Johnny Valentine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2007) |
| John Theodore Wisniski | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Ring name(s) | Johnny Valentine |
| Billed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Billed weight | 255 lb (116 kg/18.2 st) |
| Born | September 22, 1928 |
| Died | April 24, 2001 (aged 72) |
| Debut | 1947 |
| Retired | 1975 |
Johnny Valentine (born John Theodore Wisniski, September 22, 1928 – April 24, 2001) was a professional wrestler with a career spanning almost three decades, ending because of an aircraft accident in 1975 (which Ric Flair was also in) which left him crippled. He is the father of Greg Valentine.
Wisniski became a professional wrestler in 1947. He held numerous world champion and regional titles, including the NWA United States Championship and the World Heavyweight title. He had long running rivalries with Bobo Brazil, Pat O'Connor, Antonio Rocca, Lou Thesz, Harley Race, The Sheik, Wahoo McDaniel, Fritz von Erich, Bruno Sammartino, Johnny Powers, Antonio Inoki and Jack & Jerry Brisco.
[edit] Championships and accomplishments
-
- NWA International Tag Team Championship (Japan version) (1 time) – with Killer Karl Krupp
- NWA United National Championship (1 time)
- International Wrestling Association (Chicago)
-
- IWA International Heavyweight Championship (Chicago version) (1 time)
- International Wrestling Association (Montreal)
-
- IWA International Heavyweight Championship (Montreal version) (1 time)
-
- NWA International Tag Team Championship (Toronto version) (5 times) – with Bulldog Brower (1), The Beast (1), Jim Hady (1), and Whipper Billy Watson (2)
- NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Toronto version) (7 times) (First)
-
- NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Northeast version) (3 times) – with Buddy Rogers (1), Bob Ellis (1), and Eddie Graham (1)
-
- NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Detroit version) (3 times)
- NWA United States Television Championship (3 times)
-
- NWA Beat the Champ International Television Championship (1 time)
-
- NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Ripper Collins
-
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Minneapolis version) (1 time) – with Chet Wallick
-
- NWA American Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- NWA American Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Wahoo McDaniel (2) and Thunderbolt Patterson (1)
- NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Championship (2 times)
- NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (8 times)
- NWA Texas Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Rip Rogers
-
- PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year award in 1973.
- PWI Editor's Award (awarded posthumously) in 2001
- St. Louis Wrestling Hall Of Fame
- (Class of 2007)
[edit] References
- ^ Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (1948-1990). Puroresu Dojo (2003).
