Reuben de Jong
Encyclopedia
Reuben de Jong is a New Zealand
heavyweight
kickboxer
, mixed martial artist
, strongman
and professional wrestler of Dutch
descent. He is a 2-time professional strongman champion of New Zealand and competed in the K-1 Kings of Oceania in 2006 and 2007. De Jong is the holder of two national records in the farmer's walk and stone lifting, and the Guinness World Record
for running through the most panes of glass in under one minute. Also, he was signed with WWE under the name of Russell Walker at 2011, but was released the same year.
A television actor and stuntman
, De Jong has had small roles in Maddigan's Quest
, Legend of the Seeker
, and Spartacus: Blood and Sand
. In 2010, he entered professional wrestling
and became one of the stars of Impact Pro Wrestling
capturing the IPW New Zealand Heavyweight Championship
within two months of his debut.
, Reuben de Jong began working out while attending Waitakere College
. In one of his first strongman performances, he won notice at the 134th Waipu Highland Games and "put pressure on the two lead contenders" Pat Hellier and Australian Craig Reid. Brian O'Brien, committee secretary for the Highland Games, told the New Zealand Press Association
that de Jong had "competed well in a number of the strongman events and would be one to watch in the future".
He would eventually win the "New Zealand's Strongest Man" competition two years in a row, in 2004 and 2005, and was able to "pull 17-tonne trucks without breaking a sweat". On 1 April 2006, he was among the strongmen invited to compete in Freddy Hooker's "Strongest Man in the World Ever — Aotearoa 2006" at Mount Maunganui
. The competition was judged by Levi Vaoga. In July 2006, de Jong was featured in the Western Leader following his appearance as a Viking
in a popular television advertisement. After joining Background Talent - New Zealand's leading talent agency he landed roles in a number of feature films and tv series including Maddigan's Quest
, Narnia, King Kong, Legend of the Seeker
, and Spartacus: Blood and Sand
. He was then in training as a Mixed Martial Arts
fighter and studied under Karl Webber and Ray Sefo
.
and MMA career shortly after graduating from Ray Sefo's Fight Academy. In the summer of 2006, he entered the K-1 Kings of Oceania, a qualifying tournament for the 2007 K-1 World Grand
, at the Trusts Stadium
on 24 June 2006. He lost to Jason Suttie
in a 3rd round decision in Round 1 and Peter Sampson via TKO
in Round 2, however, he managed to score a second round TKO over Simi Tai at Round 3 on 18 November 2006. At the 2007 K-1 Kings of Oceania, he suffered another 3rd round decision loss to Jason Retti. On 27 October 2007, he fought to a split decision
with Felise Leniu at Carnage in the Cage held at the ASB Stadium. He was also scheduled to face Sio Vitale and Alexei Ignashov during 2008, but took a break from professional fighting the next year.
er Malcolm Cleghorn. Sir Colin Earl Meads
, a legendary rugby union
lock forward for the All Blacks during the 1950s and 60s, was in attendance.
The next month, de Jong was interviewed by the Howick and Pakuranga Times while training for the upcoming Highland Games on 1 March. He was specifically preparing for the farmer's walk, in which competitors attempt to walk as far as they can while carrying 125 kg weights in each hand, and stated his intention to break his own national record. He had previously set the national record in this event at 251.5m as well as holding the New Zealand record for stone lifting.
On 24 July 2009, de Jong appeared on the first episode of NZ Smashes Guinness World Records where he broke the Guinness World Record
for running through the most panes of glass in under one minute. The record was previously held by Czech footballer Martin Latka
who smashed through 11 panes of glass on German television earlier that year.
, debuting in a Rookie Battle Royal match at IPW Nightmare Before Xmas 09, winning a contract with the company. His first match was against Les West defeating him at an IPW live event
in Auckland on 20 March 2010; he made his television debut on IPW Ignition
several weeks later.
