Johnny Weiss
Encyclopedia
Johnny Weiss is a retired American
professional wrestler
, better known by his ring name Johnny Hotbody. He is best known for his work in the Tri-State Wrestling Alliance and Extreme Championship Wrestling
where he became the first ECW Triple Crown Champion.
. He made a name for himself in several Pennsylvania
and New Jersey
- based independent promotions before signing with Philadelphia's Tri-State Wrestling Alliance (TWA) in 1990. Hotbody had a long-running feud with Tony Stetson
. The TWA closed its doors suddenly in 1991, but was soon replaced by Eastern Championship Wrestling
(later Extreme Championship Wrestling), run by Tod Gordon
. On April 26, 1992, Hotbody won the ECW Heavyweight Championship by defeating Jimmy Snuka
. He held the title for nearly three months, before losing it back to Snuka on July 14. Later that year, on August 12, he became the first ever ECW Television Champion
by defeating Larry Winters
. He was later forced to relinquish the title on September 12, 1992, after sustaining a legitimate broken ankle.
Upon his return, he formed The Suicide Blondes with Chris Candido
, and, for most of 1993, he competed in tag team competition. He won his first ECW Tag Team Championship with Candido on April 3, 1993, when they defeated Tony Stetson
and Larry Winters. Chris Michaels
was later introduced as the third member of The Suicide Blondes, which resulted in The Suicide Blondes defending the Tag Team Championships under the Freebird Rule, which meant that any combination of the three were allowed to defend the championship. He also began a feud with Tommy Cairo
, attacking him after matches. The Suicide Blondes defeated Cairo and J.T. Smith
in a tag team match, and for the next few weeks Hotbody competed against Cairo in matches, losing a standard singles match to him, but winning a Lumberjack match. They lost the Tag Team Championship to The Super Destroyers
(A.J. Petrucci
and Doug Stahl
) on May 15, but the combination of Hotobdy and Michaels regained it that same day. Later that year, on October 1, Hotbody, along with his former adversary Stetson, was awarded the Tag Team Championship, after the previous champions, The Dark Patriot
and Eddie Gilbert, left the promotion
, resulting in the titles being vacated. They had successful title defenses against Badd Company
(Paul Diamond and Pat Tanaka
), The Sandman
and J.T. Smith, and Ian
and Axl Rotten
over the next month. They dropped the championship to Tommy Dreamer
and Johnny Gunn
, however, in a nine-second match, on November 13.
Hotbody later competed for the NWA New Jersey
, where he was awarded the New Jersey version of the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship
on September 25, 1998. He lost it to Rik Ratchett that same day. After successful tours in several Philadelphia-area independent promotions, Hotbody retired from active competition in 2001.
1Johnny Hotbody's reign occurred while the promotion was an NWA
affiliate named Eastern Championship Wrestling
, and was prior to the promotion becoming Extreme Championship Wrestling and the title being declared a world title by ECW.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
, better known by his ring name Johnny Hotbody. He is best known for his work in the Tri-State Wrestling Alliance and Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
where he became the first ECW Triple Crown Champion.
Career
Johnny Hotbody broke into professional wrestling in the late 1980s after completing his training at The Monster Factory, operated by Larry SharpeLarry Sharpe
Larry Weil is an American retired professional wrestler, manager and trainer better known under his ring name, "Pretty Boy" Larry Sharpe. He currently runs the Monster Factory professional wrestling school...
. He made a name for himself in several Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
- based independent promotions before signing with Philadelphia's Tri-State Wrestling Alliance (TWA) in 1990. Hotbody had a long-running feud with Tony Stetson
Tony Stetson
Tony Matteo is a semi-retired American professional wrestler, best known by his ring name "Hitman" Tony Stetson, who has competed in Northeastern independent promotions during the late 1980s and 1990s...
. The TWA closed its doors suddenly in 1991, but was soon replaced by Eastern Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
(later Extreme Championship Wrestling), run by Tod Gordon
Tod Gordon
Tod Gordon is the President of Carver W. Reed Co. Inc, a Philadelphia jewelry store and loan office that was established in 1860. He is also the founder of both defunct Professional wrestling promotions Eastern Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling...
