Art Crews
Encyclopedia
Art Crews is a retired American professional wrestler
who competed in North American regional promotions including the National Wrestling Alliance
, particularly the Central States, Mid-South and Pacific Northwest territories
, during the 1980s.
In Shawn Michaels
' autobiography Heartbreak & Triumph, Michaels explains that Art Crews was the very first person he wrestled in his career, making him the very first person to defeat Michaels.
and grew up in Meriden, Kansas, he was a fan of professional wrestling as a child often attending wrestling events in Saint Joseph, Missouri
with his mother Billie Crews. Trained by Pat O'Connor and Ronnie Etchison, Crews made his debut in 1980 fighting Billy Howard
to a time limit draw at the Kansas City Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas
.
After spending almost two years in the Southeast, he began competing for Pacific Northwest Wrestling defeating Chris Colt at the Sports Arena in Portland, Oregon
on September 5, 1981 and was later named the PNW "Rookie of the Year" by the end of the year. He appeared in Maple Leaf Wrestling
teaming with Kenny Jay against Jerry and Johnny Valiant at the Oshawa Civic Auditorium
in Oshawa, Ontario
pinning Johnny Valiant on October 1, 1981 due in part to outside interference from the Rougeau Brothers
.
Feuding with Dizzy Hogan in January 1982, he also lost several matches against Matt Borne, "Playboy" Buddy Rose
, Billy White Wolf and fought to a draw against Stan Stasiak
later that month.
Losing to Gene Kiniski
on February 3, he later defeated Tiger Chung Lee and Terry Fargo. Hogan, however, dominated their feud during mid-February but finally lost to him on February 27, 1982.
to defeat Gene Lewis and Ron MacFarlane at the Kiel Auditorium
in St. Louis, Missouri
on April 16, 1982. Facing Dewey Robertson
in a series of matches during the year, he also faced Baron von Raschke, "Nature Boy" Ric Flair
, Terry Funk
and Kerry von Erich
in televised matches on the Mid-South's "Wrestling at the Chase" television program. WRESTLING AT THE CHASE, was St. Louis' TV program.
Facing "Dr. Death" Steve Williams and Kamala in January 1983, he also teamed with Tim Horner
against Marty Lune and Tom Renesto and with Mr. Wrestling II
against Tug Taylor and Joe Stark. The following month, he faced "Iron" Mike Sharpe
and "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan
in several singles matches, as well as teaming with Tim Horner against Kelly Kiniski
. Feuding with Kamala & The Black Ninja and later Mr. Olympia
, Crews also appeared on the Superdome Extravaganza supercards defeating Kelly Kiniski on April 16 and later lost to George Weingroff on July 16.
Although losing to Steve Williams on August 12, he defeated Doug Vines and Tim Horner later that month. After losses to George Weingroff, Jim Neidhart and Nikolai Volkoff
, he teamed with Donna Day in a mixed tag team match against Debbie Combs and "Wildfire" Tommy Rich
on September 22.
He also teamed with Mike Bond
against The Missing Link and King Kong Bundy
and later with Tom Stanton
against George Weingroff and King Cobra during October. He later teamed with Doug Vines losing to Jerry and Marty Oates on November 4 and, with US Steel
, losing to The A-Team on November 21.
Teaming with Robert Gibson, Bobby Eaton
, Stagger Lee
and Giant Frazier
in a 10-man tag team match, Crews lost to The A-Team, The Moondogs
and Dennis Condrey
on November 28. However, teaming with Robert Gibson, Bobby Eaton, Stagger Lee, Terry Taylor and Tom Pritchard, Crews was able to defeat The A-Team, The Moondogs, Dream Machine and Porkchop Cash on December 5 and, with Ricky Morton, Bobby Eaton and The Jaguar, defeated The Moondogs, Angelo Poffo and Franklin Hayes on December 19, 1983.
