Don Leo Jonathan

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Don Leo Jonathan
Salt Lake City, Utah
Trained byBrother Jonathan
Debut1949
Retired1980

Don Heaton (April 29, 1931 – October 13, 2018), also known as Don Leo Jonathan, was an American-Canadian

professional wrestler.[2]

Professional wrestling career

Jonathan, nicknamed "The Mormon Giant" was a second generation star (his father was former wrestler Brother Jonathan)[1] who made his professional wrestling debut after World War II.[1] Over the course of his career, he competed around the world, making stops in Europe, South Africa, Australia and Japan; he wrestled more often, however, in the United States and Canada. His first championship wins occurred in Montreal with Canadian Athletic Promotions, where he twice captured their World Heavyweight title in 1955.

Elsewhere in Canada, Jonathan found more success competing in

Alex Turk Promotions (twice winning their International Tag Team title) and for the American Wrestling Association. Jonathan also got a taste of World heavyweight gold again when he won the AWA-affiliated Omaha
territory's version of the World title three times in 1961.

Canada eventually became home to Jonathan in the early 1960s as he settled in the

Dory Funk, Jr. and Jack Brisco; he also engaged in feuds with Kiniski and Dutch Savage in All Star, as well as teaming with them. On May 31, 1972, in what was billed as the "match of the century," Jonathan defeated Le Géant Jean Ferré (André the Giant) by disqualification.[2] On September 7, 1972, in a match which was billed as the "Battle of the Giants" Jonathan had a rematch against André, this time losing by disqualification. In 1973 he wrestled in the WWWF and fought Pedro Morales for the championship as a heel.[3] Late in his career, he appeared as one of the wrestlers in the 1978 Sylvester Stallone movie Paradise Alley
.

Jonathan wrestled his final match, teaming with André the Giant and

Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in Amsterdam, New York
.

Personal life

Jonathan was born in

Mormon. His father was professional wrestler Brother Jonathan DeLaun Heaton, a man known for bringing a pet rattlesnake, named Cold Chills, into the ring and reciting Bible verses as he wrestled, earning the nickname “The Salt Lake Rattlesnake.”[1] He played high school football and learned martial arts.[5] Before entering the world of professional wrestling, Jonathan was a sailor in the United States Navy.[1][5]

He lived in

Vancouver, British Columbia since 1963.[1][2] He was married to a woman named Rose.[1] After retiring from professional wrestling, he pursued a career in underwater inventions and exploration.[5] He survived bladder cancer.[1]

In July 2016, Jonathan was named part of a class action lawsuit filed against WWE which alleged that wrestlers incurred traumatic brain injuries during their tenure and that the company concealed the risks of injury. The suit was litigated by attorney Konstantine Kyros, who has been involved in a number of other lawsuits against WWE.[6] A month before his death, US District Judge Vanessa Lynne Bryant dismissed the lawsuit.[7]

Jonathan entered a hospital in Langley at the end of August 2018 and died there on October 13, aged 87.[8]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Oliver, Greg (September 12, 2006). "Don Leo Jonathon reflects back". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved 2009-08-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ a b c d e "Don Leo Jonathan". SLAM! Wrestling. January 12, 2008. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved 2009-08-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ André the Giant vs. Don Leo Jonathan - May 31 and September 7, 1972 Archived December 4, 2007, at the Wayback Machine at Old School Wrestling
  4. ^ André/Jonathan/Piper vs. Sheepherders/Rose - March 10, 1980 Archived December 4, 2007, at the Wayback Machine at Old School Wrestling
  5. ^ a b c d Kenyon, J Michael. "Don Leo Jonathan". Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. Archived from the original on 2009-05-29. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  6. ^ "WWE sued in wrestler class action lawsuit featuring Jimmy 'Superfly' Snuka, Paul 'Mr Wonderful' Orndorff". FoxSports.com. Fox Entertainment Group (21st Century Fox). July 18, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  7. ^ Robinson, Byron (September 22, 2018). "Piledriver: WWE uses 'Hell in a Cell' as springboard to future shows". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  8. ^ "Don Leo Jonathan dead at 87", by Greg Oliver, SLAM! Wrestling
  9. ^ Hoops, Brian (January 17, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/17): Vader wins IWGP heavyweight title". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  10. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4
    .
  11. ^ "Texas Brass Knucks Title [East Texas]". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  12. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4
    .
  13. ^ "NWA Texas Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
  14. ^ Whalen, Ed (host) (December 15, 1995). "Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame: 1948-1990". Showdown at the Corral: A Tribute to Stu Hart. Event occurs at 15:38. Shaw Cable. Calgary 7.
  15. ^ "Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame (1948-1990)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
  16. ^ "International Television Tag Team Title (Los Angeles)". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.

External links

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