Doug Somerson

Doug Somerson

Born: September 22, 1951
Died: May 16, 2017
in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Douglas Duane Somerson was an American professional wrestler known by his ring name "Pretty Boy" Doug Somers. He worked in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) in the mid-1980s as part of a tag team with "Playboy" Buddy Rose, managed by Sherri Martel, and twice held the AWA World Tag Team Championship.

Douglas Duane Somerson, born September 22, 1951 in the heart of South Minneapolis, Minnesota, was the youngest of seven children of Carl and Dorothy Somerson. He had four brothers Jack, Russ, Dennis, and Gene and two sisters Barbara and Shirley. He was also uncle to author Julie Somerson.

In Minneapolis in 1986 as part of Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association (AWA) Somers teamed up with "Playboy" Buddy Rose and manager Sherri Martel. The duo captured the AWA World Tag Team Championship by defeating Curt Hennig and Scott Hall via countout on May 17, 1986. They went on to feud with The Midnight Rockers over the belts for the remainder of 1986, culminating with Michaels and Jannetty winning the title on January 17, 1987.

Somers would continue to wrestle for the AWA as both a singles wrestler and tag team wrestler (with both Buddy Wolfe and Kevin Kelly) throughout 1987. He would also be a last minute replacement for Boris Zukhov (who jumped to the World Wrestling Federation) as Soldat Ustinov's tag team partner in a title defense against Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee.

Somers resurfaced in the AWA in 1989, managed by Johnny Valiant. Somers went on to wrestle on the independent circuit and for the Global Wrestling Federation in 1991, taking part in their TV title tournament. He has also wrestled for Georgia independent company Folkstyle Championship Wrestling, in a feud with Frankie Valentine. At WCW Halloween Havoc 1991, Somers lost to Van Hammer in the first PPV match of his career. In 1992, Somers made several appearances for the World Wrestling Federation as an enhancement talent on their weekly syndicated programming.

On May 1, 2011 at the Memorial Mayhem 2 show, Somers debuted for NWA Rampage. He was on guest commentary during the television title match between champion Jeremy Vain and Somers' trainee Frankie Valentine. Vain defeated Valentine after Somers turned on Valentine and cost him the match. Afterwards Somers attacked Valentine. On May 15 Somers accompanied Vain & Sal Rinauro to the ring during their semi-final match in the NWA RPW tag team title tournament against Valentine & Kyle Matthews. Matthews & Valentine won the match. Somers interfered several times in the match. On May 29 Somers interfered in the finals of the tournament between Valentine & Matthews and Cru Jones & Chip Day costing Valentine & Matthews the match.

Somers died on May 16, 2017, at the age of 65

Movies for Doug Somerson...

Biography: Shawn Michaels
Title: Biography: Shawn Michaels
Character: Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Released: May 16, 2021
Type: Movie
Chronicles the wild life of one of WWE's greatest performers and most enduring villains. After drug addiction nearly cost him his life, Shawn Michaels, aka "The Heartbreak Kid," made one of the most improbable late-career comebacks in WWE history. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011.
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WWE: Shawn Michaels: My Journey
Title: WWE: Shawn Michaels: My Journey
Character: Himself
Released: June 18, 2010
Type: Movie
The Heartbreak Kid is one of the most celebrated and talented superstars in the history of Sports Entertainment. Shawn Michaels’ career has spanned more than 25 years and has produced one great match after another, earning him his “Showstopper” moniker. Now fans can relive this superlative career with Shawn Michaels: His 25 Greatest Matches, a 3-disc set with more than nine hours of matches. This DVD presents Michaels’ great bouts from every phase of his life, from early tag-team matches as a member of the Rockers through his highly decorated championship reigns. The matches include new commentary and reflections from the Showstopper himself, as well as partners and adversaries throughout the years.
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WWE: The Shawn Michaels Story - Heartbreak & Triumph
Title: WWE: The Shawn Michaels Story - Heartbreak & Triumph
Character: Himself
Released: November 27, 2007
Type: Movie
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WWE: From the Vault: Shawn Michaels
Title: WWE: From the Vault: Shawn Michaels
Released: April 22, 2003
Type: Movie
Classic matches from Shawn Michael's career up to his return from injury, with added comments and reflections from the Heartbreak Kid himself.
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WCW Halloween Havoc '91
Title: WCW Halloween Havoc '91
Character: Doug Somers
Released: October 27, 1991
Type: Movie
WCW Halloween Havoc '91 took place on October 27, 1991 from the UTC Arena in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The main event was Lex Luger defending the WCW World Heavyweight Championship in a two out of three falls match against Ron Simmons. Other matches included The Enforcers defending the WCW World Tag Titles against The Patriots, the WCW Halloween Phantom vs Tom Zenk, Brian Pillman vs Richard Morton for the first WCW Light Heavyweight Championship, WCW TV Champ Steve Austin defending his title against Dustin Rhodes, and El Gigante, Sting, the Steiner Brothers, versus Abdullah the Butcher, The Diamond Studd, Cactus Jack, and Big Van Vader in a Chamber of Horrors match.
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CSW International Bash
Title: CSW International Bash
Character: "Pretty Boy" Doug Somers
Released: February 2, 1989
Type: Movie
NWA Central States Wrestling presents an all-star card!
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AWA SuperClash II
Title: AWA SuperClash II
Character: "Pretty Boy" Doug Somers
Released: May 2, 1987
Type: Movie
SuperClash II was the second SuperClash professional wrestling event produced by American Wrestling Association (AWA). The event took place at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California on May 2, 1987. The show was promoted as the AWA's most important show of the year. Unlike SuperClash I and SuperClash III, the second event featured mainly AWA wrestlers. While not the last match of the show the main event was a match between Curt Henning and Nick Bockwinkel for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship. The show featured six additional matches that were taped for television and shown as part of the AWA's weekly television shows in subsequent weeks.
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AWA: Brawl in St. Paul
Title: AWA: Brawl in St. Paul
Character: "Pretty Boy" Doug Somers
Released: December 25, 1986
Type: Movie
It's Christmas chaos in The St. Paul Civic Center with an all-star card!
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AWA Blood on the Sand
Title: AWA Blood on the Sand
Character: "Pretty Boy" Doug Somers
Released: October 31, 1986
Type: Movie
The Midnight Rockers clash with The Playboy and The Pretty Boy inside the unforgiving confines of a 15-foot high steel cage!
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AWA Battle by the Bay
Title: AWA Battle by the Bay
Character: "Pretty Boy" Doug Somers
Released: June 28, 1986
Type: Movie
All the stars of The American Wrestling Alliance converge in the San Francisco bay area for an all-star card!
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AWA: WrestleRock '86
Title: AWA: WrestleRock '86
Character: "Pretty Boy" Doug Somers
Released: April 20, 1986
Type: Movie
The AWA supercard was broadcast from the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on April 20, 1986. It was the AWA's final stadium show.