Derrick Dukes

Derrick Dukes (born January 4, 1965) is an American retired professional wrestler and boxer. He best known for his appearances in the American Wrestling Association in the late-1980s as one-half of the tag team "The Top Guns" with Ricky Rice.

Derrick Dukes
Born (1965-01-04) January 4, 1965
Barberton, Ohio, United States
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Derek Dukes
Derrick Dukes
Luther D.
Mr. O-Portunity[1]
Billed height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Billed weight235 lb (107 kg)
Trained byEddie Sharkey
Debut1986
Retired2001

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1986–1988)

Dukes and Rice, who had formerly competed in Eddie Sharkey's Pro Wrestling America in Minnesota, were one of several brought into central Canada by promoter Tony Condello in 1986.[2]

American Wrestling Association (1988–1989)

While in the AWA, Rice and Dukes feuded with Badd Company over the AWA tag team titles but broke up shortly after appearing at SuperClash III with Wendi Richter in a mixed 6-person tag team match against Badd Company and Madusa Miceli on December 13, 1988.[3] After participating in the "Superstars of Wrestling" tour of Europe in early 1988,[4] Dukes then feuded with Colonel DeBeers in 1989 and lost a "Loser Gets Painted Yellow" match at War in the Windy City, however the controversial nature of the match caused it to be subsequently cut from the televised broadcast.[5]

Various promotions (1989–1992)

After AWA folded, Dukes would return to Pro Wrestling America where he lost to the Lightning Kid in a match for the PWA Iron Horse Television Championship on April 20, 1990.

Catch Wrestling Association (1992)

In 1992, Dukes wrestled in Germany and Austria with the Catch Wrestling Association.

Late career (1992–2001)

In 1995, he returned to Pro Wrestling America and teamed with former World Championship Wrestling wrestler Charlie Norris as "Thunderblood" winning the PWA Tag Team titles from the Storm Troopers and remained tag team champions until the promotion's closure in early 1996.

In 1999 he toured Japan with Worldwide Pro Wrestling.

In August 1999 he worked a few matches in the WWF. He lost to Prince Albert in a dark match for Sunday Night Heat. He appeared TV twice on WWF Shotgun Saturday Night episode August 21 with Tony DeNucci losing to Mideon and Viscera and the very first episode of Jakked August 28 teaming with Scotty Zappa losing to Blue Meanie and Stevie Richards.

Dukes retired in 2001.

Boxing career

Dukes pursued a career in boxing for a brief period during the early 1990s. His most famous bout came against former National Football League All Pro Mark Gastineau in Salem, Virginia on June 8, 1991. Gastineau knocked Dukes out in the first round of the fight, however it was later found out that Dukes took a dive.[6]

In 1999, Dukes lost to Innocent Otukuwu in Lula, Mississippi on July 31, and Chris Brown in Memphis, Tennessee on September 7, in an attempt at a comeback.[7]

Championships and accomplishments

References
  1. "Battle of The Breakfast Cereal, 1989".
  2. May, Vern (2007-06-19). "SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Tony Condello". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on 2012-07-15. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
  3. "American Wrestling Association: SuperClash III". Prowrestlinghistory.com. 2002. Retrieved 2007-05-07.
  4. "Tom Zenk, Spring Tour to Europe, 1988". Z Man. 1999. Archived from the original on 1999-10-12. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
  5. Carter, Madison (2003). "Weird World of Wrestling: Colonel DeBeers". OldSchool-Wrestling.com. Archived from the original on 2003-06-09. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
  6. Finger, David E. Rocky Lives!: Heavyweight Boxing Upsets of the 1990s. Dulles, Virginia: Potomac Books Inc., 2005. ISBN 1-57488-905-2 (pg. 51)
  7. "Derrick Dukes". BoxRec.com. Archived from the original on 2002-05-30. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
  8. Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  9. "Pro Wrestling America Tag Team Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Retrieved 2007-06-19.
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