Wrestling. Mystery of Missing Wrestling Championship Belts, Tim Storm: From Super Fan to NWA World Champion, Brad Armstrong Your Favorite Wrestlers Favorite Wrestler. "I had my sights set on other things," said Valentine. Graham, walking with a cane, tried to intervene when Valentine held the figure-four leglock on jobber Ricky Ataki, after already winning the match. The feud was abruptly halted when Muraco was dismissed by the WWF, despite Valentine's pleas for Muraco not to be fired so that the promising program could be allowed to run. Valentine returned to the NWA in late 1979 and asked Flair to reform their tag team. He is from . His first manager was Captain Lou Albano, and he was later managed by Jimmy Hart. He immediately began feuding with Johnny Weaver, who he "retired" with a top rope elbow drop. He's won multiple awards for reporting and opinion writing, and his sports journalism has garnered several Associated Press Managing Editors Awards. 28th Mar, 2023 Divorce Where they were the first team to be eliminated after a slightly botched sunset flip from Necro Butcher. Valentine lost to the Jimmy Hart managed Earthquake at WrestleMania VII, and was defeated again at SummerSlam 1991 by Irwin R. Schyster. He lasted forty four minutes. Valentine went on to tour the independent circuit, wrestling in Japan, with the Hamilton based International Championship Wrestling promotion and with the American Wrestling Federation. Im going to lead the match, and I just dont work that way.". In mid December his partner The Honky Tonk Man departed the World Wrestling Federation. Plus, get every WWE Premium Live Event, your favorite shows, new movies, live sports, and more. The feud was intensified by Valentine's propensity to focus on Piper's ear, which had been injured earlier in his career and would bleed easily. In an interview in 2000, Valentine stated that Abrams retaliated by withholding payment for his appearances in the UWF. Bobby Mathews is a contributor for Pro Wrestling Stories as well as a veteran journalist whose byline has appeared in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Birmingham News, The Denver Post, as well as other newspapers around the country. Later that month he finished his run with the company, defeating Skinner at a house show on January 25, 1992 in Chicago, Illinois. This time Valentine attacked Jimmy Hart and turned face. Other insults by Garvin during the introduction included Valentine not knowing whether he was "coming or going" and being the only wrestler Garvin knew who had "two left feet" and that he had a "pipsqueak, poor excuse for a manager". Greg Valentine is one of several veteran superstars who appears in the 350 Days documentary, which details what it was really like to live life on the road as a professional wrestler in the 1980s. Valentine remained in Florida for a year while also working in Los Angeles and in Japan under Antonio Inoki in 1975 and early 1976. Valentine again won the world tag titles, this time with Baron Von Rasche. Valentine found himself the No. "Being a West Coast guy from the beginning, I love Las Vegas. Soon, he found the moniker that stuck: Greg "The Hammer" Valentine. His father initially tried to deter him, but eventually ceded to his wishes and sent him to Canada in 1970 to train under Stu Hart in Calgary. Wisniski was trained to wrestle by Stu Hart, wrestling his debut match in July 1970 against Angelo "King Kong" Mosca (he lost in around five minutes). Unknown Facts. Discover Greg Valentine's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career . Visit Sony LIV to sign in or sign up and enjoy WWE's premium content. He currently resides in Seattle, Washington, USA. Added to this list was Greg Valentine, who joined the company on January 9, 1991. Greg "The Hammer" Valentine discusses how much money wrestlers made back in the WWF days (before WWE). We have estimated Due to this, Greg later became convinced to join wrestling. Greg Valentine Bio: Age, Net Worth, Height, Wife, Married, Ethnicity Biography Entertainment Relationship Lifestyle Highlights Entertainment The Shocking Truth Behind The Arrest of Kay Lovely! The following night, at WrestleMania XX at Madison Square Garden, Valentine received loud applause when the class of 2004 was introduced. On September 24, 1984 in London, Ontario Valentine defeated Tito Santana for the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship, focusing on Santana's injured knee throughout the match. Recently, I've gotten to meet and greet so many of them and it's been great. It was in the WWF that Greg Valentine rose to his greatest fame, defeating Tito Santana for the Intercontinental title in September of 1984, kayfabe injuring Santanas leg with the figure-four. He worked a long and brutal feud with "Rowdy" Roddy Piper over the territorys top title, the United States championship. . To help "ease the pain" of the road, Valentine's wife Julie often accompanied