Biff Wellington

Biff Wellington
Birth nameShayne Alexander Bower[1]
Born(1963-04-18)April 18, 1963[2]
Calgary, Alberta, Canada[2]
DiedJune 24, 2007(2007-06-24) (aged 44)
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Children1
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Beef Wellington
Biff Wellington
Buddy Hart
Billed height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Billed weight226 lb (103 kg)
Trained byHart Family
Hiroshi Hase
Mr. Hito
Debut1986[2]
Retired2000

Shayne Alexander Bower (April 18, 1963 – June 24, 2007), better known by his ring name Biff Wellington, was a Canadian professional wrestler who was born, raised, and died in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Professional wrestling career

Shayne Bower trained with the Hart Brothers school by Keith Hart, Mr. Hito and Hiroshi Hase.[1] He made his debut in December 1986 using the name "Biff Wellington" in Stampede Wrestling as a villain, but then transitioned to a fan favourite, which he was for the remainder of his time there.[2] In Stampede, Wellington frequently tagged with Chris Benoit.[2] In 1989, Wellington and Benoit beat Makhan Singh and Vokhan Singh to become Stampede Wrestling's International Tag Team Champions.

After Stampede Wrestling shut down in December 1989, Wellington worked in various promotions in Canada, such as the Canadian National Wrestling Alliance (CNWA) and Canadian Rocky Mountain Wrestling (CRMW).

Wellington then received tryouts for the World Wrestling Federation at the Olympic Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta during a live event on July 8[3] and the next night, July 9, at the Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta, with Wellington beating fellow Canadian Hugh Thomas with a tombstone piledriver (kneeling belly-to-belly piledriver).[3] Despite impressing WWF management, Wellington did not receive a contract with the WWF and returned to the Canadian indies.

In June 1992, Wellington and Benoit appeared in World Championship Wrestling at Clash of the Champions XIX, representing Canada in the NWA World Tag Team Championship tournament; they were defeated by Brian Pillman and Jushin "Thunder" Liger in the first round.[1] Later that year, Wellington was recognized as the first CRMW North American Heavyweight Champion.

Between 1988 and 1994, Wellington worked on 28 consecutive tours with New Japan Pro-Wrestling. In Japan, he feuded with Jushin Thunder Liger and continued to team with Benoit, who was known in Japan as the "Pegasus Kid" or "Wild Pegasus".[1][2] He also worked in the Maritimes as Buddy Hart, and in Mexico.[2]

Wellington had a brief stint in Extreme Championship Wrestling between 1995 and 1996. He sustained an eye injury in an accident during a match against Taz in May 1996. Wellington then became dependent on prescription medication to prevent nerves in his eye from dying.[4] He retired from active competition after the incident, although he occasionally wrestled in promotions near his hometown such as Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling.

A year later in 1997, Wellington returned to Calgary wrestling for Can-Am Wrestling Federation Wrestling until his last match in 2000.

Personal life

He had a daughter named Alexandra Shayne Bower from a previous relationship.

Death

In later years, Bower suffered from health issues mostly stemming from his back,[5] also suffering strokes and battling drug addiction.[6]

Bower's parents found him dead in bed at his home on June 24, 2007; they were both concerned because they hadn't heard from him in four days.[1] Medical officials examining the body believe he had been dead for a few days[4] of a heart attack at the age of 44. He is survived by his daughter Alexandra, parents and brother. Coincidentally, his body was found on the same day that his friend and former tag partner, Chris Benoit, committed suicide by hanging. Benoit had killed his 43-year-old wife Nancy and 7-year-old son Daniel two days earlier.[7]

Championships and accomplishments

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Oliver, Greg (June 24, 2007). "Biff Wellington dead at 44". SLAM! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Oliver, Greg (July 21, 2004). "Biff Wellington has no grudge against Benoit". SLAM! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved December 21, 2009.
  3. ^ a b "WWF 1991 Results". The History of the WWE. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
  4. ^ a b c "Shayne Bower's Online World of Wrestling profile". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on April 10, 2008. Retrieved April 8, 2008.
  5. ^ "Biff Wellington has no grudge against Benoit". Slam Wrestling. July 21, 2004. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  6. ^ "Biff Wellington dead at 44". Slam Wrestling. June 24, 2007. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  7. ^ Thomas, Jeremy (September 25, 2016). "Rene Dupree Says Benoit Murder-Suicide Led to His Asking For WWE Release". 411Mania. Archived from the original on November 5, 2016.
  8. ^ "CRMW North American Heavyweight Championship title history". Puroresu Dojo. Archived from the original on September 17, 2010. Retrieved September 17, 2010.
  9. ^ "PWI 500". profightdb.com. Retrieved March 26, 2020.