| Mr. Wrestling II | |
|---|---|
| Ring name(s) | Johnny "Rubberman" Walker The Grappler Mr. Wrestling II |
| Billed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Billed weight | 240 lb (110 kg) |
| Born | September 10, 1934 Charleston, South Carolina |
| Resides | Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Trained by | Tony Morelli Pat O'Connor |
| Debut | 1956 |
| Retired | 1989[1] |
John "Johnny" Walker (born in Charleston, South Carolina), better known as Mr. Wrestling II, is a retired American professional wrestler. As Mr. Wrestling II, Walker was one of the most popular wrestlers in the Florida and Georgia areas in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Some of Walker's most notable feuds involved The Assassin, The Spoiler, The Masked Superstar, Jack Brisco, Buddy Colt, Magnum T.A., Jimmy Garvin, Tim Woods, Minnesota Wrecking Crew, Larry Zbyszko, and The Road Warriors. Mr. Wrestling II, later in his career, was known to use his "running knee lift" to great effect.
Walker's wife, Olivia, was a seamstress and costume maker. Many of her clients were country music performers including Porter Wagoner. During an interview, Ric Flair stated that many of his robes were made by her.
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In 1972, Walker was semi-retired and running a gas station outside Atlanta when Georgia's promoter Paul Jones asked for him to headline his programs as a masked wrestler, because the original Mr Wrestling was unavailable to feature on a regular basis. Walker would have later become an absolute draw and legend for the territory, leading to ten times-heavyweight title.[2]
President Jimmy Carter (a fellow Georgian) called Mr. Wrestling II his favorite wrestler (as well as his mother's favorite). Walker was invited to Carter's inauguration, but declined the invitation upon learning that he would have to unmask.[3]
Mr. Wrestling II was the Director of Talent Relations for Hawai'i Championship Wrestling. On October 13, 2007, he came out of retirement and won the HCW Kekaulike Heritage Tag Team Championship with Mr. Wrestling 3, II's protégé.
He and Tony Atlas did win the NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) at one time. However, the reign and win aren't official nor are they recognized.[5]