Johnny Valentine: Profile, Career, Face/Heel Turns, Titles Won, Gimmick Evolution and Stats

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

Profile Info

Gender Male

Real Name John 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)

Nationality

United States

Birth Place Maple 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)

Nicknames Cowboy; Handsome

Career History

Roles

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

Companies / Promotions

Promotion	from	to
Promotion NWA	January 1, 1947	October 4, 1975
Promotion NJPWBrand Heavyweight	September 17, 1973	September 29, 1973
Promotion AWA	April 23, 1967	September 16, 1967
Promotion WWWF	August 2, 1965	October 7, 1966
Promotion WWE	June 10, 1958	August 4, 1962
Promotion STAMPEDE	October 16, 1956	March 15, 1957

Face / Heel Turns

Alignment	from	to
Heel	January 1, 1950	October 4, 1975

Images

Sep 1973

Aug 1965

Mar 1955

Oct 1949

Jan 1947

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

Hall of Fame

NWA Hall of Fame - Year 2011, Individual
NJPW Greatest 18 Club - Year 1990, Individual
Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame - Year 2006, Television Era

Titles Won

Capitol Wrestling Corporation / World Wide Wrestling Federation

5 NWA United States Television Championship
3 NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Northeast version) (1 with Buddy Roberts, 1 with Bob Ellis, 1 with Dr. Jerry Graham)
1 WWWF United States Tag Team Championship (with Tony Parisi)

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)

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)