The History of Portland
Wrestling
Portland Wrestling was originally
called Pacific Northwest Wrestling created and found by Herb Owen in 1925, it
was part of the Northwest Wrestling Territory of NWA. The area was brought to its prime by Herb’s
son Don Owen and this version of Pacific Northwest Wrestling saw many of the
top names in the business come through on regular basis such as Rowdy Roddy
Piper, Matt Borne, Chris Adams, and Buddy Rose.
Pacific Northwest Wrestling was considered one of the main pro wrestling
territories from 1960s to 1980s, but unfortunately, due to changes to a
centralized Oregon Boxing and Wrestling Commission began to affect the industry
through new rules and regulations.
Performers and promoters were being
fine, additionally the expansion of WWF and WCW into national promotions with
nationwide TV deals did not make things better.
Pacific Northwest Wrestling main television sponsor declared bankruptcy,
and eventually Pacific Northwest Wrestling was cancel from television despite
being the highest rated local TV in the Portland Area. Don Owen continued to run wrestling
throughout the Oregon and Washington State Area until Mid-1992. Don Owen sold the entire promotion to
Portland Wrestling referee Sandy Barr.
Sandy Barr rename the promotion to
Championship Wrestling USA, creating new titles and abandoning the previous
titles. Barr ran into the same problems
as Owen dealing with the new rules and regulations of the Oregon State Athletic
Commission. Barr, in 1996 hired Matt
Borne to become the head booker of CWUSA and crowds began to rise, but Barr
abruptly closed CWUSA in 1997.
In late 2000 wrestling returned to
Portland with the opening of Portland Wrestling. Sandy Barr transferred the promotion to Frank
Culbertson. This new promotion claims that its heavyweight and tag team titles
lineage were the same as the previous titles operated by Don Owen. The new Portland Wrestling was not affiliated
with NWA and was not directly linked in any to the original Portland Wrestling. Portland Wrestling continue having problems
with the Oregon Athletic Commission and the Attorney General’s Office. Frank Culbertson was forced to close down in
2007 and sold his ownership rights to former announcer Don Cross in conjunction
with WWE Hall of Famer Rowdy Roddy Piper.
In late-2012, after a 21 year
absence KPTV and KPDX announced it will revived Portland Wrestling under the
new name Portland Wrestling Uncut.
Portland Wrestling Uncut is under the direction of WWE Hall of Famer
Rowdy Roddy Piper. Portland Wrestling
rights owner Don Cross also returned to announce the matches alongside special
guest every week. PWU is currently
promoted by Pete Schweitzer, Owner of Schweitzer Entertainment Group, LLC.
