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22. Johnny Valentine

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22. Johnny Valentine

Virtually all followers of wrestling are aware of the 1975 plane crash where Ric Flair’s back was broken and his career was threatened.  We know that Flair came back to wrestle again.  Johnny Valentine was not as lucky as the injuries he suffered ended his wrestling career permanently.

Johnny Valentine bounced around from face to heel, but it was the latter where he really shined.  Valentine wrestled at a methodical pace, looking to put as much realism as he could to a wrestling match.  As such, his matches were very stiff and his opponents (regardless of the fact that they were competed in a scripted exhibition) left the ring battered and bruised.  His in ring work was wrestling 101, and he was one of the legitimate tough guys in the business.  Johnny Valentine was the real deal and likely the last one that anyone would want to mess with in an encounter of any kind.

At the time of Valentine’s plash crash, he was already in his late 40’s but still a major draw and likely had many great years left in him.  Valentine was very much respected, but he was not necessarily liked as his mean demeanor was not just a façade for the ring.  Valentine did not do much of his work in the North East as his son Greg “The Hammer” did so it is easy for the WWE to ignore his contributions.

 

Should Johnny Valentine be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 85.7%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 9.9%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 2.2%
No opinion. - 1.1%
No way! - 1.1%

The Bullet Points

  • Other Aliases: John Wisniski (Real Name)
  • Billed From: U.S.A. (Seattle, Washington)
  • Key Championships Held: IWA Heavyweight (Montreal)
    NWA American Heavyweight
    NWA American Tag Team (3) 2w/Wahoo McDaniel, 1w/Thunderbolt Patterson
    NWA Canadian Heavyweight (Stampede) (2)
    NWA Florida Heavyweight (3)
    NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight
    NWA Florida Southern Tag Team w/Boris Malenko
    NWA Georgia Heavyweight
    NWA International Tag Team (Japan) w/Killer Karl Krupp
    NWA International Tag Team (Toronto) (5) (2w/Whipper Billy Watson, 1w/Bulldog Brower, 1w/The Beast, 1w/Jim Hady
    NWA Mid Atlantic Heavyweight
    NWA Missouri Heavyweight
    NWA North American Heavyweight (Amarillo)
    NWA Texas Heavyweight (8)
    NWA United States (Detroit) (3)
    NWA United States (Mid Atlantic)
    NWA United States (Texas)
    NWA United States Heavyweight (Toronto) (7)
    NWA United National (Japan)
    NWA/WWWF United States Tag Team (4) 1w/Tony Parisi, 1w/Buddy Rogers, 1w/Bob Ellis, 1w/Dr. Jerry Graham
    NWF Heavyweight
    NWF North American Heavyweight
  • Why they will get in: His legacy as a tough no nonsense wrestler is also full of a large collection of championships.
  • Why they won't get in: He wasn’t exactly known for his kindness and with his son already in, the Valentine name has been honored by the Hall.
  • Five Greatest Matches/Moments: 1.  Travels to Japan and makes Antonio Inoki a star by dropping a series of matches to the Japanese upstart (1964)
    2.  Wins the NWA Florida Heavyweight Title and starts a successful run there (8/26/67)
    3.  Enters the Georgia Territory and wins the Championship there.  Again dominates an area for a year (5/10/68)
    4.  Beat Harley Race and was a huge part to making the NWA Missouri Title a prestigious championship (1/19/73)
    5.  Beats Harley Race again to win his last major championship (United States Heavyweight) (7/3/75)

Should Johnny Valentine be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 85.7%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 9.9%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 2.2%
No opinion. - 1.1%
No way! - 1.1%
Last modified on Tuesday, 27 June 2023 03:59
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