The next stop for Nick Bockwinkel was the Amarillo, Texas territory promoted by Dory Funk Sr. Nick debuted in Amarillo during March of 1968 and was cast in the familiar role of babyface. Bockwinkel quickly formed a tag team with Rapid Ricky Romero and the duo entered a feud with Kurt and Karl Von Brauner. Nick and Ricky defeated the Von Brauners on April 25th, 1968 in Amarillo, Texas to capture the Amarillo version of the NWA world tag team titles. The Von Brauners regained the tag belts from Bockwinkel and Romero on May 23rd, 1968 in Amarillo, Texas. Nick continued to team with Romero but also was quite active in singles matches taking on such stalwarts as Lou Thesz, Dory Funk Jr., Lord Pat Patterson and Gypsy Joe Rosario. Bockwinkel even received a title shot against NWA champion Gene Kiniski at the Texas Sports Arena in Amarillo on September 26th, 1968 but came up short in a two out of three fall bout. Nick departed Amarillo in October of 1968 and headed once again for Hawaii.

Sorry for the column's short length this month. I'm going to be moving in a couple of weeks and have been very busy getting ready for the move. I haven't had the free time I normally do to devote to working on this column.

Thanks again to George Schire, publisher of The Champion's Name Is Bockwinkel. I also need to thank Gary Will and Royal Duncan, publishers of Wrestling Title Histories, and a poster on the Kayfabe Memories Message Board known simply as The Hood who was especially helpful with results from the Amarillo region. Without the help of researchers like these men, columns like this one would not be possible.

NEXT MONTH:

I'll cover Bockwinkel's stint in Georgia and his rise to fame in the AWA.