Curt Hennig

Title History

N.W.A. Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title w/Larry Hennig defeating Rip Oliver & Matt Borne (April 27, 1982);
N.W.A. Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title defeating Sheik Abdullah Ali Hassan (December 7, 1982);
N.W.A. Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title w/Buddy Rose defeating Rip Oliver & The Assassin (August 30, 1983);
N.W.A. Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title w/Pat McGhee defeating Dynamite Kid & The Assassin (December 23, 1983);
AWA World Tag Team Titles w/Scott Hall defeating Steve Regal & Jim Garvin (January 18, 1986);
AWA World Heavyweight Title defeating Nick Bockwinkle (May 2, 1987);
WWF Intercontinental Championship (April 23, 1990)
WWF Intercontinental Championship, defeating Texas Tornado (August 27, 1990)
AWA World Heavyweight Title defeating Kerry von Erich (November 19, 1990);
WCW United States Title defeats Steve McMichael (September 15, 1997);
WCW World Tag Team Titles w/Barry Windham defeating Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko (February 21, 1999);
Superstars of Wrestling Title (1st) defeating Brutus Beefcake (July 28, 2000);
MEWF (Main Event Wrestling Federation) Heavyweight Title (1st) by default (Summer 2001);
FOW (Future of Wrestling) Title defeating Bruno Sassi (December 14, 2002);

Career Highlights

In the Beginning

Curt Hennig was born on March 28, 1958 and grew up in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis..
Curt attended Robbinsdale High School in Minnesota..
~~~Graduated the same year as Brady Boone, Tom Zenk and Rick Rude, and shortly before John Nord, Nikita Koloff & Barry Darsow..
Curt Hennig was great friends with Rick Rude and remained friends during their wrestling careers..
Curt Hennig played football at the University of Minnesota, where he injured his knee, and ended up rehabbing with Verne Gagne..
1979: Hennig begin his career competing primarily in Wisconsin, Colorado, and Canada..
1981: Hennig had a short stint with the WWF as a jobber to the stars..

NWA: Pacific Northwest Wrestling

Hennig worked extentensively for an organization called NWA-Pacific Northwest run by Don Owens..
Hennig formed a tag team with his father, Larry "the Axe" Hennig, and they were known as "The Axe Attack"..
April 27, 1982: Hennig captured the Pacific Northwest Tag Team titles with Larry Hennig from Rip Oliver & Matt Borne..
May 10, 1983: Hennig defeated Sheik Abdullah Ali Hassen for the Pacific Coast title in Portland, OR..
November 5, 1983: Hennig captured the Pacific Northwest Tag Team titles with Buddy Rose from Rip Oliver & The Assassin..
December 23, 1983: Hennig captured the Pacific Northwest Tag Team titles with Pat McGhee from Dynamite Kid & The Assassin..

American Wrestling Association

1984: Curt Hennig signs with Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association in Minnesoda..
May 21, 1985 - Pacific Northwest 60th Anniversary: Curt & Larry Hennig beat the Road Warriors (AWA Tag Champs) via DQ..
September 28, 1985 - SuperClash: Hennig, Scott Hall & Greg Gagne defeated Ray Stevens, Nick Bockwinkel, and Larry Zbysko..
December 12, 1985: Hennig & Nick Bockwinkle beat Isamu Teranishi & Masanobu Kurisu in Tokyo, Japan..
January 18, 1986: Hennig & Scott Hall defeated Steve Regal & Jim Garvin for the AWA World Tag Team titles..
April 20, 1986 - WrestleRock: Curt Hennig & Scott Hall beat Bill & Scott Irwin to retain the AWA World Tag Team titles..
April 28, 1986 - AWA/NWA Rage in a Cage: Scott Hall & Curt Hennig defeated Konga the Barbarian & Boris Zuhkov to retain..
June 28, 1986 - AWA Battle by the Bay: The Midnight Rockers & Curt Hennig defeated Buddy Rose, Doug Somers & Alexis Smirnoff..
December 25, 1986 - AWA Brawl in St. Paul: Nick Bockwinkle defeated Curt Hennig by Disqualification to retain the title..
May 2, 1987 - AWA SuperClash II: Hennig defeated Nick Bockwinkel for the AWA World Title with help from Larry Zbyszko..
~~~The title was held up and upon review was awarded to Hennig eleven days later..
April 16, 1988 - AWA Rage in a Cage II: Steel Cage Match: Wahoo McDaniel defeated Curt Hennig (8:00) in a "steel cage" match..
May of 1988: Jerry "the King" Lawler defeated Curt Hennig for the AWA World Heavyweight title..

