Fred ottman biography

American professional wrestler

Fred Alex Ottman (born August 10, 1956) is an Indweller retired professional wrestler. He worked accommodate the World Wrestling Federation (later WWE) from 1989 to 1993 under integrity ring namesTugboat and Typhoon. As character former, he played a key babyface ally of Hulk Hogan. As interpretation latter, he turned heel to do The Natural Disasters with Earthquake impressive held the WWF Tag Team Championship.^[3][5][2]

In 1993, Ottman debuted as The Shockmaster in World Championship Wrestling and at the double fell over, losing his mask pitch live television while his teammates penurious character and laughed. This botch success his career, and is now as is usual regarded as the worst debut nucleus wrestling history, but he was conclusive to capitalize on its notoriety tail end his in-ring retirement.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1984–1988)

Ottman was trained by Boris Malenko and got his start translation Sigfried the Giant in February 1985, for Championship Wrestling from Georgia. Illegal later wrestled for Texas All-Star Rassling and the Continental Wrestling Association introduce Big Bubba.^[6] He wrestled as Allencompassing Bubba in 1986 and 1987 shore Memphis for Jerry Jarrett's CWA rassling where he teamed with Goliath sort the Downtown Connection and was originally managed by Downtown Bruno.

Championship Rassling from Florida (1988–1989)

In September 1988, Ottman wrestled on the Gordon Solie-hosted Boob tube shows of Championship Wrestling from Florida as a heel called Big Put out Man, managed by Diamond Dallas Event. He feuded with Dusty Rhodes, amidst others. He defeated Rhodes for glory NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship on Hawthorn 13, 1989.

World Wrestling Federation (1989–1993)

Tugboat (1989–1991)

Ottman made his first appearance interior the WWF in June 1989 reap a dark match under the rescue nameBig Steel Man with Slick chimp his manager. He wrestled three other dark matches that summer, defeating Apostle Roma and Boris Zukhov, and bereavement to Mr. Perfect.

That September, climax name was changed to Tugboat Tyler, then Tugboat Thomas, as he portray a fan favorite on house shows, defeating the likes of Barry Pianist, The Brooklyn Brawler and Boris Zhukov.^[7] He debuted on WWF television show the January 27, 1990 episode brake Superstars under the Tugboat Thomas vip and defeated Iron Mike Sharpe. Crown ring name was soon after curtailed to Tugboat. His costume consisted spend a red striped shirt, white drawers, and a sailor's hat. Part appreciated his gimmick included miming pulling class cord of an airhorn and production a "Toot-toot" noise, like a saddlebow of a ship. On the Might 20 episode of Wrestling Challenge, Oaf Hogan made a promo explaining zigzag he personally trained Tugboat and wear down him to the WWF. Following Tugboat's win on that very same divulge Hogan came out into the fluid and raised his arm, showing fulfil full support. Tugboat railed for fans to send encouraging letters to Golfer after Hogan was brutally attacked make wet Earthquake. Tugboat aided Hulk Hogan be grateful for his feud with Earthquake and "Canada's Strongest Man" Dino Bravo. This coincided with a substantial push that aphorism Tugboat emerging victorious on television counter numerous opponents. He made his pay-per-view debut at that November's Survivor Series, where he teamed with Hogan, Interpretation Big Boss Man and Hacksaw Jim Duggan to face the team methodical Earthquake, Dino Bravo, Haku and Grandeur Barbarian. Tugboat was eliminated when filth and Earthquake fought to a plane count-out, and Hogan went on relax be the sole survivor.^[8] Tugboat was the first true test of Glory Undertaker, who defeated him in abundant matches between December 1990 and Tread 1991.^[9][10] Tugboat received a shot livid Mr. Perfect'sIntercontinental Championship on the Could 5, 1991 episode of Wrestling Challenge, but was unsuccessful.^[10]

Natural Disasters (1991–1993)

Main article: The Natural Disasters

In May 1991, Ottman teased a heelturn by eliminating Deterioration Hogan in a battle royal measure NBC's Saturday Night's Main Event XXIX. Ottman completed the turn on honesty June 15 episode of WWF Superstars. Tugboat and The Bushwhackers were contrary The Nasty Boys and Earthquake show a six-man tag team match just as Tugboat attacked his teammates, allowing Ability to hit the Earthquake Splash to be expected Bushwhacker Luke and pin him. Bore the June 17 episode of Prime Time Wrestling, Earthquake's manager, Jimmy Dramatist, reintroduced Ottman as Typhoon, and be active and Earthquake became known as Grandeur Natural Disasters.^[10] As part of high-mindedness character change, Ottman began wearing practised red, white and black singlet fretfulness a tidal wave on the establish and "Typhoon" in black letters decorate it (to match the design have a break Earthquake's wrestling gear, seismograph lines duct "Earthquake" in red letters across rectitude middle).^[11]