In early 1984, Crews teamed with The Jaguar losing to Norvell Austin
and Sabu on January 1. A week later, he fought to a draw against Terry Gibbs and lost to King Konga on January 24. He also teamed with Dutch Mantel
against Angelo Poffo and Randy Savage
losing to them by disqualification on January 31.
The following month, he lost to Rick Rude and, with Tommy Gilbert, to The A-Team before defeating The Black Ninja on February 28. He also participated in the Mid-South Wrestling Southern Tag Team Championship Tournament with Tom Jones being eliminated by Tommy Rich and Eddie Gilbert in the opening rounds in Memphis, Tennessee
on March 26. After losses to Ox Baker
and Jim Neidhart
in early April, he left the area.
While in NWA Central States, Crews won the then vacant Central States TV title in a championship tournament defeating Scott Ferris
in the first round, Marty Jannetty
in the semi-finals and "Crazy" Luke Graham
in the finals on May 24, 1984.
Returning to the Mid-South area to face Terry Taylor
on August 16, he also teamed with Randy Barber against The Fantastics on August 23 and with Rick McCord against the Road Warriors
August 30 before facing Magnum T.A.
on September 21. In one of his last televised appearances with the promotion, Crews teamed with Lee Ramsey against Chavo
& Hector Guerrero
on November 16, 1984.
Although the title became vacant several weeks later, Crew regained the title on August 21 and feuded with the Man Eating Beast
over the title before losing it to Gypsy Joe on September 2. Managed by Slick
, Crews teamed with "Diamond" Timothy Flowers as Arthur W. Crews facing Rufus Jones
and Butch Reed
and The Midnight Rockers in several matches before Slick left for the World Wrestling Federation
.
While touring South Africa
with Flowers during 1985, the two nearly incited a riot in front of an estimated 20,000 crowd in Johannesburg
after defeating two local South African wrestlers when both Crews and Flowers tore apart the South African flag carried by their opponents. Having to be escorted by police officers, Crews was stabbed in the lower back by an unknown fan while making their way to the dressing room. The wound was not serious however and Crews continued to wrestling on the tour.
After splitting up with Flowers, he defeated T.G. Stone, Dusty Wolfe in early 1985 and fought to a time limit draw with Roger Kirby
on February 7. Winning a 6-man battle royal on February 14, he later defeated Roger Kirby in a rematch and teamed with Mike George
against Super Destroyer
and Mr. Pogo on March 14.
Later that year, Crews defeated Gary Royal
for the NWA Central States Television title on November 18, 1985 successfully defending the title until leaving the promotion in January 1986.
in Tulsa, Oklahoma
on August 17 and later made an appearance on the UWF
's Superdome Extravaganza supercard with a loss to Jeff Gaylord
in New Orleans, Louisiana
on November 27, 1986.
The following year, he toured with All Japan Pro Wrestling
teaming with El Olympico against Jumbo Tsuruta
and Genichiro Tenryu
on February 20 and Hiroshi Wajima on February 24 before teaming with Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy
against Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenryu on March 7, 1987.
, he was hired as a correctional officer by the Oregon State Corrections Department to teach self defense techniques and compliance holds to other officers.
Graduating from LaSalle University with a degree in Criminal Justice Management, he briefly worked for at a private correctional facility in Louisiana and, during his 13 year career, eventually worked his way up from an instructor and correctional officer to managerial positions as a prison administrator and executive manager. In 2001, he became Chief of Security at the Yakima Department of Corrections in Yakima, Washington
, where he supervised 184 employees. He then became the warden of Coastal Bend Dentention Center in Texas and manages nearly 500 employees and 2500 inmates until his resignation in August 2009.
January 4, 2010 Crews started a new position as Jail Captain with the Chippewa County Sheriff's Department in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
who competed in North American regional promotions including the National Wrestling Alliance
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
, particularly the Central States, Mid-South and Pacific Northwest territories
Pacific Northwest Wrestling
Pacific Northwest Wrestling is the common name used to refer to several different professional wrestling companies, both past and present, based in Portland, Oregon, United States. The first such company was founded by Herb Owen in 1925...
