Johnny Weaver facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Johnny Weaver |
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| Birth name | Kenneth Eugene Weaver |
| Born | November 17, 1935 East Saint Louis, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | February 15, 2008 (aged 72) Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Johnny Weaver The Grappler Ultimate Assassin |
| Billed height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) |
| Billed weight | 233 lb (106 kg) |
| Billed from | Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Debut | 1957 |
| Retired | 1987 |
Johnny Weaver (born Kenneth Eugene Weaver; November 17, 1935 – February 15, 2008) was a famous American professional wrestler. He was also a wrestling commentator. He worked for the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), which was a big group of wrestling promotions.
Contents
Johnny Weaver's Wrestling Journey
Early Career and Tag Team Success
Johnny Weaver's wrestling career lasted for four decades. He wrestled in many different areas, called "territories," within the NWA. He won many championships across the southeastern United States.
His first big win was the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship. He won this title with his partner, “Cowboy” Bob Ellis, in December 1963.
Weaver was best known for teaming up with George Becker. They wrestled together in the Mid-Atlantic territory for almost eight years. They won the NWA Mid-Atlantic Southern Tag Team Championship five times. They were very popular and well-known in that area.
They had exciting rivalries, called "feuds," with other famous teams. These included Rip Hawk and Swede Hanson, and Lars Anderson and Gene Anderson.
Weaver also found success in Florida. He teamed with Becker again to win the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship there in 1967.
As a single wrestler, he won his first NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight Championship in 1967. He won it by beating the Missouri Mauler. He lost it but then won it back later that year. He won the championship a third time the next summer.
More Championships and Famous Teams
In the 1970s, Weaver returned to the Carolinas. He continued to be a successful tag team wrestler. He and George Becker won the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship in May 1969. They held the titles for over nine months. They lost them but won them back a month later.
They had more title changes with teams like Gene and Ole Anderson, and Rip Hawk and Swede Hanson. In 1972, Weaver also won the tag team title twice with a new partner, Art Neilson.
Weaver went back to Florida in 1975. There, he won the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship with Dick Slater. He also wrestled in Texas, winning the NWA International Heavyweight Championship in 1976.
In 1978, he had another important wrestling run. He challenged Baron Von Raschke for the Television championship.
Later Years and Becoming a Commentator
Johnny Weaver won his last championships in 1981. He teamed with Dewey Robertson to win the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship. They lost the titles but Weaver won them back later that year with Jay Youngblood.
Weaver also helped plan matches and storylines, a job called "booking." He did this for the Mid-Atlantic territory for about eight years.
In 1979, Weaver started a new part of his career as a wrestling commentator. He worked with Rich Landrum on "World Wide Wrestling." He became famous for singing "Turn out the lights, the party's over" when the good guys, called "faces," won their matches.
Later, he worked with Bob Caudle, who was a very well-known voice in Mid-Atlantic Wrestling. They worked together until Weaver left the company in 1988.
In the early 1980s, Weaver was part of some exciting storylines. He would often get into arguments with the bad guys, called "heels," or their managers. These arguments usually ended with Weaver slapping them, which fans loved.
Weaver made a short return to the ring in late 1987. He helped his friend, Dusty Rhodes, who was using a wrestling move called the "Weaver lock." Weaver was in Rhodes' corner at a big event called Starrcade '87.
Johnny Weaver's Lasting Impact
After his wrestling career, Johnny Weaver's legacy continued. A wrestling group in North Carolina, CWF Mid-Atlantic, holds a special tournament every summer. It is called the Johnny Weaver Cup tournament.
Mr. Weaver used to attend the finals every year to present the trophy. Since he passed away, a former tournament winner or members of his family present the trophy. This tournament keeps his memory alive in the wrestling world.
Life Outside the Ring
Outside of wrestling, Johnny Weaver had another important job. He became a deputy sheriff for Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He was in his 50s when he took the test to join the sheriff's office.
He spent almost two decades transporting prisoners. He traveled on many of the same roads he had known as a wrestler.
Johnny Weaver passed away on February 15, 2008, at the age of 72.
Awards and Achievements
- American Wrestling Alliance
- AWA Indiana World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Sonny Weaver
- Championship Wrestling from Florida
- NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Dick Slater
- NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version) (4 times)
- NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (1 time) - with George Becker
- Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
- NWA Atlantic Coast Tag Team Championship (6 times) - with George Becker (4) and Art Nielson (2)
- NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Dewey Robertson (1) and Jay Youngblood (1)
- NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship/NWA Eastern States Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
- NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (8 times) - with “Cowboy” Bob Ellis (1) and George Becker (7)
- NWA Television Championship (1 time)
- NWA Western States Sports
- NWA International Heavyweight Championship (Amarillo version) (1 time)
