Johnny Valentine

Johnny Valentine
Birth name John Theodore Wisniski
Born (1928-09-22)September 22, 1928
Maple Valley, Washington, United States[1]
Died April 24, 2001(2001-04-24) (aged 72)[1]
River Oaks, Texas, United States
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Johnny Valentine[1]
The Big O[2]
Billed height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[1]
Billed weight 255 lb (116 kg; 18.2 st)[1]
Debut 1947
Retired 1975[1]

John Theodore Wisniski[3] (September 22, 1928 – April 24, 2001), better known by his ring name Johnny Valentine, was an American professional wrestler with a career spanning almost three decades. He has been inducted into four halls of fame for his achievements in wrestling. Wisniski was the father of professional wrestler Greg "The Hammer" Valentine.

He held numerous regional titles, including the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship. He had long running rivalries with Bobo Brazil, Pat O'Connor, Buddy Rogers, Antonio Rocca, Lou Thesz, Harley Race, The Sheik, Wahoo McDaniel, Fritz von Erich, Bruno Sammartino, Johnny Powers, Antonio Inoki and Jack & Jerry Brisco. He alternated between being a villain and a hero (babyface) during the Golden Era in the 1940s through 1960s of wrestling.[1]

In 1975, he was injured in a plane crash; he suffered a broken back and was forced to retire from wrestling. He worked briefly as a manager before retiring altogether. He suffered from several health problems during his retirement, which worsened considerably after a fall in 2000. He died the following year.

Professional wrestling career

Valentine vs. Dory Funk Jr. in 1973

Wisniski debuted as a professional wrestler in 1947, wrestling Karl Nowena in Buenos Aires.[2] In order to make the matches as believable as possible Wisniski insisted the men he faced in the ring hit him as hard as possible. From that he earned a strong reputation as being a very tough man. On New Year's Day, 1950, Buddy Rogers defeated Wisniski in the finals of a United States title tournament.[2] He also competed in the NWA's Capitol Wrestling territory. Jerry Graham, who was a co-holder of the Northeast version of the NWA United States Tag Team Championship, selected Wisniski in November 1959 to take over the title from Graham's injured partner. They were beaten for the title belts the following April, but Wisniski took on a new partner, Buddy Rogers, to regain the championship by defeating The Fabulous Kangaroos on November 19, 1960. Wisniski's rivalry with the Kangaroos continued, as the Kangaroos regained the belts in a rematch one week later. Wisniski went over one year without holding a championship before teaming with a new partner, this time Bob Ellis, to defeat the Kangaroos and take back the championship.[2] Wisniski & Ellis lost the belts to Buddy Rogers & Handsome Johnny Barend in a match where Arnold Skoaland subbed for Ellis, but the belts were still up, on Washington, DC TV. Rogers & Barend then defeated the real team of Wisniski & Ellis 2 pins to 1 in a main event at Madison Square Garden.

In Toronto, Wisniski and three different partners won the International Tag Team title during 1963. Wisniski left the territory without dropping the title.[2] He wrestled in Japan in the mid-1960s and had a series of matches against Antonio Inoki. Those matches are regarded as the bouts that helped build Inoki into an elite wrestler in Japan, as Valentine was the highest-profile foreign wrestler Inoki had ever faced at the time. Valentine put over Inoki in the matches, dropping the Toronto version of the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship to him catapulting Inoki's career in the process.[4] Wisniski also continued to wrestle in the former Capitol Wrestling territory, which had since been renamed the World Wide Wrestling Federation. While there, he had one last reign with what was then known as the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship, as he teamed with Tony Parisi to hold the belts for seven months in 1966.[2] Wisniski later turned on Parisi, however. This ignited a brief feud with Bruno Sammartino, who was billed as Parisi's cousin. Because Wisniski was also wrestling in Texas at the same time, he got only sporadic main event matches against Sammartino during this feud.[5]

Wisniski then moved on to the Florida territory, where he won the NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship three times.[2] In Georgia, he defeated Tim Woods for the NWA Georgia Heavyweight title, on May 10, 1968, and repeated his win in a match against Doug Gilbert (not to be confused with the Doug Gilbert who was not yet born) to retake the title.[2] In Missouri, Wisniski competed for the Missouri Heavyweight Championship in a tournament to determine the inaugural champion. He defeated Baron von Raschke before withdrawing from the tournament due to focus his efforts on the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. After Harley Race won the tournament and the title belt, Valentine defeated him to win the championship on January 19, 1973.[2][6] He dropped the belt to Terry Funk the following month. Because Funk used a chair as a weapon in front of the referee, fans demanded a rematch. Valentine was unable to compete due to heart problems, however, so Gene Kiniski took his place and won the belt from Funk.[6][7] In October 1972, Wisniski defeated Jacques Rougeau for the International Heavyweight Championship, but was stripped of the title in January 1973, after he no-showed the rematch.[2]

