USFL/WLAF Champions since 1983.
USFL Era.
After the 1984 season, the Helmsley family who owned the-then New Jersey Generals, pushed for a move from spring to fall. That move was rejected unanimously by the other USFL owners, most notably, Tampa Bay Bandits owner John Bassett, who passed away a couple years afterward.
1983 (Denver): Michigan Panthers over Philadelphia Stars
1984 (Tampa): Philadelphia Stars over Arizona Wranglers
1985 (East Rutherford): Philadelphia Stars over Los Angeles Express
1986 (Jacksonville): Tampa Bay Bandits over Arizona Wranglers
1987 (Birmingham): Philadelphia Stars over Denver Gold
1988 (Oakland): Philadelphia Stars over San Antonio Texans
After the 1988 season, the USFL rebranded as the World League of American Football to reflect its expansion to Europe. Barcelona, Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam and Rhein were the first teams to be added across the pond. The Los Angeles Express changed their name to the Avengers and the New Jersey Generals rebranded as the New York/New Jersey Knights. Both name changes were the result of changes in ownership.
WLAF World Bowl Winners since 1989.
1989 (Orlando) Birmingham Maulers over Michigan Panthers
The Maulers, led by quarterback Ben Bennett, tried to hand this game to Michigan several times, but they couldn't pull it off. Birmingham led 21-20 when Michigan needed a field goal from Novo Bojovic for the win. Sadly for Detroit fans, the kick sailed wide right.
1990 (Los Angeles) Arizona Wranglers over Philadelphia Stars
Technically, this game was played in Pasadena. The Avengers played at the Memorial Coliseum and didn't use MCA Stadium/Amblin Field in Chavez Ravine until 2000. Even today, the MLB Angels still get priority over the NFL Rams for calendar dates because both share the parking lot. Anyways, the Wranglers finally triumphed over an aging Star squad that beat them twice in the championship game during the USFL era. Ex-Sun Devil Anthony Parker intercepted Chuck Fusina before the half and the Wranglers never looked back. Arizona won 38-21.
1991 (London) London Monarchs over Los Angeles Avengers
For the Avengers, the "Brothers Allen" Marcus and Damon were feared on both sides of the pond during the regular season. But in the World Bowl, the Avengers were dissaembled by a Monarch squad who lost only once the whole year. London would win at Wembley 38-14.
After the 1991 season, the Arizona Wranglers, who had been playing at Sun Devil Stadium since '83, moved to Las Vegas fearing irrelevance as the MLB Diamondbacks and Arena League Rattlers were due to arrive in Maricopa County the next spring. The Wranglers would return to Arizona in 2005, albeit in Tucson.
1992 (Toronto) Oakland Condors over Orlando Thunder
David Archer for Oakland and Scott Mitchell of Orlando combined for 500 passing yards, but only the Condors could bring the big crystal thingy to the East Bay.
1993 (Barcelona) Orlando Thunder over San Antonio Texans
This was one of the more forgettable World Bowls, with the Thunder steamrolling the Texans 63-0 at Montjuic Stadium.
1994 (San Antonio) Baltimore Ravens over Frankfurt Galaxy
Linebacker OJ Brigance was the locker room leader for the Ravens. The Galaxy had fired Jack Elway and brought in Ernie Stautner after the first four games of the season. A 1-3 start turned into a wild card spot, with the Galaxy upsetting the heavily favored Barcelona Dragons at Montjuic Stadium in the first round. The Galaxy then warped past the NY/NJ Knights at the Meadowlands in the next round. But in the World Bowl, the Galaxy fell into a black hole, with the Raven defense sacking Mike Perez 18 times. Baltimore would go on to win in a 28-0 shutout. Future college coach Nick Saban served as an assistant to Ted Marchibroda on the Raven staff.
1995 (Amsterdam) Oklahoma Outlaws over Amsterdam Admirals
The Outlaws, led by future Rams and Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner, played through 1995 with heavy hearts. A memorial sticker was added to the Outlaws helmets in May of 1995 after the Oklahoma City Bombing. Late in the fourth quarter, Will Furrer connected on a play action pass to Sanjay Beach to give the Admirals a 17-13 lead. With four minutes to go, Kurt Warner calmly marched the Outlaws down the field. A pick-six by Ron Carpenter on Second and Goal was called back for pass interference and the Outlaws got a second chance. Warner handed off to Shaumbe Wright-Fair on third down but was stuffed by Jonathan Kirksey at the one. The Outlaws used their last time out and on fourth down, Warner won the game for Oklahoma on a quarterback sneak 24 to 17. By the way, future Sooner coach Bob Stoops was defensive coordinator on Al Luginbill's staff in Amsterdam.
