Johnny Valiant
Johnny Valiant | |
---|---|
Birth name | Thomas Sullivan |
Born | [1] Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.[1] | November 25, 1946
Died | April 4, 2018 Ross Township, Pennsylvania, U.S.[2] | (aged 71)
Cause of death | Traffic collision |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Johnny Valiant[1] Luscious Johnny V[1] John L. Sullivan[1] |
Billed height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)[3] |
Billed weight | 245 lb (111 kg)[3] |
Billed from | New York City, New York[1] |
Trained by | Al Costello[1] |
Debut | 1967[1] |
Retired | 2006 |
John L. Sullivan (born Thomas Sullivan;
Professional wrestling career
Sullivan grew up in Pittsburgh's North Hills suburb, not far from wrestling champion
Managerial career
After he retired from active competition, Valiant went on to a successful career as a manager. He briefly managed Hulk Hogan in the AWA in 1981 until shortly after Hogan's turn to face. Valiant moved back to the WWF and went on to manage Brutus Beefcake beginning in 1984. The pair appeared at the inaugural WrestleMania I event with Beefcake battling David Sammartino (seconded by his father Bruno Sammartino) to a double disqualification after Valiant slammed David on the floor before being attacked by Bruno who threw him into the ring where all four continued the fight. Valiant and Beefcake were also regulars on other WWF television shows including the weekly syndicated WWF Championship Wrestling.
Soon after in May 1985, Valiant and fellow heel manager
. The Dream Team chased the Bulldogs for the next few months but were unsuccessful in regaining the championship belts.Valiant added
Also in this stint in the WWF, Valiant was known to do commentary on matches from time to time (filling in on Wrestling Challenge for fellow heel manager/commentator
One of Valiant's last appearances as a manager in the WWF was at the
After wrestling
Sullivan went by the moniker of Johnny Valiant as an actor and comedian. He appeared on multiple episodes of
A documentary and sequel featuring Johnny Valiant, Jimmy Valiant, and indy wrestlers Sky Hosoya and Larry Brisco called "The Absolute Truth About Pro Wrestling (Parts 1 and 2)" was released in 2008.
Death
Sullivan was struck and killed by a pickup truck at 5:30 a.m. in Ross Township, a northern suburb of Pittsburgh, on April 4, 2018. Police treated it as an accident.[2] He was taken to Allegheny General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.[10][11] Police told local news Sullivan was not in a crosswalk, and the driver of the vehicle remained on the scene.[12]
Championships and accomplishments
- Big Time Wrestling (San Francisco)
- Championship Wrestling from Florida
- NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jimmy Valiant[14]
- NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (1 time) - with Jimmy Valiant[15]
- Georgia Championship Wrestling
- NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jimmy Valiant[16]
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI Tag Team of the Year award in 1974 - with Jimmy Valiant[17]
- World Wide Wrestling Federation
- Class of 1996)
- Jerry Valiant (1)[4]
- World Wrestling Association
- 1 time)[18]
- 4 times) - with Jimmy Valiant[7]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Johnny Valiant Profile". Online World Of Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
- ^ a b "Former pro wrestler Johnny Valiant hit, killed by truck on McKnight Road". wpxi.com. 4 April 2018. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.
- ^ ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-55022-683-6.
- ^ ISBN 0-7434-9033-9.
- ^ ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4165-3257-6.
- ^ Wrestling Observer Newsletter: February 1, 1988
- ^ "WWE's 'Luscious' Johnny Valiant Killed While Crossing the Street". Time. 5 April 2018. Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
- ^ Maas, Jennifer; Maglio, Tony (5 April 2018). "WWE Hall of Famer 'Luscious' Johnny Valiant Dies at 71". The Wrap.
- ^ "WWE's 'Luscious' Johnny Valiant killed crossing street". The Washington Post. Associated Press. April 5, 2018. Archived from the original on April 5, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
- ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners - Tag Team of the Year". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on 2011-05-22. Retrieved 2008-05-31.
- ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.