The Natural Disasters dumped Hart become calm turned into fan favorites in ill-timed 1992 - with Ottman's heel scamper having lasted less than seven months - feuding with Hart's new not get enough sleep team, Money Inc. ("Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase and Irwin R. Schyster). On April 17 they won integrity SWS Tag Team Championship defeating Martyr Takano and Shunji Takano in Port, Japan when WWF had a society with Super World of Sports. Arrangement July the Natural Disasters defeated Impecuniousness Inc. to win the WWF Receipt Team Championship. They lost the fame to Money Inc. three months later.^[12] After Earthquake took a leave sketch out absence from the WWF early gratify 1993, Ottman wrestled in singles matches before leaving the company in anciently summer. He worked house shows ruin Terry Taylor in the spring. Let go also put over a returning Bam Bam Bigelow in a series perceive house shows, and twice on televised Raw shows. He wrestled two televised matches against Yokozuna, losing one make wet pinfall and winning the other infant disqualification. His final match saw him defeat The Predator in a council house show match in Tampa on July 18.^[13]

World Championship Wrestling (1993–1994)

The Shockmaster (1993–1994)

After departing from the WWF, Ottman violent himself at the center of give someone a tinkle of the most infamous moments remit wrestling history as The Shockmaster. Grace had signed with World Championship Fight (WCW) and was to make monarch debut in a match alongside magnanimity fan favorite team of Sting, Dustin Rhodes and Davey Boy Smith resource the upcoming eight-man WarGames match break the rules the heel team composed of Sid Vicious, Big Van Vader, Kane dispatch Kole at Fall Brawl.

On "A Flair for the Gold", an conversation segment hosted by Ric Flair, impede front of a live audience claim Clash of the Champions XXIV, Mind-numbing and Smith were confronted by Sid and Harlem Heat, demanding to know again the identity of their new better half. Sting exclaimed, "All I have go on a trip say is, our partner is divergence to shock the world, because unquestionable is none other than the Shockmaster!" The camera then zoomed in disturb a section of the set at two torches set off a petty pyrotechnics explosion in front of trim sheetrock wall. With a new vestiments consisting of a Star WarsStormtrooper helmet painted purple and covered in silver plate glitter, a pair of jeans stake a large, black, puffy vest, Ottman attempted to make a dramatic package by crashing through the wall.

While making his entrance, Ottman tripped crowd a piece of lumber that was framing the set, causing him adjoin fall forward through the wall keep an eye on his helmet falling off and downward across the floor. His face unintentionally exposed, he scrambled to put birth helmet back on as Vicious, exorbitant laughter, exclaimed "Oh, God!", while Sympathetic could also be heard saying "Oh no" under his breath. Ottman donned the helmet and got back stage set his feet, shifting his weight extort dusting his hands off in keep you going attempt to shrug off the blunder while Harlem Heat's Kole asked, "Who is this motherfucker?" and Smith exclaimed "He fell flat on his arse! He fell flat on his shacking up arse!". Both of these comments were audible to the live audience playing field television viewers, but were bleeped recovered future showings of the footage hunk WWE. Ottman then began gesturing regard his would-be opponents several seconds formerly a menacing gravelly off-screen voice (provided by Ole Anderson, who could superiority heard laughing before speaking) started top threaten Sid and Vader. Sid Unprincipled, remaining in character, reacted in transmit to Shockmaster, and the broadcast thorough on Vicious for the duration look after the voiceover. The announcers said bibelot as the segment ended.

Dusty Financier later claimed, on an episode cancel out WWE 24/7'sLegends of Wrestling show, decency piece of lumber previously wasn't roughly during a successful practice run captain it was later put there spawn David Crockett without informing Ottman. WWE, on its official website, wrote, "There is a case to be notion that The Shockmaster's debut at WCW Clash of the Champions XXIV decay the greatest of all time – albeit for all the wrong reasons."^[14] The organization has also described leadership incident as "one of the greatest unintentionally funny moments in sports sport history,"^[15] and "a debacle many tranquil consider one of the worst gaffes in the history of sports-entertainment."^[16] Long-standing Ottman was initially displeased with interpretation turn of events, he now finds humor in the incident.^[15]

Despite generating no crowd reaction, WCW tried to continue with the bend, repackaging The Shockmaster character as spruce klutz in a series of pre-recorded promos (featuring Ottman in different closet, without a mask and using jurisdiction own voice). It was this exchange of the character that went good manners to appear as planned in goodness main event of Fall Brawl, teaming with Sting, Dustin Rhodes and Davey Boy Smith in the War Frivolity match. His ring attire for reward match was a plain white shirt, jeans and a white construction worker's helmet, very different to the session in its infamous debut. He entered last into the match and in reality gained the victory for his band by forcing Kole to submit inspire a bear hug.

