Reggie Parks

2.1. Early Career and Training

Parks' professional wrestling journey began in Edmonton in 1955, where he trained at a local boxing club and met Stampede Wrestling promoter Stu Hart. Hart not only trained Parks but also introduced him to various wrestling territories across the United States. Early in his career, Parks gained experience by wrestling with a traveling carnival, engaging in legitimate, unscripted matches against audience challengers. He relied on his exceptional stamina and conditioning to out-wrestle these opponents. In 1960, Parks formally entered the mainland United States wrestling scene, having previously wrestled in the Pacific Northwest areas such as Calgary, Vancouver, and Portland in the late 1950s.

2.2. Major Promotions and Territories

Between 1963 and 1973, Parks was primarily based with the American Wrestling Association (AWA), making significant appearances in territories across Nebraska. In 1961, on August 8, he captured the NWA World Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version) in San Francisco, California, alongside Enrique Torres. During his time in various territories, Parks regularly competed against formidable opponents such as Fritz Von Erich, Fred Blassie, Verne Gagne, and Nick Bockwinkel.

In 1965, on October 16, Parks teamed with Danny Hodge in Omaha, Nebraska, to win the Nebraska Tag Team Championship from Mad Dog Vachon and Haru Sasaki. Continuing his work in the AWA's Midwest region, in March 1966, he teamed with Mr. Wrestling to defeat Haru Sasaki and Mits Arakawa for the AWA Midwest Tag Team Championship, a successor title to the Nebraska Tag Team Championship. He held this title multiple times throughout his career. From January 1976, Parks joined The Funks'-promoted Amarillo territory, and on May 12, he and Scott Casey defeated Bobby Jaggers and Randy Tyler for the NWA Western States Tag Team Championship. On February 12, 1977, he defeated Johnny Weaver to win the NWA International Heavyweight Championship (Western Texas/Amarillo version), holding it until losing to Cyclone Negro the following month.

Parks was celebrated for his impressive physique and feats of strength, earning him the moniker "the Quiet Superman." At one point, to demonstrate his incredible strength and abdominal fortitude, Parks famously had a Volkswagen Beetle driven over his stomach. At his peak, Parks stood 6 in tall, weighed between 225 lb ^{(225 lb)} and 230 lb ^{(230 lb)}, and boasted 17 in biceps and a 50 in chest. In 1968, while working in Joe Blanchard's Texas territory, Parks was the opponent for the debut match of future NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Dusty Rhodes.

2.3. Overseas Tours

Reggie Parks made significant international tours during his career. In July 1970, he debuted in Japan Pro-Wrestling (JWA), where he engaged in single matches against prominent Japanese wrestlers such as Antonio Inoki, Kintaro Ohki, Seiji Sakaguchi, and Akihisa Takachiho. He also teamed with wrestlers like Brute Bernard and Moose Cholak to face the formidable BI Gun (Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki). Following this series, Parks participated in a tour of South Korea, challenging Kintaro Ohki for the Asia Heavyweight Championship in Seoul on August 8.

In May 1974, Parks returned to Japan, this time booked by International Wrestling Enterprise (IWE). During this tour, he competed in single matches against notable IWE stars including Great Kusatsu, Rusher Kimura, Mighty Inoue, and Animal Hamaguchi.

2.4. The Avenger Persona and Later Career

In October 1979, while wrestling in the Kansas territory, Reggie Parks adopted the masked persona of The Avenger. Under this new identity, on November 22, he defeated The Turk to win the NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship. Throughout 1980, he engaged in a notable masked wrestler rivalry with The Assassin (Jody Hamilton) over the championship.

Due to a back injury, Parks eventually transitioned into a referee role for a period. His active wrestling career concluded with occasional "jobber" appearances in later years. In 1981, he participated in preliminary matches in the Florida territory. His last documented match took place on July 18, 1982, in his hometown of Edmonton, where he faced Bad News Allen at a Stampede Wrestling event. After this match, he retired from full-time active wrestling, though he continued to make occasional appearances as a jobber for WWF house shows and TV programs, facing wrestlers like The Moondogs and Butch Reed. His final recorded match was in 1999, against Jose Lothario in New Mexico. Parks wrestled the majority of his career as a fan-friendly "babyface," attributing his natural likability to his Canadian upbringing, stating, "It's just a natural Canadian thing. I was always nice."

