From its debut in the 1950s in the early days of television, World Wrestling Stars has been the dominant professional wrestling promotion in all of the United Kingdom. Whether it was the Giant Wallace in the 50s drawing eyeballs, the wild intricate mat work of “King” Charles Adams in the 60s, or Sir Wilbur Waters bringing a more American style into the 70s, their standing as the prominent UK territory has never been in doubt.
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In 1979, the legendary “shooter” Sir Wilbur Waters is on top as the British Heavyweight Champion but is lacking any true competition. The houses are off as the people are looking for the next great attraction – the next Giant Wallace or Silo Sonny. But Waters is looking for something more. He’s looking to change up the world of UK wrestling, inspired by the stories he’s hearing from friends in the business in the United States.
With his new student and protege, Oliver Strickland, by his side, Waters is bringing a level of hard-hitting action and athleticism to WWS that hasn’t been seen before. No longer is a 600 pound man sitting on three opponents’ chests enough for the WWS fans. They want to see elite level matches. Waters is happy to oblige, bringing the style he’s adapted from his many tours of the United States back to his home country.
In 1980, Oliver Strickland leaves for the United States, heading to the Portland territory to strike out on his own. Waters would follow on a few occasions, touring the States and always making a stop in Portland to team with his protege and friend.
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In 1983, Wilbur Waters welcomes his old friend and student Oliver Strickland back to the United Kingdom, forming a tag team during a six month period that saw the duo absolutely dominate. In short order, they won the United Kingdom Tag Team Championship, defending it without fail for months before dropping them to Crusher Wilkes and Bobby O’Martin in the tour finale.
That night, Waters approached Strickland with an offer. He invited Strickland to stay in the United Kingdom and to open a new promotion – a competitor to World Wrestling Stars. Strickland refused his friend, leading to a falling out that would put them at odds for years.
News of the offer soon reached the upper levels of management for WWS and Waters’ position in the company suffered as a result. He was stripped of match-making duties and soon turned into little more than a middle-of-the-card act for the British company.
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In late 1986, Oliver Strickland toured the United Kingdom, immediately making amends with his old friend and teacher. Seeing the terrible state of British wrestling and how unhappy his mentor is, Strickland makes an offer that Wilbur Waters simply cannot refuse.
On Christmas night, Waters jumps to the US-based Southern Championship Wrestling, leaving WWS behind for an extended period for the first time ever.
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With SCW preparing for a worldwide push, Oliver Strickland and Wilbur Waters, still feuding after a year, are marketed on top of a planned tour of the United Kingdom. The UK fans are hot to embrace the coming tour, quickly selling out all scheduled venues.
However, the death of SCW Promoter, Jim Somers, on Labor Day of 1988 puts a full halt to all expansion plans. Despite the pleas of both Strickland and Waters, the tour is cancelled.
A furious Strickland immediately breaks away from SCW, forming his own promotion – International Championship Wrestling – with plans of going global himself. Strickland and Waters quickly announce a replacement UK tour with themselves as the featured stars and pick up where SCW left off, drawing huge houses throughout the UK – a staggering blow to native WWS which is struggling to survive at this point.
Shortly after the tour, a homesick Waters leaves ICW, returning to his home country where he promptly buys a barely-breathing WWS, putting himself back into the ring where he started.
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After a humiliating turn of events in the States, Oliver Strickland returns in 1996 to where he got his start to work for his teacher and friend, Wilbur Waters. Waters’ retirement had hurt the business and Strickland’s return energized it for a while, bringing WWS back to the top of wrestling in the United Kingdom.
Strickland remained in the UK for three years, the top star of WWS, during a period of ups and downs for the territory.
Towards the end of 1999, Sir Wilbur Waters passes away after a lengthy battle with lung cancer. With his death, Waters passes the torch for the company to his student and friend, Oliver Strickland, begging him to stay in the United Kingdom and keep the company alive.
Strickland would keep that promise for several years, wrestling into his 40s for WWS. On a tour for Total Japan Pro Wrestling in 2003, Strickland suffered what would become a career-ending knee injury.
The injury was a devastating blow to WWS where Strickland was still the top star.
Seeing his window in wrestling closing, Strickland sold the company to an Internet company in 2004 and returned home to the United States.
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