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NWA Legends honoree John "Mr. Wrestling II" Walker Looks Back

NWA Legends honoree John "Mr. Wrestling II" Walker Looks Back

Posted: May 28th 2010 By: CMBurnham

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Barack Obama are pals. The late Ed "Wahoo" McDaniel was coached by George H.W. Bush in youth baseball.

But neither grappler shared as tight a bond with a U.S. president as John "Mr. Wrestling II" Walker and Jimmy Carter.

Walker had no bigger fan than the mother of the nation's leader. Lillian Carter even arranged for a private visit with the masked baby-faced grappler who ruled Championship Wrestling from Georgia in the 1970s.

"The Secret Service picked me up and drove me to her home (in Plains, Ga.)," Walker recalled Wednesday during a telephone interview. "We sat and talked for three hours. It was about personal things and life in general.

"She was such a lovely person. She never, ever asked me to remove my mask. I respect that big-time."

Walker became so close to the Carters that he was invited to the inauguration. But it was the very thing that helped make him a superstar that kept Walker from making the trip.

Government security said Walker would have to remove his mask because of security concerns, prompting him to decline a seat with the Carter family. Walker believed that exposing his visage would ruin Mr. Wrestling II's mysterious aura and derail his career.

"I kind of wished I would have taken it off," a laughing Walker said. "But by the same token, I created such an image. Everyone in the world was going to know who I was. I just felt like if I was going to continue wrestling, I would have to keep the mask on."

Walker went to such extremes to keep his identity secret that not even his neighbors knew he wrestled. (He told them he was a writer with a busy travel schedule.) Walker would leave the arena wearing his mask and usually drive for about an hour before removing it. This led to some interesting encounters with police who thought he might be a bank robber, including once when Walker was met with a barricade after exiting the highway.

"The officers had rifles out and all that kind of stuff," Walker said. "A fellow with a shotgun came to my door and asked me to get out of the car. He looked at me and said, 'Oh, my God, you're Mr. Wrestling II! We got notice there was some guy running down the road at a fairly good speed wearing a mask.' They let me go, but it was very scary."

Walker couldn't have enjoyed such privacy in today's world. Photographs of every top star without a mask or face paint are easily found on the Internet. There are even images of Walker available from the days he performed under his real name.

But in a prior generation, Walker's covert actions were understandable. Seeing a masked grappler's face was a big deal for fans and often part of feuds and storylines. He also didn't want to advertise that Mr. Wrestling II was once a journeyman who had spent 16 years working primarily as the flexible Johnny "Rubberman" Walker.

It wasn't until Walker first donned a mask in 1971 that he began achieving superstar status. Walker was renamed The Grappler after being placed under a hood by Florida promoter Eddie Graham.

Ironically, The Grappler's first match in Miami Beach was almost Walker's last with a mask.
"It's not an easy thing to wear," Walker said. "You can't open your mouth wide enough to get air. I didn't realize that. When I had my first match, I won but I ran back to the dressing room afterward and ripped the mask off. I was gasping."

Walker stuck with it and adopted the Mr. Wrestling II persona in January 1973 when he began competing in Georgia. He was introduced as the tag-team partner of the original Mr. Wrestling (Tim Woods), but would enjoy far more success than his talented predecessor. Sporting his trademark white mask with black piping, Walker was a staple in Georgia for almost a decade. He also had national appeal from appearing regularly in matches on WTBS when cable television was still in its infancy.

But when World Wrestling Entertainment owner Vince McMahon took control of the Georgia territory in 1984, Walker was nearing 50 and had grown tired of the business. He worked briefly for WWF before retiring and moving to Hawaii with his wife, Olivia, a talented seamstress who designed the trademark ring robes of such stars as Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes. She has since died.

Walker wanted such a clean break from wrestling that he has sold almost all of his masks and other ring attire. He doesn't watch today's product, but Walker has dabbled as a trainer with a local Hawaiian promotion and even worked one last match in 2007.

"I want to be remembered as I was -- Mr. Wrestling II," said Walker, 76. "I worked so hard to build an image. The fans went overboard with me. They're the ones who make or break you. I've had a great life."

Walker is returning stateside to get honored at the NWA Wrestling Legends Fanfest Aug. 5-8 in Charlotte, N.C. Other confirmed stars from the 1970s and 1980s in attendance for meet-and-greets, autograph signings, question-and-answer sessions and a legends dinner include Ted DiBiase, Greg "The Hammer" Valentine and Tully Blanchard. For more information, visit www.nwalegends.com.

