This has been an incredibly tough week for the world of professional wrestling, as a sixth passing has been announced. On Monday night, Kevin Lawler – son of Jerry “The King” Lawler – announced the passing of Scott Bowden. Bowden was only 48 years old.
During the 1990s, while still in college, Scott Bowden would become a referee and eventually a manager in the United States Wrestling Association (USWA). The USWA was born out of the 1989 merger of Jerry Jarrett and Jerry Lawler‘s Continental Wrestling Association (CWA) in Memphis with the Von Erichs World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) in Texas, in hopes of creating a third entity to rival WWF and WCW. The Von Erich family would withdraw from USWA in September of 1990, and by 1992, the company had entered a working agreement to talent share with the WWF, following Jerry Lawler’s signing with the WWF that same year.
Scott Bowden would become a manager to many of the top stars in USWA, including Jerry Lawler, Tommy Rich, and Doug Gilbert. As a manager, Bowden was one of the first men to get into words with The Rock, back when Dwayne Johnson was working in USWA as part of WWE’s developmental, going under the name Flex Kavana.
Following his run with USWA, Scott Bowden became arguably the leading historian of Memphis Wrestling, starting a blog and then podcast called Kentucky Fried Rasslin’. He was just a week away from turning 49.
LWOPW sends its sincere condolences to the entire Bowden family, his friends, peers, and colleagues. Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.
Heartbreaking news to wake up to, former Memphis manager Scott Bowden (@TravScottBowden) passed away last night (pictured with Jerry Lawler at last years CAC). A great and funny guy, Scott will sorely be missed. Our condolences to all his family and many friends at this time pic.twitter.com/zoQk8sNVs0
— Cauliflower Alley Club (@CACReunion) April 21, 2020
Really shocked and saddened to hear of Scott Bowden's passing. An underrated manager, a truly gifted writer, and a genuinely funny guy. Our recording sessions were always hysterical. Go read one of his articles or listen to one of his podcasts today.
— The Great Brian Last (@GreatBrianLast) April 21, 2020
