King Kong Bundy
King Kong Bundy | |
---|---|
Birth name | Christopher Alan Pallies[1] |
Born | Woodbury, New Jersey, U.S. | November 7, 1955
Died | March 4, 2019 Glassboro, New Jersey, U.S. | (aged 63)
Spouse(s) |
Marcy Russell
(m. 1994; div. 2002) |
Children | 1 |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Big Daddy Bundy[1] Boom Boom Bundy[2] Chris Bundy[3] Chris Cannon[3] Chris Canyon[1][3][4] Crippler Cannon[2] King Kong Bundy[5] Man Mountain Cannon, Jr[1] |
Billed height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)[5] |
Billed weight | 458 lb (208 kg)[5] |
Billed from | Atlantic City, New Jersey[5][6] |
Trained by | Larry Sharpe[1] |
Debut | March 7, 1981[1] |
Retired | May 2007[1] |
Christopher Alan Pallies (November 7, 1955 – March 4, 2019) was an American
He appeared in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in the mid-1980s and mid-1990s and wrestled in the main event of WrestleMania 2 in 1986, facing Hulk Hogan in a steel cage match for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship.[1][5][6][7] He also headlined the inaugural Survivor Series in 1987, as well as the first edition of Extreme Championship Wrestling's flagship event, November to Remember, in 1993.
Early life
Christopher Alan Pallies was born in Woodbury, New Jersey, on November 7, 1955,[8][9] to Donald Pallies, a railroad freight agent, and Margret (McCarthy) Pallies, a department store clerk.[1][10][11] He attended Washington Township High School in Sewell, New Jersey, graduating in 1974.[1][12][13] He had two sisters and three brothers.[10] While in high school, Pallies wrestled heavyweight on the wrestling team. He won two regional titles. His brother Jeff, also a member of the wrestling team, later wrestled for Glassboro State, now known as Rowan University. He was a two-time Metro Conference champion.
Professional wrestling career
Early career (1981–1985)
Pallies was trained to wrestle by
World Wrestling Federation (1985–1988)
WWF Championship pursuit (1985–1986)
After making a few appearances on New Japan Pro-Wrestling/World Wrestling Federation joint shows in early 1985, Bundy officially debuted in the WWF on the March 16, 1985 airing of WWF Championship Wrestling, defeating Mario Mancini.[18][19] First managed by Jimmy Hart, he was immediately pushed with dominating victories over all of his opponents. Bundy also reprised his gimmick of demanding a five-count from the referee while pinning an opponent, to show how badly he had beaten his hapless opponent.[18] He defeated S. D. Jones in what was announced as only nine seconds at the first WrestleMania at Madison Square Garden (it was actually about 17 seconds).[20] This remained the shortest match in WrestleMania history until 2008 when Kane defeated Chavo Guerrero Jr. in a legitimate eight seconds at WrestleMania XXIV.[21]
In September 1985, Hart traded Bundy to manager
Various feuds (1986–1988)
Later in 1986, Bundy reformed his tag-team partnership with Studd and began a feud with
At
Semi-retirement (1988–1994)
After leaving the WWF in 1988, Bundy went into semi-retirement, wrestling only a handful of matches. In 1993, he wrestled in the main event of
Return to WWF (1994–1995)
Bundy returned to the WWF in the fall of 1994 as a member of
Late career (1995–2007)
After leaving the WWF in late 1995,
Acting and stand-up comedy career
In 1986, Pallies appeared in television commercials and print advertisements for the
After retiring from wrestling, Pallies tried a career in
Personal life
Pallies was previously married and had a son named David that Pallies raised as his own.[10][41][11] Pallies was fond of cats and had "about 10" at the time of his death.[42]
In July 2016, Pallies joined a class action lawsuit filed against WWE which alleged that wrestlers incurred "long term neurological injuries" and that the company "routinely failed to care" for them and "fraudulently misrepresented and concealed" the nature and extent of those injuries. The suit was litigated by attorney Konstantine Kyros, who has been involved in a number of other lawsuits against WWE.[43] The case was dismissed by US District Judge Vanessa Lynne Bryant in September 2018.[44] Anthony Mango of Bleacher Report wrote that Pallies had a strained relationship with WWE over the years and his involvement in the lawsuit likely prevented the company from inducting him into their Hall of Fame.[45]
Death
On March 4, 2019, Pallies died from complications of diabetes at his home in Glassboro, New Jersey, at the age of 63.[10][11][46]
Filmography
Film | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
1988 | Moving | Gorgo | |
2002 | Bill's Seat | Big Swede | Short film |
2010 | Card Subject to Change | Himself | Documentary film |
2011 | Fight the Panda Syndicate | Otto Belmar | |
Television | |||
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
1987, 1995 | Married... with Children | Uncle Irwin/Himself | Episodes: "All in the Family", "Flight of the Bumblebee" |
1996 | Weird Science | Himself | Episode: "Men in Tights" |
1998 | Boy Meets World | Himself | 1 episode |
2008 | Golden Goal | Himself | 1 episode |
2014 | The Swerve | Himself | Episode: "King Kong Bundy" |
Championships and accomplishments
- AWA Superstars of Wrestling
- Continental Wrestling Association
- 1 time)
- NWA/AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Rick Rude[47][48]
- Georgia Championship Wrestling
- The Masked Superstar
- International Pro Wrestling
- IPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[49]
- International Wrestling Superstars
- IWS United States Championship (1 time)
- Maryland Championship Wrestling
- Memphis Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2022
- Midwest Championship Wrestling
- MCW Championship (1 time)
- NWA New York
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Ranked No. 147 of the top 500 wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1995[50]
- Ranked No. 124 of the top 500 wrestlers during the PWI Years in 2003
- Ranked No. 147 of the top 500 wrestlers in the
- Richmond Championship Wrestling
- RCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Top Rope Wrestling
- TRW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- World Class Championship Wrestling
- World Wide Wrestling Alliance
- WWWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[49]
- World Wrestling Federation
- Slammy Award (2 times)
- Most Evolutionary (1994) – Tied with Gorilla Monsoon
- Slammy Award (2 times)
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8108-7926-3.
