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Alberta Wrestling AcademyAlberta Wrestling AcademyAlberta Wrestling Academy
Home
AWA TEAM FULL BIOS
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  • AWA TEAM FULL BIOS
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  • AWA TEAM FULL BIOS

AWA TEAM

Bruce Hart

 

Head Trainer:

Bruce Ambrose Edwardious Hart Sr. was born January 13th 1950 He Is a American / Canadian retired professional wrestler, promoter, booker, trainer & school teacher. He is a second generation wrestler and a member of the legendary Hart Wrestling Family, being the second child of 12 children to Stu & Helen Hart. He Is best known for his time In Stampede Wrestling and several appearances for WWF / WWE, with his brothers Bret “ The Hitman” Hart, & his deceased  brother Owen Hart.

Bruce began his wrestling training In 1971, at the age of 21. In his fathers training school “ The Dungeon” Trained by his father Stu. Like the rest of his brothers they were all trained technically sound, with an amateur wrestling style. He debuted For his father promotion Stampede Wrestling In 1972 where he tagged with partner Dan Kroffat In the main event against North American Champion Kendo Nagasaki & Lord Sloan. In 1977 Bruce traveled to the United Kingdom where he wrestled under the name of “Bronco “ Bruce Hart for London based Joint Promotions, while there he met a young man by the name of Tom Billington and Bruce offered him a opportunity to wrestle for Stampede Wrestling where Bruce bestowed the nameThe Dynamite Kid onto Tom and where Dynamite became a star on the rise. Around the same time Bruce also offered an opportunity to Tom Billington’s cousin, a gentleman who wrestled as Young David, and who go on to become  Davey Boy Smith. The two would later would be put together as a Tag Team known as The British Bulldogs.

In 1984 Bruce was In large part of the booking and talent development for Stampede Wrestling, & was a large part of the promotion success with selling out regularly and producing some of the greatest wrestlers to grace our sport of professional wrestling the likes of and Including Jake “The Snake” Roberts, The Junkyard Dog, Jim “The Anvil “ Niedhart, Dr. D. “David Shultz” The Honky Tonk Man, Bad News Allen (aka “Bad News Brown”) and even his brother Bret “The Hitman” Hart.

In 1979 Bruce won his first championship, The Stampede World Mid - Heavyweight Championship. In 1980 Bruce won two championships, the World Mid - Heavyweight for the second time and the Stampede British Commenwealth tittle. By the end of 1982 Bruce won the Stampede British Commenwealth Championship two time and a third by the beginning of 1983. In 1983 Bruce work for NJPW New Japan Pro Wrestling In their Bloody Fight Series and this began a talent sharing program where Western Canada was treated to Japanese Superstars the likes of Antonio Inoki, Kengo Kimura, Kuniaki Kobayashi to name a few.

Near the end of 1984, Stu Hart accepted an offer from the World Wrestling Federation president Vincent Kennedy McMahon to sell the territory and as part of the deal several of the Stampede Superstars joined the WWF / WWE.  Near the end of 1985 Stu Hart decided to re-open the promotion with Bruce running most of the day to day operations, but due to the loss of the Its well known wrestlers Stampede struggle to stay afloat. Bruce was forced to change the promotion to new edgier and more hardcore style of wrestling.

Thus creating a whole new batch of Stampede Wrestling Superstars, Feathering Villains like the Karachi Vice ( Markham, & Vokham Singh ) & The Great Gama.  The Viet Congress Express, Jason “The Terrible, and baby faces such as Ben Bassarab, Chris Benoit, Justin “Thunder” Liger, The tag team of Flying Brian Pullman & himself Bad Company , and his younger brother Owen Hart. The promotion would survive for several years, drawing and turning out a number of wrestling superstars that would go on to have legendary careers with other promotions. During this period Bruce Hart would win 5 titles the Stampede British Commonwealth Mid Heavyweight Championship for the 5th 6th and 7th time, and the Stampede International tag team championship with Brian Pillman. Bruce made a number of appearances with his brothers Bret and Owen In the world wrestling federation (WWE) his first appearance In August 16th 1992 on an episode of WWF Superstars, he then sided with Davey Boy Smith In a run up to Summer Slam 92. Bruce made his first In ring appearance In the 1993 Survivor Series, once again with his brothers Bret, Owen and Keith Hart he then  appeared on the 94 Summer Slam when his brothers Bret and Owen would compete In a steel cage match for the WWF championship. Bruce’s next WWF appearance was at In your house 16 “Canadian Stampede” which he Interfered In the main event that pitted the Hart foundation against Stone Cold Steve Austin, Ken Shamrock, Goldust and “The Legion Of Doom” (Hawk and Animal). His most recent appearance In the rename WWE was at WrestleMania XXVI where he was the surprise special guest referee for his brother Bret’s first WWE match In 13 years, a no holds barred match against WWE chairman Vince McMahon where Vince thought Bruce and the rest of the Hart family was on his side but they all turned on him and helped Bret win the Match. 

