Cousin Junior

Cousin Junior

Kean as "Big Daddy Cyrus" in Memphis in 1995.
Birth name Lanny Neal Kean Jr.
Born (1960-04-19)April 19, 1960
Jamestown, Kentucky, USA
Died January 13, 2009(2009-01-13) (aged 48)
Franklin, Indiana, USA
Children 1
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Big Daddy Cyrus[1]
Cousin Junior[1]
King Harley Hogg
Lanny Kean[1]
Moondog Cujo[1]
Ox Brody[1]
Billed height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Billed weight 354 lb (161 kg)
Billed from Mudlick, Kentucky
(as Cousin Junior)
Debut 1983[1]

Lanny Neal Kean Jr. (March 19, 1960 – January 13, 2009) was an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation from 1985 to 1986 under the ring name Cousin Junior, as well as for his appearances on the independent circuit as Moondog Cujo, a member of The Moondogs.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1983-1984)

Kean made his professional wrestling debut in Kentucky in 1983, where he competed as "Luscious" Lanny Kean.

World Wrestling Federation (1984-1986)

In 1984, Kean began wrestling for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) as a jobber, performing as Lanny Kean. In 1985, he was given the gimmick of Cousin Junior, a member of Hillbilly Jim's hillbilly family stable.[2] The Hillbilly family were portrayed as simple rural Southerners who performed square dances in the ring.[3][4] They feuded with wrestlers including Jesse Ventura, Bob Orton, Jr., and Roddy Piper.[4] Kean's character was modeled on the character of Jethro Bodine from the television program The Beverly Hillbillies.[2] Kean left the WWF in 1986.[2][5]

Independent circuit and hiatus (1986-1992)

In 1986, Kean joined the Continental Wrestling Association under the ring name Hillbilly Junior, where he formed a tag team with Giant Hillbilly. The duo won the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship on August 30, 1986 by defeating the MOD Squad.[6] Kean wrestled sporadically on the independent circuit throughout the mid-1980s.

United States Wrestling Association

In 1992, Kean joined the United States Wrestling Association (USWA) as Moondog Cujo, a member of The Moondogs.[2]

Later, he was renamed Big Daddy Cyrus and feuded with Jerry Lawler, who held the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship.[1][7] He formed a tag team with Crusher Bones in 1995.[1] In 1997, Dutch Mantel gave Kean the ring name "Bloody" Ox Brody, which was a tribute to Ox Baker and Bruiser Brody.[1][2]

Hiatus and later career

Kean took several years off of wrestling but decided to return to competition as Moondog Cujo. In one match on April 27, 2007 after his comeback, Moondog Cujo Managed by Sal Corrente defeated The Barbarian in a Hardcore match in Memphis Wrestling.[1] He also resumed his feud with Lawler.[2]

Personal life

Kean lived in Jamestown, Kentucky with his fiancee Sandra Deel. He had a daughter named Krystal. On January 13, 2009, Kean died of a heart attack in Franklin, Indiana at age 48.[1][2]

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Lanny Kean's profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Oliver, Greg (2009-01-13). "Lanny Kean, a.k.a. Cousin Junior, dies". SLAM! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  3. ↑ Reynolds, R. D. (2003). WrestleCrap: The Very Worst of Pro Wrestling. ECW Press. p. 31. ISBN 1-55022-584-7.
  4. 1 2 Oliver, Greg. "Cousin Luke made a lasting impression". SLAM! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  5. ↑ Oliver, Sean (Director) (2012). Timeline: The History of WWE - 1986 - George Steele (DVD). 6:23 minutes in.
  6. 1 2 "NWA (Mid-America)/AWA Southern Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  7. ↑ "Wrestler Results Archive: Jerry "The King" Lawler". SLAM! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
  8. ↑ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  9. ↑ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=2557&page=12
  10. ↑ "Larry Booker's profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
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