Johnny Valentine

Known as: Johnny Valentine, Big O, Rocky Valentine, Jimmy Valentine
Details
Pro Wrestlers Database
Johnny Valentine - Pro Wrestlers Database
NWA Hall of Fame: IndividualNJPW Hall of Fame: NJPW Greatest 18 ClubProfessional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF): Television Era

On this page, you find the full wrestling profile of Johnny Valentine, with his Career History, real name, age, height and weight, the Promotions he worked for, all the Face/Heel turns, the Championship Titles he won, his Finishers, Theme Songs, Tag Teams and Stables, his appearance changes through the years, and more.

John Theodore Wisniski was born in Maple Valley, Washington on September 22, 1928.

He died on April 24, 2001 at the age of 72.

Johnny Valentine is a 2-time World Champion, and has won a total of 12 championships in major promotions during his career.

Johnny Valentine was inducted in the NWA Hall of Fame in 2011, in the NJPW Hall of Fame in 1990 as part of the NJPW Greatest 18 Club wing and in the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) in 2006 as part of the Television Era wing.

Johnny Valentine Profile Index

Profile Info

  • GenderMale
  • Real NameJohn Theodore Wisniski
  • Ring Names
    • Johnny Valentine (July 30, 1968 - December 31, 1978)
    • Big O (May 3, 1968 - July 29, 1968)
    • Johnny Valentine (July 27, 1956 - May 2, 1968)
    • Rocky Valentine (March 17, 1955 - July 26, 1956)
    • Johnny Valentine (January 1, 1947 - March 16, 1955)
    • Jimmy Valentine (October 25, 1950 - April 9, 1951)
  • Born September 22, 1928
  • Died April 24, 2001 (aged 72)
  • NationalityNationality: United StatesUnited States
  • Birth PlaceMaple Valley, Washington
  • Billed From
    • Maple Valley, Washington (January 1, 1947 - December 31, 1978)
  • Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
  • Weight
    • 255 lbs (116 kg)
  • NicknamesCowboy; Handsome

Career History

  • Roles

    • Manager (March 23, 1978 - December 31, 1978)
    • Wrestler (January 1, 1947 - October 4, 1975)

  • Promotions History

    Promotionfromto
    PromotionNational Wrestling AllianceNWAOctober 11, 1949October 4, 1975
    PromotionJim Crockett PromotionsJCPOctober 29, 1973September 28, 1975
    PromotionSt. Louis Wrestling ClubSLWCMarch 19, 1971April 18, 1975
    PromotionNWA Big Time WrestlingBTW DALLASJanuary 6, 1969April 10, 1975
    PromotionBig Time WrestlingBTW DETROITOctober 23, 1971October 26, 1974
    PromotionChampionship Wrestling from FloridaCWFFebruary 7, 1972May 21, 1974
    PromotionNew Japan Pro WrestlingNJPWBrand Heavyweight September 17, 1973September 29, 1973
    PromotionNational Wrestling FederationNWFApril 13, 1972June 9, 1973
    PromotionJapanese Wrestling AssociationJWAFebruary 22, 1973March 6, 1973
    PromotionGulf Athletic ClubGACJanuary 10, 1969February 9, 1973
    PromotionJapanese Wrestling AssociationJWAMay 22, 1972June 1, 1972
    PromotionGeorgia Championship WrestlingGCWMay 3, 1968December 13, 1968
    PromotionChampionship Wrestling from FloridaCWFAugust 22, 1967December 12, 1968
    PromotionAmerican Wrestling AssociationAWAApril 23, 1967September 16, 1967
    PromotionSt. Louis Wrestling ClubSLWCSeptember 16, 1966September 15, 1967
    PromotionWorld Wide Wrestling FederationWWWFAugust 2, 1965October 7, 1966
    PromotionWorld Wrestling AssociationWWA INMay 15, 1964February 19, 1966
    PromotionBig Time WrestlingBTW DETROITNovember 30, 1963November 27, 1965
    PromotionSt. Louis Wrestling ClubSLWCDecember 31, 1960July 24, 1965
    PromotionInternational Wrestling AssociationIWA ILApril 24, 1964May 29, 1965
    PromotionNWA Western States SportsWSSDecember 15, 1964March 18, 1965
    PromotionFred Kohler EnterprisesFKEFebruary 19, 1960September 7, 1962
    PromotionCapitol Wrestling CorporationCWCJune 10, 1958August 4, 1962
    PromotionJim Crockett PromotionsJCPJuly 17, 1961May 24, 1962
    PromotionGulf Athletic ClubGACJune 30, 1954July 10, 1959
    PromotionSouthwest SportsSWS TXJune 29, 1954October 28, 1958
    PromotionBig Time WrestlingBTW CALGARYOctober 16, 1956March 15, 1957
    PromotionSam Muchnick Sports AttractionsSMSANovember 14, 1953April 22, 1955
    PromotionNWA Mid-AmericaMID AMERICASeptember 26, 1950February 28, 1955
    PromotionGeorgia Championship WrestlingGCWSeptember 3, 1953September 23, 1953
    PromotionNational Wrestling Alliance San FranciscoNWA SFMay 5, 1951September 5, 1951
    PromotionCentral States WrestlingCSWFebruary 20, 1951March 15, 1951