World Wrestling Federation - Mr Perfect

1988: Curt Hennig arrived in the World Wrestling Federation and was sattled with the "Mr. Perfect" gimmick..
July 31, 1988 - Wrestlefest: Curt Hennig (not yet billed as Mr Perfect) pinned Terry Taylor..
November 24, 1988 - Survivor Series: Mr Perfect competes on Andre The Giant's team going up against Hulk Hogan's team..
January 7, 1989 - SNME: Mr Perfect defeats Koko B. Ware..
April 2, 1989 - Wrestlemania V: Mr Perfect defeats the Blue Blazer (Owen Hart)..
August 28, 1989 - Summerslam: Mr Perfect defeats the Red Rooster..
November 23, 1989 - Survivor Series: Mr Perfect is the sole survivor in his match against Roddy Piper's team..
November 25, 1989 - SNME: Mr. Perfect pinned Red Rooster..
April 1, 1990 - Wrestlemania VI: Brutus Beefcake over Mr. Perfect..
April 23, 1990: Mr. Perfect defeated Tito Santana at the end of a Battle Royal to capture the vacant Intercontinental title..
Mr Perfect announces Bobby "the Brain" Heenan as his 'perfect' Manager..
April 28, 1990 - SNME: Hulk Hogan pinned Mr. Perfect..
July 28, 1990 - SNME: Mr Perfect defeated Tito Santana to retain the IC Title..
August 27, 1990 - Summerslam: The Texas Tornado (Kerry von Erich) defeats Mr Perfect to win the IC Title..
October 30, 1990 - The Main Event: Mr. Perfect beat Big Boss Man via countout..
November 19, 1990: Mr. Perfect captured his second Intercontinental title from the Texas Tornado Kerry Von Erich..
November 22, 1990 - Survivor Series: Mr Perfect teamed with Demolition vs Ultimate Warrior, Kerry von Erich & Legion of Doom..
March 24, 1991 - Wrestlemania VII: Big Bossman defeated Mr Perfect by DQ - Perfect retains IC title..
April 27, 1991 - SNME: Mr Perfect wins a big Battle Royal..
Mr Perfect suffers a back injury while wrestling in the ring, but Vince McMahon asks to wrestle one more match and drop the title..
August 26, 1991 - Summerslam: Bret Hart defeats Mr Perfect to win the IC title in a classic wrestling match..
1992: Mr Perfect served both as Ric Flair’s executive consultant and as a WWF commentator..
August 29, 1992 - Summerslam: Mr Perfect & Ric Flair interfer constantly in a match between Ultimate Warrior vs Randy Savage..
September 1, 1992: Mr. Perfect interfered in a WWF title match that assisted Ric Flair in winning the WWF title..
Mr Perfect eventually broke loose from Ric Flair's entorage and fueded with the Nature Boy..
November 24, 1992 - Survivor Series: Randy Savage & Mr. Perfect over Ric Flair & Razor Ramon by DQ..
January 24, 1993 - Royal Rumble: Mr Perfect eliminates Ric Flair from the Royal Rumble match..
January 25, 1993 - RAW: Mr Perfect defeated Ric Flair in a loser-leaves-wwf match..
Wrestlemania IX: Lex Luger defeats Mr Perfect..
April, 11, 1993 - UK Rampage: Mr. Perfect pinned Samu..
June 13, 1993 - King of the Ring: Bret Hart defeats Mr Perfect in the second round in yet another classic wrestling match..
August 30, 1993 - Summerslam: Shawn Michaels defeats Mr Perfect by COUNT OUT to retain the IC title..
Summer 1993: Hennig seriously injures his back and he receives compensation from Lloyds of London insurance company..
March 20, 1994 - Wrestlemania X: Mr Perfect refereed a match between Lex Luger vs Yokozuna, DQing Luger in the process..