On 29 May 2010, he defeated "The One" Vinny Dunn
at the IPW Genesis supercard
for the IPW New Zealand Heavyweight Championship
. Dunn had beaten Alexander in the main event to retain the championship when he was unexpectedly confronted by de Jong, responding to the open challenge Dunn had issued to any pro wrestler in New Zealand the previous month, and Dunn agreed to face him in an impromtu match for the title. The match was later aired on the 22 July edition of IPW Ignition.
De Jong lost the IPW New Zealand Heavyweight Championship
back to "The One" Vinny Dunn
on 21 August 2010, at IPW Rival Turf after he had been inadvertently struck in the head with a briefcase by his manager, Justin Long. Dunn then forced de Jong to submit with an ankle lock.
, and began training at WWE's Florida Championship Wrestling
developmental territory. De Jong is listed on FCW's roster under the name "Russell Walker." At June he was released.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
heavyweight
Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...
kickboxer
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
, mixed martial artist
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
, strongman
Strongman (strength athlete)
In the 19th century, the term strongman referred to an exhibitor of strength or circus performers of similar ilk who displayed feats of strength such as the bent press , supporting large amounts of...
and professional wrestler of Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
descent. He is a 2-time professional strongman champion of New Zealand and competed in the K-1 Kings of Oceania in 2006 and 2007. De Jong is the holder of two national records in the farmer's walk and stone lifting, and the Guinness World Record
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
for running through the most panes of glass in under one minute. Also, he was signed with WWE under the name of Russell Walker at 2011, but was released the same year.
A television actor and stuntman
Stuntman
A stuntman or stunt performer is someone who performs dangerous stunts.Stuntman may also refer to:*The Stunt Man, a 1980 film starring Peter O'Toole*Stuntman , a 2002 video game**Stuntman: Ignition, its sequel...
, De Jong has had small roles in Maddigan's Quest
Maddigan's Quest
Maddigan's Quest was a fantasy-based television series set in a post-apocalyptic future. It was based on an original concept by Margaret Mahy and was developed for television by Gavin Strawhan and Rachel Lang...
, Legend of the Seeker
Legend of the Seeker
Legend of the Seeker is a television series based on The Sword of Truth novels by Terry Goodkind. Distributed in U.S. by Disney-ABC Domestic Television, ABC Studios produced the series, which was its first foray into broadcast syndication, with Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, Joshua Donen, Ned Nalle and...
, and Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Spartacus: Blood and Sand is a Starz television series that premiered on January 22, 2010. The series is inspired by the historical figure of Spartacus , a Thracian gladiator who from 73 to 71 BC led a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Executive producers Steven S...
. In 2010, he entered professional wrestling
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...
and became one of the stars of Impact Pro Wrestling
Impact Pro Wrestling
Impact Pro Wrestling is a New Zealand professional wrestling promotion. It is the only promotion based in Auckland and one of the country's three major organisations along with Kiwi Pro Wrestling and New Zealand Wide Pro Wrestling...
capturing the IPW New Zealand Heavyweight Championship
IPW New Zealand Heavyweight Championship
IPW New Zealand Heavyweight Championship is the top professional wrestling championship title in the New Zealand promotion Impact Pro Wrestling. It was the original heavyweight title of the Mania Pro Wrestling promotion, later used in IPW as its primary singles title. It was introduced as the MPW...
within two months of his debut.
Early career
Born in Waitakere, West Auckland, New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Reuben de Jong began working out while attending Waitakere College
Waitakere College
Waitakere College is a secondary school located in West Auckland, New Zealand. It caters for students from year 9 to year 13.Students entering the college are allocated into one of three "Houses". The house names use Māori words: Aroha , Manawanui , and Matauranga...
. In one of his first strongman performances, he won notice at the 134th Waipu Highland Games and "put pressure on the two lead contenders" Pat Hellier and Australian Craig Reid. Brian O'Brien, committee secretary for the Highland Games, told the New Zealand Press Association
New Zealand Press Association
The New Zealand Press Association was a news agency that existed from 1879 to 2011 and provided national and international news to the media of New Zealand. The largest news agency in the country, it was founded as the United Press Association in 1879, and became the New Zealand Press Association...
that de Jong had "competed well in a number of the strongman events and would be one to watch in the future".
