Alan Rogowski

Acting

Alan Rogowski

Born 1942-09-22 · Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Alan Robert Rogowski, better known by the ring name Ole Anderson (/ˈoʊlɪ/), was an American professional wrestler, booker, and promoter. Following a stint in the U.S. Army, Rogowski made his professional wrestling debut in his native Minnesota in 1967, wrestling for the American Wrestling Association (AWA) as Al "the Rock" Rogowski or simply Rock Rogowski. The following year, he debuted in the Carolinas-based Jim Crockett Promotions, where he adopted the ring name Ole Anderson and began teaming with his "brother" Gene Anderson as the Minnesota Wrecking Crew. Following a further stint with the AWA and appearances with Championship Wrestling from Florida, in 1972 Anderson settled into wrestling primarily for Jim Crockett Promotions and Georgia Championship Wrestling. By the mid-1980s, Anderson was a part-owner of, and the booker for, Georgia Championship Wrestling. After Georgia Championship Wrestling was acquired by Vince McMahon in 1984 in what was known as "Black Saturday", Anderson broke away to form his own promotion, Championship Wrestling from Georgia, which was itself acquired by Jim Crockett Promotions the following year. Anderson spent the rest of his career with Jim Crockett Promotions and its successor, World Championship Wrestling (WCW), forming a new iteration of the Minnesota Wrecking Crew with Arn Anderson, co-founding influential stable The Four Horsemen, twice serving as booker for WCW, and running the WCW Power Plant. He retired from the ring in 1990, and from the professional wrestling industry in 1994. Known amongst his contemporaries for his gruff, cantankerous demeanor and toughness, Anderson is a key figure in the history of professional wrestling in Georgia and the Carolinas. He held over 40 championships over the course of his career, including eight reigns as National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) Tag Team Champion (Mid-Atlantic version). He was inducted into the WCW Hall of Fame in 1994 and the NWA Hall of Fame in 2010.

Acting credits

The Second Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament poster
NR

The second Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament was held over two nights, April 10 and 11, 1987. The tournament included 24 tag teams.

The Second Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament

1987

The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s poster
7.8

From the glory years of Hulk Hogan to the best of "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, an exploration of how yesterday's greatest became today's legends; featuring 15 of the biggest Superstars from the 1980s.

The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s

2005

NWA Clash of The Champions X: Texas Shootout poster
4.0

WCW Clash of The Champions X: Texas Shootout took place on February 6, 1990 at the Memorial Coliseum in Corpus Christi, Texas. There were 3,000 fans in attendance and the show drew a 4.5 rating on TBS. This was the show that set up the WCW WrestleWar '90: Wild Thing pay-per-view event.

NWA Clash of The Champions X: Texas Shootout

1990

WWE United We Slam: The Best of The Great American Bash poster
10.0

One of sports-entertainment's most patriotic traditions, The Great American Bash brought excitement to fans of the NWA and WCW for over a decade. It featured legends like Sting, "Nature Boy" Ric Flair, "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, Hulk Hogan, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, the New World Order (nWo), the Road Warriors and more, competing for pride, honor and championship gold. This red, white and blue extravaganza always delivered the fireworks.

WWE United We Slam: The Best of The Great American Bash

2014

WCW The Great American Bash 1990 poster
7.7

Sting battles Ric Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Doom defends the NWA Tag Team Championship against The Rock 'N' Roll Express. The Steiner Brothers clash with The Fabulous Freebirds. Plus, Big Van Vader, The Four Horsemen, and more.

WCW The Great American Bash 1990

1990

WCW Halloween Havoc 1989 poster
6.8

Ric Flair & Sting join forces against the Great Muta & Terry Funk in the Thunderdome Cage Match with Bruno Sammartino serving as the special guest referee. The Road Warriors face The Skyscrapers. Doom faces The Steiner Brothers. Lex Luger defends the United States Championship against Brian Pillman. Plus, The Fabulous Freebirds and much more.

WCW Halloween Havoc 1989

1989

NWA Starrcade 1984 poster
5.6

One million dollars is on the line as NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair takes on Dusty Rhodes with legendary boxing champion Smokin' Joe Frazier as special guest referee. Tully Blanchard faces Ricky Steamboat for NWA World Television Championship. Jimmy Valiant takes on Paul Jones in a Loser Leaves Town Tuxedo Match and much more.

NWA Starrcade 1984

1984

NWA Starrcade 1985 poster
7.7

Ric Flair takes on Dusty Rhodes for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. A Brutal Steel Cage "I Quit" Match for the United States Championship pits Magnum T.A. against Tully Blanchard. The Rock 'n' Roll Express battle The Koloffs and much more.

