DJ Peterson

**David Wayne Peterson** (July 17, 1959 – May 25, 1993) was an American professional wrestler, known by his ring name, **D.J. Peterson**, who competed in North American regional promotions during the 1980s in the Universal Wrestling Federation, the National Wrestling Alliance and the American Wrestling Association during its final days, most notably as the last AWA Tag Team Champion with The Trooper.

## Professional wrestling career

Making his debut in 1984, Peterson started wrestling in Texas All-Star Wrestling and in the NWA Central States.

During the mid-1980s, Peterson briefly appeared in Fritz von Erich's World Class Championship Wrestling defeating Jack Victory on February 7 and Prairie States Wrestling against Ox Baker on July 23 before wrestling in the Mid-South area and, by early 1986, for Bill Watts' Universal Wrestling Federation facing wrestlers such as Gustavo Mendoza and, in tag team matches, teamed with Brett Sawyer against Mike Scott and Rick Steiner, the Blade Runners and the **Fabulous Freebirds** (Terry "Bam Bam" Gordy & Buddy Roberts) in their UWF debut. He also wrestled Bart Sawyer several times, losing to him on May 3 and teamed with Chavo Guerrero against Sawyer and Rick Steiner in the following weeks.

Later that year, he teamed with Todd Champion feuding with the Thunderfoots and faced Big Bubba Rogers and The Warlord and The MOD Squad during October while in Jim Crockett Promotions as well as wrestling Arn Anderson in St. Louis, Missouri on November 16, 1986.

Jumping to the American Wrestling Association in 1987, Peterson fought Super Ninja to a time limit draw at SuperClash II on May 2, 1987. He would also form a team with J.T. Southern, attempting to gain the AWA World Tag Team titles, but ended up coming short.

He then split his time wrestling in several territories during the next two years appearing on the debut television show of Continental Championship Wrestling and had a brief stint in the World Wrestling Federation, primarily being used as a jobber. In 1989, he would head up to Calgary for Stampede Wrestling until its closure on December 18.

Peterson returned to the AWA full-time in early 1990 teaming with Brad Rheingans against the Texas Hangmen at SuperClash IV on April 8, 1990 and later to pursue then AWA World Champion Mr. Saito. When Larry Zbyszko regained the title, Peterson was granted title shots although he failed to unseat the World Champion. Shortly thereafter, he formed a tag team with The Trooper which captured the AWA World Tag Team Titles from The Destruction Crew on August 11, 1990.

Defending the titles during the rest of the year, Peterson and Trooper would turn out to be the last AWA World Tag Team Champions. In January 1991, Pro Wrestling Illustrated and its sister publications withdrew recognition of the AWA's World Championship status but continued to recognize Trooper and Peterson as incumbent "AWA Tag Team Champions" until the promotion finally closed later that year.

After the AWA closed in early 1991, Peterson went to the indie circuit and he also worked in the construction business.

## Death

Peterson died from a motorcycle crash on May 25, 1993, and was rumored to have been decapitated. He was 33 years old.