him. Eventually, Greg Valentine would be brought back, but he was moved down the card, even though he still had entertaining feuds with Don Muraco and Ron Garvin. The team split after they were stripped of the titles in April 1978 by NWA president Eddie Graham as a result of their "unprofessional conduct". Piper would eventually defeat Valentine on April 16, 1983, but Valentine regained the title on April 30 in Greensboro, NC; after the match, where he regained the US Title from Piper, Valentine hit Piper in the ear with US Title. Valentine returned on January 13, 1991 at a house show in Albuquerque, New Mexico and defeated Saba Simba. In AWA Superstars of Wrestling, Valentine regularly wrestled Tony Atlas. Valentine was hired to replace his father, who had been forced to retire after he broke his back in a plane crash in 1975. Valentine pinned the JYD after using the ropes, but Santana came to ringside and informed the referee, who restarted the match. He told me his wife threw it out! The film served as the pilot for a comedy series that was not developed further. Garvin utilized the "Hammer Jammer" during the match, using it to "counter" Valentine's figure-four leglock when Valentine applied it on Garvin during the match (rather than writhing in pain as normal during the hold, Garvin was smiling and making faces at Valentine). Later in 1988, Valentine feuded with "The Rock" Don Muraco, who had turned face a year earlier. Throughout the spring the duo successfully defended the belts against Zenk and Bagwell on various house shows. SmackDown results, April 28, 2023: Find out who was drafted in Night One of the 2023 WWE Draft, WWE NXT Spring Breakin' results, April 25, 2023: Indi Hartwell retains the NXT Women's Championship in gutsy performance at Spring Breakin', Roman Reigns survives Cody Rhodes with controversial victory at WrestleMania, 30 greatest WWE Title changes: WWE Top 10 special edition, April 23, 2023, Dominik Mysterios career lookback: WWE Playlist, Triple H introduces the World Heavyweight Championship. "I never wanted anybody to be able to see through any of my stuff, so when I threw something, I threw it hard. "And one day when I saw him a few years ago, I asked whatever became of that belt, because Tito kept it after that angle. "I'll never be able to do anything else," said Valentine. The cast was rounded out with Michelle "Sugar Slam" Rapp, Kevin Gill, and Vampiro. In September 1992 Valentine engaged in a house show feud with Van Hammer and was undefeated. In February 1979, he wrestled then WWWF Heavyweight Champion Bob Backlund to a one-hour time-limit draw at Madison Square Garden.[3]. "Between that, the excitement of the wrestling itself and seeing my father perform to sold-out crowds every night was what inspired me.". Two weeks after WrestleMania V (where he teamed with the Jimmy Hart managed Honky Tonk Man in a loss to the now babyface Hart Foundation), he defeated Garvin in a retirement match on Superstars of Wrestling by reversing a small package and holding on to the ropes. Wahoo returned on August 9, 1977 and took back the title. Valentine would hold the United States Championship twice more, renewing his feud with Wahoo in 1982 and defeating him for the title on November 4 with the assistance of his manager, Sir Oliver Humperdink. "I think folks are surprised when Im nice," he said, laughing. Valentine and Raschke vs. Jones and Mulligan (Mid-Atlantic 70's) 2. In addition he was not scheduled to be booked at any upcoming events, and Valentine resigned from the promotion. The feud was abruptly halted when Muraco was dismissed by the WWF, despite Valentine's pleas for Muraco not to be fired so that the promising program could be allowed to run. Santana eventually healed and fought Valentine in many matches (after Santana returned to the ring by defeating The Executioner in the first ever match at Wrestlemania). , money, salary, income, and assets. Santana eventually healed and fought Valentine in many matches. "When I got back to Seattle, I called my dad," recalled the Valentine. Born in Seattle, Washington, Wisniski traveled around Texas in his teens with his father; Johnny Valentine. He was used on a pay-per-appearance basis, but was rarely utilized and was allowed to continue wrestling on the independent circuit. On August 24, 1985 at The Spectrum in Philadelphia, the Dream Team defeated The U.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo) for the WWF Tag Team Championship when Beefcake (kayfabe) rubbed Johnny V's lit cigar in Windham's eyes allowing him to be pinned. The figure, however, has never been confirmed. In as much as he fights in the wrestling ring, Greg is also a devoted Christian, belonging to the Christian wrestling organization. He also appears in WWE 2K19. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. This website is not affiliated with any professional wrestling organization. On August 24, 1985 at The Spectrum in Philadelphia, the Dream Team defeated The U.