"The Smartest Man In Wrestling" Nick Bockwinkel Quiz

Answer: University of Oklahoma

Nick Bockwinkel accepted a football scholarship to play fullback at the University of Oklahoma. After sustaining a multiple knee injuries, Bockwinkel had his football scholarship revoked after his sophomore season.

Bockwinkel transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles to continue his education. To make money to pay for tuition, Bockwinkel became a part-time professional wrestler. After serving in the United States Army for two years, Bockwinkel became a full-time professional wrestler.

Answer: Warren Bockwinkel and Lou Thesz

After leaving the University of Oklahoma, Nick Bockwinkel was trained for a career as a professional wrestler by his father Warren Bockwinkel. Before Nick Bockwinkel became a full-time professional wrestler, he received professional wrestling training from Lou Thesz.

Answer: Bobby "the Brain" Heenan

In 1970, Nick Bockwinkel joined the American Wrestling Association and was paired with manager Bobby Heenan. The pair were known to use long words used in their promos. At this point in his career, Bobby Heenan insisted on having the nickname "the Brain" while Nick Bockwinkel insisted on using the nickname "the Smartest Man In Wrestling". Under Heenan's guidance, Bockwinkel held multiple championships in the American Wrestling Association.

Answer: Ray Stevens

Under the guidance of Bobby "the Brain" Heenan, Ray Stevens and Nick Bockwinkel won the American Wrestling Association World Tag Team Championship three times between 1972 and 1976. The tag team split after after a disagreement between Stevens and Heenan during an award ceremony.

Answer: Verne Gagne

On November 8, 1975, Nick Bockwinkel upset Verne Gagne and won the American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Championship in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Gagne's reign as the American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Champion lasted over seven years.

On May 19, 1981, Nick Bockwinkel became the American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Champion for a second time. Verne Gagne forfeited the American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Championship when he retired as a professional wrestler. In spite of the fans' objection, the unpopular Bockwienkel was awarded the American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Championship upon Gagne's retirement.

Answer: Hulk Hogan

Nick Bockwinkel defended the American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Championship against Hulk Hogan on April 18, 1982. Hogan pinned Bockwinkel and appeared to have "won" the championship. Hogan used brass knuckles in the match. The American Wrestling Association President Stanley Blackburn reversed the decision and returned the championship back to Bockwinkel.

Nick Bockwinkel defended the American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Championship against Hulk Hogan again on April 24, 1983. Again, Hogan pinned Bockwinkel and appeared to have "won" the championship. Since Bockwinkel had been thrown over the top rope during the match, American Wrestling Association President Stanley Blackburn reversed the decision and gave the championship back to Bockwinkel. The arena nearly erupted into a riot as a result of the decision.

Answer: Nobody

On June 28, 1986, Stan Hansen was scheduled to defend the American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Championship against Nick Bockwinkel. Hansen refused to lose the title to Bockwinkel that night as Hansen had several unsanctioned title defenses scheduled in Japan.

Hansen did not appear for his title defense against Nick Bockwinkel on June 28, 1986. Hansen was stripped of the American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Championship that night and Bockwinkel was awarded the championship. Since Hansen was still in possession of the championship belt, he ran over the belt with his truck and then returned the damaged belt to the American Wrestling Association.

Answer: Dory Funk, Junior

Dory Funk, Junior and Nick Bocwinkel faced each other at the 1993 World Championship Wrestling's "Slamboree: A Legends' Reunion" event. The match was a time limit draw.

Answer: yes

In 1968, Bockwinkel appeared as a contestant on a prime-time version of the game show "Hollywood Squares". In 1969, Bockwinkel played Harry in the episode "Savage Sunday" of the show "Hawaii Five-O". In 1967, Bockwinkel played a wrestler in the "I Was a 99-Pound Weakling" episode of the television series "The Monkees".

Answer: The American Wrestling Association Hall of Fame

The American Wrestling Association did not have a Hall of Fame in which Nick Bockwinkel could be inducted.

Nick Bockwinkel was inducted into the "Wrestling Observer Newsletter" Hall of Fame in 1996, into the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2007, and into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2003. Nick Bockwinkel was awarded the "Pro Wrestling Illustrated" magazine "Stanley Weston Award" in 2007.