Big John Studd | Online World of Wrestling (original) (raw)

[Big John Studd GALLERY]

[Big John Studd & King Kong Bundy]

Check out Big John Studd’s WWE Alumni profile here!

Title History

WWA (Indianapolis) World Tag Team titles w/Ox Baker defeating Crusher and Dick the Bruiser (March 13, 1976);
WWWF Tag Team titles w/Killer Kowalski defeating Louis Cerdan and Tony Parisi (May 11, 1976);
NWA Texas Tag Team titles w/Bull Ramos (1977);
NWA (World Class) American Heavyweight title defeating Bruiser Brody (July 25, 1977);
NWA Hawaii Tag Team titles w/Buddy Rose defeating Bill and Russ Francis (May 17, 1978);
NWA (Hawaii) North American Heavyweight title Awarded (June 1978);
NWA Mid Atlantic Tag Team titles w/Ric Flair (June 30, 1978);
NWA Mid Atlantic Tag Team titles w/Ric Flair defeating Paul Jones and Ricky Steamboat (October 30, 1978);
NWA Mid Atlantic Tag Team titles w/Ken Patera defeating Paul Jones and Ricky Steamboat (January 1979);
NWA (Tennessee) Southern Heavyweight title defeating Blackjack Mulligan Jr. (July 24, 1981);
NWA (Toronto) Canadian Heavyweight title defeating Angelo Mosca (September 20, 1981);
NWA (Florida) Global Tag Team titles w/Jim Garvin won a tournament (1982);
NWA (Georgia) National Tag Team titles w/Super Destroyer Awarded (March 1982);
EWU (South Africa) World Super Heavyweight title defeating Jan Wilkens (Febuary 13, 1984);
WWF (World Wrestling Federation) Royal Rumble Winner (1989);

Career Highlights

In The Beginning:

Big John Studd was trained by Killer Kowalski.
1976: John Studd and Killer Kowalski (as the masked Executioners) won the WWWF Tag Team titles.

Mid-Atlantic, AWA, Grand Prix and Others:

John Studd was known as “Chuck O’Connor” and “Captain USA” and “The Masked Superstar II” at certain points in the Mid-Atlantic.
July 1977: John Studd defeated Bruiser Brody for the American Heavyweight title, but was defeated two months later by Ox Baker.
1978: John Studd moved on to the Mid-Atlantic, where he teamed with Ken Patera to win the Mid-Atlantic Tag Team titles.
John Studd also made occasional trips to Canada to wrestle in Emile Dupre’s Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling.
May 25, 1980: Masked Superstar #2 (John Studd) was unmasked after a match with Blackjack Mulligan in Toronto.
John Studd once teamed with Jerry Blackwell in the American Wrestling Association.
~~~While working in the AWA, Studd feuded with Canadian legends Dino Bravo and Mad Dog Vachon.
John Studd received several title shots at AWA champ Verne Gagne, but was unable to win the coveted strap.
September 1981: John Studd defeated Angelo Mosca for the Canadian Heavyweight title.
John Studd engaged in a bitter feud with Blackjack Mulligan in the Mid-Atlantic territory.
Early 1982: John Studd gained several title shots at NWA champion Ric Flair but was never successful.
John Studd feuded with the Fabulous Freebirds and Leroy Brownin the Georgia area.

Florida:

John Studd was brought into Florida by J.J. Dillon and feuded with Dusty Rhodes, Barry Windham and Sweet Brown Sugar.
John Studd’s gimmick was bringing a stretcher the ring and he’d beat his opponents so bad they’d be taken out on the stretcher.
Late 1982: John Studd teamed with Jimmy Garvin to win a Florida tournament crowning the first Global tag team champions.
~~~After roughly two weeks, Studd and Garvin lost the belts to the team of Ron Bass and Barry Windham.
John Studd left the Florida territory shortly afterwards.

