AW-RDR

2021/08/16

Welcome to AustralianWrestling.org!
The website devoted to preserving the history of Australian wrestling.

We're in the process of renovating and moving some things around so some things may look a little strange but the aim is to minimise disruption.

This website was designed in 2012 with a scope of covering present and past wrestling in Australia.
The scope will change to prioritise the older stuff and make that a bit more accessible.

Thank you for your patience.

I also have another website (with my good buddy Greg) The Wrestling Roadshow which has more of a global scope. We have a podcast by the same name too and discuss all sorts of wrestling.

-CD

Australian Wrestling on

youtube   facebook 

Big Bad John

Name: - Big Bad John
Height: - 6'6” (201cm)
Weight: - 300lb (136kg)

From: - Plano, Texas, USA

Born: - January 27, 1943
Died: - September 17, 1980

Toured Australia: 1972, 1973

Journeyman wrestler in US, found his greatest fame in Australia as the 'General' of Big Bad John's Army. His army of heels included Abdullah the Butcher, Waldo von Erich, Bulldog Brower, Mr Fuji, Hiro and Hito Tojo, Don Fargo, Blackjack Slade and Tiger Jeet Singh. They 'waged war' on the People's Army, mainly comprising Mark Lewin, King Curtis, Spiros Arion, Killer Karl Kox, Mario Milano, Sheik Wadi Ayoub, and any number of locals. John was always seen in a German-style steel helmet. The feud was a defining moment in the history of World Championship Wrestling, such was its success, and turned out to be a 'last hurrah' for Promoter Jim Barnett, who returned to US at the end of the year.

John wrestled mainly around Tennessee, but ventured to Detroit as well in 1967. His death is still a mystery, apparently either shot to death, stabbed, or died of liver disease (as stated on his death certificate).


Titles held: - Mid-American Hwt, Mississippi Hwt, Georgia TV, NWA World Tag (Tennessee) (2. w/ Pepe Lopez), AWA Southern Tag (2, w/ Billy Dundee), Florida Tag (w/ Tim Woods), Gulf Coast Tag (w/ Rip Tyler), Macon Tag (w/ Buddy Colt), NWA World 6-Man Tag (w/ Johnny Gray & Lorenzo Parente)

Big Bad John Promo, World Championship Wrestling 1973

Credit: Mark Dalgleish, OnlineWorldofWrestling.com, NashvilleWrestlingHistory.com
Photo credit: Unknown

bigbadjohn-nashvillewrestlinghistory