, during the 1980s.
In Shawn Michaels
Shawn Michaels
Michael Shawn Hickenbottom , better known by his ring name Shawn Michaels, is an American television host and retired professional wrestler. He presents the Outdoor Channel show MacMillan River Adventures, and is currently signed to WWE, where he has served in an ambassadorial role since December...
' autobiography Heartbreak & Triumph, Michaels explains that Art Crews was the very first person he wrestled in his career, making him the very first person to defeat Michaels.
Early life and career
Born in Topeka, KansasTopeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
and grew up in Meriden, Kansas, he was a fan of professional wrestling as a child often attending wrestling events in Saint Joseph, Missouri
Saint Joseph, Missouri
Saint Joseph is the second largest city in northwest Missouri, only second to Kansas City in size, serving as the county seat for Buchanan County. As of the 2010 census, Saint Joseph had a total population of 76,780, making it the eighth largest city in the state. The St...
with his mother Billie Crews. Trained by Pat O'Connor and Ronnie Etchison, Crews made his debut in 1980 fighting Billy Howard
Billy Howard
Billy Howard is an English comedy impressionist, who appeared on the ITV series Who Do You Do, alongside other impressionists such as Faith Brown. In 1976, his single, "King Of The Cops", reached #6 in the UK Singles Chart; it featured his impressions of TV cops including Kojak, Columbo, McCloud...
to a time limit draw at the Kansas City Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City is the third-largest city in the state of Kansas and is the county seat of Wyandotte County. It is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, and is the third largest city in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. The city is part of a consolidated city-county government known as the "Unified...
.
After spending almost two years in the Southeast, he began competing for Pacific Northwest Wrestling defeating Chris Colt at the Sports Arena in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
on September 5, 1981 and was later named the PNW "Rookie of the Year" by the end of the year. He appeared in Maple Leaf Wrestling
Maple Leaf Wrestling
Maple Leaf Wrestling was the unofficial name in the 1970s and 1980s of the professional wrestling promotion run by Frank Tunney in Toronto.-Queensbury Athletic Club:...
teaming with Kenny Jay against Jerry and Johnny Valiant at the Oshawa Civic Auditorium
Oshawa Civic Auditorium
The Oshawa Civic Auditorium was a 3,625–seat multi-purpose arena in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. The recreational complex was financed by donations from the community, including United Auto Workers members. It opened in 1964, and was home to the Oshawa Generals ice hockey team of the Ontario Hockey...
in Oshawa, Ontario
Oshawa, Ontario
Oshawa is a city in Ontario, Canada, on the Lake Ontario shoreline. It lies in Southern Ontario approximately 60 kilometres east of downtown Toronto. It is commonly viewed as the eastern anchor of both the Greater Toronto Area and the Golden Horseshoe. It is now commonly referred to as the most...
pinning Johnny Valiant on October 1, 1981 due in part to outside interference from the Rougeau Brothers
The Fabulous Rougeaus
The Fabulous Rougeaus was the professional wrestling tag team of real-life brothers, Jacques Rougeau and Raymond Rougeau, best known from their time in the World Wrestling Federation , from 1986 to 1990....
.
Feuding with Dizzy Hogan in January 1982, he also lost several matches against Matt Borne, "Playboy" Buddy Rose
Buddy Rose
Paul Perschmann was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, "Playboy" Buddy Rose.-Career:Paul Perschmann was trained by Verne Gagne and Billy Robinson in the early 1970s...
, Billy White Wolf and fought to a draw against Stan Stasiak
Stan Stasiak
George Stipich , better known by his ring name Stan Stasiak, was a Canadian professional wrestler and fifth World Wide Wrestling Federation Champion. He is the father of professional wrestler Shawn Stasiak.-Career:...
later that month.