World Wrestling Federation – w/Fred Blassie:

Big John Studd signed with the World Wrestling Federation and took on Fred Blassie as his manager.
~~~Blassie guided John Studd to WWF title shots at then-champion Bob Backlund, but Studd was unable to win the title.
~~~Blassie went on a mission to prove that John Studd was the ‘biggest’ man in wrestling.
~~~Blassie began holding weekly bodyslam challenges on WWF television to see if anyone could slam the big man.
~~~To the winner would go $10,000 in cash — No wrestler was able to accomplish the feat until.
~~~Studd’s next challenger was to be “Chief” Jay Strongbow, but Andre the Giant was a last minute replacement!
~~~Studd and Blassie were furious when Andre walked down the isle for the challenge.
~~~Andre was set to scoop Studd up, Blassie grabbed onto Studd’s waist to prevent the Giant from slamming him.
~~~Andre tried to hoist Studd up twice, and noticed Blassie’s interference the second time.
~~~Andre charged at Blassie, took the money, and threw it out to the crowd.
~~~Studd snuck up and grabbed it back before taking off for the locker room with Blassie.
~~~This incident led to the start of a very bitter feud between Big John Studd and Andre The Giant.
~~~Summer 1983: The wrestlers had a series of cage matches that saw the Giant not only win, but repeatedly bodyslam Studd.

World Wrestling Federation – w/Bobby Heenan:

Mid-1984: Bobby Heenan made his way into the WWF and convinced John Studd to join the Heenan Family.
September 22, 1984 – MSG: Big John Studd defeated Hulk Hogan (WWF Champion) by count-out.
Big John Studd eventually rekindled his bitter feud with the Andre The Giant.
November 13, 1984: Big John Studd and Ken Patera defeated Andre The Giant and Special Delivery Jones in a tag team match.
~~~After the match, Studd and Patera shocked the wrestling world by cutting off pieces of Andre’s trademark hair!
~~~The Giant first disposed of Ken Patera, easily beating him in a Madison Square Garden match.
March 10, 1985 – House Show: Andre the Giant defeated Big John Studd by disqualification when King Kong Bundy interfered.
March 31, 1985: WrestleMania I: Andre The Giant defeated Big John Studd in a special $15,000 Body Slam challenge.
August 18, 1985 – Toronto: Andre the Giant defeated Big John Studd by disqualification when King Kong Bundy interfered.
~~~Andre was beaten down by Bundy and Studd, sustaining a splash from Bundy that “broke” Andre’s sternum.
John Studd formed a tag team with King Kong Bundy, wrestling teams such as the British Bulldogs and the Machines.
September 29, 1985 – House Show: Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan defeated Big John Studd and King Kong Bundy.
October 3, 1985 – Saturday Night Main Event: Andre the Giant and Tony Atlas w/Lou Albano defeated King Kong Bundy and Big John Studd w/Heenan by disqualification.
October 21, 1985 – MSG: Andre the Giant and Hillbilly Jim vs Big John Studd and King Kong Bundy ended in a double disqualification.
October 31, 1985 – Saturday Night Main Event: Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant w/Lou Albano defeated King Kong Bundy and Big John Studd by disqualification.
November 9, 1985 – House Show: Andre the Giant and Hillbilly Jim and Lou Albano beat King Kong Bundy and Big John Studd and Bobby Heenan.
November 14, 1985 – House Show: Andre The Giant and Tito Santana defeated King Kong Bundy and Big John Studd.
November 24, 1985 – House Show: Andre the Giant and Hillbilly Jim defeated King Kong Bundy and Big John Studd in a Texas Tornado match.
December 7, 1985: Andre the Giant and Junk Yard Dog beat King Kong Bundy and Big John Studd and Bobby Heenan in a handicap match.
Early 1986: Junk Yard Dog and Hillbilly Jim defeated King Kong Bundy and Big John Studd by count-out.
WrestleMania II: Andre The Giant won a huge battle royal which featured Big John Studd and several NFL football players.
~~~Studd was emberassed by football great William “The Refrigerator” Perry.
~~~Perry was eliminated by Studd, but tricked “Big John” into reaching down to shake hands, and pulled Studd out too!
April 1986: The British Bulldogs defeated King Kong Bundy and Big John Studd by disqualification to retain.
June 24, 1986 – Championship Wrestling: Hulk Hogan and Paul Orndorff defeated King Kong Bundy and Big John Studd w/Bobby Heenan by disqualification.
~~~After the match, Paul Orndorff turned on Hulk Hogan and joined the Heenan Family.
July 12, 1986 – MSG Network: King Kong Bundy and Big John Studd defeated Sivi Afi and King Tonga.
August 1, 1986 – House Show: King Kong Bundy and Big John Studd defeated B. Brian Blair and Jim Brunzell (Killer Bees).
August 17, 1986 – House Show: The Machines defeated King Kong Bundy and Big John Studd.
August 20, 1986 – House Show: King Kong Bundy and Big John Studd defeated Giant and Super Machine by disqualification.
August 25, 1986 – MSG Network: King Kong Bundy and Big John Studd defeated Big and Super Machine by disqualification.
August 28, 1986 – The Big Event: KKB and BJS and Bobby Heenan defeated Big and Super Machine and Lou Albano by disqualification.
September 6, 1986 – Superstars: The Heenan Family (Big John Studd & King Kong Bundy) defeated Corporal Kirchner & SD Jones.
September 22, 1986 – MSG Network: Super and Big Machine and Hulk Machine beat KKB and BJS and Bobby Heenan.
October 4, 1986 – NESN: Super and Big Machine and Piper Machine beat KKB and BJS and Bobby Heenan.
October 11, 1986 – Superstars: The Heenan Family (Big John Studd & King Kong Bundy) defeated Dick Slater & Ricky Hunter.
October 23, 1986 – House Show: Hulk Hogan and The Crusher defeated King Kong Bundy and Big John Studd.
November 15, 1986 – Superstars: The Heenan Family (Big John Studd & King Kong Bundy) defeated The Machines (Big Machine & Super Machine).
By the end of 1986, Studd was gone from the WWF.