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo) for the WWF Tag Team Championship when Beefcake (kayfabe) rubbed Johnny V's lit cigar in Windham's eyes allowing him to be pinned. I made sure he respected me!". in an 8 team elimination match for the then vacant JCW Tag-Team Titles. is 1.82m . . 7 Unknown Facts, Kristin Austin Is Steve Austins Wife Bio, Career, 7 Interesting Facts, Ric Flair Net Worth In 2021- How He Made, Lost, And Spends His Fortune, Kayli Ann Phillips Biography, Dating, Boyfriend, Net Worth, Height, Janet Layug Biography, Net worth, Husband, Height, Weight, Other Facts, Aryne Fuller Is John Tavares wife: 7 Facts To Know About Her, Sabine Klopp Is Jrgen Klopps Ex-wife- Why Did They Divorce In 2001? There was so much talent with Crockett. Garcia's son and wife were . Flair then set his sights on the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, while Valentine held the NWA World Tag Team Championships once more with Baron von Raschke in 1978. Afterward, The. So, how much is Greg Valentine worth at the age of 71 years old? In April 1989 he began feuding with "Rugged" Ronnie Garvin. The former partners began feuding over Flair's NWA United States Heavyweight Championship, with Valentine finally defeating Flair for the title on July 26 in Flair's adopted hometown of Charlotte. As Santana was celebrating, Valentine rolled him up for the pin and the title. Being the son of a renowned wrestler, Johnny Valentine, wrestling to Greg is more of a family affair and, by the time he was a teenager, he had toured all-round Texas all thanks to his fathers wrestling activities. Valentine was used primarily on television, facing The Giant, Harlem Heat, and Lex Luger. In 1976 he arrived in Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling and formed a successful tag team with Nature Boy Ric Flair. In mid December his partner The Honkytonk Man departed the World Wrestling Federation. He is a speaker on behalf of the Christian church, and occasionally appears with Ted Dibiase to speak to the public about being a born again Christian.. However, until his late teens, Greg had no intentions of following in his father's footsteps. Conscious of his diminishing status, Valentine left the WWF and signed with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1992. He would return again, as Greg Valentine, at the 1994 Royal Rumble, lasting over twenty minutes before being eliminated by Rick Martel. They got married precisely on 14th February, being Valentines day of that year. In September 1992 Valentine engaged in a house show feud with Van Hammer and was undefeated. He referred to the shin guard as the "Heartbreaker". Shortly thereafter, the WWE awarded Santana a new belt, the iconic Intercontinental design still in use by the WWE today. As the 1980s came to an end, Valentine returned to the tag ranks with another former famous Intercontinental Champion, Honky Tonk Man. 2. Valentine competed in two matches during 2018, both being tag team matches. He lost the title to Tito Santana at WrestleReunion #2 on August 27 of that year. . Just how old is Greg "The Hammer" Valentine? By 1992, Greg had joined the World Championship Wrestling (WCW ) where he teamed up with Terry Taylor, and with this new partnership, they were able to win the WCW United States Tag Team Championship, after defeating Ron Simmons and Big Josh. He didnt care for a lot of the ga-ga that the WWE was putting on TV at the time. Flair then set his sights on the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, while Valentine held the NWA World Tag Team Championships once more with Baron von Raschke in 1978. Vanessa began training with the Hart Brothers in the late 1990s. He held the title until November 24, when he was beaten by Flair; Flair became one of Valentine's main opponents in the Mid-Atlantic territory. The Hall of Famer was even spotted on a recent episode of the hit VH1 reality show, Hogan Knows Best. At SummerSlam 1989, for his match with Hercules, Garvin announced Valentine as being Hercules' "so-called opponent" and at 249lbs looking to Garvin like he was "overweight by thirty pounds" as he approached the ring. Bianca Carelli: 10 Fascinating Facts About Santino Marellas Daughter Who Is A Wrestler, Gunner Vincent Calaway Is The Undertakers Son 10 Unknown Facts, Dan Cena Is John Cenas Brother Also A Wrestler? Honkytonk Man leaving the WWF cancelled the planned feud with Valentine. On the October 19, 1992 taping of WCW Saturday Night he arrived to learn that he was to lose Sting on that night's taping. He is the brother-in-law of wrestler Brian Knobbs.