Professional wrestling in the 1980s and early 1990s was filled with colorful personalities, dangerous rivalries, and territories that allowed stars to rise and fall quickly. In that storm of shifting alliances and regional wars was Scott Braddock, remembered as “Sheik” Scott Braddock in World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) and later a solid hand in the United States Wrestling Association (USWA). Though he never became a household name, Braddock found himself at the center of some historic shifts in the wrestling business and feuded alongside, and against, men who would go on to become industry icons.
Early Break in World Class Championship Wrestling (1988–1990)
Braddock broke into the sport during the dying days of Fritz Von Erich’s World Class Championship Wrestling. By the late ’80s, WCCW was struggling to survive, but it still had national television exposure and a loyal fan base in Texas.
In 1989, Braddock joined Robert Fuller’s Stud Stable, a heel group that included “Rotten” Ron Starr and a young, wild Cactus Jack (later Mick Foley). The Stud Stable immediately targeted fan favorites Matt Borne and Jeff Jarrett, kicking off one of the more intense feuds of WCCW’s final years.
On August 4, 1989, at the Dallas Sportatorium, Braddock and Cactus Jack defeated Borne and Jarrett to win the WCWA World Tag Team Championship. The victory was historic for two reasons:
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It was the final WCCW event ever held at the Dallas Sportatorium.
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With WCCW merging into Jerry Jarrett’s Continental Wrestling Association (CWA) soon after, Braddock and Cactus Jack were recognized as the first-ever USWA Tag Team Champions.
Although they dropped the titles back to Borne and Jarrett a week later, Braddock had earned his place in history as part of the team that bridged two promotions. He briefly regained the belts later with Ron Starr, but their reigns were short-lived.
Braddock also worked singles bouts, including matches against Jimmy Jack Funk, Kevin Von Erich, and others on the earliest episodes of “USWA on ESPN.”
United States Wrestling Association: The Sheik Emerges (1990–1992)
When the USWA officially launched, Braddock was carried over as part of the Texas roster. By 1990, he reinvented himself as “Sheik” Scott Braddock, donning Middle Eastern-inspired heel attire and aligning with Skandor Akbar’s Devastation Inc., one of the most infamous heel stables in wrestling history.
This alignment put Braddock in high-profile situations, especially when paired with a young “Stunning” Steve Austin(long before he was Stone Cold). Together, Braddock and Austin battled Austin’s former mentor, Chris Adams, in a bloody Texas feud. Braddock, Austin, and ally Jeff Gaylord often wrestled six-man tags against Adams, Matt Borne, and Eric Embry.
Highlights of this run included:
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March 1990 – Teamed with Austin and Gaylord against Adams, Borne, and Embry in televised bouts from the Sportatorium.
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Tag matches with Austin and other Devastation Inc. members against Dustin Rhodes, Jimmy Jack Funk, and Chico Torres.
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Regular clashes with Jeff Jarrett, Kevin Von Erich, and Bill Dundee as USWA tried to keep the Texas-Memphis pipeline strong.
Braddock also worked in Memphis, teaming with Jeff Gaylord as “The Wild Things.” With Downtown Bruno managing them, they became a mid-card heel team, challenging popular babyfaces like Steve Doll & Rex King (The Southern Rockers), King Cobra & Big Red, and even the comedy character Kowabunga the Ninja Turtle.
Though he rarely made it to the main event, Braddock was seen as a reliable utility player. He could slot into a feud, work both tag and singles matches, and help elevate younger stars.
Global Wrestling Federation and Big D Wrestling (1992–1993)
By the early 1990s, the wrestling world had shifted again. The USWA’s national influence dwindled, and the Texas scene fragmented into smaller promotions.
In 1992, Braddock made a one-time appearance in the Global Wrestling Federation (GWF), teaming with Khris Germany in a losing effort against The Ebony Experience (Booker T and Stevie Ray, later Harlem Heat). This was notable as Braddock crossed paths with two men who would go on to become WCW and WWE legends.
After GWF, Braddock worked in Big D Pro Wrestling, a Dallas-based independent promotion, where he wrestled under the name Scotty “The Body” Braddock. He held the Big D Tag Team Championship with Ray Evans before the promotion folded in 1993. With that, Braddock stepped away from full-time wrestling, quietly retiring after a career that had spanned some of the most volatile years in the territorial system.
Legacy and Later Mentions
While Scott Braddock never became a national star, he was remembered by fans of WCCW and USWA for his role in significant storylines:
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He was the last WCWA Tag Team Champion alongside Cactus Jack and one of the first USWA Tag Team Champions.
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He was one of Steve Austin’s earliest allies, standing beside him during his breakout feud with Chris Adams.
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His feuds with Jarrett, Adams, and Embry placed him in the ring with future WWE Hall of Famers and influential regional stars.
In later years, some of his matches were replayed on international wrestling television, including IWA Puerto Rico’s “Total Impact”, keeping his name alive among fans of classic footage. In 2008, TNA even teased him in a text campaign, hinting at a reunion with Mick Foley, though nothing came of it.
Braddock has since made sporadic indie appearances in Texas, popping up at nostalgia shows, though he mostly lives in relative quiet away from the spotlight.
Championships and Accomplishments
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WCWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Cactus Jack
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USWA Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Cactus Jack (1) and Ron Starr (1)
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Big D Wrestling Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Ray Evans
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National Class Wrestling Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
Conclusion
Scott Braddock is one of those names that doesn’t come up often in the grand history of professional wrestling, yet he was part of key moments in the late ’80s and early ’90s. His career intersected with legends like Mick Foley, Steve Austin, Jeff Jarrett, and the Von Erich family. He stood inside the Sportatorium during its final days as a major venue and helped carry belts that transitioned from one historic promotion to another.
For fans of WCCW and the USWA, Braddock is remembered as a capable heel, a loyal stablemate, and a gritty worker who helped bridge eras during a tumultuous time in wrestling history.