He would eventually win the "New Zealand's Strongest Man" competition two years in a row, in 2004 and 2005, and was able to "pull 17-tonne trucks without breaking a sweat". On 1 April 2006, he was among the strongmen invited to compete in Freddy Hooker's "Strongest Man in the World Ever — Aotearoa 2006" at Mount Maunganui
Mount Maunganui
Mount Maunganui is a town in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, located on a peninsula to the north of Tauranga. It was independent from Tauranga until the completion of the Tauranga Harbour Bridge in 1988....
. The competition was judged by Levi Vaoga. In July 2006, de Jong was featured in the Western Leader following his appearance as a Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
in a popular television advertisement. After joining Background Talent - New Zealand's leading talent agency he landed roles in a number of feature films and tv series including Maddigan's Quest
Maddigan's Quest
Maddigan's Quest was a fantasy-based television series set in a post-apocalyptic future. It was based on an original concept by Margaret Mahy and was developed for television by Gavin Strawhan and Rachel Lang...
, Narnia, King Kong, Legend of the Seeker
Legend of the Seeker
Legend of the Seeker is a television series based on The Sword of Truth novels by Terry Goodkind. Distributed in U.S. by Disney-ABC Domestic Television, ABC Studios produced the series, which was its first foray into broadcast syndication, with Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert, Joshua Donen, Ned Nalle and...
, and Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Spartacus: Blood and Sand is a Starz television series that premiered on January 22, 2010. The series is inspired by the historical figure of Spartacus , a Thracian gladiator who from 73 to 71 BC led a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Executive producers Steven S...
. He was then in training as a Mixed Martial Arts
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
fighter and studied under Karl Webber and Ray Sefo
Ray Sefo
"Sugar" Ray Sefo is a New Zealand kickboxer, boxer and mixed martial artist. He is five time Muay Thai World champion and eight time K-1 World Grand Prix Finals tournament participant, currently living in Las Vegas, Nevada and training with Xtreme Couture.He holds notable wins in the K-1 over...
.
K-1 and Mixed martial arts
Reuben de Jong began his K-1K-1
K-1 is a defunct world-wide kickboxing promotion based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a formerKyokushin karate practitioner. K-1 combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, kickboxing, western-style boxing, and other martial arts...
and MMA career shortly after graduating from Ray Sefo's Fight Academy. In the summer of 2006, he entered the K-1 Kings of Oceania, a qualifying tournament for the 2007 K-1 World Grand
K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 Final
K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 Final was a martial arts event held by the K-1 on Saturday December 8, 2007 at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan. It was the 15th K-1 World GP Final, the culmination of a year full of regional elimination tournaments...
, at the Trusts Stadium
Trusts Stadium
Trusts Stadium is an indoor arena located in Waitakere City, Auckland, New Zealand. It is a multi-purpose stadium that primarily holds sports events and music concerts...
on 24 June 2006. He lost to Jason Suttie
Jason Suttie
Jason "Psycho" Suttie is a Samoan-born New Zealand former heavyweight kickboxer and 6 time Muay Thai World champion fighting out of Elite Thai Kickboxing Gym in Auckland, New Zealand.-Biography and career:...
in a 3rd round decision in Round 1 and Peter Sampson via TKO
TKO
-In game, music and film:* Three Kingdoms Online, a browser based strategy game* "TKO" , an episode of Babylon 5* "T.K.O. ", a song from Elvis Costello's Punch the Clock album* "TKO", a song from Le Tigre's This Island...
in Round 2, however, he managed to score a second round TKO over Simi Tai at Round 3 on 18 November 2006. At the 2007 K-1 Kings of Oceania, he suffered another 3rd round decision loss to Jason Retti. On 27 October 2007, he fought to a split decision
Split decision
A split decision is a winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts and others sports involving striking in which two of the three judges score for the same fighter as the winner, while the third judge scores for the other...
with Felise Leniu at Carnage in the Cage held at the ASB Stadium. He was also scheduled to face Sio Vitale and Alexei Ignashov during 2008, but took a break from professional fighting the next year.
