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Mr. Wrestling II Interview Recap

Posted: Jan 22nd 2007 By: CMBurnham

On January 16th, Wrestling Weekly hosts Doc Young and Les Thatcher were joined by Mr. Wrestling II, Johnny Walker. Wrestling Weekly airs every Tuesday at 8pm Eastern at www.wrestlingweekly.com.

Les introduces this week?s featured guest by highlighting that they have been good friends since they met back in 1968/1969 in Nashville. Johnny was born in Hawaii and briefly discusses living there as this is where he resides after retiring. Walker first started in the wrestling business in 1956/57 and went to the Army/Marine base to wrestle the officers. Les talks about getting into the business in 1960 and seeing ?Rubberman? Johnny Walker and his tag team partner wrestle. Texas area promoter Paul Boesch gave him the name ?Rubberman?; as he was so flexible with his body. Les states that Johnny Walker?s high point of his career was as Mr Wrestling II but also worked as The Grappler in Tampa.

Johnny then discusses a very good match he had with Jack Brisco, after which the fans gave them a standing ovation. Les points out the Florida territory was educated to good solid pro-wrestling. Les then talks with Johnny Walker about going to the Atlanta territory as Mr Wrestling II. He was teamed with Tim Brooks and that they always got along together. Les states that Johnny is a big part of wrestling history in Georgia. Walker goes onto mention that he started as Mr Wrestling II in 1970 and stayed until 1989, so his run lasted there for nineteen years. When Tim Brooks went to Charlotte they split as a tag team. During the middle 1970?s the magazines had stories about Mr Wrestling II, the most famous was a picture of Johnny with former US President Jimmy Carter?s mother.

Walker goes onto to discuss Lillian Carter and was told by a promoter in Georgia that she would like to meet him. Johnny states that the meeting took place just before Carter was inaugurated as president. He then goes onto discuss their conversation and Walker was invited to Jimmy Carter?s inauguration. Johnny then tells Doc & Les that he was informed he had to remove his mask, so therefore, he didn?t go. Walker emphasises he took great pride in his character Mr Wrestling II. Doc points out that the former president?s favourite wrestler of all time was Mr Wrestling II. He had a photo taken with former President Carter. Les says this occurred around 1973/74 and he was working in the same territory as Johnny Walker and it was phenomenal.

Les reminisces about when the wrestlers in the territory put $5 in each to cover medical expenses. As the risks were too high, Johnny highlights, they couldn?t get any insurance. If anyone got injured they were covered. Walker then goes onto discuss travelling; driving hundreds of miles and you can?t drive too slow. Les reminds Johnny of a time when he was stock car racing in Nashville and Walker goes on to discuss this briefly. Les talks about Johnny Walkers wife Olivia who made his mask as Mr Wrestling II and made jackets, robes for Ric Flair, Greg Valentine and a blue robe for Lou Thesz too amongst others. Les states that Ric is still wearing some of those robes today. Johnny tells Doc & Les the robes range from $3-5,000 dollars, his wife used the best rhinestones and were very expensive. Each robe was made one at a time, hand crafted and a lot of work was put into them. Walker?s wife also made robes for country and western stars too.

Doc highlights that Mr Wrestling II was inducted into the WCW Hall of Fame, which was in 1993. Walker then talks about the induction ceremony. They then briefly discuss Sputnik Monroe, who passed away a few months ago. Les states that back then they worked six, sometimes seven nights a week. Johnny Walker states he did that for thirty two years as a professional wrestler. Les and Johnny then talks about Walker?s son, who has his own security business. Doc mentions Dog The Bounty Hunter as he lives in Hawaii and both Les & Johnny agree he has a ?hell of a gimmick?. Johnny Walker is now helping out with training people to be pro-wrestlers. He talks about how he trained twenty seven students in the first day and only two showed up the next time, highlighting that wrestlers should have heart. Walker then goes onto discuss the criteria which pro-wresters must have.

Les and Johnny then briefly talked about what it was like for them both getting into the business. Walker states that if you want to get into something, you have to enjoy it and talks about that you have to have the heart and talent to succeed. Doc discusses with Johnny Walker about being head trainer for Hawaii Championship Wrestling and asks how many shows they run. Johnny says they run every Saturday and the shows have been doing very well. Doc and Les thank Johnny Walker for being a guest, Les calls him a class act and HCW have a website at: http://www.808hcw.com/

Next weeks guest will be Jerry Oates of GCW and Lizzy Valentine of the new MTV promotion, Wrestling Society X (WSX). For more future guest information, visit www.myspace.com/docyoung (the official Myspace site of 'Wrestling Weekly').

