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The Spoiler Passes Away

The Spoiler Passes Away

Posted: Dec 17th 2006 By: CMBurnham

Don Jardine, a headliner from the late 60s through the mid-80s as The Spoiler, passed away last night from complications a heart attack and leukemia, the latter of which he had suffered from for the past four years. He was 66.

He had been in poor health for some time.

Jardine, whose style played a hand in the moves of of The Undertaker, was noted for his tremendous balance, as a 6-4, 275 pound man walked the ropes. Undertaker's "old school" spot he does in most major matches is a take-off of that. Undertaker was originally billed when wrestling in Texas as the protege of Jardine, although he was more told by those in Texas when he started to emulate Jardine because of how well respected Jardine was as a tall agile heel.

Jardine began his career in 1955, working for Whipper Billy Watson. For the first 10 years of his career, he wrestled without a mask, but he wanted to create a masked character in order to create a aura of mystique around himself. So, at the suggestion of Fritz Von Erich and Jay Strongbow, Sr., Jardine donned the mask and "The Spoiler" was born.

Jardine was forced to remove the match when he wrestled WWWF World Champion Pedro Morales in Madison Square Garden in the 1970s. At the time, MSG had a rule that banned masked wrestlers from competing in the arena, so Jardine voluntarily removed his mask to get a shot at Morales' title. That rule would later be amended for Mil Mascaras.

Jardine was best known in Texas, where he was a long-time top heel for several different runs, but he also had a successful run in Oklahoma in the early 1970s. Spoiler was the person Bill Watts defeated to win his first TSW North American Title in April, 1970, ending a 2-month reigh by Spoiler. Spoiler would gain revenge 6 years later by defeating Watts to reclaim the title. For reasons that are unclear at this time, he allowed The Brute to defend the title in his place afer winning it which resulted in the Brute being awarded the title by default, ending Spoiler's 2nd North American Title reign after just 2 weeks. Brute would go on to defeat Spoiler cleanly to secure his hold on the title later. Spoiler also knew success in the tag team division in Oklahoma, as he teamed with another masked Spoiler, known simply as "Spoiler 2" and defeated the Kentuckians for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles in 1971. Their reign would be a brief one as they were upset about 1 month later by Tom Jones and Billy Red Lyons. Spoiler would hold the U.S. Tag Team Titles once more, as he was the handpicked replacement by Dusty Rhodes for Andre the Giant in 1979. Andre was in too high of a demand in the world and could not commit to staying in the TSW territory, so Rhodes chose Spoiler, but this partnership didn't last long as they were defeated for the titles by The Assassin and the Angel in less than a month later.

At the same time that he was winning titles in Oklahoma, Spoiler ventured into Texas for World Class Championship Wrestling. He defeated Wahoo McDaniel for the WCCW American title in 1971, but only held that title for about 2 weeks before dropping it to Johnny Valentine. He would return in 1979 and win 3 consecutive American Championships, from Kevin Von Erich, Wahoo McDaniel again (actually the title was just given to Spoiler when Wahoo was injured and unable to compete) and El Halcon. These 3 title reigns would comprise 4 months total in the 2nd half of 1979. He also held the WCCW Texas Championship in 1968, winning the title from Grizzly Smith in August and holding it until December when he lost it ot Dan Miller. He was the inaugural WCCW Television Champion in 1979, winning a battle royal to claim that title. (Ironically, his namesake, Spoiler 2000, would accomplish the same feat in 2005 to become the first, and so far only, NWA Universal Television Champion) And he was not out of place in the "hardcore" division either, as he held the WCCW Texas Brass Knucks championship. But it was as a tag team wrestler that Spoiler seemed to have his greatest success in WCCW. He had 2 regular tag team partners: Mark Lewin, with whom he won the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles and WCCW American Tag Team Titles in 1979 and Gary Hart, who held the American Tag Team Titles 3 times with Spoiler in 1967 and 1968. Spoiler also teamed with Smasher Sloan, under the guise of being "Spoiler 2" to win the American Tag Team titles. It is believed that Sloan was not the Spoiler 2 who tagged with Jardine in TSW.

Spoiler left WCCW and entered the NWA in the early 1980s. He was a mmber of the original Legion of Doom, under the management of Paul Ellering. He held the National heavyweight championship for Georgia Championship Wrestling when the promotion was purchased in 1984 by Vince McMahon, who bought it primarily for access to TBS. He went to WWF with this title, which was briefly recognised as the WWF National Title, but quit the business shortly afterwards. He spent his retirement with his wife in Alberta, Canada. He wrote poetry, volunteered for a local literacy programme, was the manager of a car wash, sculpted clay and carved faces and figures into the bark of cotton wood trees. He had been working on a book of his career, but it is unknown at this time if that was completed or not.