Losing to Gene Kiniski
Gene Kiniski
Eugene Nicholas "Gene" Kiniski was a Canadian professional wrestler and the father of wrestlers Nick Kiniski and Kelly Kiniski. "Canada's Greatest Athlete" as he billed himself for promotional purposes was born outside of Edmonton, Alberta...
on February 3, he later defeated Tiger Chung Lee and Terry Fargo. Hogan, however, dominated their feud during mid-February but finally lost to him on February 27, 1982.
Mid-South Wrestling and Central States
Moving on to the St. Louis area, Crews teamed with "Bulldog" Bob BrownBob Brown (wrestler)
Robert Harold Brown was a Canadian professional wrestler, better known by his ring name "Bulldog" Bob Brown.- Early life :...
to defeat Gene Lewis and Ron MacFarlane at the Kiel Auditorium
Kiel Auditorium
Kiel Auditorium was an indoor arena, in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. It was the home of the Saint Louis University basketball team and hosted the NBA's St. Louis Hawks, from 1955-1968....
in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
on April 16, 1982. Facing Dewey Robertson
Dewey Robertson
Byron James John "Dewey" Robertson was a professional wrestler, known best for his ring name The Missing Link....
in a series of matches during the year, he also faced Baron von Raschke, "Nature Boy" Ric Flair
Ric Flair
Richard Morgan Fliehr is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Ric Flair. Also known as "The Nature Boy", Flair is one of the most well-known professional wrestlers in the world....
, Terry Funk
Terry Funk
Terrence "Terry" Funk is an American professional wrestler and actor known chiefly for the hardcore wrestling style he adopted in the latter part of his career that inspired many younger wrestlers, including Mick Foley...
and Kerry von Erich
Kerry Von Erich
Kerry Gene Adkisson was an American professional wrestler under the ring names Kerry Von Erich, The Modern Day Warrior, and The Texas Tornado and was part of the Von Erich family of professional wrestlers...
in televised matches on the Mid-South's "Wrestling at the Chase" television program. WRESTLING AT THE CHASE, was St. Louis' TV program.
Facing "Dr. Death" Steve Williams and Kamala in January 1983, he also teamed with Tim Horner
Tim Horner
Tim Horner is a professional wrestler best known for his "Lightning Express" tag team with Brad Armstrong.-Career:Tim Horner started wrestling in 1982 in the Alabama territory. He formed a tag team called the "Lightning Express" with Brad Armstrong and they had a lot of success. They won the...
against Marty Lune and Tom Renesto and with Mr. Wrestling II
Mr. Wrestling II
John "Johnny" Walker , better known as Mr. Wrestling II, is a retired American professional wrestler. As Mr...
against Tug Taylor and Joe Stark. The following month, he faced "Iron" Mike Sharpe
Mike Sharpe
Michael "Mike" Sharpe is a Canadian professional wrestler better known as Iron Mike Sharpe.-Career:Sharpe comes from a family legacy of wrestling, as his father and uncle were a successful tag team in the 1950s, recognized as champions from San Francisco to Japan. He grew up in California, but...
and "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan
Jim Duggan
James Edward Duggan , better known by his ring name "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment in the 1980s, when it was known as World Wrestling Federation , and World Championship Wrestling...
in several singles matches, as well as teaming with Tim Horner against Kelly Kiniski
Kelly Kiniski
Kelly Kiniski is a Canadian-born American retired professional wrestler. He is the elder son of the legendary wrestler Gene Kiniski and is best known for his work with Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and WCCW.-Early career:...
. Feuding with Kamala & The Black Ninja and later Mr. Olympia
Mr. Olympia
Mr. Olympia is the title awarded to the winner of the professional men's bodybuilding contest at Joe Weider's Olympia Weekend - an international bodybuilding competition that is held annually by the International Federation of BodyBuilding & Fitness . Joe Weider created the contest to enable the...
, Crews also appeared on the Superdome Extravaganza supercards defeating Kelly Kiniski on April 16 and later lost to George Weingroff on July 16.
