Wikipedia

Kendall Windham

Kendall Wayne Windham(born December 15, 1967) is an American retiredprofessional wrestlerbest known for his appearances withWorld Championship Wrestling.[1][2]He is the son ofBlackjack Mulliganand the brother ofBarry Windham.

Kendall Windham
Windham,c. 1986
Birth nameKendall Wayne Windham
Born(1967-12-15)December 15, 1967(age 57)
Sweetwater, Texas,U.S.[1]
Spouse(s)Phylis Windham
Children1
RelativesBlackjack Mulligan(father)
Barry Windham(brother)
Mike Rotunda(brother-in-law)
Bray Wyatt(nephew)
Bo Dallas(nephew)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Kendall Windham
Billed height6 ft 5 in (196 cm)[1]
Billed weight260 lb (118 kg)[1]
Trained byHiro Matsuda[1]
Jimmy Tanaka[1]
Pat Tanaka[1]
DebutJune 11, 1984[1]
Retired2002[1]

Professional wrestling career

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Championship Wrestling from Florida (1984–1987)

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Windham (right) vs.Barry Horowitz,c. 1986

Kendall Windham started wrestling in 1984 forChampionship Wrestling from Florida,making his debut on June 10 in Tampa, Florida, in a win over Jack Hart (Barry Horowitz).[3]He was very skinny but had the same moves and looks as his older brother,Barry.

Kendall (right) and his brotherBarry Windham,c. 1986

Kendall began his career facing and defeating Hart in various house show matches around the circuit. On June 23, 1985, the rookie competed in a tournament to crown theNWA Florida Heavyweight Champion,wrestlingRip Rogersto a draw. He remained undefeated until he was finally pinned by Jack Hart at a house show in Orlando, Florida.[3]Two months later he gained his first title, defeating Hart to win the Florida Heavyweight Championship on September 2, 1985, at theNWA Battle Of The Beltsin Tampa. Windham retained the title against Jack Hart in rematches, and cast as good guy (face) he teamed with his brother Barry to feud withRon BassandKevin Sullivan's "cult".[4]

On February 22, 1986, Kendall finally lost the Florida title toThe Cuban Assassin(Fidel Sierra) at a TV taping in Tampa.[5]The loss was avenged a few weeks later when Windham regained the title at another TV taping[6]on March 30, 1986, when he defeated The White Ninja (The Great Muta),[7]beginning a feud with the future superstar and partnerKendo Nagasaki.

In May 1986, the Florida title was vacated, but Kendall participated in a tournament to crown the next champion. He defeated the White Ninja andJerry Greyto regain the title for a third time on May 18, 1986, but lost the title to the Ninja three days later at a TV taping.[8]On June 9 he won the belt for a fourth time by defeating the White Ninja in a cage match in Orlando.[9]Kendall defended the championship successfully against the Ninja and Kendo Nagasaki before losing the title toRon Basson July 15, 1986.[10]

Kendall feuded with Ron Bass for the remainder of the summer of 1986 but was unable to regain the championship. On September 1, 1986, he facedChris Championfor theNWA Florida Bahamian Titleat theNWA Battle Of The Belts IIIevent in Daytona Beach, Florida, winning via disqualification.[11]He then resumed his feud with Kendo Nagasaki, defeating him in numerous house show matches in the fall of 1986. On December 12, 1986, he received his first ever shot at theNWA World Championship,wrestlingRic Flairin a loss at a house show in Tampa.[12]Kendall closed out the year teaming withVic Steamboatin a tournament to crown the vacantNWA Florida Tag-Team Championship,losing in the finals toThe New Breedon December 25, 1986.[13][14]

Windham and Steamboat were unsuccessful in rematches with the New Breed in January 1987, but they did defeatThe Sheepherdersand The Shock Troops (Ed Gantner&Kareem Muhammad) that month. He continued to wrestle for the CWF throughout the spring, and Kendall's final match came againstThe Tahitian Princein Jacksonville, Florida, on May 25, 1987.[15][16]

Jim Crockett Promotions / World Championship Wrestling (1987–1989)

