Steven Stewart (November 30, 1965-September 12, 2023),[1] known by his ring name Bart Sawyer, was an American professional wrestler, color commentator, and occasional actor.
He emerged as a popular "fan favorite" in Pacific Northwest Wrestling in the early-1990s, whose gimmick was modeled after Bart Simpson,[6] and engaged in feuds with Al Madril,[7] Colonel DeBeers, Matt Borne and Buddy Wayne.
Stewart joined Pacific Northwest Wrestling in the fall of 1990, as Bart Sawyer, a hyperactive and mischievous young wrestler.
[6] Stewart scored wins over Brad Anderson and Ricky Santana during his first year in the promotion and became a popular "fan favorite" feuding with Al Madril.
A match with Steve Doll against Anderson and The Hood for the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship ended in a no-contest and the title was declared held-up.
[14] That fall, Sawyer returned to the USWA and won victories against Randy Rhodes and Mike Miller at the Mid-South Coliseum.
The next week, Sawyer and Miss Texas beat Mike Miller and Lauren Davenport in a mixed tag team match.
[14] Later that year, Sawyer made a one-time appearance in World Championship Wrestling facing off against Maxx Payne on WCW Main Event.
On March 4, 1995, Sawyer and Bruiser Brian Cox defeated Buddy Wayne and Lou Andrews in Portland to become the inaugural tag team champions.
On the January 13, 1996 episode of WCW Pro, Sawyer and Buck Quartermaine were defeated by Chris Benoit and Brian Pillman.
During the match, Wayne accidentally pinned DeBeers, then Championship Wrestling USA Television Champion, and was awarded his partner's title.
A protege and longtime friend of Roddy Piper,[22] Sawyer adopted a similar "bad boy" persona during this period.
[26] Two days later, Sawyer won the then vacant USWA World Tag Team Championship with Flex Kavana[5] after defeating Brickhouse Brown and Reggie B.
[23] The team's second and final title reign ended a week later when Sawyer and Kavana dropped the belts to Brickhouse Brown and Reggie B.
Sawyer was the only wrestler to climb to the top of the cage with the championship but threw it down to Matt Borne who was waiting outside.
Soon after entering NWA Worldwide, Sawyer began feuding with fellow USWA alumni Brickhouse Brown.
This incident led to a bout between Sawyer and The Colorado Kid at the Nashville Fairgrounds on March 20, 1999, with Eddie Marlin as special guest referee.
[3] In September 2000, the two men were scheduled to wrestle in a tag team match at the Roseland Theater against Bruiser Brian Cox and a mystery partner later revealed to be Tony Anthony.
On February 9, 2001, Sawyer was in attendance at the 35th annual Cauliflower Alley Club reunion in Las Vegas with Roddy Piper[40] as one of his bodyguards.
[41] On November 3, 2001, Sawyer was the last man eliminated by Kevin White in a 10-man battle royal to crown the first NWA-USA Main Event United States Heavyweight Champion.
[42][43] On October 12, 2002, Sawyer wrestled HoPWF Cruiserweight Champion Fumar in Martinsburg, West Virginia as part of a four-way match also including Hyjinx and Aidean.
[46] That same year, Sawyer retired as an active competitor for Bert Prentice's USA Championship Wrestling in favor of becoming a color commentator for its weekly TV show.
Sawyer defeated Bad Boy #2 in the opening round but was replaced by Bill Dundee who ended up facing Mabel in the tournament final.
Sawyer made a second NWA: TNA pay-per-view appearance on June 9, 2004, when he and Shane Matthews took on Monty Brown and Abyss.