In the National Wrestling Federation, Wisniski defeated Johnny Powers for the NWF North American Heavyweight Championship on September 1, 1972. Powers beat Wisniski for the title in October, but Wisniski won the title again from Abdullah the Butcher on October 19. He was stripped of the title following a match with Johnny Powers. On November 23, he captured the title from Powers, but lost it again in January.[2] In the Japan Wrestling Association, Wisniski won the International Tag Team title on February 22, 1973, and then the United National Heavyweight Championship on March 2. He lost the Tag title on March 6, and the United Heavyweight title on March 8.[2] Back in the National Wrestling Federation, in August 1973, Wisniski beat Jacques Rougeau, Sr. to win the North American Heavyweight Championship. He lost it to Johnny Powers in late 1973.[2]

In Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, Wisniski was awarded the Mid Atlantic Heavyweight Championship in January 1974, after Jerry Brisco left to work in Japan. Bearcat Wright defeated Wisniski in a boxing match to win the title on May 13, 1974. He won the championship from Sonny King on November 4, and won the United States Heavyweight Championship on July 4, 1975.[2]

After Wisniski was paralyzed in a plane crash, he remained active in professional wrestling as a manager in Paul Boesch's Texas-based promotion. From his wheelchair, Wisniski managed Dale Hey, who competed as Dale Valentine in a storyline that saw the two promoted as brothers. The storyline did not last long, however.[8]

Personal life

Wisniski was originally from Maple Valley, Washington.[1] He is said to have come from a dysfunctional family. He was a devout Christian for many years.[9] He was married in the early 1950s and the marriage lasted 20 years until they divorced. He was later married to a woman named Sharon, who worked across the street from his apartment in the mid 1970s when they met. She later visited John as he was recovering in hospital from his 1975 plane crash. Some time later the relationship ended as he didn't want her to see him in his condition. Years later while on braces and crutches he managed to drive around her neighbourhood for hours until he found her house. As he slowly walked to the front door Sharon`s daughter announced to Sharon that Johnny Valentine was in front of their home. Sharon having been ill refused to go to the door and hid. Wisniski insisted he wouldn't leave until he saw her. When she finally came to the door he asked her to marry him and she accepted. Following John`s death, Sharon planned to write a book titled A Never Ending Love Story of a Wrestler and His Wife about their life together.[10] He also had a son from a long ago previous relationship, Greg Valentine, who has wrestled professionally since 1970 and is best known as Greg "The Hammer" Valentine.[1] Ric Flair, who wrestled with Wisniski, has described him as a quiet person who kept to himself. He was also known for making his demands clear to employers and not backing down,[11] and many stories continue to circulate about practical jokes, or ribs, that he played on his fellow wrestlers.[5][12]

On October 4, 1975, Wisniski was in a private airplane[13] (a twin-engined Cessna 310[14]) with Ric Flair, David Crockett, Bob Bruggers, and Tim Woods.[2] Because of the weight of the passengers, the pilot realized that he could not take off without reducing the amount of fuel the plane was carrying. Part way through the flight, the aircraft ran out of fuel and crashed near Wilmington, North Carolina.[13][14][15] The crash broke Flair's back,[13] Bob Bruggers, Wikniski, and pilot Michael Farkus broke their backs.[13] A bone fragment became embedded in his spinal column, paralyzing him for life and forcing him to have a clamp implanted to hold the bones in his back together.[14] Farkus died a year later having never woken from a coma. Crockett and Woods suffered less serious injury.

In August 2000, Wisniski fell from his front porch, and had a number of injuries and complications. These included a fractured back, pneumonia, staph infection, collapsed lungs and kidney failure.[16] Due to his many injuries he slipped into a coma. At one point he came out of it while his wife was singing to him. He began singing himself but fell back into the coma. His wife had purchased medical insurance through a health maintenance organization (HMO), but the organization was unwilling to pay for Wisniski's extended stay in the hospital.[9] As a result, Lou Thesz's wife convinced the Cauliflower Alley Club to help contribute to Wisniski's medical bills. Those medical bills reached close to a million dollars.