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In 1987, he ventured to theNWA'sJim Crockett Promotions,making his debut on the June 2nd, 1987 taping ofWorldwide Wrestlingand defeatingThunderfoot #1.Three days later he sustained his first loss, falling toNWA Television ChampionTully Blanchardat a house show in Richmond, Virginia. Unlike his brother, Kendall found himself as an opening match wrestler on the house show circuit and lost toEddie GilbertandArn Anderson.On June 27, 1987, he teamed with Barry for the first time in JCP, facingThe Midnight Expressin a losing effort at a house show in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

That summer he began teaming withTodd Championand feuded withThe MOD Squad(Spike and Basher). The feud also carried over to a second partnership that he formed, this time withThe Italian Stallion.On August 29, 1987, the duo battled The MOD Squad to a time limit draw on NWA Worldwide. Windham also formed another team, this time withJimmy Valiantand competed frequently on the house show circuit. On the October 24, 1987, edition of Worldwide Wrestling, Kendall Windham challenged Lex Luger unsuccessfully for theNWA United States Championship.On December 1, 1987, he earned a non-title match againstNWA World Heavyweight ChampionRic Flair,but was pinned.[17]

Kendall entered 1988 mired in the preliminary ranks, losing toLarry Zbyszko,Arn Anderson,NWA Florida ChampionRick SteinerandThe Powers of Pain.On February 14, 1988 he teamed with the Stallion in a losing effort againstShaska Whatley&Tiger Conway Jr.inGreenville, North Carolina,after which the team went on hiatus. Two months later he formed a new tandem, this time withRicky Santanaand defeatedThe Sheepherders(Bushwhackers) via disqualification on April 8, 1988, at a house show in Houston, Texas. Less than two weeks later they made their televised debut, again defeating The Sheepherders via disqualification on the April 17th edition ofThe Main Event.A week later Santana and Windham beat The Sheepherders by pinfall on the Main Event.

Meanwhile he restarted his team with the Stallion again to enter the3rd Annual Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup,defeatingThe Terminatorand The Green Machine in the opening round via forfeit inGreenville, South Carolina.Windham and the Stallion fell in the second round toNWA Tag Team ChampionsArn Anderson & Barry Windham later that day.

On the May 1, 1988, edition ofThe Main Event,The Sheepherders gained a measure of revenge, as they teamed withRip Morganto defeat Windham, Santana, andJohnny Ace.On May 8, 1988, he subbed for Larry Zbyszko at a house show in Greenville, South Carolina, to take on partner Ricky Santana in a bout that went to a draw. After this Kendall resumed his team with Stallion, facing The Powers of Pain, The Midnight Express,The Varsity Club,and Larry Zbyszko &Al Perezthat summer. On July 10, 1988, he teamed withTim Hornerto fall to Rick Steiner &Dick Murdochin a pre-PPV match for the1988 Great American Bash(the match aired live on The Main Event). On August 20 Windham and Stallion finally gained a televised victory, beatingKeith Steinborn&Don ValentineonWorld Championship Wrestling.

Kendall Windham took a hiatus that fall, and when he returned in December it was with a new partner. On the December 10th edition ofWorld Championship Wrestling,he formed The Texas Broncos with another second-generation wrestler,Dustin Rhodes.The two young wrestlers facedThe Cruel Connectionin their debut match. They began facingThe Original Midnight Expresson the house show circuit, falling up short in each encounter. Meanwhile on television the Broncos remained undefeated, facing a variety of preliminary competition.[18][19]

In January 1989 on NWA Worldwide the Broncos suffered their first televised defeat, falling to Al Perez and Larry Zbyszko. This marked the final appearance for the Broncos, as Dustin Rhodes would soon depart for the newly formedProfessional Wrestling Federation.In a match aired on January 28, 1989, Kendall teamed withEddie Gilbertagainst his brother Barry andJ. J. Dillonof theFour Horsemen.[20]Kendall turned on Gilbert and joined Barry and held up the four fingers to the camera.[20]Before the next show, Dillon left for theWWFand the Horsemen name was dropped.[21]Kendall began teaming with Barry but his association with the Horsemen was short-lived.James J Dillonwould leave the promotion shortly thereafter. The Windhams and Flair were given a new manager,Hiro Matsuda,and a new stable name, "Yamasaki Corporation".[20]