Oklafan extends its sympathies to Don Jardine's family and friends at this time.

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1975 Dick Murdoch def. Danny Miller for the TSW North American Title
  • 1997 Generation X (Zane Morris & Ian St. James) became the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
  • 2009 El Super Colibri became the MWA MAX-Division Champion
  • 2010 Rick Russo def. 3rd Rail for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
  • 2021 Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) became the CPW Tag Team Champions
  • 2021 Tommy Dean def. Double D for the CPW Heavyweight Title

Week of Sun 05-31 to Sat: 06-06

  • 05-31 1954 Tor Yamato def. Rocco Perez for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 05-31 1968 Grizzly Smith def. Spoiler #1 for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 05-31 1971 Tom Jones & Billy Red Lyons def. The Spoilers (Spoiler #1 & Spoiler #2) for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 05-31 1981 The Wild Samoans (Afa & Sika) def. Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 05-31 2003 Anthony Jackson def. Rocco Valentino for the TPW Heavyweight Title
  • 05-31 2008 Slam Shady became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-31 2008 Brent Albright became the NWA-OK Universal Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-31 2008 Xavior def. Sage for the SWCW Cruiserweight Title
  • 05-31 2008 3rd Rail def. Damon Windsor for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
  • 05-31 2008 Lady Venom def. Dominique LaReaux for the SWCW Womens Title
  • 05-31 2014 Cody Burns def. Sam Stackouse for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 05-31 2014 Matt Majestic def. MHM, Inc. (Ray Martinez, Alabastair Hunt & K. P. Moore) for the SRPW United States Title
  • 05-31 2014 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. The Sexy Camachos (Vinnie Camacho & Roberto Camacho) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 05-31 2014 Team Bull (The Bronze Bull & Bobby Starr) def. The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 05-31 2024 Skylar Slice/Sgt. Slice def. Miranda Gordy for the CPW Women’s Title
  • 05-31 2024 The Super Crash Brothers (Trench Blythe & Badger James) def. The Canadian Rez Devils (The Canadian Red Devil & Koko) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
  • 05-31 2024 Nathan Estrada def. Merc for the CPW Heavyweight Title
  • 05-31 2024 Merc def. Nathan Estrada for the CPW Heavyweight Title
  • 05-31 2026 Max Leon def. Tony Snow for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-01 1953 Billy Raborn def. Mike Clancy for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 06-01 1968 The Spoiler & Gary Hart became the WCCW American Tag Team Champions
  • 06-01 1979 Jose Lothario & El Halcon def. The Spoiler & Mark Lewin for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 06-01 1981 Mike George def. Bob Sweetan for the TSW Tri-State Title
  • 06-01 2003 Jef Tiger became the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-01 2003 Tyler Bateman def. Jef Tiger for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 06-01 2003 John O'Malley def. Tyler Bateman for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 06-01 2008 Bad Boy became the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 06-01 2008 The Enforcer became the SECW Tri-State Champion
  • 06-01 2012 Tim Rockwell def. Brandon Walker for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 06-01 2013 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. The Birds of Prey (Phoenix & Falcon) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-02 1979 The Spoiler became the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-02 2007 Damien Morte def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 06-02 2007 Lady Venom became the SWCW Womens Champion
  • 06-02 2007 Prophet def. Dexter Hardaway for the SWCW Sooner Xtreme Title
  • 06-02 2010 Michael Barry def. Kevin James Sanchez for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-02 2010 Saints of the Damned (Draven Cross & Sage) def. New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) for the BYEW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-02 2010 Death Row [2nd] def. Rick Russo for the BYEW Caution Title
  • 06-02 2012 Brandon Walker became the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-02 2012 The Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) def. The Franchise Players (Rick Russo & Les Mayne) for the SWCW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-02 2012 Drake Gallows def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 06-02 2017 Cody Burns def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
  • 06-02 2019 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & Mascara La Parka/MLP) def. The Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the ASP Tag Team Titles
  • 06-02 2019 Brock Landers def. Adam Patrick for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 06-02 2019 Erica became the ASP Women's Champion
