Historical Listing of Top Pro Tournaments

[Eric Roussin]

I’m interested in armwrestling history, and so I thought it would be fun to create a list of the top pro tournaments that have been held in North America. By “top pro tournament”, I mean the event that had the best combination of cash prizes, competition quality, and associated prestige. I am not considering any national or WAF world championships.

In my opinion, these were the top pro events for each of the listed years.

1960 to 1985 – Petaluma World Championships
1986 – Over the Top
1987 –
1988 –
1989 –
1990 –
1991 –
1992 –
1993 – Yukon Jack Finals
1994 – Yukon Jack Finals
1995 – Yukon Jack Finals
1996 – Yukon Jack Finals
1997 – Main Event
1998 – Main Event II
1999 –
2000 – Harley Pull
2001 – Harley Pull
2002 – Harley Pull
2003 –
2004 – Ultimate Armwrestling/Harley Pull
2005 – Ultimate Armwrestling II
2006 – Ultimate Armwrestling III/Mike Gould Classic
2007 – PAC Mohegan Sun/NAL Denver
2008 – Harley Pull/ROTN
2009 – ROTN
2010 – Mike Gould Classic (so far)

Please let me know if you disagree with any of my picks, or if you can help fill in the blanks.

I know there were some excellent pro tournaments in Amos Quebec in the late '80s that drew a lot of top Canadian and American pullers (Brzenk, Rhodes, etc.). Would these have been considered the best events from this time period?

[Bill Arnold]

Eric, this may not help you too much, but maybe it will jog other memories. I know you didn't want to include WAF Worlds. But I recall the WPAA (World Professional Armwrestling Association) - Steve Simon and Neil Goldberg ran it. Neil put on all the tournaments. There were tournaments all over the country to hype it, then one world championship each year. That is where I met Paul Cecchini from Canada. During those years, WPAA, AAA, and Petaluma were the three most talked about events. The WPAA events brought the best from Canada and the United States. It was before the other countries started getting so big in the sport. I hated to see WPAA go away. Neil was a good guy and I loved the 4 second delay start.

Another tournament that was always big was the one the Pattons would put on in Virginia. I went to it once, but my group always talked about it and some of the guys went more often. I think it was the Atlantic Coast Championship. Great competition. Maybe Dave or Ray Patton or Steve Stanaway can fill in the details.

Back in the 80s and early 90s, most of the tournaments were still local or regional, and didn't attract what they do now.

[Eric Roussin]

Bill, thanks for the feedback. I was aware of the WPAA, but I don't have extensive knowledge of the organization. I have a few questions for you or anyone else who may have the answers:

Did the WPAA events offer cash prizes?
Do know approximately when the WPAA was formed and when it ceased operations?
Were the WPAA Worlds ever considered a bigger event than Petaluma?
Did the AAA Nationals ever offer cash prizes?

I can only imagine how tough it would have been to get into armwrestling in the '70s. Right arm only, only three or four weight classes, and single elimination (for many events). Yet, these big tournaments still managed to attract a large number of competitors.

[Bill Arnold]

The WPAA did not offer cash prizes at the regional levels, but DID pay cash at the Worlds. I remember vividly because the first one I ever attended was in 1983, I believe, in New Orleans. Cleve got upset over being fouled out against Bobby Hopkins. Back then, if you slipped, you started in a hook and were not allowed to toproll out. Cleve toprolled out, and lost. He got so upset that he sat on the scorers table on top of all of the prize money envelopes. Those of us who had won money had to wait for him to calm down and get up. I was a young kid then, so seeing Cleve for the first time in real life and Johnny Walker (who beat a very young John Brzenk) was very overwhelming. Dave Patton won my class, Paul took second, and I got third that day. The tournaments were huge - it seems like there were over 30 or 40 pullers in some of the classes. And it was single elimination.

If you can reach out to John Woolsey, he would probably know. I believe they were going on in 1981 and may have stopped right around the Over the Top timeframe - 1987? I never went to Petaluma, so I can't compare the two. I just know that WPAA was a very big thing. I think the single elimination kept a lot of people from coming though.

To my knowledge, the AAA never offered cash prizes. And I believe the AAA was the only organization that offered a Sit Down Nationals as well as a Stand Up Nationals. Seated tournaments were pretty awesome.

[Eric Roussin]

Thanks for sharing these memories. Cleve's reaction was pretty funny! I can only imagine the awkwardness.

[Kenny Flynn]

Cool thread, AAA nationals paid cash at the 94 nationals in Conneticut. Bill I enjoy your posts keep them coming!!!!!

[Bill Arnold]

Eric, I was just looking at some old stuff. It seems the WPAA was around a lot longer than I thought. John Woolsey was talking about it in 1974. I started in 1981, so my history only goes back that far.

It seems that John would be a wealth of information for you, if you can contact him.

[brzenk]

To fill in a lot of the blanks between mid 80's to mid 90's.
There were the AWI events in Vegas.
Llghtheavyweights 210 and under with the NFL players...with TV.

Sometimes they would run a heavyweight class with basball players.
was always great to visit vegas.
1700.00 for first ... I can't remember 2nd place money ...
The football players made more.

[jonathanvazquez]

May 4, 2010 16:15:44 GMT -5 @brzenk said:

To fill in a lot of the blanks between mid 80's to mid 90's.
There were the AWI events in Vegas.
Llghtheavyweights 210 and under with the NFL players...with TV.

Sometimes they would run a heavyweight class with basball players.
was always great to visit vegas.
1700.00 for first ... I can't remember 2nd place money ...
The football players made more.

John Shaw was talking about something like this the other day. But it was in Laughlin Nv. Getting to wreck an N.F.L player...priceless.

[kyledarby]

I believe that the US Open has all the ingredients to be on this list if some east coast talent would actually come out. We do get some of Canada's finest in attendance and Mr Brzenk when he is healthy. I think eventually this could be a world class tournament if the talent pool showed up. Good location that supports us and $10,000 in cash and prizes.

[Mat Helmer]

May 4, 2010 16:15:44 GMT -5 @brzenk said:

I can't remember 2nd place money ...

;D That's pretty funny! ;D Most likely very true but still pretty funny.

[Bill Sinks]

John I think 2nd place money was $700 in Vegas ?