- ^ a b "King Kong Bundy profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved July 7, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e Meltzer, Dave (1986). The Wrestling Observer's Who's who in Pro Wrestling. p. 28.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - ^ ISBN 0-8283-2045-4.
- ^ a b c d e "King Kong Bundy". WWE. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4516-0467-2.
- ISBN 978-1-61321-875-4.
- ^ "Join Ancestry®". Ancestry.com.
- ^ "Join Ancestry®". Ancestry.com.
- ^ a b c d "Professional wrestler King Kong Bundy dies at age 61". Associated Press. March 5, 2019.
- ^ a b c Slotnik, Daniel E. (March 6, 2019). "King Kong Bundy, 63, Bruiser And 'Walking Condominium'". The New York Times. p. A22. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
- ^ https://www.newspapers.com/image/183102029/?terms=Chris%20Pallies&match=1 Newspaper article indicating he's on the wrestling team in early 1974
- ^ Beym, Jessica (January 28, 2010). "Former professional wrestling star to visit Washington Township to promote hoagie sale". NJ.com. Advance Publications. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
- ^ "The 50 greatest ring names ever". WWE. October 7, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
- ^ "King Kong Bundy Was The Biggest Of The Bad". DEADSPIN. March 5, 2019. Retrieved June 26, 2021.
- ^ "Texas Stadium 1982 Fritz Von Erich Retirement Show". Pro Wrestling History. June 4, 1982. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
- ^ "Historical Cards: Fritz Von Erich Retirement Show (June 4, 1982. Irving, Texas)". PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts. Kappa Publications. p. 172. 2007 Edition.
- ^ ISBN 978-1492825975.
- ^ "King Kong Bundy vs jobber Mario Mancini, WWF debut 1985", Big Chute, retrieved June 21, 2022
- ^ Clapp, John (April 3, 2012). "10 Show of Show Shorties: Return to sender". WWE. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
- ^ Plummer, Dale (March 30, 2008). "Mayweather, Orton survive Mania; Edge, Flair don't". SLAM! Sports. Archived from the original on June 28, 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2008.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Saturday Night's Main Event #2 results". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
- ^ "Saturday Night's Main Event #3 results". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
- ISBN 978-1-5052292-6-4.
- ^ "Saturday Night Main Event - Mar. 1, 1986". History of WWE. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
- ^ Powell, John. "WrestleMania 2: Caged Heat". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2009.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "WrestleMania III Results". WWE. Retrieved February 14, 2008.
- ISBN 1-4165-3257-9.
- ^ "Saturday Night's Main Event #13 results". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
- ^ "Saturday Night's Main Event #14 results". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
- ^ ASIN B00RWUNSRS.
- ^ "Million Dollar Corporation profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved July 7, 2011.
- ^ "Royal Rumble 1995 Elimination Info". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
- ^ Powell, John. "No worse WrestleMania than 11". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2009.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "KAYFABE THEATER: King Kong Bundy – Vendex Computer Commercial — The Gorilla Position". Classic Wrestling Association. February 2, 2018. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
- ^ Farrell, Paul (March 5, 2019). "King Kong Bundy on 'Married… With Children' in 1987 & 1995". Heavy.com. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
- ^ "King Kong Bundy puts comedy on the mat tonight at the Colosseum". Delaware Online. January 18, 2007. Archived from the original on February 23, 2007.
- ^ Trevelise, Steve (March 6, 2019). "The time we taught King Kong Bundy standup comedy". New Jersey 101.5. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
- ^ "Wrestling star King Kong Bundy dies at 61". WTXL. March 5, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
- ^ "Chris Pallies aka King Kong Bundy: From wrestling to stand-up comedy - Page 2 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
- ^ "King Kong Bundy, man-mountain villain of pro wrestling, dies at 63". The Washington Post. March 6, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
- ^ Romalino, Carly Q. "Wrestler King Kong Bundy's cats need new homes", The Cherry Hill Courier-Post, March 22, 2019.
- ^ Bieler, Des (July 19, 2016). "Dozens of wrestlers sue WWE over CTE, effects of traumatic brain injuries". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
- ^ Collins, Dave (September 19, 2018). "Judge throws out lawsuit against WWE by ex-pro wrestlers over concussions". The Denver Post. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
- ^ Mango, Anthony. "5 Biggest Snubs of the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2019". Bleacher Report. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
- ^ "18 Sports Remembers King Kong Bundy". WETM - MyTwinTiers.com. March 6, 2019. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
- ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ "Southern Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
- ^ ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 1995". Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
- ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ "NWA United States Heavyweight Title (1967-1968/05) - American Heavyweight Title (1968/05-1986/02)". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
- ISBN 978-0-9698161-5-7.
- ^ "N.W.A. American Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
External links
- King Kong Bundy on WWE.com
- King Kong Bundy's profile at Cagematch.net , Wrestlingdata.com , Internet Wrestling Database
- King Kong Bundy at IMDb