NWA Starrcade 1985

1985

Nature Boy Ric Flair - The Definitive Collection poster
6.0

This is a tremendous documentary recounting a tremendous career. Starting with Flair's original entry into wrestling, the plane crash that nearly ended his career and his eventual rise to being NWA's Travelling Champion.

Nature Boy Ric Flair - The Definitive Collection

2008

WCW Beach Blast poster
8.0

Cactus Jack battles Sting in a Falls Count Anywhere Match. Barry Windham, Nikita Koloff, and Dustin Rhodes take on the Dangerous Alliance in a Six-Man Tag Team Match. The Steiner Brothers defend the WCW Tag Team Championship against Terry Gordy and "Dr. Death" Steve Williams. Rick Rude and Ricky Steamboat clash in a 30-minute Iron Man Match.

WCW Beach Blast

1992

NWA The Great American Bash '86 Tour: Greensboro poster
NR

The World Heavyweight Championship hangs in the balance as WWE Hall of Famers Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes clash inside a steel cage.

NWA The Great American Bash '86 Tour: Greensboro

1986

NWA Clash of the Champions XI: Coastal Crush poster
NR

Clash of the Champions XI took place on June 13, 1990 in Charleston, South Carolina. There were 4100 fans in attendance at the McAlister Field House on the campus of The Citadel and the show drew a 4.1 rating on TBS. This was the build up show for The Great American Bash.

NWA Clash of the Champions XI: Coastal Crush

1990

WCW WrestleWar 1990 poster
7.5

Ric Flair defends the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against Lex Luger. Arn & Ole Anderson compete for the NWA Tag Team Championship when they face The Steiner Brothers. The Road Warriors battle The Skyscrapers. The Rock 'n' Roll Express clash with The Midnight Express. Plus, Cactus Jack, Kevin Sullivan, and much more.

WCW WrestleWar 1990

1990

NWA The Great American Bash '86 Tour: Charlotte poster
NR

Ric Flair puts the World Heavyweight Championship on the line against Ricky Morton in a Steel Cage Match as the Bash rolls into Charlotte.

NWA The Great American Bash '86 Tour: Charlotte

1986

NWA The Great American Bash 1985 poster
NR

The Great American Bash: Freedom Challenge took place on July 6, 1985 at the American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The main event was a steel cage match for the NWA World Television Championship with Tully Blanchard defending the title against Dusty Rhodes. Nikita Koloff challenged for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against Ric Flair with David Crockett as the special guest referee. Magnum T.A. defended the NWA United States Championship against Kamala, while the NWA World Tag Team Champions Krusher Khrushchev and Ivan Koloff fought the AWA World Tag Team Champions, The Road Warriors. 4 other matches took place on the undercard.

NWA The Great American Bash 1985

1985

WCW Slamboree 1993 poster
10.0

Join the stars of yesterday and today for this star-studded spectacular. Davey Boy Smith challenges Big Van Vader for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Barry Windham defends the NWA World Championship against Arn Anderson. Dory Funk Jr. takes on Nick Bockwinkel. Rick Rude & Paul Orndorff face Dustin Rhodes & Kensuke Sasaki.

WCW Slamboree 1993

1993

The American Dream: The Dusty Rhodes Story poster
4.3

"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes will forever be remembered as the working man's champion. A master at the mic and a three-time World Heavyweight Champion, he has had legendary confrontations with sports-entertainments top stars, including Ric Flair, Harley Race, "SuperStar" Billy Graham, Terry Funk and Tully Blanchard. Decades later, his contributions to sports-entertainment are still being felt. This Three-disc release will present his life's story as well as his most memorable matches and interviews from his days in the AWA, NWA, and WWWF, WWE, and WCW.

The American Dream: The Dusty Rhodes Story

2006

NWA The Great American Bash '86: Livin' in the Promise Land poster
NR

Jim Crockett Promotions used "The Great American Bash" as the name for a tour that had several PPV caliber shows around the country. In 1986, there were 13 Great American Bashes and NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair defended his title at each one against Ricky Morton, Road Warrior Hawk, Ron Garvin, Nikita Koloff, Robert Gibson, Road Warrior Animal, Magnum T.A., Wahoo McDaniel and Dusty Rhodes. Rhodes defeated him for the title at the July 26 Bash. Flair challenged for it on the last Bash on August 2. Nikita Koloff and Magnum T.A. were involved in a best of seven title match series throughout the Bash for the U.S. Title.

NWA The Great American Bash '86: Livin' in the Promise Land

1986

NWA The Last Battle of Atlanta poster
NR

Within the grizzly confines of a completely enclosed steel cage, and Paul Ellering hanging above the ring, the blood feud between "Mad Dog" Buzz Sawyer and "Wildfire" Tommy Rich comes to an end. and if Rich can manage to win, then Ole Anderson gets "Precious" Paul to himself for 5 minutes inside the cage!

