassin and Sweet Daddy Siki  1985  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
Championship history is unrecorded from 1985 to July 10, 1985 (NLT).
 12  Killer Karl Krupp and Hans Herman  July 10, 1985 (NLT)  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
— Vacated  1985 — — — —  Championship vacated for unknown reasons  
Championship history is unrecorded from 1985 to June 12, 1986 (NLT).
 13  The Spoiler and Nikita Kalmikoff  June 12, 1986 (NLT)  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
Championship history is unrecorded from June 12, 1986 (NLT) to August 30, 1986 (NLT).
 14  Leo Burke and The Cuban Assassin  August 30, 1986 (NLT)  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
Championship history is unrecorded from August 30, 1986 (NLT) to 1987.
 15  The Rock 'n' Roll Rebel Express
(Dino Ventura and Kid Dynamite) 		 January 2, 1987  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
 16  Bob Brown and Rick Valentine  June 26, 1987  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
Championship history is unrecorded from June 26, 1987 to N/A.
 17  Leo Burke and The Cuban Assassin  N/A  GPW show N/A  2  N/A     
 18  Bob Brown and Tokyo Chono  July, 1988 (NLT)  GPW show N/A  1  N/A     
 19  Leo Burke and Steve Pettipas  September 1988  GPW show N/A  2  N/A     
Championship history is unrecorded from September 1988 to June, 1989 (NLT).
 20  The Cuban Commandos
(Gerry Morrow and The Cuban Assassin) 		 June, 1989 (NLT)  GPW show N/A  1  N/A    
Championship history is unrecorded from June, 1989 (NLT) to 1990.
 21  Leo Burke and Bobby Kay  1990  GPW show N/A  2  N/A  Defeated Tim Flowers and Bobby Bass  

Footnotes

[edit]
  1. ^ Documentation of the specific date of a title change is not found but documentation of the champion holding the title on that date/in that period.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling events".
[edit]
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