The Spoiler (wrestler) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Spoiler |
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| Birth name | Donald Delbert Jardine |
| Born | 24 March 1940 Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada |
| Died | 16 December 2006 (aged 66) Red Deer, Alberta, Canada |
| Spouse(s) | Evelyn Stevens (divorced) |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | The Butcher Don Jardine Sonny Cooper The Spoiler Super Destroyer Masked Enforcer |
| Billed height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) |
| Billed weight | 293 lb (133 kg) |
| Billed from | "Parts Unknown" (as The Spoiler) Singapore (as Super Destroyer) |
| Trained by | Whipper Billy Watson |
| Debut | 1955 |
| Retired | 1994 |
Donald Delbert Jardine (born March 24, 1940 – died December 16, 2006) was a famous Canadian professional wrestler. He was best known for his masked character, or "gimmick," called The Spoiler.
Jardine was a big star in many wrestling companies. He wrestled in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in the 1970s and again in the 1980s. But he had his greatest success in places like Championship Wrestling from Florida and World Class Championship Wrestling from the 1960s to the mid-1980s.
Contents
The Wrestling Journey of The Spoiler
Starting Out in Wrestling
Donald Jardine began his wrestling career in 1955 when he was just 15 years old. He first wrestled in Toronto, Canada, as "Babyface" Don Jardine. He was trained by the legendary wrestler Whipper Billy Watson.
In 1964, he wrestled as "The Butcher" in Los Angeles. He even teamed up with other famous wrestlers like Mad Dog Vachon.
Becoming The Spoiler
The character of "The Spoiler" was created in Texas in 1967. As The Spoiler, Jardine became one of the top masked wrestlers in the Southern United States. He was famous for walking on the top rope of the wrestling ring. He even taught this special move to Mark Calaway, who later became the famous Undertaker.
In 1972, The Spoiler's mask was removed in Texas, and he was identified as Don Jardine. However, he continued to wrestle as The Spoiler in other areas. He also wrestled in Japan during the 1960s and 1970s.
Big Matches and New Names
Jardine also used the name "Super Destroyer" in the 1970s. He had many important matches against top champions like Jack Brisco and Harley Race. He won several championships, including the NWA National Heavyweight Championship.
The Spoiler wrestled many matches for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in the 1970s and 1980s. He even joined a group called the original Legion of Doom with Jake "The Snake" Roberts and King Kong Bundy.
One time, The Spoiler wrestled against WWF Champion Pedro Morales in Madison Square Garden. He had to wrestle without his mask because of a rule there. He also had a historic match against Mil Mascaras, a Mexican wrestling legend. This was the first time a wrestler was allowed to wear a mask in a New York State ring.
His special move, the "Iron Claw," was so intense that it was sometimes blurred out on TV. This was a trick to make people want to buy tickets to see it live! Jardine stopped wrestling in 1994.
Life Outside the Ring
After retiring from wrestling, Donald Jardine lived in Wetaskiwin, Canada. He managed a car wash business. He was a very creative person who enjoyed making clay sculptures. He also carved faces into cottonwood trees.
Jardine cared about helping others. He volunteered for a program that taught young children how to read.
His Final Years
Sadly, Donald Jardine passed away on December 16, 2006, at the age of 66. He had been battling a heart attack and leukemia. At the time of his death, he was writing a book about his exciting wrestling career.
The Spoiler's Impact and Legacy
Donald Jardine's character, The Spoiler, left a lasting mark on professional wrestling. Another wrestler, Drew McDonald, even wrestled as a masked Spoiler in the United Kingdom in 1987. This shows how memorable Jardine's character was.
Wrestling Achievements
Donald Jardine, as The Spoiler and other characters, won many championships throughout his career. He held titles in various wrestling promotions across North America and Australia. Some of his notable wins include:
- He won the NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship three times.
- He was a two-time NWA National Heavyweight Champion.
- He won the NWA American Heavyweight Championship four times.
- He held the NWA American Tag Team Championship six times with different partners.
- He also won the IWA World Heavyweight Championship in Australia.
