David Peterson (wrestler)

For the Canadian politician and former Premier of Ontario, see David Peterson. For the American super middleweight boxer, see Dave Peterson.

David Peterson
Ring name(s)	D.J. Peterson Dave Peterson
Born	July 17, 1959(1959-07-17) St. Joseph, Missouri, United States
Died	May 25, 1993(1993-05-25) (aged 33)
Trained by	Lord Littlebrook
Debut	1984

David W. Peterson (July 17, 1959 – May 25, 1993) was an American professional wrestler, known by his ringname D.J. Peterson, who competed in North American regional promotions during the 1980s in the Universal Wrestling Federation, the National Wrestling Alliance and the American Wrestling Association during its final days, most notably as the last AWA Tag Team Champion with The Trooper.^[1]

Career

Early career

Making his debut in 1984, Peterson started wrestling in Texas All-Star Wrestling and in the NWA Central States. During the mid 1980s, Peterson briefly appeared in Fritz von Erich's World Class Championship Wrestling defeating Jack Victory on February 7 and Prairie States Wrestling against Ox Baker on July 23 before wrestling in the Mid-South area and, by early 1986, for Bill Watts' Universal Wrestling Federation facing wrestlers such as Gustavo Mendoza ^[2][3] and, in tag team matches, teamed with Brett Sawyer against Mike Scott and Rick Steiner,^[4] the Blade Runners ^[5] and the Fabulous Freebirds (Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy & Buddy Roberts) in their UWF debut.^[6] He also wrestled Bart Sawyer several times, losing to him on May 3 and teamed with Chavo Guerrero against Sawyer and Rick Steiner in the following weeks.

Later that year, he teamed with Todd Champion feuding with the Thunderfoots and faced Big Bubba Rogers and The Warlord and The MOD Squad during October while in Jim Crockett Promotions as well as wrestling Arn Anderson in St. Louis, Missouri on November 16, 1986.

American Wrestling Association- First Stint

Jumping to the American Wrestling Association in 1987, Peterson fought Super Ninja to a time limit draw at SuperClash II on May 2, 1987.^[7] He would also form a team with J.T. Southern, attempting to gain the AWA World Tag Team titles, but ended up coming short.

Other Federations

He then split his time wrestling in several territories during the next two years appearing on the debut television show of Continental Championship Wrestling and had a brief stint in the World Wrestling Federation ^[8] (primarily being used as a jobber).

American Wrestling Association- Second Stint

Peterson returned to the AWA full time in early 1990 teaming with Brad Rheingans against the Texas Hangmen at SuperClash IV on April 8, 1990 and later to pursued then AWA World Champion Mr. Saito. When Larry Zbyszko regained the title, Peterson was granted title shots although he failed to unseat the World Champion. Shortly thereafter, he formed a tag team with The Trooper which captured the AWA World Tag Team Titles from The Destruction Crew on August 11, 1990. Defending the titles during the rest of the year, Peterson and Trooper would turn out to be the last AWA World Tag Team Champions after the promotion closed.

Later career

After the AWA closed in early 1991, Peterson went back to the independents until he died from a motorcycle crash on May 25, 1993.^[9][10]

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • TNT (Second rope diving shoulderblock)
  • Scorpion deathlock

Championships and accomplishments

• American Wrestling Association
  • AWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with The Trooper^[11]

• Central States Wrestling
  • NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship (2 times) ^[12]
  • NWA Central States Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Todd Champion ^[13]

• Texas All-Star Wrestling
  • TASW Six-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time)

• World Class Championship Wrestling
  • WCCW Television Championship (1 time) ^[14]

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked him # 205 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1991

References

1. ^ "Championship Roll Call: AWA World Tag Team Championship". AWAstars.com. 2006. http://www.awastars.com/title.htm. 
2. ^ "Card Results: UWF February 16, 1986". Oklafan.com. 2003. http://www.oklafan.com/results/516/event.html. 
3. ^ "Card Results: UWF April 13, 1986". Oklafan.com. 2003. http://www.oklafan.com/results/527/event.html. 
4. ^ "Card Results: MSW February 11, 1986". Oklafan.com. 2003. http://www.oklafan.com/results/515/event.html. 
5. ^ "Card Results: UWF March 29, 1986". Oklafan.com. 2003. http://www.oklafan.com/results/521/event.html. 
6. ^ "Card Results: UWF April 27, 1986". Oklafan.com. 2003. http://www.oklafan.com/results/528/event.html. 
7. ^ "AWA SuperClash: SuperClash II". ProWrestlingHistory.com. June 2002. http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/awa/superclash.html#sc. 
8. ^ Keith, Scott (2007-04-09). "The SmarK 24/7 Rant for Boston Garden show - August 6, 1988". InsidePulse.com. http://www.insidepulse.com/article_v3.php?contentid=66418&rssAuthor=1. 
9. ^ The Lilsboys (2005-07-05). "Over The Top Rope: Full list of wrestling fatalities". The Sun. http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2003560001-2007310047,00.html. 
10. ^ Will, Gary (December 1998). "Gary Will: Deceased Pro Wrestlers - A Tribute to Mat Stars of the Past". GaryWill.com. http://www.garywill.com/wrestling/decwres.htm. 
11. ^ "A.W.A. World Tag Team Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/awa/awa-t.html. 
12. ^ "N.W.A. Central States Heavyweight Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/centralstates/nwa/cs-h.html. 
13. ^ "N.W.A. Central States Tag Team Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/centralstates/nwa/cs-t.html. 
14. ^ "World Class Television Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/wccw/am-tv.html. 

External links

• The Oklahoma Wrestling Fan's Resource center: Bios - D.J. Peterson
• Profile at Online World of Wrestling
• Deceased Superstars - DJ Peterson
• D.J. Peterson at the WrestleWiki

Persondata
Name	Peterson, David
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	July 17, 1959
Place of birth	St. Joseph, Missouri, United States
Date of death	May 25, 1993
Place of death