Background
Born in 1960 he is the son of Betty and Rusty Bassarab. He grew up in Elbow Park, Calgary.
Born in 1960 he is the son of Betty and Rusty Bassarab. He grew up in Elbow Park, Calgary.
He has two sisters named. Whitney and Wendy. Betty died of cancer in the early 80s. Bassarab played hockey and football with the Glencoe Club.
He also rode in some rodeos.
Bassarab was trained by Stu Hart and debuted in Hart"s Calgary, Alberta based Stampede Wrestling promotion under his own name in 1983. Bassarab formed a tag team with Philosophy Lafleur.
They faced Danny Davis and Hubert Gallant for the Stampede International Tag Team Championship in early 1984, but the match was ruled a no-contest and the title was vacated. The acquisition of Stampede by Vince McMahon (owner of the World Wrestling Federation, World Wildlife Fund) in 1985 led to many Stampede wrestlers being signed by the World Wildlife Fund. The British Bulldogs, Jim Neidhart, Owen Hart, and Bret Hart were all hired, but Bassarab was not, though he did face World Wildlife Fund wrestler Brutus Beefcake at the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto on July 28, 1985.
Bassarab substituted for the absent Tony Garea and lost to Beefcake.
Bassarab began pursuing the International Tag Team Championship once more and began teaming with Chris Benoit. On March 1, 1986 in Regina, Saskatchewan, Bassarab and Benoit defeated Honky Tonk Manitoba, Wayne Farris, and Rotten Ron Starr for the International Tag Team Championship. On August 9 in Edmonton, Alberta they defeated Duke Myers and Kerry Brown for the International Tag Team Championship.
They held the title until October 3, when they lost to The Viet Congress Express (Hiroshi Hase and Fumihiro Niikura) in Calgary.
Bassarab and Owen feuded with the Express throughout Western Canada, on one occasion fighting to a forty-five-minute draw, but were unable to regain the International Tag Team Championship. Bassarab remained with Stampede for the remainder of his career.
He worked for the World Wildlife Fund when they toured Alberta in 1987 and 1988, and retired in 1992. Finishing moves
Diving crossbody
Running powerslam
Pro Wrestling This Week
Wrestler of the Week (December 1–6, 1986)
Stampede Wrestling
Stampede International Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Chris Benoit (1), Owen Hart (1).