On the March 18, 1989, edition ofWorld Championship Wrestling,Kendall teamed with Barry to defeat United States Champion Lex Luger andMichael Hayes;during the match, Hayes turned on his partner to join the Yamasaki Corporation. The stable would grow to includeButch Reedas well, although the group would not remain together for long.[22]Barry Windham would leave the promotion in March 1988, and following a loss to Lex Luger at a house show in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 20 he too would depart the NWA for Florida.[20][23]

Return to Championship Wrestling from Florida (1989–1990)

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On June 27, 1989, Windham won the FCW Heavyweight Championship from Dustin Rhodes. He obtained a new manager,Oliver Humperdink,and feuded with Rhodes. He soon left Humperdink forRobert Fuller'sStud Stableand by the end of 1989, was a member ofRon Slinker's "Strike Command". In 1990, he left Slinker and teamed with Fuller to win the Tag Team Titles, Upon losing them, they split and feuded.

World Championship Wrestling (1989–1990)

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Eight months after departing WCW for the PWF, Windham made his return to the Turner promotion. Appearing on the Dec 9, 1989, episode of World Championship Wrestling, he defeatedBob Ryder.The following week he defeatedTrent Knightand discussed his return to WCW. He next appeared on the Jan 6, 1990, edition of WCW Pro and was defeated byBrian Pillman.His final appearance came in a match againstTommy Richon Jan 16, 1990, at an event inCamp LeJune.[24]Windham decided to take a two year hiatus from wrestling, which happened to coincide with his 24 month federal prison sentence.

Various promotions (1992–1993)

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Windham returned to wrestling in 1992 for Florida's ICWA promotion where he feuded with Pat Tanaka and Kevin Sullivan.[25]He had put on some more weight in prison and was considered a heavyweight instead of a light heavyweight.

Later that year Kendall teamed withDan Spiveyfor a tour ofAll Japan Pro Wrestling.He made his debut for the promotion on Nov 14, 1992, in Omiya, Japan in a losing effort to theMiracle Violence Connection.Spivey and Windham competed in theAJPW Real World Tag League 1992event, and on Nov 17th defeatedDory Funk JrandTsuyoshi Kikuchi.On December 1, 1992, he teamed with Johnny Ace in a losing effort againstJoel DeatonandAndre the Giantin Ishikawa, Japan. The tour ended with Spivey and Windham facingBilly Blackand Joel Deaton on Dec 4th in Tokyo.

Windham returned to All Japan the following year to participate in theAJPW Summer Action Series 1993.He wrestled in multiple singles matches on the tour, facingJun Akiyama,Pete Roberts,andTakao Omori.On July 7, 1993, Windham teamed with Big Bubba (Big Bossman) to defeat Akira Taue & Takao Omori in Hyogo, Japan. Later that fall he participated in the AJPW Giant Series 1993, again teaming with Big Bossman as well asStan HansenandTed Dibiase.[26]

World Championship Wrestling (1993)

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Kendall returned toWCWon July 10, 1993, teaming withMark Starrto faceThe Hollywood BlondsonWCW Worldwide.[27]On the December 25th episode of Worldwide he teamed with an unknown wrestler to facePretty Wonderfulin an unsuccessful effort. At the same taping in Orlando, Florida, he was defeated byPaul Roma.[28][29]

Extreme Championship Wrestling (1995)

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Windham surfaced on January 14, 1995, inECW,defeatingHack Myersat a house show in Davie, Florida.[30]Two days later he defeated Prey of the Dead (Horace Hogan) at a show in Ft. Lauderdale.[31]

World Championship Wrestling (1997–1999)

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Windham returned to WCW on September 15, 1997. His head now shaved, he lost toChris Adamsin a dark match forMonday Nitroin Charlotte, North Carolina. A month later he made his next appearance, defeatingChavo Guerrero Jr.onWCW Pro.[32]Four days later he would beat old rivalBobby EatononWCW Saturday Night.Kendall would initially feud with Chris Adams andJim Duggan.[33]He made his first official PPV appearance atWCW World War 3on November 23, 1997, competing in the 60 person battle royal.[34]

