Johnny Valentine
John Theodore Wisniski (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 is the father of professional wrestler Greg "The Hammer" Valentine.
| Johnny Valentine | |
|---|---|
Valentine as NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion | |
| Birth name | John Theodore Wisniski |
| Born | September 22, 1928 Maple Valley, Washington, United States |
| Died | April 24, 2001 (aged 72) River Oaks, Texas, United States |
| Children | Greg Valentine |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | The Big O Johnny Valentine |
| Billed height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) |
| Billed weight | 255 lb (116 kg) |
| Trained by | Stanislaus Zbyszko Wladek Zbyszko |
| Debut | 1947 |
| Retired | 1975 |
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, Jack Brisco, and Jerry Brisco. He alternated between being a villain and a hero (babyface) during the Golden Era in the 1940s through 1960s of wrestling.
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.