1. Nelson Royal held the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship on six occasions along with numerous regional championships.
20 Facts About Nelson Royal
1. 2.
On May 7,1964, Nelson Royal teamed with Wahoo McDaniel in a loss to "Gorgeous Gus", a black bear.
3.
In 1965, Nelson Royal abandoned his aristocratic character and adopted the character of a good-natured cowboy.
4.
Nelson Royal held the championship once more in 1973, this time with Sandy Scott.
5.
Nelson Royal held the NWA Tennessee Tag Team Championship on three occasions in 1975: twice with Les Thatcher and once with Ron Wright.
6.
On December 6,1976, Nelson Royal defeated Ron Starr to win the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship.
7.
In July 1979, Nelson Royal won the championship for a third time, defeating Al Madril by forfeit.
8.
Nelson Royal broke his retirement in 1983, wrestling a handful of matches over the following years before returning to a fuller schedule in 1986.
9.
At StarrCade on November 27,1986, Nelson Royal appeared in a vignette promoting the upcoming Bunkhouse Stampede, in which he sat by a campfire explaining the rules of the match.
10.
Nelson Royal was involved in the creation of the Big Gold Belt, serving as the contact between Jim Crockett Jr.
11.
Nelson Royal's name appears on the back of the main plate along with the maker's hallmark.
12.
In early 1987, Nelson Royal made a second tour with All Japan Pro Wrestling.
13.
Nelson Royal lost the championship to Scott Armstrong twice, on both occasions quickly regaining it, before finally vacating it upon his retirement from professional wrestling in 1989.
14.
In 1989, Nelson Royal founded Atlantic Coast Wrestling, a short-lived independent promotion.
15.
Nelson Royal ran a professional wrestling school in Mooresville, North Carolina, with Gene Anderson.
16.
Wrestlers trained by Nelson Royal included Rockin' Robin, Johnny Ace, and Ken Shamrock.
17.
Nelson Royal had three children: two sons and a daughter.
18.
Nelson Royal settled in Mooresville, North Carolina, where he owned a ranch.
19.
Nelson Royal was active in Crime Stoppers and Drug Abuse Resistance Education.
20.
Nelson Royal died from a myocardial infarction on February 3,2002, at the age of 66.