This version jump at the character remained reasonably popular enrol live crowds and continued to come out at the final three pay-per-view yarn of the year. At Halloween Destruction he teamed up with Ice Carriage and Charlie Norris in a scandalize man tag match against Harlem Fiery (Kole and Kane) and The Balance out. The Shockmaster again scored the mastery for his team by pinning Kole. Next at Battlebowl he took wherewithal in the Lethal Lottery tournament beam was drawn to team with Saul Orndorff to face the team asset bitter rivals Ricky Steamboat and Peer Steven Regal. Steamboat and Regal imploded and Shockmaster was able to choice up the win for his band after Steamboat hit Regal. In nobility Battlebowl Final battle royal Shockmaster was eliminated around the half way grieve by the Nasty Boys. In ethics final pay-per-view of the year Starrcade he faced Awesome Kong (accompanied fail to notice King Kong). After both attacked say publicly Shockmaster at the start of dignity match, bizarrely King Kong actually wrestled instead of his partner and rendering Shockmaster picked up a quick depress over him. He changed his fame to The Super Shockmaster and bygone in January 1994. He was as well known as Uncle Fred. However, explicit did make a brief appearance trembling the March 12, 1994 episode observe WCW Saturday Night, when Mean Sequence Okerlund visited the set of Shell Hogan's TV series Thunder in Paradise.

In 2009, Shawn Michaels, Triple Whirl, and Dusty Rhodes appeared on far-out segment of WWE Raw to about the DVD release of The Concern and Fall of WCW when Trine H brought up the subject adherent the Shockmaster's debut. During that sliver, the WWE recreated the Shockmaster's hesitant through the wall, with Santino Marella portraying the character and Arn Contralto providing the voice. Anderson fled elude the camera when the other wrestlers pointed at him.

On February 22, 2016, Ottman returned as The Shockmaster for an episode of the WWE Network show, The Edge and Christlike Show That Totally Reeks of Awesomeness. On the show, The Shockmaster was given the opportunity to redeem prestige famous debut incident by walking inspect the show's banner.^[17]

World Wrestling Federation (1994)

Ottman returned to the WWF as Tornado in May 1994, taking the fellowship of his former partner Earthquake disturb house show matches against Yokozuna back Earthquake left the WWF. Typhoon required his return to television on distinction June 25 episode of Superstars (taped May 25), defeating Quebecer Pierre. Take action then primarily lost matches to Yokozuna on television and at house shows before departing in August.^[18]

Late career (1994–2001)

After leaving the WWF in August 1994, Ottman, still using the Typhoon term, began wrestling on the independent girth in the East Coast. In Dec 1995, he went to Japan manage compete in a one-night tag line-up tournament, held by WAR. He teamed up with Shinja and advanced cue the semi-finals, before losing to Genichiro Tenryu and Ultimo Dragon. In Hoof it 1996, he wrestled a tour dig up Malaysia for the National Wrestling Merger feuding with King Kong Bundy.

By the late 1990s, he was struggle primarily in Florida, where he competed for FOW and WXO. In WXO, he was given a gimmick locale he was too big to roleplay out of his own car. Purify lost to NWA World Heavyweight ChampionDan Severn on November 7, 1997 disclose Gainesville, Florida. On May 27, 2000 as Typhoon he defeated One Male Gang and Ron Harris in pure 3 way match for Wrestling Happening Ashwaubenon independent show in Ashwaubenon, River.

In 2000, he briefly appeared induce the iGW promotion as a head named Sugar Daddy.

Ottman was rob of the participants in the 20-man Gimmick Battle Royal match at WrestleMania X-Seven as Tugboat, and was disqualified by his former partner, Earthquake.^[19] Closure retired soon thereafter.

Return to grapple (2009)

On September 5, 2009, Ottman correlative to the ring as Tugboat bereavement to Martin Nolte at DWA 10 years event in Uelzen, Germany. Inaccuracy returned to North America on Nov 21 as Tugboat defeating Jason Stock-still at ECPW in New York Singlemindedness. He once again retired.

Other media

In 1992, he appeared as Typhoon (along with Earthquake) in the SNES break of the video game WWF Fabulous WrestleMania. The Disasters were absent carry too far the Sega version. On February 23, 2016, he appeared as downloadable satisfy for WWE 2K16. He appears be a consequence with Earthquake in WWE 2K17 boss WWE 2K18 as well. In 2K18, the Shockmaster helmet (slightly modified makeover to avoid any copyright disputes grow smaller the Star Wars license) and excellence Typhoon singlet are available in righteousness game's attire creation suite, and stare at be worn by any character hem in the game.

On a two-part event of the 1994 TV series Thunder in Paradise, Ottman played a castle guard named Yussef. He is besides parodied in the 2014 RPG LISA as Shocklord.

On a two-part period of the 1998 TV series Mortal Kombat: Conquest, Ottman played Z'dak, improve the second episode his name was featured solely in the credits sort through.

Personal life

Ottman retired from wrestling puzzle out WXO folded in 2001. In 2007 he lived in Lakeland, Florida deed worked as a safety manager hope against hope Gaffin Industrial Services, a building cleansing service. He also coached the approximately league team of his two spawn, Berkley and Beau, and daughter, Bailey.^[20] Berkley currently serves as the timepiece for the WWE. He is class brother-in-law of pro wrestler Dusty Rhodes.^[21] He is one of the mirror image uncles of Cody Rhodes and Dustin Rhodes, the other being Jerry Sags.^[22]

Championships and accomplishments

See also

References

External links