 

Tags: Wahoo McDaniel, Mr. Wrestling II, Mr. Wrestling, Tim Woods, WWE, Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, Ted DiBiase, Greg Valentine

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  • 1983 King Parsons def. Tola Yatsu for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 2003 Sonny C def. Rocco Valentino for the TPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 2004 Ty Magnus & Li'l Joe def. X2C (Cade Sydal & X-Cal) for the ACW Tag Team Champions
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Week of Sun 03-24 to Sat: 03-30

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  • 03-24 1978 Steven Little Bear & Ray Candy became the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
  • 03-24 1979 Charlie Cook def. Ron Bass for the TSW Arkansas Champion
  • 03-24 1986 Lance Von Erich def. Buddy Roberts for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 03-24 1999 Tarantula def. Grunt for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-24 2001 Miss Venom def. Heather Savage for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 03-24 2017 Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) def. Legion (Rob Cabella & Samedi) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 03-24 2019 The Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) became the ASP Tag Team Champions
  • 03-24 2023 Stormi Renee def. Erica for the CPW Women’s Champion
  • 03-24 2024 Malik Mayfield became the ASP Livestream Champion
  • 03-24 2024 Johnny Kove became the ASP Mid-American Champion
  • 03-25 1983 Terry Gordy def. The Great Kabuki for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 03-25 1988 King Parsons def. Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW World Champion
  • 03-25 2000 Bull Schmitt def. Rocco Valentino for the OPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-25 2000 Ichiban [2nd] def. Tarantula for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-25 2016 Mascara La Parka def. Korvin Sage for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
  • 03-25 2016 The Mid-South Express (Tyson Jaymes & Will Chambers) def. The Creepsters (Buster Cherry & Mr. Barnes) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 03-25 2017 Randy Price def. Double D for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 03-25 2017 Nikki Knight became the ASP Women's Champion
  • 03-25 2017 Fuego del Sol became the IWR Revolutionary Champion
  • 03-25 2018 Adam Patrick def. Brock Landers for the ASP Mid-American Champion
  • 03-25 2023 Pyro def. Dr. Corvus for the WAH Hunger Dojo Champion
  • 03-26 1956 Bull Curry def. Don Evans for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 03-26 1977 The Medics (Medic 1 & Medic 2) def. Bob Sweetan & Tony Rocco for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 03-26 1980 Bull Ramos def. Mike Sharpe, Jr. for the MSW Mississippi Champion
  • 03-26 1995 Wild Maverick became the PZWA Junior Heavyweight Title Champion
  • 03-26 2010 Dutch Hagen def. Shane Morbid for the TAP Oklahoma Heritage Champion
  • 03-26 2011 The Saints of Twilight (Ignition & Reckless) def. Cold Blooded Chris & Max McGuirk for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 03-26 2011 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-26 2011 Ryan Styles def. David Kyzer for the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 03-26 2023 Wolf of War became the ASP Livestream Champion
  • 03-26 2023 The Psychotic Messengers (Malachi & Tank Bryson) became the ASP Tag Team Champions
  • 03-27 1939 John Swenski def. Bob Kenaston for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-27 1952 Marshall Estep became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-27 1967 Fritz Von Erich def. Brute Bernard for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-27 2010 Maniac Mike def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 03-27 2021 Spike became the WAH Living Hope Champion
  • 03-27 2022 Maui Mike def. Malik Mayfield for the ASP Livestream Champion
  • 03-27 2022 Chosen Influence (Luke Richmond & Malik Mayfield) became the ASP Tag Team Champions
  • 03-27 2022 Mr. Nasty became the ASP 5-Star Champion
  • 03-28 1983 King Parsons def. Tola Yatsu for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 03-28 2003 Sonny C def. Rocco Valentino for the TPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-28 2004 Ty Magnus & Li'l Joe def. X2C (Cade Sydal & X-Cal) for the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 03-28 2004 Chris Matthews def. Angel Williams for the ACW Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-28 2021 Maui Mike became the ASP Livestream Champion
  • 03-29 1968 Spoiler #1 def. Billy Red Lyons for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-29 1976 Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter def. The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Buddy Roberts) for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 03-29 1982 Bugsy McGraw def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 03-29 2008 Anthony Jackson def. The Canadian Red Devil for the FCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-29 2008 La M (Jesus Rodriguez & El Choppo) def. The Compound Varsity (Romero Contreras & Justin Lee) for the FCW Tag Team Champions
  • 03-29 2008 Al Farat def. Thug Nasty for the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
  • 03-29 2008 Carnage def. Slash for the GPCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 03-29 2008 Xavior def. Jeff Knight for the GPCW Cruiserweight Champion
  • 03-29 2014 Bud Barnes def. Tyson Jaymes for the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 03-29 2014 David Kyzer def. L. J. McDaniels for the SWCW Luchadore Champion
  • 03-29 2014 Kareem Sadat def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 03-29 2014 Rick Russo def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 03-29 2014 Kareem Sadat def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 03-29 2014 Rick Russo def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 03-29 2014 Kareem Sadat def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 03-30 1981 Bob Sweetan def. Mike George for the TSW Tri-State Champion
  • 03-30 1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. Ernie Ladd & Leroy Brown for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 03-30 1986 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) def. The Sheepherders (Butch Miller & Luke Williams) for the UWF Tag Team Champions
  • 03-30 2013 Bobby Burns & Psycho Sawyer def. The Golden Alliance (Jake O'Brien & C. M. Chunk) for the SRPW Tag Team Champions
03-28
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