1996 (Edinburgh) Scottish Claymores over Oklahoma Outlaws
Yo Murphy and Scott Couper each scored two touchdowns in a flurry of offense. Kurt Warner wasn't gonna go quietly into the night, launching an aerial assault of his own in the second half. Scotland led 42-35 late in the fourth quarter, but the Outlaws marched down the field in the last five minutes. Warner's final pass of the game, intended for Darrick Branch (nephew of Cliff), was intercepted by George Coghill in the endzone. Scotland held on to win the shootout 42-35.
1997 (Mexico City) Oklahoma Outlaws over Barcelona Dragons
La'Roi Glover, then the Dragons' leading defensive tackle, led the WLAF in sacks. But the Outlaws' offensive line wouldn't let him touch Kurt Warner once.
1998 (Frankfurt) Rhein Fire over Portland Breakers
Fire vs. Water basically. Except Manfred Burgsmueller at age 48 was able to kick the game winning field goal and win the World Bowl for the Rhein Fire 23-20.
1999 (Dusseldorf) Oakland Condors over Barcelona Dragons
Lawrence Phillips' finest hour as a pro. But the Dragons would suffer defeat 19-17 at the hands of Pat Barnes and the Condors.
2000 (Las Vegas) Los Angeles Avengers over Rhein Fire
A LOL-fest that was won by Tommy Maddox and the Avengers at the new domed stadium across the freeway from the Strip.
2001 (Amsterdam) Baltimore Ravens over Barcelona Dragons
This snoozefest was won by Baltimore with their defense once again making the quarterback piss his pants. The victim this year was Tony Graziani for Barcelona, who was sacked 20 times to set a World Bowl record that still stand. Ravens won 48-0.
The 2000 and 2001 World Bowls were blowouts.
Tom Brady joins the Amsterdam Admirals in 2000 after a point-shaving scandal at Michigan sank his NFL draft stock.
2002 (Mexico City): Amsterdam Admirals over Portland Breakers
2003 (Glasgow): Amsterdam Admirals over San Antonio Texans
2004 (Vancouver): Amsterdam Admirals over Los Angeles Avengers
Al Davis was in Vancouver for the 2004 World Bowl. After the game was over and the TV coverage ended, Davis summoned Brady's agent to the Plaza of Nations on Pacific Boulevard outside BC Place. It was there that the three time World Bowl winner pledged his Committment to Excellence.
2005 (Dusseldorf) Barcelona Dragons over Memphis Pharaohs
Memphis, who finished last in their division the year before, benefitted from tons of lucky bounces that went their way. Sadly, Matt Nagy's passing attack for Barcelona was one riddle the Pharaohs couldn't solve.
2006 was the first year of the WLAF's three conference alignment.
2006 (Chicago) Arizona Wranglers over Frankfurt Galaxy
Kliff Kingsbury's finest hour as a player. Somehow, someway, he outdueled Galaxy QB JT O'Sullivan to win this game 27-17.
2007 (Paris) Arizona Wranglers over Scottish Claymores
Kingsbury once again led the Wranglers to a World Bowl triumph. The day after the game, the Wranglers took out a full page ad in every Arizona newspaper showing an Arizona state flag flying from the top of the Eiffel Tower.
Since then, Kingsbury has joined the Denver Broncos of the NFL. As a result, the French spectators who went to see his World Bowl performance have now organized the Bronco fan club in Paris.
2008 (Memphis) London Monarchs over Jacksonville Tomcats
It was the Tomcats first World Bowl since moving from St. Louis to Jacksonville in the swap that saw the erstwhile Jaguars of the NFL resurface under the Gateway Arch as the Sorcerers. The Tomcats made it this far in spite of well-known locker room cancer Terrell Owens. The Monarchs' secondary kept TO quiet for most of this World Bowl, treating the Liberty Bowl crowd to a British Beatdown.