. On April 26, 1992, Hotbody won the ECW Heavyweight Championship by defeating Jimmy Snuka
Jimmy Snuka
James William "Jimmy" Reiher is a semi-retired Fijian professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. Originally from the Fiji Islands, Snuka wrestled for several promotions in the 1970s and 1980s. Snuka is a two-time world heavyweight champion, having been a...
. He held the title for nearly three months, before losing it back to Snuka on July 14. Later that year, on August 12, he became the first ever ECW Television Champion
ECW World Television Championship
The ECW World Television Championship was a professional wrestling television championship in Extreme Championship Wrestling . It was introduced in National Wrestling Alliance affiliate and ECW precursor, Eastern Championship Wrestling in 1992 but was established under ECW in 1994...
by defeating Larry Winters
Larry Winters
"The Living Legend" Larry Winters is a semi-retired American professional wrestler and trainer who competed in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and East Coast independent circuit during the 1980s and 90s...
. He was later forced to relinquish the title on September 12, 1992, after sustaining a legitimate broken ankle.
Upon his return, he formed The Suicide Blondes with Chris Candido
Chris Candido
Christopher Raul Candito was an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Chris Candido...
, and, for most of 1993, he competed in tag team competition. He won his first ECW Tag Team Championship with Candido on April 3, 1993, when they defeated Tony Stetson
Tony Stetson
Tony Matteo is a semi-retired American professional wrestler, best known by his ring name "Hitman" Tony Stetson, who has competed in Northeastern independent promotions during the late 1980s and 1990s...
and Larry Winters. Chris Michaels
Chris Michaels
Bill Pierce, better known by the ring name Chris Michaels is a former American professional wrestler who wrestles in the southeast independent circuit.-Career:Michaels wrestled in both Smokey Mountain Wrestling and United States Wrestling Association....
was later introduced as the third member of The Suicide Blondes, which resulted in The Suicide Blondes defending the Tag Team Championships under the Freebird Rule, which meant that any combination of the three were allowed to defend the championship. He also began a feud with Tommy Cairo
Tommy Cairo
Thomas "Tommy" Cairo is an American retired professional wrestler. He is perhaps best known for his 1994 feud with The Sandman in Extreme Championship Wrestling. He is the former co-owner of the New Jersey-based Force One Pro Wrestling promotion and school.-Career:Cairo was a bodybuilder before...
, attacking him after matches. The Suicide Blondes defeated Cairo and J.T. Smith
John T. Smith
John T. "J.T." Smith is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances in Extreme Championship Wrestling in the 1990s.-Tri-State Wrestling Alliance:...
in a tag team match, and for the next few weeks Hotbody competed against Cairo in matches, losing a standard singles match to him, but winning a Lumberjack match. They lost the Tag Team Championship to The Super Destroyers
The Super Destroyers
The Super Destroyers is a Professional wrestling Tag team consisting of Doug Stahl and A.J. Petrucci. They both currently perform on Independent circuit and they are best known for their stint in NWA Eastern Championship Wrestling where they were the first-ever and longest reigning tag team...
(A.J. Petrucci
A.J. Petrucci
A. J. Petrucci is an American professional wrestler. He was one half of the Extreme Championship Wrestling tag team The Super Destroyers as Super Destroyer #1 with his partner Doug Stahl, who was known as Super Destroyer #2....
and Doug Stahl
Doug Stahl
Douglas E. Stahl is an American professional wrestler who currently works in the Independent circuit as one half of the masked Tag team known as The Super Destroyers...
