Ricky Lawless
Encyclopedia
Medardo Jim "Jimmy" Leon, Jr. (1959-November 30, 1988) was an American
professional wrestler, trainer and promoter, best known by his ringname "Bad Boy" Ricky (Ricki) Lawless, who competed in Eastern
, Mid-Atlantic and Southern
regional territories
during the early-to mid 1980s, being a veteran of International Championship Wrestling
and the National Wrestling Federation
.
Leon was also the owner a successful wrestling school whose students included Steve "The Brawler" Lawler
, "Playboy" Bobby Starr
, Axl Rotten
and Joey Maggs. He and Maggs later teamed together as The Heavy Metal Connection and twice captured the tag team titles in Buck Robley's Deep South Championship Wrestling. His murder in 1988, reportedly committed by a jealous husband over an extramarital affair, was featured in an expose
by Hustler
.
in 1959. He worked as a mechanic
prior to becoming a professional wrestler and later lived in Charlotte, North Carolina
and Baltimore, Maryland. He initially wrestled and trained only twice a week, while still a full-time mechanic, and quit three times due to his financial situation before deciding to fully commit to a career in wrestling. Throughout the 1980s, he wrestled up and down the Eastern United States
and eventually became a regular in International Championship Wrestling
and the National Wrestling Federation
. In 1984, under the ring name Jim Nunna, he became the first heavyweight champion for the American Wrestling Federation in Georgia; while champion he began competing under his real name.
He also started a wrestling school, a disused boxing gym in Baltimore, where he trained a number of future independent stars including Steve "The Brawler" Lawler
, "Playboy" Bobby Starr
, and Axl Rotten
. He later formed a team with one of his students, Joey Maggs, and twice won the tag team belts in Buck Robley's Deep South Championship Wrestling (later known as Southern Championship Wrestling). He and Maggs, as The Heavy Metal Connection, became a popular tag team in the Mid-Atlantic region as well as for promotions in Mississippi
and Louisiana
. In 1987, Leon was featured in an article for The Charlotte Observer
in which he discussed his career and his experiences on the independent circuit. He also felt hopeful that he and Maggs might be hired by the National Wrestling Alliance
. During the summer of 1988, while wrestling for Frank Cain's Star Cavalcade Wrestling, he and his student Axl Rotten
briefly held the SCW Tag Team Championship after defeating The Smurfs (Corey Stevens & Dynamite Kid) for the titles in Montgomery, Alabama
. They later dropped the belts to Rick Anderson & Snake Watson. In September, he defeated Moondog in Bainbridge, Georgia
to win the promotion's heavyweight championship; the title had been held up the previous month when their last match ended in a double-disqualification.
On November 30, 1988, Leon was shot to death in Baltimore, MD. The Toronto Star, claimed the murder had been committed by "former tag team partner" Vladimir Koloff. Leon's murder, specifically focusing on the aspect of his death at the hands of an irate husband over an extramarital affair, would later appear as an expose
by Hustler
("Shotgun Justice: A Pro Wrestler's Final Fall") in May 1991. At the time of his murder, he was still the reigning heavyweight champion for Star Cavalcade Wrestling. The title was declared vacant immediately afterwards and won by his former student Axl Rotten
after defeating The Psycho in Thomasville, Georgia
.
He has been credited, not only for having trained some of the top Mid-Atlantic independent wrestlers of the 1980s and 90s, but for being one of the standout stars during the final years of the territory-era. Dr. Thom Parks, a former referee and well-known "dirt sheet" writer, said in a 2003 interview that Leon "was a party animal, but he was also a very talented grappler. I really think he would have went far had he lived longer. Jimmy was funny and he could have a four star match versus a broom. He really had a lot of talent. It's just too bad that more people didn't get to see it. Of course, when you party as much as he did and do some of the unwise things he did, you can't expect a long lifespan. Even though we didn't see eye to eye on everything, Jimmy was probably my best friend in the wrestling business."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional wrestler, trainer and promoter, best known by his ringname "Bad Boy" Ricky (Ricki) Lawless, who competed in Eastern
Eastern United States
The Eastern United States, the American East, or simply the East is traditionally defined as the states east of the Mississippi River. The first two tiers of states west of the Mississippi have traditionally been considered part of the West, but can be included in the East today; usually in...
, Mid-Atlantic and Southern
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
regional territories
Independent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...
during the early-to mid 1980s, being a veteran of International Championship Wrestling
International Championship Wrestling
International Championship Wrestling was an independent professional wrestling promotion based in Lexington, Kentucky that operated from 1978 until 1984. It was run by WCW Hall of Famer Angelo Poffo, the father of Randy Savage and "The Genius" Lanny Poffo...
and the National Wrestling Federation
National Wrestling Federation
The original National Wrestling Federation was a wrestling promotion based in Buffalo, New York and owned by promoter Pedro Martínez. It ran from 1970-1974. The promotion was then revived in 1986 by Robert Raskin...
.
Leon was also the owner a successful wrestling school whose students included Steve "The Brawler" Lawler
Steve Lawler (wrestler)
Steve Gowen , better known by his ring name Steve "The Brawler" Lawler, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler and trainer...
, "Playboy" Bobby Starr
Bob Starr (wrestler)
Robert A. "Bob" Starr is a semi-retired American professional wrestler, trainer and manager who has competed in numerous independent promotions throughout the United States since his debut in 1988...
