Don Kernodle
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Don Kernodle was a professional wrestler.
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[edit] Career
Don Kernodle started wrestling in 1978 in the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions after an amateur wrestling career. At first, he was part of Sgt. Slaughter's "Cobra Corps" and he often teamed with Slaughter and Pvt. Jim Nelson.
In 1983, Kernodle became a heel and formed a tag team with Bob Orton, Jr. and was managed by Gary Hart. He soon turned against America and formed a tag team with Ivan Koloff and won the NWA World Tag Team Titles. When Ivan's "nephew" Nikita Koloff arrived in late 1984, Kernodle helped to train him. In early 1985, the Koloffs turned on Don and started a long and violent feud.
Kernodle teamed with his brother Rocky to feud with them and helped the Rock 'N Roll Express to win the Tag Team Titles from them at Starrcade '85.
In 1986, Kernodle left the NWA and wrestled in the independents in the Carolina's. He is now a prison guard and still wrestles occasionally in the Carolina Wrestling Federation with his brother Rocky.
He appeared in the 1978 Sylvester Stallone movie Paradise Alley.
[edit] Profile
- Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
- Weight: 290 lb (132 kg)
- Birthday: May 5
- Hometown: Burlington, North Carolina
- Trainer: Ole and Gene Anderson
- Managers: Gary Hart, Oliver Humperdink
[edit] Championships and accomplishments
- 3-Time NWA World Tag Team Champion (with Sgt. Slaughter, Bob Orton, Jr. and Ivan Koloff)
- 3-Time NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Champion (with Pvt. Jim Nelson twice & Ivan Koloff once)
- 1-Time NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Champion (with Ivan & Nikita Koloff)
- 1-Time NWA Canadian Television Champion
[edit] Trivia
Don Kernodle (and his brother Rocky) won the $10,000 grand prize on an early 1990s episode of ABC's America's Funniest Home Videos (their video was of them getting their Miniature Pinscher to growl and snarl). They qualified for the $100,000 competition but did not win.
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked him # 463 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003. He was also ranked # 29 of the best tag teams of the "PWI Years" with Sgt. Slaughter.
