Nick Bockwinkel, the son of professional wrestler Warren Bockwinkel, was destined to follow in his father's footsteps.
As a wrestler, Bockwinkel competed in various regions for several years, but it was in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) where he gained his greatest fame.
Teaming up with Ray "The Crippler" Stevens, Bockwinkel became a three-time AWA Tag-Team Champion in the 1970s, a feat achieved under the guidance of the notorious Bobby "The Brain" Heenan's "Family".
However, Bockwinkel's prowess extended beyond tag-team wrestling, as he went on to win the AWA Heavyweight Championship by defeating Verne Gagne in 1975.
Bockwinkel's initial reign as champion lasted an impressive nearly five years before he lost the title to Gagne in 1980.
He later reclaimed the AWA title on three more occasions, with his final reign coming to an end in 1987 at the age of 53.
After a period of sporadic wrestling, Bockwinkel transitioned to a new role as a wrestling commentator for the AWA, and was subsequently named a chief executive with Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in the 1990s.
Nick Bockwinkel's illustrious career spanned decades, and his numerous achievements and accolades cemented his status as a wrestling legend.