Although losing to Steve Williams on August 12, he defeated Doug Vines and Tim Horner later that month. After losses to George Weingroff, Jim Neidhart and Nikolai Volkoff
Nikolai Volkoff
Josip Nikolai Peruzović , better known by his ring name of Nikolai Volkoff, is a professional wrestler who is best known for his performances for the World Wrestling Federation...
, he teamed with Donna Day in a mixed tag team match against Debbie Combs and "Wildfire" Tommy Rich
Tommy Rich
Thomas Richardson , better known by his ring name, "Wildfire" Tommy Rich, is a professional wrestler. He is best known for his wrestling career in Georgia and Memphis throughout the 1980s.-Professional wrestling career:...
on September 22.
He also teamed with Mike Bond
Mike Bond
Mike Bond is an American novelist, war and human rights journalist, and poet.Bond was a studDemocratic candidate for the United States Senate in Montana in 1982, and served in Al Gore's 2000 Presidential campaign as head of Colorado Business Leaders for Gore and as a spokesman in several western...
against The Missing Link and King Kong Bundy
King Kong Bundy
Christopher Alan "Chris" Pallies is an American professional wrestler, stand-up comedian and actor, better known by his ring name, King Kong Bundy.-Personal:...
and later with Tom Stanton
Tom Stanton
Tom Stanton is the author of several nonfiction baseball books, including two memoirs. In 1983, Stanton, a journalist, co-founded The Voice Newspapers in suburban Detroit and served as editor for sixteen years before embarking on a literary career in 1999...
against George Weingroff and King Cobra during October. He later teamed with Doug Vines losing to Jerry and Marty Oates on November 4 and, with US Steel
Fred Ottman
Fred Ottman is a retired American professional wrestler best known as Tugboat or Typhoon and teaming with John "Earthquake" Tenta as The Natural Disasters in the World Wrestling Federation. Ottman is also well-known for his infamous "Shockmaster" gimmick in World Championship Wrestling...
, losing to The A-Team on November 21.
Teaming with Robert Gibson, Bobby Eaton
Bobby Eaton
Robert Lee "Bobby" Eaton is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, who made his debut in 1976. Eaton is most famous for his work in tag teams, especially his days as one-half of the team the Midnight Express. Under the management of Jim Cornette, Eaton originally teamed with Dennis...
, Stagger Lee
Stagger Lee
Lee Shelton was a black carriage driver and pimp convicted of murdering William "Billy" Lyons on Christmas Eve, 1895 in St. Louis, Missouri. The crime was immortalized in a popular song that has been recorded by numerous artists...
and Giant Frazier
Stan Frazier
Stanley C. Fraizer was a professional wrestler from Pascagoula, Mississippi, better known as Uncle Elmer and Plowboy Frazier ....
in a 10-man tag team match, Crews lost to The A-Team, The Moondogs
The Moondogs
The Moondogs are a Northern Irish rock band formed in 1979, and consisting of Gerry McCandless, Austin Barrett and Jackie Hamilton. The band has had a career spanning three albums, four singles, and two television programmes to date.-Singles:-Albums:...
and Dennis Condrey
Dennis Condrey
Dennis Condrey is an American professional wrestler, best known as being one half of the tag team Midnight Express....
on November 28. However, teaming with Robert Gibson, Bobby Eaton, Stagger Lee, Terry Taylor and Tom Pritchard, Crews was able to defeat The A-Team, The Moondogs, Dream Machine and Porkchop Cash on December 5 and, with Ricky Morton, Bobby Eaton and The Jaguar, defeated The Moondogs, Angelo Poffo and Franklin Hayes on December 19, 1983.
