Robert Markovich, better known as Bob Bradley and the second Battle Kat was a long-time wrestler for the World Wrestling Federation, World Class Championship Wrestling, the Universal Wrestling Federation, World Championship Wrestling, All-Japan Pro Wrestling, and the National Wrestling Conference. After doing some research, here is his story:
World Wrestling Federation (1982 - 1986)
After being trained by "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka, Markovich began his career in 1982, appearing at a World Wrestling Federation taping on June 1, 1982 in Allentown, PA. There he wrestled and was defeated by noted wrestler and trainer Larry Sharpe. Wrestling as "Bob Bradley", he would continue to make appearances at tapings for the WWF syndicated shows Championship Wrestling and All-American Wrestling, facing opponents such as Jimmy Snuka, Blackjack Mulligan, and Buddy Rose. A little more than a month after his first match, Bradley gained his first victory when he pinned Laurent Soucie at a house show in Salisbury, MD.
Despite his inexperience, he became a full-time member of the roster. As an enhancement talent, he sustained numerous losses in 1983 and 1984, falling to much of the WWF roster. He also gained occasional wins, defeating similar undercard talent like Barry Hart (Barry Horowitz), Mac Rivera, and Jose Estrada. Following January 1984 his appearances became infrequent, and he wrestled only a small number of WWF matches that year and in 1985. During 1985 Bradley also appeared for the NWC promotion in Massachusetts, wrestling as "Cowboy" Bob Bradley.
In 1986 Bradley donned a mask and was known as "The Tiger" during a WWF tour of Australia. He also wrestled under a mask occasionally as [[The Red Demon]] that year. On September 16th, 1986 he was the opponent for "Superstar" Billy Graham in the latter's return to the WWF
Following a loss to Jerry Allen on October 26th, 1986 he wrestled exclusively as The Red Demon. His final match in his first WWF run came January 26, 1988 when he teamed with Van Van Horne against The British Bulldogs.
World Class Championship Wrestling (1986 - 1987)
While still wrestling under a mask in the WWF, Markovich joined World Class Championship Wrestling in Texas, making his first appearance on a Christmas Day card where he wrestled The Dingo Warrior (Ultimate Warrior) to a double disqualification. The following month he achieved his greatest success in the promotion, when he defeated Roberto Soto, Steve Simpson, Matt Borne, and finally The Dingo Warrior to win a tournament to determine the first Texas Heavyweight Champion. Three weeks later he would lose the title to The Dingo Warrior in a match in Fort Worth. Following the defeat Bradley entered a losing streak that carried through to his departure from the promotion in March.
Universal Wrestling Federation (1987)
A month later Bradley joined Bill Watts's Universal Wrestling Federation(UWF), losing to Steve Williams in on April 19th in Fort Worth, TX. He wrestled a total of twelve times for the UWF, facing The Super Ninja, Mike Boyette, Dick Murdoch, and others and winning several matches. Following a match with Sting on the August 15th, 1987 edition of Power Pro Wrestling he left the promotion.
World Championship Wrestling (1989)
Bob Bradley entered World Championship Wrestling (WCW) on February 4th, 1989 losing to Abdullah the Butcher at a house show in Philadelphia, PA. On February 15th he made his first televised appearance, losing to Ricky Steamboat at Clash of the Champions V. Bradley was winless in competition against Eddie Gilbert, Rick Steiner, and Michael Hayes. He left the promotion at the end of March.
World Wrestling Federation (1989 - 1992)
On August 29th, 1989 Markovich returned to the WWF after a nearly three year absence and was defeated by former trainer Jimmy Snuka at a Wrestling Challenge taping in Springfield, MA. After sporadic appearances, he began another full time run with the promotion in December. On January 2nd, 1990, just less than three years after defeating him to win the Texas Heavyweight Championship in WCCW, Bradley was squashed by Intercontinental Champion The Ultimate Warrior at a WWF Superstars of Wrestling taping in Birmingham, AL. He finally picked up his first victory since 1987 when he pinned Jim Powers in Wheeling, WV, but remained mired in the undercard.
