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Bios

Mr. Wrestling II

Nickname: The Paragon of Probity

Height: 6' 0"

Weight: 240 lbs

From: Atlanta, GA

Birthday: Sep 10th

Pro Debut: 1956

Aliases: Johnny Walker [1st], Jack Walker, The Grappler, Mr. Wrestling

Feds Worked For: MSW, TSW, NWA, WWF, All Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), Atlantic Athletic Commission (MA), Big Time Wrestling (Canada), Capitol Wrestling Corporation, Central States Wrestling (IA/KS/MO), Championship Wrestling from Florida (FL), Championship Wrestling USA (OR), Continental Championship Wrestling (AL/MS/TN), Continental Wrestling Association (AL/KY/TN), Florida Championship Wrestling (FL), Fred Kohler Enterprises (IL), Georgia Championship Wrestling (GA), Gulf Athletic Club (TX), Gulas Wrestling Enterprises (TN), Hawaii Championship Wrestling (HI), International Championship Wrestling (MS), International Wrestling (Canada), Japan Wrestling Association (Japan), Kola Kwariani Booking Office (NJ/NY), Maple Leaf Wrestling (Canada), Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (NC/SC), Mid-Pacific Promotions (HI), National Wrestling Federation (NJ/NY/OH/PA), NWA Deep South Wrestling (GA), NWA Hollywood (CA), NWA Mid-America (AL/TN), NWA Montreal (Canada), San Francisco (CA), Southeast Championship Wrestling (AL/TN), Southwest Sports (TX), St. Louis Wrestling Club (MO), World Booking Office (NY)

Finisher: Atomic Kneelift

Career Highlights: -Continental Champion
-HCW Kekaulike Tag Team Champion (w/ Mr. Wrestling III)
-MSW Mississippi Champion
-MSW North American Champion
-MSW Tag Team Champion (2x; 1 each w/ Tiger Conway, Jr. and Magnum T. A.)
-NWA Alabama Champion
-NWA Columbus Champion
-NWA Florida Champion (2x)
-NWA (Florida) Southern Champion
-NWA Florida Tag Team Champion (w/ Boris Malenko)
-NWA Georgia Champion (10x)
-NWA (Georgia) Southeastern Tag Team Champion (w/ Bill Dromo)
-NWA Georgia Tag Team Champion (6x; 4 w/ Tim Woods/Mr. Wrestling, 1 each w/ Bob Orton, Jr. and Tony Atlas)
-NWA Macon Champion (4x)
-NWA Macon Tag Team Champion (3x; 2 w/ Tim Woods/Mr. Wrestling, 1 w/ Jerry Lawler)
-NWA (Mid-America) United States Junior Heavyweight Champion (5x)
-NWA (Mid-America) Southern Tag Team Champion (10x; 3 w/ Dennis Hall, 2 each w/ Ken Lucas and Bob Ramstead, 1 each w/ Sundown Kid, Tojo Yamamoto, and Bearcat Brown)
-NWA (Mid-America) United States Tag Team Champion (w/ Oni Maivia)
-NWA (Mid-America) World Tag Team Champion (7x; 3 w/ Bearcat Brown, 2 each w/ Len Rossi, 1 each w/ Tojo Yamamoto and Tony Atlas)
-NWA National Champion
-NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Champion
-NWA Texas Tag Team Champion (w/ Amazing Zuma)
-TSW North American Champion
-TSW Southwestern Tag Team Champion (w/ Prince Maivia)

Affiliates: Tim Woods/Mr. Wrestling, Tommy Rich, Magnum T. A., Tony Atlas, Louis Tillet, Dick Slater, Bob Armstrong, Dennis Hall, Mr. Wrestling III, Len Rossi, Bearcat Brown, Tim Brooks, Junkyard Dog, Tiger Conway, Jr., Boris Malenko, Jerry Lawler, Bob Orton, Jr., Ken Lucas, Bob Ramstead, Sundown Kid, Tojo Yamamoto, Oni Maivia, Amazing Zuma, Prince Maivia, The Stud Stable

