John Hugger

Infobox Wrestler
name=John Hugger


img_capt=John Hugger in his WCW uniform.
names=Crimson Blood
Great Muta
Johnny the Bull
Johnny "The Bull" Stamboli
Redrum
Relli
The Unknown Wrestler
height=height|ft=6|in=0
weight=convert|245|lb|kg st|abbr=on|lk=on
birth_date=birth date and age|1977|4|20
death_date =
birth_place =Atlanta, Georgia, United States
death_place=
resides=Phoenix, Arizona, United States
billed="The Depths of Hell" / Salem
(as Rellik)
Little Italy, Manhattan
(as Johnny Stamboli)
trainer=Paul Orndorff
WCW Power Plant
debut=1999
retired=2008|

John Hugger (born April 20, 1977) was a American professional wrestler. He is perhaps best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling as Johnny the Bull, World Wrestling Entertainment as Johnny "The Bull" Stamboli, and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Rellik (stylized as Relli).

Professional wrestling career

World Championship Wrestling (1999–2001)

While attending college in Atlanta, Georgia and working as a doorman at the "Club Oxygen" nightclub, Hugger exercised at the "Main Event Fitness" gym, which was owned by World Championship Wrestling employees Lex Luger and Sting. During one of his visits to the gym, WCW employee Diamond Dallas Page met with Hugger and encouraged him to train as a wrestler. Hugger subsequently attended the WCW Power Plant training center and took part in a $250 USD tryout alongside 19 other people. The tryout featured press ups, sprinting, squats and freestyle wrestling in temperatures of over 100 degrees. Hugger passed the tryout, but did not immediately begin training as a wrestler. Six months later, he was attacked and stabbed six times. Hugger resolved to change his lifestyle, which he believed had resulted in his assault, and enlisted in the Power Plant. cite web|url=http://www.genickbruch.com/index.php?befehl=interviews&art=0&jahr=2008&interview=272&version=1|title=Exklusivinterview mit Rellik|publisher=GenickBruch.com|accessdate=2008-04-01|date=2008-02-14]

After training for nine months, Hugger debuted on WCW television in late 1999. Hugger adopted the ring name Johnny the Bull and formed a Mafia-themed tag team named The Mamalukes with Big Vito. The duo were managed by Tony Marinara.

On January 18, 2000 in Evansville, Indiana, Hugger and Big Vito defeated Crowbar and David Flair for the WCW World Tag Team Championship. The match was broadcast on the January 19 episode of "WCW Thunder". They held the championship until February 12, when they were defeated by Creative Control in Oberhausen during a tour of Germany. The Mamalukes regained the championship on the following day in Leipzig, and held it until March 19, when they lost to Creative Control in a no disqualification match at the pay-per-view Uncensored, which took place in the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami, Florida. cite web|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/ttwcw.html|title=WCW World Tag Team Title History|author=Duncan, R. and Will, G.|publisher=Solie.org|accessdate=2008-04-01|date=2001]

On June 5, 2000, The Mamalukes attacked WCW Hardcore Champion Terry Funk during a title defence against WCW President Eric Bischoff, enabling Bischoff to defeat Funk. On the June 7 episode of "WCW Thunder", which was filmed in Knoxville, Tennessee, Bischoff awarded the WCW Hardcore Championship to The Mamalukes. On June 19, Big Vito defeated Hugger and claimed his half of the Hardcore Championship. On the July 3 episode of "WCW Monday Nitro", while wrestling Funk in a hardcore match, Hugger tore his urethra while executing a diving leg drop, and was sidelined for two months while recuperating. cite web|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/hrdcrwcw.html|title=WCW Hardcore Title History|author=Oliver, E.|publisher=Solie.org|accessdate=2008-04-01|date=2001]

In August 2000, Hugger and several other Power Plant graduates formed a stable known as the Natural Born Thrillers, a faction of young wrestlers who sought to challenge more established wrestlers. The Natural Born Thrillers disbanded in early 2001, and Hugger reformed The Mamalukes with Big Vito for the remainder of his WCW tenure.

World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment (2001-2004)

In March 2001, World Championship Wrestling was purchased by its Stamford, Connecticut-based rival, the World Wrestling Federation. Hugger's contract was bought out by the WWF, and he introduced to the promotion as a member of The Alliance. After a single appearance on WWF television, Hugger was sent to the Heartland Wrestling Association, an Ohio-based WWF developmental territory, where he furthered his training and won the HWA Heavyweight Championship on two occasions.