NWA The Last Battle of Atlanta

1983

Behind the camera

GCW at The Omni (December '83) poster
NR

GCW December 4, 1983 from The Omni in Atlanta, Georgia

GCW at The Omni (December '83)

1983

NWA Clash of The Champions XIII: Thanksgiving Thunder poster
6.0

WCW Clash of The Champions XIII took place on November 20, 1990 at the Jacksonville Memorial Coliseum in Jacksonville, Florida. There were 5000 fans in attendance and the show drew a 4.2 rating on TBS. This Clash of the Champions set up for Starrcade '90: Collision Course.

NWA Clash of The Champions XIII: Thanksgiving Thunder

1990

WCW SuperBrawl III poster
NR

Big Van Vader faces Sting in a White Castle of Fear Strap Match. Barry Windham meets The Great Muta for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Dustin Rhodes defends the United States Championship against Maxx Payne. Cactus Jack battles Paul Orndorff in a Falls Count Anywhere Match. Plus, The Rock 'N' Roll Express, The Hollywood Blonds, and more.

WCW SuperBrawl III

1993

WCW SuperBrawl IV poster
5.0

Ric Flair goes toe-to-toe against Vader for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship inside the Thundercage. Sting, Brian Pillman & Dustin Rhodes join forces to take on "Stunning" Steve Austin, Rick Rude & Paul Orndorff inside the Thundercage. Cactus Jack & Maxx Payne battle The Nasty Boys for the WCW Tag Team Championships and much more.

WCW SuperBrawl IV

1994

NWA Clash of The Champions X: Texas Shootout poster
4.0

WCW Clash of The Champions X: Texas Shootout took place on February 6, 1990 at the Memorial Coliseum in Corpus Christi, Texas. There were 3,000 fans in attendance and the show drew a 4.5 rating on TBS. This was the show that set up the WCW WrestleWar '90: Wild Thing pay-per-view event.

NWA Clash of The Champions X: Texas Shootout

1990

WCW Starrcade 1993 poster
9.0

In the tenth annual Starrcade, "Nature Boy" Ric Flair battles Vader for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Sting joins forces with Road Warrior Hawk to face The Nasty Boys. "Stunning" Steve Austin challenges Dustin Rhodes for the United States Championship in a 2-Out-of-3 Falls Match. "Ravishing" Rick Rude collides with The Boss.

WCW Starrcade 1993

1993

WCW Slamboree 1994 poster
7.0

Sting battles Vader in the main event for the vacant WCW International World Heavyweight Championship. Cactus Jack & Kevin Sullivan take on the Nasty Boys in a wild Broad Street Bully Match for the WCW Tag Team Championship. Ric Flair battles Barry Windham for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Terry Funk faces Tully Blanchard.

WCW Slamboree 1994

1994

WCW The Great American Bash 1990 poster
7.7

Sting battles Ric Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Doom defends the NWA Tag Team Championship against The Rock 'N' Roll Express. The Steiner Brothers clash with The Fabulous Freebirds. Plus, Big Van Vader, The Four Horsemen, and more.

WCW The Great American Bash 1990

1990

WCW BattleBowl poster
6.0

WCW stars are forced to randomly team up through a Lethal Lottery. Unusual pairings include "Stunning" Steve Austin & Ric Flair, Vader & Cactus Jack, and Ricky Steamboat & Lord Steven Regal. Winning teams advance to the enormous Battlebowl Battle Royal main event.

WCW BattleBowl

1993

NWA Clash of The Champions XII: Fall Brawl '90: Mountain Madness poster
7.0

WCW Clash of The Champions XII took place on September 5, 1990 at the Asheville Civic Center in Asheville, North Carolina. There were 4,000 fans in attendance and the show drew a 5.0 rating on TBS. The Master Blasters debuted at this event, however, after approximately one week Iron was replaced by Blade. Ric Flair was disqualified due to interference by Stan Hansen. After their match, Sting attempted to unmask the Black Scorpion, tearing away his black mask only to reveal a red mask underneath. The Scorpion quickly escaped when the "real" Black Scorpion appeared on the entrance ramp. Although he was never truly unmasked, the Black Scorpion that Sting wrestled was Al Perez.

NWA Clash of The Champions XII: Fall Brawl '90: Mountain Madness

1990

WCW Clash of The Champions XXIII poster
NR

WCW Clash of The Champions XXIII (23) took place on June 16, 1993 in Norfolk, Virginia at The Norfolk Scope. Dick Slater replaced WCW World Television Champion Paul Orndorff, who was injured in a car accident. Earlier, Maxx Payne shot Johnny B. Badd in the face with his Badd Blaster. A dark match saw Jim Neidhart defeat Shanghai Pierce.