Wrestling Weekly is part of Audio Wrestling http://www.audiowrestling.com The Wrestling Weekly radio program featuring Doc Young and Les Thatcher can be heard every Tuesday from 8:00-10:00pm EST at www.wrestlingweekly.com

Supplemental Information

Spotlight in History

1970 Waldo Von Erich def. Jack Curtis for the TSW Mississippi Title
1980 The Grappler def. Ted DiBiase for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
2002 Papa Voodoo def. HIMM for the ACW Hardcore Title
2002 HIMM def. Papa Voodoo for the ACW Hardcore Title
2011 Michael Barry def. Dustin Heritage for the MWA MAX-Division Title
2016 One Man Sam def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
2017 Ray Martinez def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
2017 Tristan Thorne became the ASP 5-Star Champion
2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
2017 Michael Duplanti def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
2023 Johnny Lightning became the WFC Prime Champion
2023 Tino Valentino def. Derek James for the UWO Heavyweight Title
2023 Manico became the NAW Openweight Champion
2023 Manico def. Ryan Reed for the NAW Heavyweight Title
2023 Martin Justice def. Thomas Knight for the XDWF New GenX Title
2023 Thomas Knight def. Martin Justice for the XDWF New GenX Title

Week of Sun 09-06 to Sat: 09-12

09-06 2008 The New York Express (Thomas Knight & Jeff Knight) def. The Untouchables (J. D. Rebel & The Enforcer) for the SECW Tag Team Titles
09-06 2008 Martin Justice became the SECW Cruiserweight Champion
09-06 2014 Spanish Wolf (Nathan Estrada & Michael Wolf) def. The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) for the OECW Tag Team Titles
09-06 2025 Butcher def. Riker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
09-06 2025 Iron Mountain (Duke Blanchard & Jack Davenport) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
09-06 2025 Phil Shark def. Franco D’Angelo for the TexPro Texas Title
09-07 1979 Mark Lewin def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-07 1980 Terry Gibbs became the TSW Tri-State Champion
09-07 1981 Frank Hill & Eric Embry def. Joel Deaton & David Deaton for the TSW Tag Team Titles
09-07 2004 Kenzo Suzuki & Rene Dupree def. Paul London & Billy Kidman for the WWE Smackdown World Tag Team Titles
09-07 2012 Brandon Walker def. Tim Rockwell for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
09-07 2014 Robert Lee def. Striker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
09-07 2018 Nikki Knight def. Erica for the MSWA Ladies Title
09-07 2019 Brian Dixon def. Tommy Dean for the BPW Oklahoma Title
09-07 2019 Luke Langley def. Brandon Groom for the BPW Lion Heart Title
09-07 2019 James Southard def. Lake Hefner for the ASP Inter-County Title
09-07 2024 The Subject (Cade Fite & Derek James) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
09-07 2024 Wrangler Rhett def. Alex Royal for the WFC Prime Title
09-08 1947 Leroy McGuirk def. Buddy Rogers for the NWA Midwest World Title
09-08 1958 Danny McShain def. Mad Man Martin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-08 1974 El Gran Markus def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-08 1978 Rocky Johnson def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-08 2006 The Patriots (Bad Boy & Glen Steel) def. Aaron Neil & Alexander Lucas (Subbing for Se7en) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
09-08 2007 Al Farat became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
09-08 2013 Robert Lee became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
09-08 2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Cub Scouts (Brock Landers & Grizzly Gates) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
09-08 2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
09-08 2018 Garrett Murphy def. Big Smooth for the NAW Heavyweight Title
09-09 1970 Waldo Von Erich def. Jack Curtis for the TSW Mississippi Title
09-09 1980 The Grappler def. Ted DiBiase for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
09-09 2002 Papa Voodoo def. HIMM for the ACW Hardcore Title
09-09 2002 HIMM def. Papa Voodoo for the ACW Hardcore Title
09-09 2011 Michael Barry def. Dustin Heritage for the MWA MAX-Division Title
09-09 2016 One Man Sam def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
09-09 2017 Ray Martinez def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
09-09 2017 Tristan Thorne became the ASP 5-Star Champion
09-09 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
09-09 2017 Michael Duplanti def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
09-09 2023 Johnny Lightning became the WFC Prime Champion
09-09 2023 Tino Valentino def. Derek James for the UWO Heavyweight Title
09-09 2023 Manico became the NAW Openweight Champion
09-09 2023 Manico def. Ryan Reed for the NAW Heavyweight Title
09-09 2023 Martin Justice def. Thomas Knight for the XDWF New GenX Title
09-09 2023 Thomas Knight def. Martin Justice for the XDWF New GenX Title
09-10 1968 The Spoiler & Gary Hart def. Fritz Von Erich & Grizzly Smith for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
09-10 1971 Ramon Torres def. Roger Kirby for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
09-10 1978 David Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
09-10 1979 Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
09-10 2011 Drake Gallows became the BYEW Entertainment Champion
09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Ray Martinez for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Spyder for the SRPW United States Title
09-10 2021 Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) def. Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
09-10 2022 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) def. Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
09-10 2022 MLP def. Duncan Kincaid for the RDW Iron Man Title
09-10 2022 Nashoba def. Al Farat for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
09-11 1957 El Medico def. Duke Keomuka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-11 1958 Angelo Savoldi def. Dory Funk for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
09-11 1963 The Bolos (The Great Bolo [1st] & The Mighty Bolo) def. Bill Watts & Jerry Kozak for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
09-11 1967 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Waldo Von Erich) def. Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
09-11 1967 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar def. Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
09-11 1968 Danny Little Bear & Kit Fox def. Jack Dalton [1st] & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
09-11 1978 Bruiser Brody def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
09-11 2010 Ryan Reed became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
09-11 2010 The Unknown & Yoshi became the NCW Tag Team Champions
09-11 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) def. The Future Hall of Famers (Dane Griffin & Shane Rawls) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
09-11 2010 Team Shake It (Josh Evans & Martin Casaus) def. The D-Stinguished (Elias Castaneda & Arik Angel) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
09-11 2021 Warren Powers def. Drake Gallows for the EPW All-American Title
09-11 2021 Drake Gallows def. Warren Powers for the EPW Internet Television Title
09-11 2021 Revan became the RDW Iron Man Champion
09-11 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese & T-Arsenal) def. The Rejecs LM (Dr. Corvus & Elijah Sparks) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
09-12 1982 King Kong Bundy & Bill Irwin def. The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
09-12 1983 Butch Reed & Jim Neidhart def. Magnum T. A. & Jim Duggan for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
09-12 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. John Tatum & Jimmy Jack Funk for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
09-12 2004 Chris Matthews def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
09-12 2009 Bobby Starr def. Kevin James Sanchez for the BYEW Entertainment Title
09-12 2010 Xavior def. Kevin Morgan for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
09-12 2015 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Impact Division Title
09-12 2015 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
09-12 2015 Brad Michaels def. Johnny Z for the IZW Heavyweight Title
09-12 2015 Richie Adams def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
09-12 2015 Shawn Hernandez became the DI2IW Intercontinenal Champion
09-12 2015 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Impact, Inc. (Damon Windsor & Johnny Z) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
09-12 2015 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
09-12 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Clover Botello for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title