Notable Feuds: Larry Zbyszko, Jack Brisco, Jimmy Garvin, The Road Warriors, Karl Krupp, Kamala, Mr. Olympia, Ole Anderson, Masked Superstar, Dick Slater, The Assassin, Gene Anderson, Abdullah the Butcher, Bobby Duncum, Stan Hansen, Ivan Koloff, The Spoiler, Rene Goulet, Tim Woods/Mr. Wrestling, Ronnie Garvin, Buddy Colt, Terry Gordy, Harley Race, Bobby Eaton, Assassin #2/Moondog Rex, Doug Gilbert, Dick Murdoch, Super A/Austin Idol, Dennis Condrey, Pak Song, Rock Hunter, Great Mephisto, Mighty Yankee #1/French Angel, Rocky Smith/Inferno #2, Terry Funk, Buddy Roberts, Bob Orton, Jr., Inferno #1, Ted DiBiase, Mike George, Bobby Shane, Les Thornton, Bill Watts, Tojo Yamamoto, Angelo Mosca, Bobby Hart, Super Destroyer, Bob Armstrong, Len Denton/The Grappler, Lars Anderson, Toru Tanaka, Mongolian Stomper, Alexis Smirnoff, Magnum T. A.

Other Facts: -Real name was John Francis Walker
-Although Johnny Walker [1st] debuted in 1956, he didn't create the Mr. Wrestling II character until 1970.
-Not to be confused with the Johnny Walker [2nd] who competed in MSWA in 2005.
-As Johnny Walker, he used the nickname "Rubberman" and "Gentleman"
-Sometimes billed from Parts Unknown
-On August 8, 1953, Walker was one of nine suspects arrested in connection to the rape of a 15-year-old girl in Hawaii, at Sandy Beach. Walker was 18 at the time, and worked at a service station in Waikiki. According to the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center, Walker’s disposition was July 27, 1955, and for the rest of his life he was a registered sex offender wherever he lived.
-When Mr. Wrestling became so popular in Georgia, promoters wanted to add a 2nd masked man so Walker 1st became Mr. Wrestling II. Whereas Mr. Wrestling wore an all white mask, Mr. Wrestling II wore a white mask with black face plate.
-Billed from Atlanta, GA but was born in Charleston, SC.
-Wrestled as "The Grappler" in 1970 & 1971. He is not to be confused with Len Denton, who was "The Grappler" in MSW, WCCW, and the Pacific Northwest
-As Mr. Wrestling II, he lost his mask to Gene Anderson and Ole Anderson on March 7, 1977. He donned the mask again not too long later.
-Not the original Mr. Wrestling. That was Tim Woods. He simply dropped the "II" from his name during his feud with Magnum T. A.
-His wife, Olivia, was a seamstress and created costumes and outfits for many people in the country music industry, including Porter Wagoner. She also designed many of Ric Flair’s robes as well as robes for stars such as Dusty Rhodes, Paul Orndorff, Lex Luger, Lou Thesz and the Killer Bees, amongst others. She was believed to have made almost 1000 robes during her career.
-Favorite wrestler of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter as well as Carter's mother. He was invited to Carter's presidential inauguration, but declined the offer when he was informed that he would have to unmask.
-Considered one of the greatest American wrestlers not to win a world title.
-Trained or mentored several wrestlers including Magnum T. A., Rick Rude, Tony Atlas, Hercules Hernandez, and Dusty Wolfe
-His wife Olivia was a talented seamstress and costume maker. Many of her clients were country music performers including Porter Wagoner. During an interview, Ric Flair stated that many of his robes were made by her
-Voted Wrestler of the Year by the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1975
-Voted Most Popular Wrestler by the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1980
-Only wrestler to be voted "Wrestler of the Year" in Pro Wrestling Illustrated and never win a World Championship.
-Voted Wrestling Observer Newsletter's Most Overrated in 1980
-Lifetime member of The Cauliflower Alley Club
-Former member of the Stud Stable
-Former Director of Talent Relations for Hawaii Championship Wrestling
-Inducted into the WCW Hall of Fame in 1993
-Inducted into the NWA Hall of Heroes in 2010
-Inducted into the NWA Hall of Fame in 2012
-Inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2014
-Passed away June 10, 2020 at the age of 85.