Johnny Valentine

Infobox Wrestler
name=Johnny Valentine


names=Johnny Valentine
height = height|ft=6|in=4
weight = convert|255|lb|kg st|abbr=on|lk=on
birth_date = Birth date|1928|9|22
birth_place =
death_date = Death date and age|2001|4|24|1928|9|22
resides=
billed=
trainer=
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.

Championships and accomplishments

*All Japan Pro Wrestling:*NWA International Tag Team Championship "(Japan version)" (1 time) – with Killer Karl Krupp:*NWA United National Championship (1 time)

*Championship Wrestling from Florida:*NWA Florida Brass Knuckles Championship (1 time):*NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (3 times):*NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight Championship (1 time):*NWA Florida Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Boris Malenko

*Georgia Championship Wrestling:*NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

*International Wrestling Association (Chicago):*IWA International Heavyweight Championship "(Chicago version)" (1 time)

*International Wrestling Association (Montreal):*IWA International Heavyweight Championship "(Montreal version)" (1 time)

*Maple Leaf Wrestling:*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)

*Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling:*NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship (2 times) (First):*NWA United States Heavyweight Championship "(Mid-Atlantic version)" (1 time)

*NWA Capitol Wrestling:*NWA United States Tag Team Championship "(Northeast version)" (3 times) – with Buddy Rogers (1), Bob Ellis (1), and Eddie Graham (1)

*NWA Detroit:*NWA United States Heavyweight Championship "(Detroit version)" (3 times):*NWA United States Television Championship (3 times)

*NWA Hollywood Wrestling:*NWA Beat the Champ International Television Championship (1 time)

*NWA Mid-Pacific Promotions:*NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Ripper Collins

*NWA Minneapolis:*NWA World Tag Team Championship "(Minneapolis version)" (1 time) – with Chet Wallick

*NWA Western States Sports:*NWA North American Heavyweight Championship "(Amarillo version)" (1 time)

*National Wrestling Federation:*NWF Heavyweight Championship (2 times):*NWF North American Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

*Southwest Sports, Inc. | NWA Big Time Wrestling:*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

*St. Louis Wrestling Club:*NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

*Stampede Wrestling:*NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship "(Calgary version)" (2 times):*Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame [ cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/hof.html |title=Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (1948-1990) |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2003 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

*World Wide Wrestling Federation:*WWWF United States Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Tony Parisi

*"'Pro Wrestling Illustrated
**PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (1973) [citeweb|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwiinsp.htm|accessdate=2008-07-27|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners Inspirational Wrestler of the Year |publisher=Wrestling Information Archive] :*PWI Editor's Award "(awarded posthumously)" in 2001

*Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum:*(Class of 2006)

*St. Louis Wrestling Hall Of Fame
**(Class of 2007)

*Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards:*Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)

References

External links

* [http://www.wrestlingclassics.com/wawli/Nos.116-125.html (See "Crash finished Seattle man's career on mat")]
* [http://www.wrestleline.com/columns/circa/circa042701.shtml Wrestline article]