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Grappler

Grappler

Height: 6' 3"

Weight: 280 lbs.

From: Parts Unknown

Birthday: Aug 25th

Pro Debut: March 20, 1978

Aliases: Len Denton, Lynn Denton, Grappler #1, Dirty White Boy #2, The Challenger

Feds Worked For: MSW, SoCW, TSW, WCCW, AWA, NWA, WCW, 360 Wrestling (TX), Awesome Wrestling Entertainment (VA), Catch Schober (Germany), Central States Wrestling (IA/KS/MO), Championship Wrestling from Florida (FL), Championship Wrestling from Georgia (GA), Championship Wrestling USA (OR/WA), Continental Wrestling Association (KY/TN), Don't Owe Anyone Pro Wrestling (OR), Georgia Championship Wrestling (GA), M & M Promotions (NM/TX), Maple Leaf Wrestling (Canada), Memphis Wrestling (TN), Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (NC/SC), New Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), NWA Polynesian Wrestling (HI), Pacific Northwest Wrestling (OR/WA), Pro Wrestling USA (TN), South East Championship Wrestling (TN), Stampede Wrestling (Canada), St. Louis Wrestling Club (MO), Ultimate Championship Wrestling (MI), USA All Star Wrestling (TX), West Coast Wrestling Connection (OR), Wrestling International New Generation (Japan)

Finisher: Loaded Boot

Signature Moves: Lariat

 

Career Highlights: -AWA Southern Tag Team Champion (w/ Grappler #2)
-MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion (w/ Super Destroyer)
-MSW North American Champion
-NWA Central States Tag Team Champion (3x; all w/ Grappler #2)
-NWA Pacific Northwest Champion (9x)
-NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Champion (11x; 4 w/ Steve Doll, 2 w/ The Equalizer, 1 each w/ Don Harris, Brian Adams, Scotty the Body, Abbuda Dein, and The Terminator)
-NWA Texas Champion
-PPW Tag Team Champion (w/ Grappler #2)
-SoCW Southwest Tag Team Champion (2x; both w/ Tony Anthony)
-TSW Mississippi Champion (2x)
-W*ING Pacific Northwest Champion

Affiliates: Don Carson, Tony Anthony/Grappler #2/Dirty White Boy #1, Super Destroyer, Percy Pringle, Raven Lake, Jeremy Blanchard, Ryan Taylor, Buck Robley, Steve Doll, The Equalizer, Don Harris, Brian Adams, Scotty the Body, Abbuda Dein, The Terminator, Rip Oliver, Brent McKenzie

Notable Feuds: Steve Doll, Scott Peterson, Jake Roberts, David Patterson, The Rock-N-Roll Express, Cocoa Samoa, Mike Miller, Art Barr/The Beetlejuice, Matt Borne, Carl Styles, American Ninja/Brian Adams/Midnight Soldier, Jay Youngblood, Ted Oates, Tommy Rich, Ted DiBiase, Johnny Weaver, Bart Batten, Junkyard Dog, Top Gun, Rip Oliver, cotty the Body, Rex King, Mr. Wrestling II, Sgt. Slaughter, Terry Daniels

Other Facts: -His father hauled rings for promoters in Texas, but according to a story by Bruce Prichard, Denton was persona non grata at many feds in that area because his father had created a reputation for not being reliable.
-Wears a boot with a false bottom which he loads during matches and uses against opponents. He claims to have suffered an injury to the ligaments during a match with Ted DiBiase, causing one leg to be longer than the other.
-Began wearing a mask after losing a Hair match and having his head shaved bald.
-As Len Denton, he competed without a mask, used the nickname "Dynamite", and was sometimes billed from Portland, OR or Cut-N-Shoot, TX
-Trained Dave Sullivan (AKA The Equalizer) for pro wrestling
-In 2004, he was reportedly running an auto garage. The same year, he put the Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title belt up for sale on eBay.
-Inducted into the Texas Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2014
-Released his autobiography "Grappler: Memoirs of a Masked Madman" in 2014
-Was a panelist on the "Tales from the Territories" episode entitled "Portland: Where Wrestling Got Weird" with Mike Masters, Princess Victoria, and Bushwacker Luke
-Former member of The First Family
-Former member of The Pringle Dynasty
-Former member of The Wrecking Crew (Oregon version)
-Holds the record for the longest MSW North American Title reign (8 months, 28 days)
-Ranked # 108 in the 1991 PWI 500
-Ranked # 223 in the 1992 PWI 500

Supplemental Information

Latest News

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NEWS A&E starts back on Sundays with a WWE block. From 7-9pm will be part one of a two part biography series on the Von Erichs, followed by “LFG”... Read More

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Upcoming Events

There are currently no upcoming appearences.