09-09

Mike Clancy Sep 9th Today!
Rancid Sep 9th Today!
Mr. Wrestling II Sep 10th
Les Mayne Sep 10th
Owen Sep 10th
Trevor Murdoch I Sep 10th
Vivian St. John Sep 10th
Kool Ade Sep 10th
Vic Nichols Sep 11th
Summer Thunder Sep 11th
Adrian Dell Sep 12th
Montego Seeka Sep 12th
Bounty Hunter Sep 12th
Bash Sep 12th
Bob Kenaston Sep 12th
Danni Bee Sep 12th
Animal Sep 12th
N'Zane Lee Happy Sep 12th
American Anarchy Sep 12th
Danny Little Bear Sep 13th
Bobby Starr Sep 13th
K. P. Moore Sep 13th
Poder Oriental Sep 13th
Angelina Love Sep 13th
Waddy Young Sep 14th
Eddie LeVaughn Sep 14th
Kelsie Mae Sep 14th
Bernie D Sep 14th
Lunatic Lennie Sep 14th
Korvin Sage Sep 15th
Daniel King Sep 15th
Spoiler 2000 Sep 15th
L. C. Green Sep 15th
Haru Sonada Sep 16th
Jim Cornette Sep 17th
Colton Kinnamon Sep 17th
Jake Swayze Sep 17th
Rex Mori Sep 17th
Dick Brower Sep 17th
Bill Irwin Sep 17th
Cisco Grimaldi Sep 18th
Titan Yin Sep 18th
Mr. Nabors Sep 18th
Billy Robinson Sep 18th
Angel Reed Sep 18th
Adam Asher Sep 19th
Yoshiaki Yatsu Sep 19th
Jerry Brisco Sep 19th
Justin Lee Sep 20th
Boz Sep 20th
Chuck Singer Sep 20th
Greg Valentine Sep 20th
Bishop Simon Sep 20th
Randy Rhodes Sep 20th
Ethan Page Sep 20th
Pepper Martin Sep 20th
Joey Stixx Sep 20th
Ricky Morton Sep 21st
Connor Jones Sep 21st
Jack Brisco Sep 21st
Doug Somers Sep 22nd
Mike Chacoma Sep 22nd
Harley D Sep 22nd
Red River Brawler Sep 22nd
Satine Sep 22nd

1970 Waldo Von Erich def. Jack Curtis for the TSW Mississippi Title
1980 The Grappler def. Ted DiBiase for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
2002 Papa Voodoo def. HIMM for the ACW Hardcore Title
2002 HIMM def. Papa Voodoo for the ACW Hardcore Title
2011 Michael Barry def. Dustin Heritage for the MWA MAX-Division Title
2016 One Man Sam def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
2017 Ray Martinez def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
2017 Tristan Thorne became the ASP 5-Star Champion
2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
2017 Michael Duplanti def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
2023 Johnny Lightning became the WFC Prime Champion
2023 Martin Justice def. Thomas Knight for the XDWF New GenX Title
2023 Thomas Knight def. Martin Justice for the XDWF New GenX Title
2023 Tino Valentino def. Derek James for the UWO Heavyweight Title
2023 Manico became the NAW Openweight Champion
2023 Manico def. Ryan Reed for the NAW Heavyweight Title

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