World Wrestling Federation - The Mentor

Mr Perfect returned to the World Wrestling Federation in a managerial roll, seeking out the "Perfect" protege..
October 21, 1996: Mr Perfect double crossed Marc Mero and helped Hunter Hearst Helmsley to capture the Intercontinental title..
Mr Perfect began training for his in-ring-comback in the World Wrestling Federation..
Mr Perfect has a contract dispute with the WWF and suddenly leaves for World Championship Wrestling..

World Championship Wrestling

July 1997: Hennig appears on the scene as a hot "prospect" trying to be recruited by both the Four Horsemen & the nWo..
Bash at the Beach 1997: Scott Hall & Randy Savage defeated Curt Hennig & Diamond Dallas Page when Hennig turns on DDP..yu
August 9, 1997 - Road Wild: Curt Hennig defeated Diamond Dallas Page..
August 21, 1997 - Clash of the Champions XXXV: Hennig & Ric Flair defeated Syxx & Konnan..
August 25, 1997: Arn Anderson retires from the Horsemen and offers his spot to Curt Hennig..
~~~Hennig proudly replies, "It would be a honor"..
September 12, 1999 - Fall Brawl: Hennig turned his back on the Horsemen and joined the new World order during the War Games match..
September 15, 1997 - Nitro: Hennig defeated Steve "Mongo" McMichael for the United States Heavyweight title..
October 26, 1997 - Halloween Havoc: Curt Hennig defeated Ric Flair by DQ to retain the US title..
November 23, 1997 - World War III: Curt Hennig defeated Ric Flair by pinfall to retain the US title..
December 28, 1997 - Starrcade: Diamond Dallas Page defeated Curt Hennig to win the US title..
April 19, 1998 - Spring Stampede: Curt Hennig defeats Davey Boy Smith..
July 12, 1998 - Bash at the Beach: Bill Goldberg defeated Curt Hennig to retain the World title..
September 13, 1998 - Fall Brawl: Dean Malenko defeated Curt Hennig by Disqualification..

After the nWo dispanded, Curt Hennig formed a new faction called the West Texas Rednecks..
~~~The group (Hennig/Duncum/Windhams) recorded their own entrance theme, "Rap Is Crap"..
January 17, 1999 - Souled Out: Ric & David Flair beat Barry Windham & Curt Hennig..
February 21, 1999 - Superbrawl: Hennig & Barry Windham defeated Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko for the WCW World Tag Team title..
June 14, 1999 - Great American Bash: Hennig requested Master P.’s autograph, but threw the CD down to enrage his entourage..
~~~Later that night, Konnan & Rey Mysterio Jr. beat Curt Hennig & Bobby Duncum Jr..
July 11, 1999 - Bash at the Beach: No Limit Soldiers (Konnan/Rey/Armstrong/Swoll) beat West Texas Rednecks (Hennig/Duncum/Windhams)..
December 19, 1999 - Starrcade: Creative Control & Curt Henning defeated Harlem Heat & Midnight..
May 7, 2000 - Slamboree: Shawn Stasiak defeated Curt Hennig..
Summer 2000: Hennig's WCW contract expires..

The Independent Scene

July 28, 2000: Hennig defeated Brutus Beefcake to become the first Superstars of Wrestling champion..
Summer 2001: Hennig was recognized as the first MEWF (Main Event Wrestling Federation) champion.
2001: Hennig wrestled Dennis Rodman on an Independant show in Australia..
Late 2001: Hennig briefly appeared in the short-lived Jimmy Hart Xtreme Wrestling Federation promotion..
Hennig also made appearances in 3PW, IPW and Dusty Rhodes's Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling..

World Wrestling Federation - Mr Perfect Returns

Royal Rumble 2002: Mr Perfect returns to the World Wrestling Federation to participate in the Royal Rumble match..
~~~This was officially a one night only contract, to participate in the annual Royal Rumble match..
~~~Mr Perfect registers an impressive performance, being the 3rd last wrestler eliminated..
~~~WWF management was so impressed with Perfect that they are considering a more long term contract offer..
Mr Perfect does indeed sign with the WWF and appears on RAW the night after the Rumble..