Complete Calendar

1

Spotlight in History

  • 1978 The Assassin became the TSW Louisiana Champion
  • 1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. The Grappler & The Super Destroyer for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 2003 The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Rich Sharpe) def. John O'Malley & All-American Aaron for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 2003 Se7en def. Aaron Neil for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 2008 Tyrone def. Jerry Bostic for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 2019 Brandon Groom def. Brian Dixon for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 2019 Doc Black became the BCW Heritage Rivalry Champion

Week of Sun 04-26 to Sat: 05-02

  • 04-26 2008 Jerry Bostic def. Joshua Smith for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 04-26 2008 Shane Rawls def. Ky-Ote for the 3DW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-26 2014 Buster Cherry def. Bud Barnes for the SWCW All-American Title
  • 04-26 2014 Chaz Sharpe def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-26 2014 Sam Stackhouse def. Warhammer for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-26 2024 Miranda Gordy def. Sgt. Slice for the CPW Women’s Title
  • 04-26 2025 Deacon Hendrix became the RWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-26 2025 Family Affiliated (Athan Sorrow & Rika Wildlee) became the RWE Tag Team Champions
  • 04-26 2025 Gluttony became the RWE United States Champion
  • 04-26 2025 Bishop Simon became the RWE Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-26 2025 For God And Country (Pastor Brent & Corporal Punishment) def. The Main Characters (Sean Ryan & Daniel Aaron Michalles) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 04-27 1978 The Assassin became the TSW Louisiana Champion
  • 04-27 1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. The Grappler & The Super Destroyer for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 04-27 2003 The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Rich Sharpe) def. John O'Malley & All-American Aaron for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-27 2003 Se7en def. Aaron Neil for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 04-27 2008 Tyrone def. Jerry Bostic for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 04-27 2019 Brandon Groom def. Brian Dixon for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 04-27 2019 Doc Black became the BCW Heritage Rivalry Champion
  • 04-28 1954 Red Berry def. Whitey Whittler for the TSW Tri-State Title
  • 04-28 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 04-28 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 04-28 1989 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. Beauty & The Beast (Terrance M. Garvin & The Beast [2nd]) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 04-28 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Title
  • 04-28 2002 Summer Rain became the OCW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 04-28 2007 Eric Rose def. Jersey Devil for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
  • 04-28 2007 Joe Herell became the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
  • 04-28 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
  • 04-28 2018 Dusty Gold def. Wesley Crane for the UWE United States Title
  • 04-29 2006 AWOL def. Michael York for the TPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-29 2006 Natural Born Sinners (Appolyon & El Lotus) def. Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-29 2006 Rexx Reed def. Carnage for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 04-29 2006 Carnage def. Rexx Reed for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 04-29 2007 Aaron Neil def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 04-29 2007 Brad Michaels def. Ryan Davidson for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
  • 04-29 2007 Bad Boy & Outlaw became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2011 The Unknown & Johnny USA def. Michael H & Mr. Big for the NCW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-29 2011 Mr. Big became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Sam Stackhouse def. Prophet for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-29 2012 Rage Logan became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Nemesis (Damien Morte & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2017 Aaron Anders became the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 04-30 1954 Frenchy Roy became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 1971 Toru Tanaka def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 04-30 2004 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the TPW Hardcore Title
  • 04-30 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Title
  • 04-30 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Title
  • 04-30 2016 Ray Martinez became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 2022 Clayton Bloodstone def. Ky-Ote for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Title
  • 04-30 2023 El Gallardo/El Vaquero def. Cappuccino Jones for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 04-30 2023 Heavyweight Grappling (Dan Webber & Morrison) def. Subject To Death (Cade Fite & Leo Fox) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 05-01 1981 Super Destroyer def. Jim Garvin for the MSW Louisiana Title
  • 05-01 2016 Skylar Slice def. Nikki Knight for the MSWA Ladies Title
  • 05-01 2021 Fuel def. Derek James for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 05-02 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 05-02 1975 Mad Dog Vachon def. Billy Graham for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 05-02 1977 Stan Hansen def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Title
  • 05-02 1984 Krusher Khrushchev became the MSW Television Champion
  • 05-02 1984 The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) def. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 05-02 2009 Ozzy Hendrix def. Shank for the SWCW Luchadore Title
  • 05-02 2015 Gail Kim became the IWR Diamonds Champion
  • 05-02 2015 Kareem Sadat became the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
  • 05-02 2021 Drake Gallows def. Blade [2nd] for the AIWF National Title
04-27
  • Yasu Fuji Apr 27th Today!
  • Siva Afi Apr 28th
  • Chance Snodgrass Apr 28th
  • Ichiban [2nd] Apr 28th
  • Sunshine Apr 29th
  • Joe McCarthy Apr 30th
  • Billie the Kiid Apr 30th
  • Dustin Tibbs Apr 30th
  • Anarchy [2nd] Apr 30th
  • Prince Maivia May 1st
  • Barrett Brown May 2nd
  • Americos May 2nd
  • Nightmare [1st] May 2nd
  • Big Bossman May 2nd
  • Kari Wright May 2nd
  • Don Fields May 2nd
  • Lester Welch May 3rd
  • Lily McKenzie May 3rd
  • Johnny Humble May 3rd
  • Malik Mayfield May 4th
  • El Hijo del Mascara Sagrada May 4th
  • Dory Funk May 4th
  • Jay Hazzard May 4th
  • Bull Schmitt May 4th
  • Olivier Vegos May 5th
  • Bill Watts May 5th
  • Zane Morris May 5th
  • El Gallardo May 5th
  • Princess Victoria May 5th
  • El Matador Dos May 5th
  • Pat O'Dowdy May 5th
  • Maria Brigitte May 5th
  • Miss Diss Lexia May 5th
  • Claire Watson May 6th
  • Hercules May 7th
  • Richie Adams May 8th
  • Jake Danielsson May 9th
  • Tito Santana May 10th
  • Billy Brown May 10th
  • Sunny War Cloud May 10th
  • Rook Tyler May 10th
  • Jerry Brown May 10th

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