Art Crews

Art Crews is a retired American professional wrestler who competed in North American regional promotions including the National Wrestling Alliance, particularly the Central States, Mid-South and Pacific Northwest territories, during the 1980s.

In Shawn Michaels' autobiography Heartbreak & Triumph, Michaels explains that Art Crews was the very first person he wrestled in his career, making him the very first person to defeat Michaels.

Career

Early life and career

Born in Topeka, Kansas and grew up in Meriden, Kansas, he was a fan of professional wrestling as a child often attending wrestling events in Saint Joseph, Missouri with his mother Billie Crews. Trained by Pat O'Connor and Ronnie Etchison, Crews made his debut in 1980 fighting Billy Howard to a time limit draw at the Kansas City Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas.

After spending almost two years in the Southeast, he began competing for Pacific Northwest Wrestling defeating Chris Colt at the Sports Arena in Portland, Oregon on September 5, 1981 and was later named the PNW "Rookie of the Year" by the end of the year. He appeared in Maple Leaf Wrestling teaming with Kenny Jay against Jerry and Johnny Valiant at the Oshawa Civic Auditorium in Oshawa, Ontario pinning Johnny Valiant on October 1, 1981 due in part to outside interference from the Rougeau Brothers.