Return to strongman competition
In January 2009, he and fellow New Zealand strongman Mick Cottrell represented the country at the 110th Browns Athletic Society's sporting carnival in competition against Australia's Craig Reid and Aaron Monks, and Scotland's Alastair Gunn and world champion caber tossCaber toss
The caber toss is a traditional Irish athletic event practised at the Irish Highland Games involving the tossing of a large wooden pole called a caber. It is said to have developed from the need to toss logs across narrow chasms to cross them. In Irishtown the caber is usually made from a Larch tree...
er Malcolm Cleghorn. Sir Colin Earl Meads
Colin Meads
Sir Colin Earl Meads, KNZM, MBE , is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer. He played 55 test matches , most frequently in the lock forward position, for New Zealand's national team, the All Blacks, from 1957 until 1971.Meads is widely considered one of the greatest players in history...
, a legendary rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
lock forward for the All Blacks during the 1950s and 60s, was in attendance.
The next month, de Jong was interviewed by the Howick and Pakuranga Times while training for the upcoming Highland Games on 1 March. He was specifically preparing for the farmer's walk, in which competitors attempt to walk as far as they can while carrying 125 kg weights in each hand, and stated his intention to break his own national record. He had previously set the national record in this event at 251.5m as well as holding the New Zealand record for stone lifting.
On 24 July 2009, de Jong appeared on the first episode of NZ Smashes Guinness World Records where he broke the Guinness World Record
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
for running through the most panes of glass in under one minute. The record was previously held by Czech footballer Martin Latka
Martin Latka
Martin Latka is a Czech footballer who currently plays as central defender for SK Slavia Praha.He began his career with SK Dynamo České Budějovice, joining Slavia Prague in 2003. In 2005 he won the Talent of the Year award at the Czech Footballer of the Year awards. On 30 January 2006, he joined...
who smashed through 11 panes of glass on German television earlier that year.
Impact Pro Wrestling NZ (2009-2011)
After nine months of training, de Jong made his debut as a professional wrestler for one of the country's three major promotions Impact Pro WrestlingImpact Pro Wrestling
Impact Pro Wrestling is a New Zealand professional wrestling promotion. It is the only promotion based in Auckland and one of the country's three major organisations along with Kiwi Pro Wrestling and New Zealand Wide Pro Wrestling...
, debuting in a Rookie Battle Royal match at IPW Nightmare Before Xmas 09, winning a contract with the company. His first match was against Les West defeating him at an IPW live event
House show
A house show is a professional wrestling show run by a major promotion that is not televised, though they can be recorded. Promotions use house shows mainly to cash in on the exposure that they and their wrestlers receive during televised events, as well as test reactions to matches, wrestlers, and...
in Auckland on 20 March 2010; he made his television debut on IPW Ignition
IPW Ignition
IPW Ignition is a professional wrestling television program for Impact Pro Wrestling . The show debuted on Sky Television's Alt TV in New Zealand on 10 February 2007, and later became available worldwide via internet broadcasting...
several weeks later.
On 29 May 2010, he defeated "The One" Vinny Dunn
Vinny Dunn
Vincent "Vinny" Dunn is a New Zealand professional wrestler and former rugby league player who has competed in several Australasian independent wrestling promotions since his debut in 2005. He has worked for the Australasian Wrestling Federation, Kiwi Pro Wrestling and is currently signed to Impact...
at the IPW Genesis supercard
SuperCard
SuperCard is a high-level development environment that runs on Macintosh computers, under OS 8 and 9, and OS X. It is inspired by HyperCard, but includes a richer language, a full GUI toolkit, and native color .The programming language used by SuperCard is called SuperTalk, and is largely based on...
for the IPW New Zealand Heavyweight Championship
IPW New Zealand Heavyweight Championship
IPW New Zealand Heavyweight Championship is the top professional wrestling championship title in the New Zealand promotion Impact Pro Wrestling. It was the original heavyweight title of the Mania Pro Wrestling promotion, later used in IPW as its primary singles title. It was introduced as the MPW...