In early 1984, Crews teamed with The Jaguar losing to Norvell Austin
Norvell Austin
Norvell Austin is a retired American professional wrestler who made his debut in the late 1960s. Austin worked for most of his career in the Southern United States, most often in tag team competition. Norvell Austin is most famous for teaming with Sputnik Monroe in one of the first "mixed races"...
and Sabu on January 1. A week later, he fought to a draw against Terry Gibbs and lost to King Konga on January 24. He also teamed with Dutch Mantel
Dutch Mantel
Wayne Keown is an American professional wrestler, and author better known by his ring name, Dutch Mantel or Dutch Mantell. He currently is semi-retired but still makes occasional wrestling appearances. He was previously with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as a writer behind the scenes...
against Angelo Poffo and Randy Savage
Randy Savage
Randall Mario Poffo , better known by his ring name "Macho Man" Randy Savage, was an American professional wrestler, best known for his time with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling .Savage held twenty championships during his professional wrestling career and was a...
losing to them by disqualification on January 31.
The following month, he lost to Rick Rude and, with Tommy Gilbert, to The A-Team before defeating The Black Ninja on February 28. He also participated in the Mid-South Wrestling Southern Tag Team Championship Tournament with Tom Jones being eliminated by Tommy Rich and Eddie Gilbert in the opening rounds in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
on March 26. After losses to Ox Baker
Ox Baker
Douglas A. Baker better known professionally as Ox Baker, is an American former professional wrestler and actor, and was feared for his dreaded finishing move, the Heart Punch, sometimes called the "Hurt Punch", after Baker's famous catchphrase "I love to hurt people!" He has appeared in several...
and Jim Neidhart
Jim Neidhart
James Henry "Jim" Neidhart is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances in the 1980s and 1990s in the World Wrestling Federation as Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart. Jim is the father of WWE Diva Natalya...
in early April, he left the area.
While in NWA Central States, Crews won the then vacant Central States TV title in a championship tournament defeating Scott Ferris
Scott Ferris
Scott Ferris was a U.S. Representative from Oklahoma.Upon the admission of Oklahoma as a State into the Union, Ferris was elected as a Democrat to the 60th Congress. He was reelected to the 61st and to the six succeeding Congresses and served from November 16, 1907, until March 3, 1921...
in the first round, Marty Jannetty
Marty Jannetty
Frederick Marty Jannetty is an American professional wrestler, best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation as part of tag team The Rockers with partner Shawn Michaels, and later as a singles competitor. While in the WWF, he became a one time Intercontinental Champion and a one time...
in the semi-finals and "Crazy" Luke Graham
Luke Graham
Luke Graham is a footballer who plays for Forest Green Rovers as a defender.-Club career:Born in Kettering, Northamptonshire, Graham started his career with Northampton Town in their youth system. He was on loan at Billericay Town from November 2003 to February 2004, making nine appearances and...
in the finals on May 24, 1984.
Returning to the Mid-South area to face Terry Taylor
Terry Taylor
Terry Taylor , is an American retired professional wrestler best known for his time in the National Wrestling Alliance, World Championship Wrestling, and the World Wrestling Federation...
on August 16, he also teamed with Randy Barber against The Fantastics on August 23 and with Rick McCord against the Road Warriors
Road Warriors
The Road Warriors were a professional wrestling tag team composed of Michael "Hawk" Hegstrand and Joseph "Animal" Laurinaitis. They performed under the name "Road Warriors" in the American Wrestling Association, the National Wrestling Alliance, and World Championship Wrestling, and the name Legion...
August 30 before facing Magnum T.A.
Magnum T.A.
Terry Wayne Allen is a retired American professional wrestler, best known under the ring name Magnum T.A..-Early years:...
on September 21. In one of his last televised appearances with the promotion, Crews teamed with Lee Ramsey against Chavo
Chavo Guerrero
Salvador Guerrero III , better known as Chavo Guerrero or Chavo Guerrero, Sr., is a former professional wrestler. He is known for his work in Universal Wrestling Federation , American Wrestling Association and World Wrestling Entertainment and for being the father of third generation wrestler...
& Hector Guerrero
Hector Guerrero
Héctor Manuel Guerrero Llanes is a Mexican-American professional wrestler, better known simply by his paternal name, Héctor Guerrero...
on November 16, 1984.