) on May 15, but the combination of Hotobdy and Michaels regained it that same day. Later that year, on October 1, Hotbody, along with his former adversary Stetson, was awarded the Tag Team Championship, after the previous champions, The Dark Patriot
Doug Gilbert
Doug Gilbert is a professional wrestler from Memphis, Tennessee who wrestles on the independent circuit. He is the brother of "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert and the son of wrestler/referee/promoter Tommy Gilbert....
and Eddie Gilbert, left the promotion
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
, resulting in the titles being vacated. They had successful title defenses against Badd Company
Badd Company
Badd Company was a professional wrestling tag team in the American Wrestling Association in the late 1980s, which later went by the name the Orient Express. It is rumored that the team name was derived from the rock band Bad Company...
(Paul Diamond and Pat Tanaka
Pat Tanaka
Patrick "Pat" Tanaka is a semi-retired American professional wrestler best known for his work in the American Wrestling Association as one half of Badd Company and the World Wrestling Federation as one half of The Orient Express...
), The Sandman
Jim Fullington
James "Jim" Fullington better known by his ring name Sandman, is an American professional wrestler, best known for his career with Extreme Championship Wrestling , where he developed into a "Hardcore Icon"...
and J.T. Smith, and Ian
Ian Rotten
John Benson Williams is an American professional Wrestler better known by his ring name Ian Rotten. He has wrestled in Global Wrestling Federation , Extreme Championship Wrestling , and his own wrestling promotion IWA: Mid-South.-Early career:After becoming a fan of Dusty Rhodes and "Superstar"...
and Axl Rotten
Axl Rotten
Brian Knighton is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name, Axl Rotten.-Early years:After watching a professional wrestling match on television, Knighton decided to become a wrestler...
over the next month. They dropped the championship to Tommy Dreamer
Tommy Dreamer
Thomas James "Tom" Laughlin is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Tommy Dreamer. He is currently working for various promotions on the independent circuit. He is best known for his time spent with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment...
and Johnny Gunn
Tom Brandi
Tom Brandi is a professional wrestler known for his work in World Wrestling Federation as Salvatore Sincere. He is also known for his current work as The Patriot, working for such companies as Pro-Wrestling WORLD-1, National Wrestling Superstars, and other independent promotions on the East...
, however, in a nine-second match, on November 13.
Hotbody later competed for the NWA New Jersey
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
, where he was awarded the New Jersey version of the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship
NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship (New Jersey version)
The New Jersey version of the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship was a short-lived National Wrestling Alliance title recognized in the U.S...
on September 25, 1998. He lost it to Rik Ratchett that same day. After successful tours in several Philadelphia-area independent promotions, Hotbody retired from active competition in 2001.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Missile dropkick
- ManagerManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
s- Don E. Allen
- Hunter Q. Robbins
- Woman
Championships and accomplishments
- Eastern Championship WrestlingExtreme Championship WrestlingExtreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
- ECW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)1
- ECW World Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Chris CandidoChris CandidoChristopher Raul Candito was an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Chris Candido...
and Chris Michaels (2), and Tony Stetson (1) - ECW World Television ChampionshipECW World Television ChampionshipThe ECW World Television Championship was a professional wrestling television championship in Extreme Championship Wrestling . It was introduced in National Wrestling Alliance affiliate and ECW precursor, Eastern Championship Wrestling in 1992 but was established under ECW in 1994...
(1 time) - First ECW Triple Crown Champion
- NWA New JerseyNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- NWA World Light Heavyweight Champion (New Jersey version)NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship (New Jersey version)The New Jersey version of the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship was a short-lived National Wrestling Alliance title recognized in the U.S...
(1 time)
- NWA World Light Heavyweight Champion (New Jersey version)
- Tri-State Wrestling Alliance
- TWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Larry Winters
- World Wrestling AssociationWorld Wrestling AssociationThe World Wrestling Association is a lucha libre promotion based in the Tijuana-area of Mexico. It was founded in 1986 by Benjamin Mora, Jr....
- WWA Junior Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- Other titles
- NAWA United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
1Johnny Hotbody's reign occurred while the promotion was an NWA
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
affiliate named Eastern Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
, and was prior to the promotion becoming Extreme Championship Wrestling and the title being declared a world title by ECW.