On January 22, 1998, he became one of the earlier participants in theGoldberg Win Streak,losing toBill GoldbergonWCW Thunder.Windham continued to feud with Duggan while remaining victorious over lower-level opponents, includingEl Dandy,Tim Cheeks,andEvan Karagias.As the year progressed however, he began to register more defeats, falling toPerry Saturn,Jim Neidhart,Fit Finlay,Dean Malenko,andDale Torborg.On November 17, 1998, he unsuccessfully challengedChris Jerichofor theWCW World Televisiontitle on WCW Saturday Night.[35]

In 1999, when WCW created a hardcore division, he entered it briefly and feuded withHardcore Hak.[33]In June, Windham joinedThe West Texas Rednecksin what would be the biggest push of his career. The Rednecks were his brother Barry,Curt HennigandBobby Duncum Jr.[33]They were supposed to be heels feuding withMaster P's rappers, the "No Limit Soldiers", but the southern fans of WCW cheered the Rednecks instead.[33]The angle was quickly dropped and they moved on to a feud with "Harlem Heat" (Booker TandStevie Ray).[33]Kendall gained his first WCW championship when he and Barry defeated Harlem Heat for the WCW World Tag Team Titles on August 23, 1999, at a Monday Nitro in Las Vegas.

The new champions successfully defended their titles againstKenny KaosandPrince Iaukeaon a Nitro airing from Unionsdale, New York, on August 30. A day later, The Windham Brothers defeated The Texas Outlaws on WCW Saturday Night. On September 10, the Windhams defeatedBilly KidmanandKonnanat a house show in Baltimore. At theWCW Fall Brawl 99PPV on September 12, 1999, Kendall and Barry defended against Harlem Heat in a rematch but were defeated for the titles. The Windhams would attempt to regain their titles against Harlem Heat at a Nitro on September 27 but were unsuccessful.

As fall progressed Kendall began teaming with fellow West Texas Redneck stablemate Curly Bill (Virgil), facing Harlem Heat at numerous house shows. While falling short against the Heat, the new team defeated El Dandy andLa Parkaon WCW Worldwide on October 10, followed byDisorderly Conduct.Kendall's final WCW match came in a tag with Curly Bill against The Armstrongs (Scott ArmstrongandSteve Armstrong) on WCW Worldwide on November 9, 1999.[36]

Late career (1999–2002)

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By the end of 1999, all of the West Memphis Rednecks had left WCW. Kendall next appeared in theWWC,defeatingDutch Mantellin his debut on December 18, 1999, in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.[37]He then challengedRay Gonzálezfor theWWC Universal Championshipon May 6, 2000, in a match that went to a double countout. That summer Barry joined the promotion, and on July 16, 2000, the Windham Brothers defeatedThe Public Enemyat theWWC 27th Aniversarioshow. On September 2, 2000, the Windhams defeatedLa Artilleria Pesada(Lightning & Thunder) to win the WWC Tag-Team Championship.[38]

At the same time Kendall also wrestled imNWA Floridain the fall of 2000, defeating The Stone Mountain in a tournament to crown theNWA World Heavyweight Championship.[39]He later teamed withFidel Sierrato wrestle The New Heavenly Bodies (Chris Nelson&Vito DeNucci) at the NWA Florida OktoberSLAM! card on October 17, 2000.[40]

In November 2000 the Windhams traveled to All Japan Pro Wrestling to participate in the AJPW Real World Tag League 2000 event. They started out the series in victorious fashion, defeatingGenichiro Tenryu&Nobutaka Arayain Tokyo, Japan on November 19. The Windham Brothers were largely victorious during the tour, defeating Mike Rotundo & Steve Williams,Dan Kroffat&Yoshiaki Fujiwara,andMasahito Kakihara&Shigeo Okumura.They closed out the event by defeatingNobutaka Araya&Shigeo Okumurain Tokyo, Japan.

