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The Grappler

Posted: May 29th 2026 By: Facebook.com/PortlandWrestling

No discussion of Portland Wrestling's 101 years of history would be complete without mentioning "The Grappler" Len Denton. A 7-time Pacific Northwest Heavyweight and 11-time PNW Tag Team Champion, this masked man led Portland Wrestling to loftier heights during the late 1980s and early 90s, well after the territory system of the National Wrestling Alliance had gone the way of the buffalo.

As the booker of Portland Wrestling during Don Owen's final years as a promoter, Grappler would be aided by the one and only "Rowdy" Roddy Piper in rejuvenating the stagnating promotion. Working together, they would create a host of new and unexpected stars, such as "Beetlejuice" Art Barr, "Country" Carl Styles, the Southern Rockers, Brian Adams, Scott Norton, Bart Sawyer, and Scotty the Body (the future Raven of ECW fame).

Long after Don Owen closed up shop in May of 1992, the Grappler would remain a staple of Pacific Northwest wrestling, always eager to help resurrect Portland Wrestling whenever longtime commentator and owner Don Coss saw an opportunity to do so. Each time he was called upon, the Grappler would use local television to introduce fans in the Portland area to rising stars like Bart Sawyer, "Bruiser" Brian Cox, Dr. Luther, Skag Rollins, Brian Danielson, Exile, and Big Ugly.

To this very day, Grappler remains an active participant in professional wrestling, appearing regularly at shows from Louisiana to Oregon while also helping behind the scenes to plan events like the Portland Wrestling Expo and Pacific Northwest Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.