. Dunn had beaten Alexander in the main event to retain the championship when he was unexpectedly confronted by de Jong, responding to the open challenge Dunn had issued to any pro wrestler in New Zealand the previous month, and Dunn agreed to face him in an impromtu match for the title. The match was later aired on the 22 July edition of IPW Ignition.
De Jong lost the IPW New Zealand Heavyweight Championship
IPW New Zealand Heavyweight Championship
IPW New Zealand Heavyweight Championship is the top professional wrestling championship title in the New Zealand promotion Impact Pro Wrestling. It was the original heavyweight title of the Mania Pro Wrestling promotion, later used in IPW as its primary singles title. It was introduced as the MPW...
back to "The One" Vinny Dunn
Vinny Dunn
Vincent "Vinny" Dunn is a New Zealand professional wrestler and former rugby league player who has competed in several Australasian independent wrestling promotions since his debut in 2005. He has worked for the Australasian Wrestling Federation, Kiwi Pro Wrestling and is currently signed to Impact...
on 21 August 2010, at IPW Rival Turf after he had been inadvertently struck in the head with a briefcase by his manager, Justin Long. Dunn then forced de Jong to submit with an ankle lock.
World Wrestling Entertainment / WWE (2011)
In February 2011 Reuben signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
, and began training at WWE's Florida Championship Wrestling
Florida Championship Wrestling
Championship Wrestling from Florida was the corporate and brand name of the Tampa, Florida wrestling office existing from 1961, when Eddie Graham first bought into the promotion, until 1987, when it closed down. It is also referred to as Florida Championship Wrestling...
developmental territory. De Jong is listed on FCW's roster under the name "Russell Walker." At June he was released.
Professional wrestling
- Impact Pro WrestlingImpact Pro WrestlingImpact Pro Wrestling is a New Zealand professional wrestling promotion. It is the only promotion based in Auckland and one of the country's three major organisations along with Kiwi Pro Wrestling and New Zealand Wide Pro Wrestling...
- IPW New Zealand Heavyweight ChampionshipIPW New Zealand Heavyweight ChampionshipIPW New Zealand Heavyweight Championship is the top professional wrestling championship title in the New Zealand promotion Impact Pro Wrestling. It was the original heavyweight title of the Mania Pro Wrestling promotion, later used in IPW as its primary singles title. It was introduced as the MPW...
(1 time)
- IPW New Zealand Heavyweight Championship
Kickboxing record
| 1 Win (1 (T)KO's), 3 Losses | |||||||
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Method | Round | Time | |
| 2007-04-14 | Loss |  Jason Retti |
K-1 Kings of Oceania 2007 Round 1, Auckland, New Zealand | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2006-11-18 | Win | Simi Tai |
K-1 Kings of Oceania 2006 Round 3, Auckland, New Zealand | TKO (Corner Stoppage) | 2 | 3:00 | |
| 2006-09-16 | Loss | Peter Sampson |
K-1 Kings of Oceania 2006 Round 2, Auckland, New Zealand | TKO (Low kicks) | 3 | 3:00 | |
| 2006-06-24 | Loss | Jason Suttie Jason Suttie Jason "Psycho" Suttie is a Samoan-born New Zealand former heavyweight kickboxer and 6 time Muay Thai World champion fighting out of Elite Thai Kickboxing Gym in Auckland, New Zealand.-Biography and career:... |
K-1 Kings of Oceania 2006 Round 1, Auckland, New Zealand | Decision | 3 | 3:00 | |
MMA record
| 2 Wins (2 decisions), 0 Losses | |||||||
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Method | Round | Time | |
| 2007-10-27 | Win | Felise Leniu |
Carnage in the Cage, Auckland, New Zealand | Decision (Split) | 3 | 5:00 | |
| 1999-01-28 | Win | Gala Tolua |
UE — New Zealand Vale Tudo: A Test of Courage, Auckland, New Zealand | Decision | 0 | ||
See also
- List of male kickboxers
- List of male mixed martial artists
- List of strongman competitions
- List of K-1 events
- List of kickboxing organizations