  • 06-02 2024 Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) def. Mr. Nasty & Eddie LeVaughn for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 06-02 2024 Thrash def. Tim Rockwell for the WFC Heavyweight Title
  • 06-03 1968 Fritz Von Erich def. Spoiler #1 for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-03 1968 Danny Hodge & Lorenzo Parente def. Jack Donovan & Ron Reed for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 06-03 1969 Baron Von Raschke became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-03 1980 David Von Erich def. Gino Hernandez for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 06-03 2016 Brock Landers def. Terry Pantera for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 06-03 2016 C. J. Ward became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
  • 06-03 2017 The Pinnacle (Anthony Andrews & Shawn Hendrix) def. Excellence Personified (Dustin Heritage & Duke Swellington) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 06-04 1937 Ray Villmer became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-04 1981 Kerry Von Erich def. Ernie Ladd for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-04 1981 The Spoiler became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-04 1984 Gino Hernandez def. Chris Adams for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-04 1986 The Von Erichs (Kevin Von Erich & Lance Von Erich & Mike Von Erich) became the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champions
  • 06-04 2002 Billy & Chuck def. Rikishi & Rico for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Titles
  • 06-04 2004 Justin Lee def. Brian Lakewood for the TPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
  • 06-04 2010 The Foreign Legion (Boris Saarikoski & Dutch Hagen) def. The Old School Express (Jason Jones & Jake Boulder) for the MWA Tag Team Titles
  • 06-04 2021 Warren Powers def. Father Padge for the EPW Internet Television Title
  • 06-04 2022 Tommy Dean def. Mr. Nasty for the CPW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-04 2022 Phoebe def. Killista for the CPW Women’s Title
  • 06-04 2022 Mascara Purpura def. Double D for the CPW 918 Title
  • 06-05 1975 Dick Murdoch def. Danny Miller for the TSW North American Title
  • 06-05 1997 Generation X (Zane Morris & Ian St. James) became the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
  • 06-05 2009 El Super Colibri became the MWA MAX-Division Champion
  • 06-05 2010 Rick Russo def. 3rd Rail for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-05 2021 Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) became the CPW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-05 2021 Tommy Dean def. Double D for the CPW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-06 1966 Fritz Von Erich def. Brute Bernard for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-06 1972 Tom Jones & Ivan Putski def. The Continental Warriors (Bobby Hart & Lorenzo Parente) for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 06-06 1981 Jake Roberts def. The Grappler for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-06 2025 Owen def. Jacob Edwards for the UWO Dojo Division Title
06-05
  • Igor Putski Jun 5th Today!
  • Danny Miller Jun 5th Today!
  • Shawn Shields Jun 5th Today!
  • Mitch Onyx Jun 6th
  • O. D. B. Jun 6th
  • Larry Booker Jun 6th
  • Rick Sweetan Jun 6th
  • Travis 12 Gage Jun 6th
  • That Handsome Devil Jun 6th
  • Tony Rocco Jun 6th
  • Rip Hawk Jun 6th
  • Gideon Vane Jun 7th
  • Mick Foley Jun 7th
  • Stevie Caballero Jun 7th
  • Steve Hartley Jun 7th
  • Morgan Levay Jun 7th
  • Eddie Sullivan Jun 8th
  • Mustafa Bin Akbar Jun 8th
  • Rick Vyper Jun 8th
  • Michele Leone Jun 8th
  • Jeff Wolfenbarger Jun 9th
  • Mark Wilson Jun 9th
  • Dutch Savage Jun 9th
  • Jamie Jun 9th
  • Jim Barnett Jun 9th
  • Dick Listener Jun 9th
  • Largus RagnaBrok Jun 10th
  • Dick Dunn Jun 10th
  • Mathmagician Jun 11th
  • Magnum T. A. Jun 11th
  • J. D. Richards Jun 11th
  • King Parsons Jun 11th
  • D'Licious Jun 12th
  • Baby Blimp Jun 12th
  • Rolling Thunder Jun 12th
  • Stan Pulaski Jun 12th
  • Lady Sensacion Jun 12th
  • Deuce Rodriguez Jun 12th
  • Zac Royal Jun 12th
  • Dustin Heritage Jun 13th
  • John Pfanz Jun 13th
  • Chandler Hopkins Jun 13th
  • Geronimo Jun 13th
  • Mikey D Jun 13th
  • Bill Ash Jun 13th
  • Neo Genesis Jun 13th
  • Alex Shepard Jun 13th
  • Buzz Sawyer Jun 14th
  • Trey the Bae Jun 15th
  • Paul Linam Jun 15th
  • Lilith Grimm Jun 15th
  • Sean Ryan Jun 15th
  • Brad Armstrong Jun 15th
  • Jaxon Stone Jun 15th
  • Shawn Matthews III Jun 16th
  • Leslie Lorenzo Jun 16th
  • Brock Landers Jun 16th
  • Chuck Hinds Jun 16th
  • Ultimate Warrior Jun 16th
  • Jef Tiger Jun 16th
  • Ted Arcidi Jun 16th
  • Paul Jones Jun 16th
  • Ray Martinez Jun 17th
  • Rob Justice Jun 17th
  • Mario Galento Jun 17th
  • Talos Jun 17th
  • Abe Jacobs Jun 18th
  • Andy Dalton Jun 18th
  • Johnny Angel Jun 18th
  • Cam the CODA Jun 18th
  • Bad Boy Jun 18th
  • Sashimi Deluxe Jun 18th
  • Bruiser Brody Jun 18th

More Look Back In History

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