Big John Studd

Oct 6, 2009 - by Steve Gerweck

johnstudd

Real name: John William Minton
Height: 6’10”
Weight: 364 lbs.
Date of birth: 1950
Date of death: March 20, 1996
From: Los Angeles, CA
Pro debut: 1972
Trained by: Killer Kowalski
Finishing move: Reverse Bear Hug

Biography

– After training from Killer Kowalski, Minton debuted in the Los Angeles territory as ‘The Mighty Minton’
– In the summer of that year, Minton joined the WWWF as ‘Chuck O’Connor’, but would only last just over six months, leaving in February 1973
– On March 13, 1976, O’Connor & Ox Baker defeated The Bruiser & The Crusher to win the WWA Tag Team Titles, but would lose them back in their first defence a month or so later
– On May 11, The Executioners (Minton & Killer Kowalski under masks) defeated Tony Parisi & Louis Cerdan to win the WWWF Tag Team Titles
– On June 3, The Executioners defeated Jose Gonzales & Billy White Wolf to retain the WWWF Tag Team Titles
– On June 14, The Executioners defeated Haystacks Calhoun & Billy White Wolf to retain the WWWF Tag Team Titles
– On June 18, The Executioners defeated Arnold Skaaland & Bobo Brazil to retain the WWWF Tag Team Titles
– On June 22, The Executioners defeated Kevin Sullivan & Jose Gonzales and Jose Gonzales & Johnny Rivera to retain the WWWF Tag Team Titles
– On July 13, The Executioners defeated Kevin Sullivan & Johnny Rivera to retain the WWWF Tag Team Titles
– On July 17, The Executioners defeated SD Jones & Bobo Brazil to retain the WWWF Tag Team Titles
– On August 3, The Executioners defeated Kevin Sullivan & Johnny Rivera to retain the WWWF Tag Team Titles
– On August 7, The Executioners defeated Jose Gonzales & Dominic DeNucci to retain the WWWF Tag Team Titles
– On August 24, The Executioners defeated Pete Sanchez & Manuel Soto to retain the WWWF Tag Team Titles
– On September 2, The Executioners defeated Kevin Sullivan & Ivan Putski to retain the WWWF Tag Team Titles
– On October 5, The Executioners defeated SD Jones & Bobo Brazil to retain the WWWF Tag Team Titles
– On November 1, The Executioners defeated Victor Rivera & Gorilla Monsoon to retain the WWWF Tag Team Titles
– In May 1977, Minton returned to the NWA territories, working under the now familiar name of Big John Studd
– On June 24, Studd defeated Jose Lothario to win the vacant NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Title, but would lose it to Bruiser Brody barely two weeks later
– On July 25, Studd defeated Bruiser Brody in a Loser Leaves Texas Match to win the NWA American Heavyweight Title
– In August 1977, Studd defended the NWA American Heavyweight Title against Fritz Von Erich (twice), Gino Hernandez, Ox Baker and Tommy Seigler
– On August 19, Studd (under a mask as Captain USA) & Bull Ramos defeated Jimmy Snuka & Gino Hernandez to win the NWA Texas Tag Team Titles
– On September 12, Studd defeated Fritz Von Erich by DQ to retain the NWA American Heavyweight Title
– On September 26, Studd defeated Al Madril by DQ to retain the NWA American Heavyweight Title
– On May 17, 1978, Studd & Buddy Rose defeated Bill & Russ Francis to win the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Titles, but would lose them to Steve Strong & John Tolos a month later
– On October 30, Studd & Ric Flair defeated Ricky Steamboat & Paul Jones to win the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Titles, but would lose them back a week later
– On January 2, 1979, Studd & Ken Patera defeated Ricky Steamboat & Paul Jones to win the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Titles
– On January 14, Studd & Patera defeated Tony Atlas & Jay Youngblood to retain the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Titles
– On February 10, Studd & Patera defeated Ricky Steamboat & Dino Bravo to retain the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Titles
– On February 15, Studd & Patera defeated Jay Youngblood & Skip Young to retain the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Titles
– After losing a Loser Leaves Town Match to Blackjack Mulligan, Studd would remain in the Mid-Atlantic territory, working under a mask as Masked Superstar #2 alongside Bill Eadie’s original
– On March 26, 1980, The Masked Superstars defeated Ricky Steamboat & Dino Bravo to win the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Titles
– The next day, The Masked Superstars defeated Blackjack Mulligan & Swede Hanson to retain the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Titles
– On April 30, Studd was unmasked and was forced to leave the territory, vacating his half of the tag titles. He would soon appear in the AWA
– On July 24, 1981, Studd defeated Blackjack Mulligan Jr to win the NWA Knoxville Southern Heavyweight Title
– On August 8, Studd defeated Keith Larson to retain the NWA Knoxville Southern Heavyweight Title
– On September 20, Studd defeated Angelo Mosca to win the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Title
– On November 1, Studd defeated Angelo Mosca in a No-DQ Match to retain the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Title
– On December 27, Studd defeated Leroy Brown to retain the NWA Canadian Heavyweight Title
– On March 8, 1982, Studd was awarded Masked Superstar’s half of the NWA National Tag Team Titles due to Superstar suffering kayfabe injuries
– On March 14, Studd & The Super Destroyer defeated Brad Armstrong & Leroy Brown to retain the NWA National Tag Team Titles
– On March 28, Studd & Destroyer defeated Terry Taylor & Leroy Brown to retain the NWA National Tag Team Titles
– On April 18, Studd & Destroyer defeated Mr Wrestling II & Jerry Brisco to retain the NWA National Tag Team Titles
– The next day, Studd & Destroyer defeated Brad Armstrong & Leroy Brown to retain the NWA National Tag Team Titles
– On April 24, Studd & Destroyer defeated The Armstrongs (Bob & Brad) to retain the NWA National Tag Team Titles
– On October 27, Studd & Jim Garvin defeated Ron Bass & Barry Windham in the final of a tournament to win the vacant NWA Florida Global Tag Team Titles
– In late 1982, Studd signed with the WWF
– Studd lost to Andre The Giant on the first ever WrestleMania
– Studd left the WWF in November 1986 and, though he initially announced his retirement, returned to the company two years later
– Studd won the first ever Royal Rumble Match (on PPV) in January 1989
– Studd quit the WWF in a pay dispute in June 1989 and would wrestle only sporadically on the independent circuit
– Studd was diagnosed with cancer in 1993 and would pass away of the disease on March 20, 1995
– Studd was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2004

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