Although the title became vacant several weeks later, Crew regained the title on August 21 and feuded with the Man Eating Beast
Rick Link
"The Beastmaster" Rick Link is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, trainer and promoter. He wrestled throughout Canada and the United States for the National Wrestling Alliance during the 1970s and 80s under a number of ringnames, most notably, as M.E.B. in NWA Central States and as...
over the title before losing it to Gypsy Joe on September 2. Managed by Slick
Ken Johnson (wrestling)
Kenneth "Ken" Johnson better known to wrestling fans as "Slick - The Doctor of Style", is a former American professional wrestling manager with the World Wrestling Federation...
, Crews teamed with "Diamond" Timothy Flowers as Arthur W. Crews facing Rufus Jones
Carey Lloyd
Carey L. Lloyd , also known by his ring name Rufus R. "Freight Train" Jones, was an American professional wrestler who competed in the Central States and Mid-Atlantic regional promotions as well as the American Wrestling Association and the National Wrestling Alliance during the 1970s and...
and Butch Reed
Butch Reed
Butch Reed is an American professional wrestler best known for his stints in the World Wrestling Federation and the National Wrestling Alliance/World Championship Wrestling.-Career:...
and The Midnight Rockers in several matches before Slick left for the World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
.
While touring South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
with Flowers during 1985, the two nearly incited a riot in front of an estimated 20,000 crowd in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
after defeating two local South African wrestlers when both Crews and Flowers tore apart the South African flag carried by their opponents. Having to be escorted by police officers, Crews was stabbed in the lower back by an unknown fan while making their way to the dressing room. The wound was not serious however and Crews continued to wrestling on the tour.
After splitting up with Flowers, he defeated T.G. Stone, Dusty Wolfe in early 1985 and fought to a time limit draw with Roger Kirby
Roger Kirby
Professor Roger Kirby is a prostate surgeon in the UK. He has performed over 2000 radical prostatectomy operations in his career and has written over 60 books and published more than 300 scientific papers...
on February 7. Winning a 6-man battle royal on February 14, he later defeated Roger Kirby in a rematch and teamed with Mike George
Mike George
Mike George is a British radio presenter. He was born in Harrow, Middlesex in 1945, a premature baby, as a result of the VE Celebrations. He attended Watford Central Primary and Bushey Grammar School...
against Super Destroyer
Super Destroyer
-In wrestling:* "The Super Destroyer" Hulk Hogan* "The Super Destroyers" from WCWA - tag team wrestling team** "Super Destroyer #2" Barney Irwin** "Super Destroyer #1" Scott Irwin* "Super Destroyer" Don Jardine...
and Mr. Pogo on March 14.
Later that year, Crews defeated Gary Royal
Gary Royal
"Gorgeous" Gary Royal was a professional wrestler in the United States. In the early part of his career, he was a member of the Convertible Blonds, a heel stable with Rip Rogers and Pistol Pez Whatley.-In wrestling:*Finishing moves...
for the NWA Central States Television title on November 18, 1985 successfully defending the title until leaving the promotion in January 1986.
Later career
Returning to the Portland-area during the next two years, he later defeated Brett Sawyer at the Tulsa Convention CenterTulsa Convention Center
The Maxwell Convention Center or Tulsa Convention Center is a 7,111-seat multi-purpose arena in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The civic arena was constructed in 1964 and named for Tulsa Mayor James L. Maxwell who was the driving force behind the planning and start of the venue...
in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
on August 17 and later made an appearance on the UWF
UWF
UWF may refer to:*The University of West Florida*The Universal Wrestling Federation , an American professional wrestling promotion, started by Bill Watts...
's Superdome Extravaganza supercard with a loss to Jeff Gaylord
Jeff Gaylord
Jeff Gaylord is a retired American professional wrestler who competed in North American regional and independent promotions including Bill Watts' Universal Wrestling Federation, World Class Championship Wrestling and the United States Wrestling Association during the late 1980s and 1990s, most...
in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
on November 27, 1986.