Hugger returned to WWF (since renamed WWE) television on the June 30, 2002 episode of "Sunday Night Heat", losing to Tommy Dreamer under the ring name Johnny "The Bull" Stamboli. On the July 15 episode of "RAW", which took place in the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Hugger won the WWE Hardcore Championship from Bradshaw. Bradshaw would, however, regain the title from Hugger later that night. cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2003/11/13/256600.html|author=Waldman, J.|title=Recent arrivals didn't save InVasion|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|accessdate=2008-04-01|date=2003-11-13] cite web|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/whcwwf.html|title=WWF / WWE Hardcore Title History|author=Oliver, E.|publisher=Solie.org|accessdate=2008-04-06|date=2002] Hugger would later turn face due to fan reaction.

In February 2003, Hugger became a heel again and formed an Italian American-themed stable with then-heel, Nunzio and Chuck Palumbo called the Full Blooded Italians. The faction wrestled on "SmackDown!" throughout 2003 and early 2004, disbanding on March 22, 2004 when Palumbo was transferred to the "Raw" brand. Hugger and Nunzio continued to team together until Hugger was released from his WWE contract on November 4, 2004.

All Japan Pro Wrestling (2004–2005)

Following his release from WWE, Hugger began wrestling for the Japanese All Japan Pro Wrestling promotion after his friend Troy Endres, who was portraying a "fake" Great Muta, retired after tearing both of his anterior cruciate ligaments and nominated Hugger as his replacement. Hugger donned a mask and adopted the character of Great Muta, losing to the real Great Muta at "The Unchained World" on December 5, 2004 in the Ryōgoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.

On January 2, 2005 in the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Hugger dropped his Great Muta character and formed a stable with Taru known as the Voodoo Murders. The Voodoo Murders, who declared that they wished to destroy AJPW, eventually expanded to include several other WCW and WWE alumni, including Chuck Palumbo. cite web|url=http://ajpw.puroresufan.com/roster/vm.php|title=Shining Road|publisher=PuroresuFan.com|accessdate=2008-04-06]

Independent circuit (2005-2007)

In 2005, Hugger and Chuck Palumbo reformed the Full Blooded Italians in the Italy-based Nu-Wrestling Evolution promotion. In 2006, Hugger toured Mexico, teaming with Marco Corleone in the Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre promotion. In late 2006, Hugger began working for the Arizona-based Impact Zone Wrestling promotion, where he created a character named Redrum ("Murder" capitalized and spelt backwards - a reference to the 1980 film "The Shining"). Hugger based Redrum on the Great Muta character he had portrayed in AJPW. cite web|url= http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=21415|author=Kelley, P.|title=Johnny "Rellik" Stamboli interview talks about his TNA character, WCW & WWE days and more|publisher=WrestlingObserver.com|accessdate=2008-04-01|date=2007-11-25]

In the summer of 2007, Hugger wrestled two dark matches for World Wrestling Entertainment, using the ring names The Unknown Wrestler and Redrum on ecw brand.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2007–2008)

In late 2007, Hugger exhibited his Redrum character for Jeff Jarrett, Vince Russo and Terry Taylor, members of the creative team of the Orlando, Florida–based Total Nonstop Action Wrestling promotion, and was subsequently hired. He debuted in TNA on November 11, 2007 at the pay–per–view Genesis, using the ring name Crimson Blood for licensing purposes. This was subsequently changed to Rellik ("Killer" spelled backwards, with the letter "k" in mirror writing) at the suggestion of B.G. James. Hugger aligned himself with Black Reign and James Mitchell, with he and Black Reign forming a tag team.Their last appearance as a team was at TNA Lockdown 2008 in the first ever Cuffed In the Cage match. Hugger later wrote a short statement proclaiming he has parted ways with TNA Wrestling.

Retirement (2008)

He announced his retirement in June 2008 on his official website.

Personal life

Hugger is single, and has a dog named Rosie.

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves
*As Johnny "The Bull" Stamboli
**"Fuh–get–a–bout–it" (Gorilla press powerslam)
**Over the shoulder swinging DDT – Innovated
**Diving leg drop
**Spinebuster
**Spinning wheel kick
**Superkick
*As Relliʞ / REDRUM
**Diving 180° discus leg drop
**"Demon Driver" (Suplex powerslam)
**"Genocide Driver" (Gorilla press powerslam)
**"Sickle" (Lariat)
**Superkick
**Spinebuster

*Managers
**Disco Inferno
**Tony Marinara
**James Mitchell
**Kevin Nash
**Nunzio

Championships and accomplishments

*Heartland Wrestling Association
**HWA Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
*World Championship Wrestling
**WCW Hardcore Championship (1 time) – held jointly with Big Vito
**WCW World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Big Vito
*World Wrestling Entertainment
**WWE Hardcore Championship (2 times)

References

External links

* [http://grapplelist.b1.jcink.com./index.php?act=ST&f=7&t=53&st=0#entry95 Grapple List: Johnny Stamboli Profile]
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