Don Manoukian facts for kids
| Date of birth: | June 9, 1934 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth: | Merced, California, U.S. |
| Date of death: | September 23, 2014 (aged 80) |
| Place of death: | Reno, Nevada, U.S. |
|
Career information
|
|
| Height: | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
| Weight: | 242 lb (110 kg) |
| College: | Stanford |
|
Organizations
|
|
Donald J. Manoukian (born June 9, 1934 – died September 23, 2014) was an American athlete. He was known for playing professional football and then becoming a professional wrestler. Don was from Reno, Nevada, and had Armenian heritage.
Contents
Don Manoukian: Football and Wrestling Star
Don Manoukian was a talented athlete who played both professional football and became a professional wrestler. He was known for his strength and personality.
Early Life and Football Career
Don went to Reno High School and then Stanford University. After college, he played professional football. In 1958, he played for the Salinas Packers. Later, in 1960, he joined the Oakland Raiders. This was a special time because it was the Raiders' very first season in the American Football League.
Becoming a Professional Wrestler
Don decided to switch from football to professional wrestling. He thought wrestling would be a better career for him. Even though he wasn't very tall (around 5 feet 5 inches to 5 feet 9 inches), he was very strong. He spent nine years traveling around the United States and Japan as a wrestler. He often played the role of a "heel," which means he was the bad guy that fans loved to boo!
Sometimes, he wrestled under the name "Don the Bruiser." He won many championships, both by himself and with a tag team partner.
Wrestling Championships and Achievements
Don won several titles during his wrestling career. In Pacific Northwest Wrestling, he won the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship in 1964. He also won the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship twice. He won it once with Kurt von Poppenheim in 1959, and then again with Shag Thomas two years later.
Don often teamed up with Dick Beyer. Together, they won both the WWA International Television Tag Team Championship and the Los Angeles version of the NWA International Television Tag Team Championship.
Life After Sports
By 1967, Don Manoukian had stopped wrestling. He started a new career in real estate and business. He was known for being outgoing and funny. This made him a popular host for events in the Reno area later in his life. Don passed away on September 23, 2014, at the age of 80, after a short illness. He had three children.
Championships and Awards
- Cauliflower Alley Club
- Men's honoree (1997)
- Pacific Northwest Wrestling
- NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Kurt von Poppenheim (1) and Shag Thomas (1)
- Worldwide Wrestling Associates
- WWA International Television Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Dick Beyer
- Southwest Sports, Inc.
- NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
See also
- List of gridiron football players who became professional wrestlers