Mr Perfect gets into an angle with Stone Cold Steve Austin, who smashes Perfect's head in with another Chairshot..
Wrestlemania X-8 - HEAT MATCH: Scotty/Albert/Rikishi defeat Perfect/Storm/Test in a Six-Man-Tag Match..
April 1, 2002 - RAW: Mr Perfect teams with the Big Bossman and are defeated by The Hardy Boyz..
May 8, 2002 - Mr Perfect is released from his WWE contract after an incident on the Plane Trip from Hell..
~~~Apparantly, Hennig got juiced up and had an altercation with Brock Lesnar, the biggest up-and-comer in the WWF at the time..

NWA: Total Nonstop Action

October 9, 2002 - NWA:TNA: Syxx/James/Hennig defeats Killings/Jarrett/Lawler (Hennig debuts pinning World Champion Killings)..
October 16, 2002 - NWA:TNA: Ron Killings pins Curt Hennig to retain the World title after Jeff Jarrett (and many others) interfer..
October 23, 2002 - NWA^TNA: Ron Killings pins Curt Hennig again to retain the World title with distraction from Mr Wrestling III..
October 30, 2002 - NWA^TNA: Curt Hennig is defeated by Jeff Jarrett in the #1 Contenders Tourniment..
November 27, 2002 - NWA^TNA: Brian Lee & Slash defeat BG James & Curt Hennig by DQ to retain..
December 11, 2002 - NWA^TNA: Jeff Jarrett defeated Curt Hennig to retain the NWA World title..
December 14, 2002--Future of Wrestling: Curt Hennig b Bruno Sassi to win Future of Wrestling title..
January 8, 2003 - NWA:TNA: Curt Hennig defeats David Flair..

The Death of a Wrestling Legend

February 10, 2003: Curt Hennig suddenly passes away at the age of 44 in Tampa..
~~~Hennig was in town for a show being promoted by Jimmy Hart at the Tampa State Fairgrounds tonight..
~~~Hennig was seen alive at 9:30 a.m. by Mickey Jay in his room, but a few hours later when he failed to show up at the gym..
~~~A workout partner went back to the room and he was found passed out at about 1 p.m..
~~~Hennig was officially pronounced dead a short time later..
March 25, 2003: Tampa Coroner's office & Tampa Medical Examiner's office reports that Hennig died of "acute cocaine intoxication".

There's no doubt in my mind.....he's in.

I'd say he's an easy yes. While never a top guy he was a fixture in the upper-card of the WWF for years. He held the I.C. Title when it actually meant something and I'd say he was a Top 10 worker during his WWF run.

10000% hell Yes, but I'll have an explanation later since I'm not in the position to say detailed why just now. (thumbs through Playboy).

Ah, finally one I can agree with everyone else on. I'd definitely say he's in, though the booking for him during his prime ryn in WWF wasn't great. He had somewhat of a glass ceiling in Hogan's WWF.

2 things people should always keep in mind about Hennig.

1)He was a former AWA WORLD champion.

2)He actually holds a win over Hogan (although its count out), when Hogan didn't lose to ANYONE.....even by count out.

If anyone has any doubts, watch Hart vs Perfect from SummerSlam when his back was fucked six ways from Sunday.

Perfect must've been on some serious pain killers in that match. He was bumping around harder in that match than any other in 1991.

Absolutely.


Then go watch his KOTR match in 93 with Bret - it's just as awesome as Summerslam

I'll one up you DAVE. The KOTR match is WAY better.....

I have a feeling he's going to be one of the few guys we all agree on.

10-0... no way he can lose.

11-0 now so he's in since we usually get 14 votes for this.

So far...

Bruno got voted "yes" by a good majority, but a few nay-sayers.
Brody got a lot of No
Sting made it by 1.7% or something.
Hennig with a Perfect Tally :)

Hennig, you just can't deny his wrestling ability. He goes down as one of my favourite wrestlers of all-time. He's one of the "Should've Been WWF Title" holders...or at least could've been.

They don't call him "Mr. Perfect" for nothing :)

Though I think it's great that he's received 100% support, I do miss the debates from the other threads. Perhaps my next nomination will be a bit more controversial ;)