Valentine has been recognized for his wrestling career by several sources. Shortly after his death, he was named the 2001 recipient of Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Stanley Weston Award, a recognition given for lifetime achievement in professional wrestling. He has also been inducted into several halls of fame. He was a member of the inaugural class of inductees to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 1996.[17] He is also a member of the Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame.[18] In 2006, he was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame,[19] and he joined the St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame the following year.[20] Valentine on April 17, 2010 was inducted into the IHWE Hall of fame in Fort Worth TX just days before the anniversary of his death, David Fuller who credits Valentine for mentoring him in 1998 inducted Valentine, His widow Sharon accepted the induction & quoted "Out of all the Hall of Fame's John has been inducted to, This IHWE Hall of fame is the most important" Valentine received a standing ovation & was given a rose by every IHWE superstar.

Death

Valentine died peacefully in River Oaks, Texas on April 24, 2001. He was 72.[1] His wife Sharon kept his ashes in her bedroom. She died in 2013.

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

  • IWA International Heavyweight Championship (Chicago version) (1 time)
  • IWA International Heavyweight Championship (Montreal version) (1 time)[22]

1This championship would be renamed the NWA American Heavyweight Championship in May 1968. It would go on to be renamed the WCWA World Heavyweight Championship after World Class' withdrawal from the NWA in February 1986.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Molinaro, John F. (April 24, 2001). "Johnny Valentine passes away". SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Wrestler Profiles". Online World of Wrestling Wrestler Profiles. Retrieved 2009-03-21.
  3. ↑ "Johnny Valentine; Plane Crash Cut Short Pro Wrestler's Career". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. 2001-05-09. Retrieved 2009-03-21.
  4. ↑ Meltzer, Dave (2004). Tributes II: Remembering More of the World's Greatest Professional Wrestlers. Sports Publishing LLC. p. 128. ISBN 1-58261-817-8.
  5. 1 2 Meltzer, Dave (2004). Tributes II: Remembering More of the World's Greatest Professional Wrestlers. Sports Publishing LLC. p. 131. ISBN 1-58261-817-8.
  6. 1 2 Deem, Roger. "History of the Missouri State Championship". St. Louis Wrestling from the Chase. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
  7. ↑ Matysik, Larry (2003). Wrestling at the Chase: The Inside Story of Sam Muchnick and the Legends of Professional Wrestling. ECW Press. p. 23. ISBN 1-55022-684-3.
  8. ↑ Meltzer, Dave (2004). Tributes II: Remembering More of the World's Greatest Professional Wrestlers. Sports Publishing LLC. p. 124. ISBN 1-58261-817-8.
  9. 1 2 Molinaro, John F. (2000-12-21). "Johnny Valentine's fight for life". Slam! Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
  10. ↑ Molinaro, John M. (2001-06-21). "Sharon Valentine talks about her love for Johnny Valentine". SLAM! Sadly ill health and her eventual death prevented the release. Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
  11. ↑ Oliver, Greg (2001-04-24). "Flair, friends remember Johnny Valentine". SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
  12. ↑ "Interview: Tommy Young - Part 3". Mid-Atlantic Gateway. 2003-06-10. Retrieved 2009-03-24.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Slagle, Steve. "Johnny Valentine". Professional Wrestling Online Museum. Retrieved 2009-03-21.
  14. 1 2 3 John F. Molinaro (2000-12-28). "The plane crash that changed wrestling. It's been 25 years since Valentine, Flair, Woods, Crockett went down" (ymd). Slam! Sports. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
  15. ↑ Chris Sokol; Greg Oliver (2006). "Johnny Valentine". Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2009-04-08. Retrieved 2009-03-21.
  16. ↑ Denny Burkholder (2001-04-24). "Celebrity Deathwatch: John Wisniski Sr., Pro Wrestler Johnny Valentine, 72". Celebrity Deathwatch Mailing List. slick.org. Retrieved 2009-03-21. He slipped into a coma, coming out of it once when his wife was singing. He sang along until he fell into the coma again.
  17. ↑ "Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
  18. 1 2 "Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (1948-1990)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  19. 1 2 "Hall of Famers". Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
  20. ↑ "Hall of Fame". St. Louis Wrestling from the Chase. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
  21. ↑ Hoops, Brian (July 17, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history, Kangaroos, Gagne vs. Kiniski in Hawaii, Gordy wins Triple Crown, Hogan wins WCW title from Flair at Bash at the Beach, famous Punk vs. Cena Chicago bout". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  22. ↑ Hoops, Brian (July 12, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (July 12): Gagne, Bruiser & Crusher, Ladd wins Americas title, 1992 Bash with Sting vs. Vader". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  23. ↑ Gerweck, Steve (2011-11-14). "NWA Hall of Fame Class for 2011 announced". WrestleView. Archived from the original on 2011-11-17. Retrieved 2011-11-14.
  24. ↑ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners Inspirational Wrestler of the Year". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on 2008-06-16. Retrieved 2008-07-27.
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