Buck Zumhofe
Encyclopedia
Eugene Zumhofe is a professional wrestler better known as Buck "Rock n' Roll" Zumhofe, wrestling's self proclaimed original rock and roller.
, Zumhofe would go on to become one of the top light heavyweight competitors in the American Wrestling Association
(AWA) in the early and mid 1980s. He would feud primarily with "Mr. Electricity" Steve Regal
and Bobby Heenan over the AWA World Light Heavyweight Championship during that time.
He also wrestled in World Class Championship Wrestling
where he teamed with Iceman King Parsons as the Rock 'n' Soul Connection. The team was successful holding the WCCW American Tag Team titles twice. The team rose to main event status on the World Class weekly tour loop as the Von Erichs (the established main event talents) would only wrestle in the main cities. Zumhofe had a reasonably successful as a singles wrestler, making it all the way to the final of the TV tournament losing in the final to Rip Oliver in March 1985. Zumhofe left WCCW in October 1985 after a near 2 year stay.
Returning to the AWA in 1985 he claimed his second AWA World Light Heavyweight title, by defeating Steve Regal. In July 1986 his title run was cut short after being jailed for nearly 2 years.
Zumhofe returned to wrestling on his release from jail in 1988, wrestling for Windy City Wrestling and Pro Wrestling America. Zumhofe returned to the AWA in 1989 and eventually won the AWA World Light Heavyweight for the third time in 1990 on ESPN television. He feuded with Jonnie Stewart over the title until the promotions close in 1991.
Zumhofe made sporadic appearances for the World Wrestling Federation
in preliminary matches. He was the first wrestler to be put in a body bag by The Undertaker and was also the wrestler that Triple H
faced in his WWF debut.
During Zumhofe's career he also wrestled for Roy Shire's in San Francisco, Vancouver for Al Tomko, Portland for Don Owen & Japan for Giant Baba.
In 2000 Buck opened the Rock & Roll Wrestling promotion. Zumhofe actively promotes his shows around Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois.
Training
Zumhofe was trained along with Ricky Steamboat, Jan Nelson & Scott Irwin by Koshrow Vaziri (aka The Iron Sheik).Professional wrestling career
Along with his trademark boomboxBoombox
Boombox is a colloquial expression for a portable cassette or CD player. Other terms known are ghetto blaster, jambox, or radio-cassette. It is a device capable of receiving radio stations and playing recorded music , usually at relatively high volume...
, Zumhofe would go on to become one of the top light heavyweight competitors in the American Wrestling Association
American Wrestling Association
The American Wrestling Association was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 to 1991. It was owned and founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo...
(AWA) in the early and mid 1980s. He would feud primarily with "Mr. Electricity" Steve Regal
Steve Regal
Steve Regal is a former professional wrestler, better known as "Mr. Electricity" Steve Regal, who competed in North American regional promotions including the National Wrestling Alliance and the American Wrestling Association during the early 1970s and 1980s.-Professional wrestling career:Born in Ft...
and Bobby Heenan over the AWA World Light Heavyweight Championship during that time.
He also wrestled in World Class Championship Wrestling
World Class Championship Wrestling
World Class Championship Wrestling ' was a regional professional wrestling promotion headquartered in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. Originally owned by promoter Ed McLemore, by 1966 it was run by Southwest Sports, Inc., whose president, Jack Adkisson, was better known as wrestler Fritz Von Erich...
where he teamed with Iceman King Parsons as the Rock 'n' Soul Connection. The team was successful holding the WCCW American Tag Team titles twice. The team rose to main event status on the World Class weekly tour loop as the Von Erichs (the established main event talents) would only wrestle in the main cities. Zumhofe had a reasonably successful as a singles wrestler, making it all the way to the final of the TV tournament losing in the final to Rip Oliver in March 1985. Zumhofe left WCCW in October 1985 after a near 2 year stay.
Returning to the AWA in 1985 he claimed his second AWA World Light Heavyweight title, by defeating Steve Regal. In July 1986 his title run was cut short after being jailed for nearly 2 years.
Zumhofe returned to wrestling on his release from jail in 1988, wrestling for Windy City Wrestling and Pro Wrestling America. Zumhofe returned to the AWA in 1989 and eventually won the AWA World Light Heavyweight for the third time in 1990 on ESPN television. He feuded with Jonnie Stewart over the title until the promotions close in 1991.
Zumhofe made sporadic appearances 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...
in preliminary matches. He was the first wrestler to be put in a body bag by The Undertaker and was also the wrestler that Triple H
Triple H
Paul Michael Levesque is an American professional wrestler, professional wrestling authority figure, WWE Executive Vice President of Talent and actor, better known by his ring name Triple H, an abbreviation of the ring name, Hunter Hearst Helmsley...
faced in his WWF debut.
During Zumhofe's career he also wrestled for Roy Shire's in San Francisco, Vancouver for Al Tomko, Portland for Don Owen & Japan for Giant Baba.
In 2000 Buck opened the Rock & Roll Wrestling promotion. Zumhofe actively promotes his shows around Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois.
Championships and accomplishments
- American Wrestling AssociationAmerican Wrestling AssociationThe American Wrestling Association was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 to 1991. It was owned and founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo...
- AWA World Light Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
- Midwest Pro Wrestling
- MPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Buck Zumhofe, Jr.
- Nu-Age Wrestling
- NAW Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time, first)
- World Class Championship WrestlingWorld Class Championship WrestlingWorld Class Championship Wrestling ' was a regional professional wrestling promotion headquartered in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. Originally owned by promoter Ed McLemore, by 1966 it was run by Southwest Sports, Inc., whose president, Jack Adkisson, was better known as wrestler Fritz Von Erich...
- NWA American Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Iceman Parsons