  • Images History

    Sep 1973
    Sep 1973
    Aug 1965
    Aug 1965
    Mar 1955
    Mar 1955
    Oct 1949
    Oct 1949
    Jan 1947
    Jan 1947

  • Face / Heel Turns

    AlignmentDetailsfromto
    HeelJanuary 1, 1950October 4, 1975

  • Finishers

    • The Brain Buster - Elbow to a grounded opponent’s head (January 1, 1947 - October 4, 1975)
    • Diving Elbow Drop (January 1, 1947 - October 4, 1975)
    • Vertical Suplex (January 1, 1947 - October 4, 1975)

Titles & Accomplishments

  • Career Awards

  • National Wrestling Federation

    National Wrestling Alliance

    World Wrestling Entertainment & National Wrestling Alliance

    National Wrestling Alliance & World Wrestling Entertainment

  • 50th State Big Time Wrestling

    • 1 NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship (with Ripper Collins)

    All Japan Pro Wrestling

    • 1 NWA International Tag Team Championship (Japan version) (with Killer Karl Krupp)
    • 1 NWA United National Championship

    Big Time Wrestling (Boston)

    • 1 BTW United States Heavyweight Championship

    Big Time Wrestling (Detroit)

    • 3 NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Detroit version)

    Championship Wrestling from Florida

    • 1 NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Florida version)
    • 4 NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship
    • 1 NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version)
    • 1 NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (with Boris Malenko)

    International Wrestling Association (Chicago)

    • 1 IWA International Heavyweight Championship (Chicago version)

    International Wrestling Association (Montreal)

    • 1 IWA International Heavyweight Championship (Montreal version)

    L&G Promotions

    • L&G Caribbean Heavyweight Championship

    Maple Leaf Wrestling

    • 4 NWA International Tag Team Championship (Toronto version) (1 with Bulldog Brower, 1 with Jim Hady, 2 with Whipper Billy Watson)
    • 7 NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Toronto version)

    Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling

    • 2 NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship
    • 1 NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Mid-Atlantic version)

    Mid-South Sports

    • 2 NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship

    NWA Los Angeles

    • 2 NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Championship

    NWA Minneapolis Wrestling and Boxing Club

    • 1 NWA World Tag Team Championship (Minneapolis version) (with Chet Wallach)

    Southwest Sports, Inc./NWA Big Time Wrestling

    • 5 NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Texas version)
    • 1 NWA American Heavyweight Championship
    • 3 NWA American Tag Team Championship (2 with Wahoo McDaniel, 1 with Thunderbolt Patterson)
    • 9 NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship
    • 1 NWA Texas Tag Team Championship (with Eddie Graham)
    • 1 NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Texas version)

    St. Louis Wrestling Club

    • 1 NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship

    Stampede Wrestling

    • 2 NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (Calgary version)

    Western States Sports

    • 1 NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (Amarillo version)

  • Other Accomplishments

    • Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame induction (class of 1995)
    • St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame induction (class of 2007)
    • IHW Entertainment Hall of Fame induction (class of 2010)
    • Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame induction (class of 1996)
    • PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (1973)
    • PWI Stanley Weston Award (2001)

Teams & Relations

  • Tag Teams & Stables

    • Wahoo McDaniel & Johnny Valentine - Wahoo McDaniel (May 29, 1971 - July 30, 1971)
    • Atomic Blondes - Chet Wallach (November 12, 1957 - February 14, 1958)
  • Managed WrestlersBuddy Roberts
  • Family

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