As long as it's someone I hate. I'm not good with butt kissing.

You have to be joking, you don't consider what you say about Hogan and Kane to be butt-kissing :P

Deserved Positive Outlook... and Hennig is 13-0! (dances)

To be contrarian I'm gonna ruin that and vote "no." ;-)

He was great, but I don't think he has the longevity or body of great matches to be a HOFer. He had three great matches...with Bret Hart. Kevin Nash had three great matches with Bret Hart.

You obviously have not seen the majority of his work.

... You have got to be fucking kidding me. Have you EVER watched a WWF show from 1988-1993? Or even an AWA show from the mid-late 80's? Or anything before he seriously fucked up his back?

Cool! A dissenting opinion!

However, he also had agreat match with Bockwinkle that I'm aware of, and a very good match with Hulk Hogan that I'm aware of. On the work scale, I'd place him a lot closer to Bret Hart than Kevin Nash.

I completely disagree. Up until his back injury he was having the most consistently good matches on WWF tv. He was even still managing to have good matches even after the back injury.

I'd also like to bring up that his back was fucked six ways to Sunday during his Summerslam match with Bret Hart and he still held up his end of the match very well.

(realizes I was wrong with the end comment that was rightfully taken out, but it was a joke :))

But how can someone say Hennig didn't have gret matches? Thats like me saying Kane can carry anyone to great match. It's just so wrong...

I think RAY could be working us here......I know he's seen enough of Hennig to make a justified opinion.

Maybe he's just playing devil's advacate here....

Who's Ray? The one who thinks someones opinion can be wrong (despite not being facts and thus holding no water of doing so) or the person who gives every match a ** or less rating?

When's he coming back? This thread needs a good debate like the Sting one had.

Oh there's no debate... Curt Hennig is lightyears better than all the previous nominees combined in terms of workrate. If we're going by drawing power, not so, but still...

Ray is Benoit is God. I think you may be thinking of someone else though Scrooge, Ray's actually very knowledgable about wrestling.

So he's not the same "Ray" on another "certain" message board who seemed to argue over "opinions" on a bi-weekly basis?

Yes, I overused "quotes" intentionally.

Does it matter either way? As long as he's not flaming anyone why bother getting mad over what he says?

I'm not... but come on... that was one of the worst comments to describe Curt Hennig I've ever read, and I've seen the GameFAQs message boards.

It'd probably help if he was currently here for a more flowing debate instead of one paragraph.

Ok, that's enough Scrooge. I've spoken with Ray before and I've read enough of his posting at smarkschoice. He's another person that knows their wrestling and I'd want him posting here. So just drop it, or at least ask him to explain himself before you get your fucking undies in a bunch.

I think he's Ray Charles, cause it's obvious he didn't see those Curt Hennig matches.
* ba-dah-duh-boom-BAH!*

Seriously though, it's possible that he just doesn't dig Hennig. DK thinks Angle is overrated for God's sakes!

I think it's one of three things.

1) Hasn't seen much of his work

2) playing Devil's advocate like DK said.

3) Going more kayfabe, where Hennig just wasn't a huge star.

Hopefully he'll pop back in and let us know.

Thats the problem.. BiG shows up once a month (on average) so it's kinda hard to keep an argument going. Angle is Over-rated though, and I've given up explaining why.

We could always hang BBCW from a hook by his underwear.

I don't wear underwear. I'm out there and loving every minute of it. :D

We could always hang him by his neck.....that works too you know.