[21][22]. Though Wahoo's legs were too thick for Valentine to apply his signature Figure Four leglock, he managed to break Wahoo's ankle using a leg/ankle suplex. I want to say thank you to everyone.". [12] He later defeated Mike Durham at the same taping, and was interviewed by Albano, his former WWF manager in the "Captain Lou's Corner" segment on UWF television. In a bid to acknowledge his powerful and immense contributions to wrestling, Greg was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2004 by his former manager Jimmy Hart on the 13th of March, 2004. They held the titles until April 7, 1986 when they were defeated at WrestleMania 2 by The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and the Dynamite Kid). On August 24, 2007, Valentine returned to Ontario to defend the CGPW Championship against Koko B. Ware in Cornwall, after Koko defeated Valentine in a non-title match, on the previous night, in Ottawa. Valentine was used primarily on television, facing The Giant, Harlem Heat, and Lex Luger. Adding insult to injury, Valentine began taunting his injured opponent by wearing a shirt that read, I Broke Wahoos Leg. Valentine eventually turned on Flair, and in 1980 he defeated him for the United States Championship. They split in 1974 and Wisniski went to Florida, where he began performing as Johnny Valentine Jr., hopeful that he could live up to his father's legacy. In late 2007, Valentine made an appearance in JCW or Juggalo Championship Wrestling reforming the Dream Team with Brutus Beefcake. Just like with Wahoo, Valentine did an angle with the territorys No. Valentine then walked out, losing the match by count-out but saving his title. Flair, by then a face, declined. Valentine would then form a tag team with Brutus Beefcake known as The Dream Team, managed by Luscious Johnny V. Initially the team was managed by both Jimmy Hart and Johnny V, but the WWF dropped Hart from the group and he went on to manage The Hart Foundation (Bret "Hitman" Hart and Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart). At 72 years old, Greg Valentine height We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Show. Managed by The Grand Wizard, he was given the gimmick of a methodical wrestler who broke the legs of all his opponents, including Chief Jay Strongbow. Just how old is Greg The Hammer Valentine? His father initially tried to deter him, but eventually ceded to his wishes and sent him to Canada in 1970 to train under Stu Hart in Calgary. Valentine would hold the United States Championship twice more, renewing his feud with Wahoo in 1982 and defeating him for the title on November 4 with the assistance of his manager, Sir Oliver Humperdink. "Of course, I was always better than him at two things, the Figure Four, and falling on my face. On May 17, 1992 at WrestleWar 92 they lost the titles to The Freebirds. And despite working heel for almost the entirety of his career, Valentine has a smile and friendly word for everyone. John Anthony Wisniski Jr. (September 10, 1950) is an American professional wrestler better known as Greg "The Hammer" Valentine. What he responded with broke my heart. However, before then, Greg had two daughters whose names are Vanessa and Romaine with his first wife. He is from . Login to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. With a growing reputation as a tough, hard-nosed wrestler, Greg Valentine went into Jim Crocket Promotions in North Carolina and was teamed with another promising young heel: Ric Flair. Watch every Premium Live Event and enjoy some of your favorite WWE content on Disney + HotStar. He finished his WCW run with a victory over Pat Tanaka on February 17, 1998. Greg Norman posted a glimpse of his late Valentine's Day celebration on his Instagram. The travel was very appealing to me because I was so young," he continued. . He was better than he gets credit for being. Conscious of his diminishing status, Valentine left the World Wrestling Federation and joined World Championship Wrestling in 1992. He is the brother-in-law of wrestler Brian Knobbs. On February 15, 1992 he made his debut on television. An emotional Valentine dedicated the tribute to his late, great father, Johnny Valentine. Maxxine Dupri (aka Sofia Cromwell and Sydney Zmrzel) is an American actress, fashion designer, former cheerleader for the Los Angeles Rams and former dancer for the Phoenix Suns under Tiffany Stratton (aka Buff Barbie Doll Superstar and Jessica Woynilko) is an Americanprofessional wrestler, amateur bodybuilder and former gymnast for the United States national team under contract toWWE who Zelina Vega (aka Future Hall Of Famer, Hokage, La Mueca, La Reina, Queen Kunoichi, Queen Zelina, The Moment, The Queen, Thea Trinidad Bdgen, Weeb Queen and Your favorite wrestlers Stephanie McMahon (aka Stephanie McMahon Levesque) is an American businesswoman, mother and WWE personality. Valentine jokingly told WWE.com that he still has unfinished business with the Nature Boy. Andrew Anderson & Greg Valentine defeat Pete Nixon & The Executioner. In fact, I want to send a personal challenge to Ric for a Retirement Match so I can retire him myself.". His father was still working, and promoters were afraid that the name would imply the elder Valentine was too old to be in the ring.