The Windhams then returned to WWC to defend their tag-team championship in December 2000. However, in their first defense on December 16, 2000, they were defeated by La Artilleria Pesada in Carolina, Puerto Rico. Kendall and Barry had a rematch on January 7, 2001, in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, but were defeated. This marked the final match in Kendall's career.[41]

Windham retired in 2002.[1]

Personal life

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Mike Rotundais married to Windham's sister. His nephews,WindhamandTaylor,wrestled for WWE as Bray Wyatt and Bo Dallas respectively.[42]He has a son named Wyatt.[citation needed]He is currently president of a security business inBrandon, Florida.[2]

In 1990, Windham and his father Blackjack Mulligan were arrested by theUnited States Secret Servicein a joint investigation with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for counterfeiting. The authorities found close to $500,000 in phony $20 bills. As a result of a plea agreement, both father and son spent 24 months in a federalprisonand were released in 1992.[43]

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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  1. ^abcdefghijPhilip Kreikenbohm."Kendall Windham".Cagematch.net.RetrievedMarch 31,2019.
  2. ^ab"Windham Security Alliance".ISHCC. Archived fromthe originalon April 1, 2019.RetrievedMarch 31,2019.
  3. ^abEvents Database » CWF
  4. ^JCP 1985
  5. ^NWA Florida Heavyweight Title Match
  6. ^CWF TV-Taping
  7. ^Singles Match
  8. ^National Wrestling Alliance Kendall Windham Matches
  9. ^Championship Wrestling From Florida, National Wrestling Alliance
  10. ^NWA Florida Heavyweight Title Match
  11. ^NWA Battle Of The Belts III
  12. ^NWA World Heavyweight Title Match
  13. ^NWA Florida Tag Team Title Tournament Final Match (vakant)
  14. ^JCP 1986
  15. ^Singles Match
  16. ^Kendal Windham matches
  17. ^JCP 1987
  18. ^JCP 1988The History of WWE
  19. ^Cawthon, Graham (2013).the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 3:Jim Crockett and the NWA World Title 1983-1989.CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.ISBN978-1494803476.
  20. ^abcdCawthon, Graham (2014).the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 4: World Championship Wrestling 1989-1994.CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.ISBN978-1499656343.
  21. ^"Family Tree: The History of the Windham Family".Bleacher Report.
  22. ^"Hiro Matsuda remembered".28 November 1999.
  23. ^WCW 1989
  24. ^WCW 1990
  25. ^International Championship Wrestling Alliance
  26. ^Wrestlers Database » Kendall Windham » Matches
  27. ^WCW Worldwide
  28. ^World Championship Wrestling
  29. ^WCW 1994
  30. ^Extreme Championship Wrestling
  31. ^ECW 1996
  32. ^Cage Match World Championship Wrestling
  33. ^abcdeCawthon, Graham (2015).the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 5: World Championship Wrestling 1995-2001.CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.ISBN978-1499656343.
  34. ^WCW 1997
  35. ^WCW 1998
  36. ^WCW 1999
  37. ^World Wrestling Council
  38. ^World Wrestling Council
  39. ^Events Database » NWA Florida Tango In Tampa 2000
  40. ^NWA Florida OktoberSLAM!
  41. ^Wrestlers Database » Kendall Windham » Matches
  42. ^LaRiviere, Derek J. (November 26, 2009)."Brooksville's Rotunda brothers follow dad Mike into professional wrestling".Tampa Bay Sports.Archived fromthe originalon October 12, 2012.RetrievedJune 2,2010.
  43. ^Mooneyham, Mike (March 23, 2008)."Blackjack, The Nature Boy, and More Memories".The Post and Courier.RetrievedFebruary 13,2010.
  44. ^"PWF Caribbean Championship".Cagematch.RetrievedDecember 21,2016.
  45. ^"PWI 500 1992".The Turnbuckle Post. Archived from the original on July 26, 2012.RetrievedAugust 26,2012.
  46. ^"PWI 500 of the PWI Years".Willy Wrestlefest.RetrievedAugust 26,2012.
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