Battle Kat
Fellow enhancement talent Brady Boone returned to the WWF in 1990 and was given the first real push of his career when he was given the character of Battle Kat. Dressed in a furry black mask, the character was accentuated by Boone's gymnastics. Wrestling as Battle Kat, his first televised opponent was against Bob Bradley in a match that aired on Wrestling Challenge on October 14th, 1990.
However after the match Boone left the promotion, and the WWF decided to instead give the gimmick to the also acrobatic Bob Bradley. Two weeks later on Wrestling Spotlight he would make his debut as the Kat, teaming with Koko B. Ware against The Orient Express. Under the mask Markovich would see the greatest push of his WWF tenure, facing and defeating Buddy Rose, Pez Whatley, Paul Diamond, and Boris Zukhov. His run at Battle Kat finally ended when he was defeated by The Barbarian on the December 10th edition of Prime Time Wrestling, and shortly thereafter the promotion eliminated the gimmick.
Bradley returned to his previous role as an enhancement talent in 1991, losing to Kerry Von Erich, Koko B Ware, Jim Duggan, and others. On September 10th, 1991 he became involved in a minor angle on Wrestling Challenge. In a match with Big Bully Busick the two went to a no-contest after Busick attacked him before the bell. Sid Justice then came out to defeat Busick.
Markovich's final match came on November 20th, 1992 in Auburn Hills, MI when he teamed with Barry Horowitz against High Energy.
Various Appearances (1994 - 1998)
Markovich joined the National Wrestling Conference on October 8th, 1994, facing Sabu in Las Vegas, NV.
He was quite successful in the promotion and would frequently team with Rob Van Dam under the collective name of Aerial Assault against such duos as The Powers of Pain, Larry Power & David Power, and The Mercenaries. Apart from two losses to Sabu, he was undefeated in four years of competition.
On March 2nd, 1996 he made his first appearance in All Japan Pro Wrestling, tagging with Van Dam against Dan Kroffat and Doug Furnas. Bradley made one final appearance in the WWF on the January 24th, 1998 edition of Shotgun Saturday Night when he faced Steve Blackman. His final NWC match came on August 28th, 1998 when he defeated Krazy KC. He retired in 2001 after a near two decade career.
World Wrestling Federation (1982 - 1986)
After being trained by "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka, Markovich began his career in 1982, appearing at a World Wrestling Federation taping on June 1, 1982 in Allentown, PA. There he wrestled and was defeated by noted wrestler and trainer Larry Sharpe. Wrestling as "Bob Bradley", he would continue to make appearances at tapings for the WWF syndicated shows Championship Wrestling and All-American Wrestling, facing opponents such as Jimmy Snuka, Blackjack Mulligan, and Buddy Rose. A little more than a month after his first match, Bradley gained his first victory when he pinned Laurent Soucie at a house show in Salisbury, MD.
Despite his inexperience, he became a full-time member of the roster. As an enhancement talent, he sustained numerous losses in 1983 and 1984, falling to much of the WWF roster. He also gained occasional wins, defeating similar undercard talent like Barry Hart (Barry Horowitz), Mac Rivera, and Jose Estrada. Following January 1984 his appearances became infrequent, and he wrestled only a small number of WWF matches that year and in 1985. During 1985 Bradley also appeared for the NWC promotion in Massachusetts, wrestling as "Cowboy" Bob Bradley.
In 1986 Bradley donned a mask and was known as "The Tiger" during a WWF tour of Australia. He also wrestled under a mask occasionally as [[The Red Demon]] that year. On September 16th, 1986 he was the opponent for "Superstar" Billy Graham in the latter's return to the WWF
Following a loss to Jerry Allen on October 26th, 1986 he wrestled exclusively as The Red Demon. His final match in his first WWF run came January 26, 1988 when he teamed with Van Van Horne against The British Bulldogs.