WCW Clash of The Champions XXIII

1993

WCW Halloween Havoc 1990 poster
6.0

Terror rules the ring as Sid Vicious challenges Sting for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Lex Luger defends the United States Championship against Stan Hansen. Doom defends the NWA Tag Team Championship against Ric Flair & Arn Anderson. The Steiner Brothers battle The Nasty Boys.

WCW Halloween Havoc 1990

1990

WCW Beach Blast 1993 poster
10.0

Sting & Davey Boy Smith face Big Van Vader & Sid Vicious. Ric Flair battles Barry Windham for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Dustin Rhodes takes on Rick Rude in an Iron Man Challenge for the vacant WCW United States Championship. The Hollywood Blonds face Paul Roma & Arn Anderson. Plus, Ron Simmons faces Paul Orndorff and much more.

WCW Beach Blast 1993

1993

NWA Clash of the Champions XI: Coastal Crush poster
NR

Clash of the Champions XI took place on June 13, 1990 in Charleston, South Carolina. There were 4100 fans in attendance at the McAlister Field House on the campus of The Citadel and the show drew a 4.1 rating on TBS. This was the build up show for The Great American Bash.

NWA Clash of the Champions XI: Coastal Crush

1990

WCW Halloween Havoc 1993 poster
7.0

Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal. Cactus Jack and Big Van Vader battle in a match type determined by spinning a wheel. Rick Rude defends the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship against Ric Flair. Sting battles Sid Vicious. Dustin Rhodes defends the United States Championship against "Stunning" Steve Austin. Plus, The Nasty Boys and more.

WCW Halloween Havoc 1993

1993

WCW Starrcade 1990 poster
7.8

Starrcade 1990 showcases an international tag team tournament featuring The Steiner Brothers, Konnan & Rey Mysterio Sr., and Mr. Saito & the Great Muta. Sting defends the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against the Black Scorpion in a Steel Cage Match. Doom faces Horsemen Arn Anderson & Barry Windham in a Street Fight and more.

WCW Starrcade 1990

1990

WCW Fall Brawl 1993 poster
NR

Sting, Davey Boy Smith, Dustin Rhodes & The Shockmaster battle Sid Vicious, Vader & Harlem Heat. "Ravishing" Rick Rude collides with "Nature Boy" Ric Flair with the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship on the line. The Nasty Boys take on Arn Anderson & Paul Roma for the WCW World Tag Team Championship, and much more.

WCW Fall Brawl 1993

1993

WCW Spring Stampede 1994 poster
9.0

Ric Flair defends the WCW World Heavyweight Championship against Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat. Vader battles The Boss. Sting faces "Ravishing" Rick Rude for the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship. "Stunning" Steve Austin defends the United States Championship against The Great Muta. The Nasty Boys face Cactus Jack & Maxx Payne.

WCW Spring Stampede 1994

1994

WCW Slamboree 1993 poster
10.0

Join the stars of yesterday and today for this star-studded spectacular. Davey Boy Smith challenges Big Van Vader for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Barry Windham defends the NWA World Championship against Arn Anderson. Dory Funk Jr. takes on Nick Bockwinkel. Rick Rude & Paul Orndorff face Dustin Rhodes & Kensuke Sasaki.

WCW Slamboree 1993

1993

NWA The Last Battle of Atlanta poster
NR

Within the grizzly confines of a completely enclosed steel cage, and Paul Ellering hanging above the ring, the blood feud between "Mad Dog" Buzz Sawyer and "Wildfire" Tommy Rich comes to an end. and if Rich can manage to win, then Ole Anderson gets "Precious" Paul to himself for 5 minutes inside the cage!

NWA The Last Battle of Atlanta

1983

WCW Clash of The Champions XXVI poster
NR

World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair teams with Sting to battle Big Van Vader and the International World Heavyweight Champion Rick Rude in a Tag Team Elimination Match. Col. Robert Parker goes beak to beak with Brian Pillman and the loser must dress up as a chicken on live TV. Dustin Rhodes, Lord Steven Regal, and more in action.

WCW Clash of The Champions XXVI

1994

WCW Clash of the Champions XXIV poster
NR

WCW Clash of The Champions XXIV occurred on August 18, 1993 in Daytona Beach, Florida from The Ocean Center. Lord Steven Regal replaced the injured Brian Pillman. On September 1, Anderson and Roma would be stripped of the NWA World Tag Team Championship, due to WCW withdrawing from the NWA. Bobby Eaton replaced Regal, who replaced Pillman in the earlier match. If Vader had been disqualified in the main event, he would have lost the title to Smith. Cactus Jack returned after the main event match, attacking Vader. The Shockmaster made his WCW debut in one of the most infamous moments in wrestling history.

WCW Clash of the Champions XXIV

1993