The following year, he toured with All Japan Pro Wrestling
All Japan Pro Wrestling
is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. All Japan Pro Wrestling still remains one of the most popular puroresu promotions still in operation.-The Giant Baba Era :...
teaming with El Olympico against Jumbo Tsuruta
Jumbo Tsuruta
, better known by his ring name Jumbo Tsuruta, was a professional wrestler who wrestled for All Japan Pro Wrestling for most of his career, and is well-known for being the first ever AJPW Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, having won the PWF Heavyweight Championship, the NWA United National...
and Genichiro Tenryu
Genichiro Tenryu
Genichiro Tenryu , real name Genichiro Shimada , is a Japanese professional wrestler. At age 13, he entered sumo wrestling and stayed there for 13 years, after which he turned to Western-style professional wrestling...
on February 20 and Hiroshi Wajima on February 24 before teaming with Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy
Terry Gordy
Terry Ray 'Bam Bam' Gordy, Sr. was a professional wrestler who was best known in North America for being a member of the Fabulous Freebirds.-Career:...
against Jumbo Tsuruta and Genichiro Tenryu on March 7, 1987.
Law Enforcement Career
In late 1987, Crews began cutting back his wrestling schedule in favor of pursuing a career in law enforcement and corrections and eventually retired in 1989. Attending trade school in Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, he was hired as a correctional officer by the Oregon State Corrections Department to teach self defense techniques and compliance holds to other officers.
Graduating from LaSalle University with a degree in Criminal Justice Management, he briefly worked for at a private correctional facility in Louisiana and, during his 13 year career, eventually worked his way up from an instructor and correctional officer to managerial positions as a prison administrator and executive manager. In 2001, he became Chief of Security at the Yakima Department of Corrections in Yakima, Washington
Yakima, Washington
Yakima is an American city southeast of Mount Rainier National Park and the county seat of Yakima County, Washington, United States, and the eighth largest city by population in the state itself. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 91,196 and a metropolitan population of...
, where he supervised 184 employees. He then became the warden of Coastal Bend Dentention Center in Texas and manages nearly 500 employees and 2500 inmates until his resignation in August 2009.
January 4, 2010 Crews started a new position as Jail Captain with the Chippewa County Sheriff's Department in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Chippewa Falls is a city located on the Chippewa River in Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 13,661 at the 2010 census. Incorporated as a city in 1869, it is the county seat of Chippewa County....
.
Championships and accomplishments
- Central States WrestlingHeart of America Sports AttractionsHeart of America Sports Attractions, also known as the Midwest Wrestling Association, Central States Wrestling and the World Wrestling Alliance, was an American professional wrestling promotion that ran shows mainly in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa...
- NWA Central States Tag Team ChampionshipNWA Central States Tag Team ChampionshipThe NWA Central States Tag Team Championship was the primary tag team championship for the Heart of America Sports Attractions / Central States Wrestling promotion from 1979 until the promotion ceased to exist in 1988...
(1 time) - with Timothy Flowers (disputed) - NWA Central States Television ChampionshipNWA Central States Television ChampionshipThe NWA Central States Television Championship was the secondary singles chamoionship for the Heart of America Sports Attractions / Central States Wrestling promotion from 1977 until the promotion ceased to exist in 1988. -Title History:-See also:...
(2 times)
- NWA Central States Tag Team Championship
Media
- Best of UWF Mid-South (1985-1986). Perf. Art Crews. DVD. RF Video, 2006.
- Classic St. Louis Wrestling. Perf. Art Crews. DVD. RF Video, 2005.
- Wrestling's Greatest Matches, Vol. 21. Perf. Art Crews. VHS. Coliseum VideoColiseum VideoWWE Home Video is a video distribution and production company that distributes WWE programming. A division of WWE formed in 1997 as WWF Home Video, it replaced a similar independent company owned by Evart Enterprises, Coliseum Video, which operated between 1985 and 1997.-Coliseum Video:VHS...
, 1994.