World Class Championship Wrestling (1986 - 1987)
While still wrestling under a mask in the WWF, Markovich joined World Class Championship Wrestling in Texas, making his first appearance on a Christmas Day card where he wrestled The Dingo Warrior (Ultimate Warrior) to a double disqualification. The following month he achieved his greatest success in the promotion, when he defeated Roberto Soto, Steve Simpson, Matt Borne, and finally The Dingo Warrior to win a tournament to determine the first Texas Heavyweight Champion. Three weeks later he would lose the title to The Dingo Warrior in a match in Fort Worth. Following the defeat Bradley entered a losing streak that carried through to his departure from the promotion in March.
Universal Wrestling Federation (1987)
A month later Bradley joined Bill Watts's Universal Wrestling Federation(UWF), losing to Steve Williams in on April 19th in Fort Worth, TX. He wrestled a total of twelve times for the UWF, facing The Super Ninja, Mike Boyette, Dick Murdoch, and others and winning several matches. Following a match with Sting on the August 15th, 1987 edition of Power Pro Wrestling he left the promotion.
World Championship Wrestling (1989)
Bob Bradley entered World Championship Wrestling (WCW) on February 4th, 1989 losing to Abdullah the Butcher at a house show in Philadelphia, PA. On February 15th he made his first televised appearance, losing to Ricky Steamboat at Clash of the Champions V. Bradley was winless in competition against Eddie Gilbert, Rick Steiner, and Michael Hayes. He left the promotion at the end of March.
World Wrestling Federation (1989 - 1992)
On August 29th, 1989 Markovich returned to the WWF after a nearly three year absence and was defeated by former trainer Jimmy Snuka at a Wrestling Challenge taping in Springfield, MA. After sporadic appearances, he began another full time run with the promotion in December. On January 2nd, 1990, just less than three years after defeating him to win the Texas Heavyweight Championship in WCCW, Bradley was squashed by Intercontinental Champion The Ultimate Warrior at a WWF Superstars of Wrestling taping in Birmingham, AL. He finally picked up his first victory since 1987 when he pinned Jim Powers in Wheeling, WV, but remained mired in the undercard.
Battle Kat
Fellow enhancement talent Brady Boone returned to the WWF in 1990 and was given the first real push of his career when he was given the character of Battle Kat. Dressed in a furry black mask, the character was accentuated by Boone's gymnastics. Wrestling as Battle Kat, his first televised opponent was against Bob Bradley in a match that aired on Wrestling Challenge on October 14th, 1990.
However after the match Boone left the promotion, and the WWF decided to instead give the gimmick to the also acrobatic Bob Bradley. Two weeks later on Wrestling Spotlight he would make his debut as the Kat, teaming with Koko B. Ware against The Orient Express. Under the mask Markovich would see the greatest push of his WWF tenure, facing and defeating Buddy Rose, Pez Whatley, Paul Diamond, and Boris Zukhov. His run at Battle Kat finally ended when he was defeated by The Barbarian on the December 10th edition of Prime Time Wrestling, and shortly thereafter the promotion eliminated the gimmick.
Bradley returned to his previous role as an enhancement talent in 1991, losing to Kerry Von Erich, Koko B Ware, Jim Duggan, and others. On September 10th, 1991 he became involved in a minor angle on Wrestling Challenge. In a match with Big Bully Busick the two went to a no-contest after Busick attacked him before the bell. Sid Justice then came out to defeat Busick.
Markovich's final match came on November 20th, 1992 in Auburn Hills, MI when he teamed with Barry Horowitz against High Energy.
Various Appearances (1994 - 1998)
Markovich joined the National Wrestling Conference on October 8th, 1994, facing Sabu in Las Vegas, NV.
He was quite successful in the promotion and would frequently team with Rob Van Dam under the collective name of Aerial Assault against such duos as The Powers of Pain, Larry Power & David Power, and The Mercenaries. Apart from two losses to Sabu, he was undefeated in four years of competition.
On March 2nd, 1996 he made his first appearance in All Japan Pro Wrestling, tagging with Van Dam against Dan Kroffat and Doug Furnas. Bradley made one final appearance in the WWF on the January 24th, 1998 edition of Shotgun Saturday Night when he faced Steve Blackman. His final NWC match came on August 28th, 1998 when he defeated Krazy KC. He retired in 2001 after a near two decade career.
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