2.5. Signature Moves

Reggie Parks utilized several key techniques during his wrestling career, showcasing his power and agility.

• Airplane Spin
• Standing Clutch

3.1. Origins of Belt Making

Parks' foray into belt making began in 1962 while he was wrestling in Omaha, Nebraska. He noticed that promoter Joe Dusek was using a dilapidated trophy to represent a championship. Seeing an opportunity, Parks took it upon himself to create a replacement belt. This first creation was crafted from plated copper and a leather strap, costing him an estimated 75 USD. The quality of this initial belt quickly caught the attention of others. Shortly thereafter, the American Wrestling Association's tag team champions, Harley Race and Larry Hennig, commissioned Parks to make belts for them after witnessing his craftsmanship during a match against him. The visibility gained from this commission, combined with a subsequent tour of Japanese wrestling promotions, significantly expanded his belt-making business.

3.2. Notable Designs and Collaborations

Parks designed and engraved championship belts for a wide array of major promotions, including WWE (then WWF), the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), the American Wrestling Association (AWA), and Shimmer Women Athletes. His designs became some of the most iconic in professional wrestling history, with WWE itself describing them as its most famous.

His most recognized creations include the "Winged Eagle" belt, which served as the WWF Championship from the late 1980s through the 1990s, and the WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship belt from the same era. Numerous legendary wrestlers, including Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, and Stone Cold Steve Austin, wore belts crafted by Parks during their championship reigns. Beyond wrestling, Parks' work extended to other combat sports, with his belts appearing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and even making a unique appearance on the cover of Madonna's 2008 album, Hard Candy.

3.3. "The King of Belts" and Craftsmanship

Parks' exceptional design work and meticulous attention to detail earned him the well-deserved nickname "the King of Belts." His belts were renowned for their high quality and intricate artistry. The typical process involved photoengraving onto a zinc base, which was then carefully plated with nickel or gold to achieve a lustrous finish. The final designs were further enhanced with additional gemstones and detailed tooled leather work, demonstrating his blend of artistic skill and craftsmanship. Fellow belt maker Dave Millican acknowledged Parks' groundbreaking impact, stating, "We all owe Reggie a huge debt of gratitude because nobody did this this way before he did. Were there belts before Reggie? Absolutely. Were there good belts before Reggie? There weren't." Parks' work fundamentally shaped the aesthetic and standards of championship belts, influencing their visual identity for generations.

7.1. Impact as a Wrestler

As a wrestler, Parks was renowned for his imposing physique and strength, earning him the moniker "Quiet Superman." He was known for incredible demonstrations of power, such as performing push-ups using only his fingertips and famously having a Volkswagen Beetle driven over his stomach. Throughout his career, he was widely regarded as a fan-friendly "babyface," a persona attributed by many to his Canadian upbringing, fostering a natural connection with audiences. His dedication to conditioning and powerful in-ring style made him a respected figure among his peers and fans alike.

7.2. Impact as a Belt Designer

Reggie Parks' most enduring legacy lies in his transformative work as a championship belt designer. Widely known as "The King of Belts," his designs fundamentally revolutionized the aesthetics and standards of championship recognition within professional wrestling and combat sports. His creations, such as the iconic "Winged Eagle" and the WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship, became synonymous with the pinnacle of achievement in the industry. Parks' meticulous craftsmanship, utilizing techniques like photoengraving and precise plating, elevated championship belts from mere props to works of art. His influence extended to major promotions like WWE, WCW, and UFC, and even crossed over into pop culture with his design featured on Madonna's Hard Candy album cover. Parks' work set a new benchmark for quality and artistry, shaping the visual identity of championships for generations and leaving an unparalleled impact on how these coveted symbols of victory are perceived.