Johnny Valentine
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Johnny Valentine (born John Wisniski, September 29, 1929 – April 24, 2001) was a professional wrestler with a career spannig almost three decades, ending prematurely due to an airplane accident in 1975 which left him crippled. He was the father of Greg Valentine.
He was approximately 6' 4" tall and weighed 255 pounds, with bleach blonde hair and striking good looks. He was a notorious wrestling villain, reviled by loving fans everywhere.
Wisniski became a professional wrestler in 1947. He held numerous world champion and regional titles, including the NWA United States Championship and the World Heavyweight title. He had long running rivalries with Bobo Brazil, Pat O'Connor, Antonio Rocca, Lou Thesz, Harley Race, The Sheik, Wahoo McDaniel, Bruno Sammartino, Johnny Powers, Antonio Inoki, and Jack & Jerry Brisco.
Championships and accomplishments
- 4-Time NWA United States Tag Team Champion (Northeast version) (with "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers, Bob Ellis, Jerry Graham and Antonio Pugliese)
- 1-Time WWWF United States Tag Team Champion (with Tony Parisi)
- 1-Time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion
- 3-Time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion (Detroit version)
- 2-Time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion (Toronto version)
- 1-Time NWA World Tag Team Champion (Minneapolis version) (with Chet Wallich)
- 3-Time NWA American Heavyweight Champion
- 3-Time NWA American Tag Team Champion (with Wahoo McDaniel twice and Thunderbolt Patterson once)
- 1-Time NWA Canadian Heavyweight Champion
- 1-Time NWA Florida Brass Knuckles Champion
- 1-Time NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion
- 2-Time NWA Georgia Heavyweight Champion
- 1-Time NWA International Heavyweight Champion
- 4-Time NWA International Tag Team Champion (with Bulldog Brower, The Beast, Jim Hady and Killer Karl Krupp)
- 1-Time NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Champion
- 1-Time NWA Missouri Heavyweight Champion
- 1-Time NWA North American Heavyweight Champion
- 2-Time NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight Champion
- 1-Time NWA Florida Southern Tag Team Champion (with Boris Malenko)
- 11-Time NWA Texas Heavyweight Champion
- 1-Time NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 1-Time NWA Texas Tag Team Champion (with Eddie Graham)
- 1-Time NWA United National Heavyweight Champion
- 1-Time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion
- 1-Time NWA United States Television Champion
- 2-Time NWF Heavyweight Champion
- 2-Time NWF North American Heavyweight Champion
- 1973 Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year
- 2001 PWI Editor's Award (awarded posthumously)