Bruce then attempted to revive Stampede wrestling numerous times In the 90s with his brother Ross which featured the third generation of the Hart family Including Natalia Neidhart, Teddy Hart, David Hart Smith (the British Bulldog JR) and TJ Wilson (Tyson Kid) during this time Bruce won 4 championships the Stampede International Tag Team titles once with Teddy hart and then the last time with TJ Wilson, he won the Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight championship for a record setting 8th time and he also won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship.

Bruce’s Championships & Accomplishments read as follows:

· Polynesian Pacific Tag Team Champions with his brother Keith.

· NWA International Tag Team Champions with Davey Boy Smith, (2 Times).

· Stampede British Commonwealth Mid - Heavyweight Champion, (8 Times).

· Stampede International Tag Team Champions with Brian Pillman (2 Times), Teddy Hart, & TJ Wilson.

· Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship ( 2 Times).

· Stampede World Mid - Heavyweight Championship ( 2 Times).

· Ranked #366 of the top 500 Best Singles Wrestlers In PWI 500 (Pro Wrestling Illustrated) 1997.

· Ranked #481 of the top 500 Best Singles Wrestlers In PWI 500 (Pro Wrestling Illustrated) 2003.

· Stampede Wrestling’s Hall of Fame. ( Class of 1995)

· Canadian Wrestling’s Hall of Fame ( Class of 2001)

· Prairie Wrestling Alliance Hall of Fame ( Class of 2010 Where the entire Hart Family was Inducted) 

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awa tEAM

OTTO GENTILE

 Otto is Founder of the Alberta Wrestling Academy, & has been involved with independent wrestling for over 32 years. Otto was born May 21st 1966, and caught the wrestling bug the first time his uncle took him to a Stampede Wrestling show at the Pavilion. Where he saw Wrestling Superstars such as Bret Hart, Dynamite Kid, & Davey Boy Smith to name a few. Otto began his life in sports at a young age. playing Hockey, Football, & Soccer most of his life. Hockey was a big influence in Otto life and he did achieve a lot of success playing at a very high level throughout his hockey years. Winning the AJHL Alberta Junior Hockey League Championship with the Calgary Canucks in 1985 – 86. Winning the Calgary Junior B City, Provincials, & Western Canadian Championships with the Calgary Northwest Bruins in 1986 – 87. Otto Named to the First Team All-stars in The Western Canadian Championships in 1987. Receive a full Hockey Scholarship to Red Deer College 1987, and also was selected to go play in the IHL Italian Hockey League for the “MILANO RED DEVILS”, but unfortunately couldn’t go due to the Leagues only 2 import player rule in 1988, In 1988 Otto stepped into a wrestling ring for the first time, and from there his life has been all about this great sport. In 1988 Otto started his wrestling training. He was trained by, Steve “Dr. Hannibal “ Gillespie, who was a Stampede Wrestling legend. He was also a Wrestling Superstar in Japan with his character Dr. Hannibal. This sparked a true friendship between Otto & Steve that lasted until Steve’s untimely passing in 2019. Otto has done it all in the wrestling business from security, ring crew, commentator, announcing, & refereeing, but found his true calling as his alter ego “Vinnie Fever”. Otto has wrestled well known Superstars such as NJPW New Japan Pro Wrestling legends Leather Face, & Juggernaut. WWE / WCW’s Star Lance Storm, AEW / WWE / WCW’s Chris Jericho, WWE stars Rick (2nd Razor Ramon) Titan, & Kurgan, Stampede Wrestling stars Cuban Assassin, Gama Singh, & Keith Hart. In 1991 Otto, Steve Gillespie, & Steve Wilde started a promotion called The Can – Am Wrestling Federation. The promotion ran across Canada; from as far west as The Queen Charlotte Islands in British Columbia all the way east to Hamilton, Ontario for 15 years. Providing a steady income to independent wrestlers around the world. In 2003 the promotion would close it doors, but throughout the years many great memories were made, here are a few . Otto, & Steve Wilde developed a monthly magazine called Can – Am Live, a youth enhancement program called (Can – Am) Constantly Against Narcotic & Alcohol Misuse. Otto, & Steve Wilde were keynote speakers for over 2000 workshops across Canada for First Nation Communities. This was very important to Otto, as he had suffered a back injury and became dependent on narcotics himself for many years to deal with the pain of that injury. Otto is also very proud of overcoming his addiction and is humbled to say that he is now clean and sober for over 15 years. Otto has a wealth of knowledge, and a undying love for the sport of professional wrestling. His dedication to the success of our students makes him an invaluable asset to the success of the Alberta Wrestling Academy. 

 Otto “ Vinnie Fever” Gentile  Accomplishments and Championships: CHAMPIONSHIPS:· Can – Am Mid – Heavyweight Championship.· Can – Am Heavyweight Championship.· Can – Am Tag Team Championships(Keith Hart)· Can – Am Commonwealth Championship.· UWN Heavyweight Championship ACCOMPLISHMENTS:· Editor of the Can – Am Live Magazine · Ripple Effects Program · Youth Workshops “Can – Am Constantly Against Narcotic & Alcohol Misuse. BODYBUILDING:· 2nd Place in Southern Alberta · 8thPlace in Alberta  

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