World Wrestling Federation II:

Late 1988: John Studd returned to the WWF, turning on former manager, Bobby Heenan and becoming a good guy.
~~~Studd, of course, rekindle his feud with Andre The Giant (who was with Heenan now).
January 15, 1989 – Royal Rumble: Big John Studd won the Royal Rumble match, eliminating Ted DiBiase last.
February 11, 1989 – Superstars: Big John Studd defeated Jim Atkinson & The Black Knight in a handicap match.
WrestleMania V: Jake Roberts defeated Andre The Giant with Big John Studd acting as special guest referee.
March 5, 1989 – Wrestling Challenge: Big John Studd defeated George Skaaland.
April 22, 1989 – Superstars: Big John Studd defeated Mitch Casey.
May 6, 1989 – Superstars: Big John Studd defeated Andre The Giant by disqualification in a dark match.
May 7, 1989 – Wrestling Challenge: Big John Studd defeated King Haku by disqualification.
May 27, 1989 – Wrestling Challenge: Big John Studd defeated Al Burke.
WWF TV: Jim “King” Duggan was being triple-teamed by Bobby Heenan, Haku and Andre, when Studd ran in to make the save!
~~~Studd knocked the Giant out of the ring and to the floor.
~~~Andre tried to get back in, and was again knocked down with one shot from Studd.
John Studd and Jim Duggan began teaming up in matches around the globe against Andre and Haku.
Unfortunatly, a high-profile one-on-one match between “Big” John and Andre the Giant never took place.
Summer 1989: Big John Studd was, once again, gone from the WWF, this time for good.

Semi-Retirement:

John Studd went into semi-retirement, wrestling only a few indy dates.
John Studd came out with his own line of workout and vitamin supplements.
John Studd also trained several wrestlers including Ron Reis, who debuted in WCW as “Big” Ron Studd.
Early 1990s: John Minton was diagnosed with Hodgkins Disease and fought the disease for several years.
March 20, 1995: “Big” John Studd (John Minton) lost his battle, and died at the age of 47.
March 13, 2004 – WWE: Big John Studd was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame during a ceremony in New York City!
~~~John Minton’s son (John Minton Jr.) was on hand to accept the honor in place of his father.
March 14, 2004 – WrestleMania XX: Big John Studd was honored with all the other Hall of Fame inductees during the Pay Per View.
March 20, 1995: Big John Studd passed away at the age of 47.

Updated: January 31, 2024 @ 7:02 am

Active Promotion Inactive

February 19, 1948 - March 20, 1995

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