, 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...
and Joey Maggs. He and Maggs later teamed together as The Heavy Metal Connection and twice captured the tag team titles in Buck Robley's Deep South Championship Wrestling. His murder in 1988, reportedly committed by a jealous husband over an extramarital affair, was featured in an expose
Expose
Expose, exposé, or exposed may refer to:-Technology:* Exposé , a window management tool for Mac OS X** Exposé clone, computer software which mimics the Mac OS X feature-Music:...
by Hustler
Hustler
Hustler is a monthly pornographic magazine aimed at men and published in the United States. It was first published in 1974 by Larry Flynt. It was a step forward from the Hustler Newsletter which was cheap advertising for his strip club businesses at the time. The magazine grew from a shaky start to...
.
Career
Jim Leon was born in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in 1959. He worked as a mechanic
Mechanic
A mechanic is a craftsman or technician who uses tools to build or repair machinery.Many mechanics are specialized in a particular field such as auto mechanics, bicycle mechanics, motorcycle mechanics, boiler mechanics, general mechanics, industrial maintenance mechanics , air conditioning and...
prior to becoming a professional wrestler and later lived in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
and Baltimore, Maryland. He initially wrestled and trained only twice a week, while still a full-time mechanic, and quit three times due to his financial situation before deciding to fully commit to a career in wrestling. Throughout the 1980s, he wrestled up and down the Eastern United States
Eastern United States
The Eastern United States, the American East, or simply the East is traditionally defined as the states east of the Mississippi River. The first two tiers of states west of the Mississippi have traditionally been considered part of the West, but can be included in the East today; usually in...
and eventually became a regular in International Championship Wrestling
International Championship Wrestling
International Championship Wrestling was an independent professional wrestling promotion based in Lexington, Kentucky that operated from 1978 until 1984. It was run by WCW Hall of Famer Angelo Poffo, the father of Randy Savage and "The Genius" Lanny Poffo...
and the National Wrestling Federation
National Wrestling Federation
The original National Wrestling Federation was a wrestling promotion based in Buffalo, New York and owned by promoter Pedro Martínez. It ran from 1970-1974. The promotion was then revived in 1986 by Robert Raskin...
. In 1984, under the ring name Jim Nunna, he became the first heavyweight champion for the American Wrestling Federation in Georgia; while champion he began competing under his real name.
He also started a wrestling school, a disused boxing gym in Baltimore, where he trained a number of future independent stars including Steve "The Brawler" Lawler
Steve Lawler (wrestler)
Steve Gowen , better known by his ring name Steve "The Brawler" Lawler, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler and trainer...
, "Playboy" Bobby Starr
Bob Starr (wrestler)
Robert A. "Bob" Starr is a semi-retired American professional wrestler, trainer and manager who has competed in numerous independent promotions throughout the United States since his debut in 1988...
, 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...
. He later formed a team with one of his students, Joey Maggs, and twice won the tag team belts in Buck Robley's Deep South Championship Wrestling (later known as Southern Championship Wrestling). He and Maggs, as The Heavy Metal Connection, became a popular tag team in the Mid-Atlantic region as well as for promotions in Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
and Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. In 1987, Leon was featured in an article for The Charlotte Observer
The Charlotte Observer
The Charlotte Observer, serving Charlotte, North Carolina and its metro area, is the largest newspaper, in terms of circulation, in North Carolina and South Carolina...
in which he discussed his career and his experiences on the independent circuit. He also felt hopeful that he and Maggs might be hired by the National Wrestling Alliance
Jim Crockett Promotions
Jim Crockett Promotions was a professional wrestling promotion owned by Jim Crockett, Jr. until the late 1980s. It was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance and was the forerunner to World Championship Wrestling .-Early history:...
. During the summer of 1988, while wrestling for Frank Cain's Star Cavalcade Wrestling, he and his student 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...
briefly held the SCW Tag Team Championship after defeating The Smurfs (Corey Stevens & Dynamite Kid) for the titles in Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
. They later dropped the belts to Rick Anderson & Snake Watson. In September, he defeated Moondog in Bainbridge, Georgia
Bainbridge, Georgia
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,722 people, 4,444 households, and 3,013 families residing in the city. The population density was 255.6/km² . There were 5,051 housing units at an average density of 285.2 per square mile...
to win the promotion's heavyweight championship; the title had been held up the previous month when their last match ended in a double-disqualification.
On November 30, 1988, Leon was shot to death in Baltimore, MD. The Toronto Star, claimed the murder had been committed by "former tag team partner" Vladimir Koloff. Leon's murder, specifically focusing on the aspect of his death at the hands of an irate husband over an extramarital affair, would later appear as an expose
Expose
Expose, exposé, or exposed may refer to:-Technology:* Exposé , a window management tool for Mac OS X** Exposé clone, computer software which mimics the Mac OS X feature-Music:...
by Hustler
Hustler
Hustler is a monthly pornographic magazine aimed at men and published in the United States. It was first published in 1974 by Larry Flynt. It was a step forward from the Hustler Newsletter which was cheap advertising for his strip club businesses at the time. The magazine grew from a shaky start to...
("Shotgun Justice: A Pro Wrestler's Final Fall") in May 1991. At the time of his murder, he was still the reigning heavyweight champion for Star Cavalcade Wrestling. The title was declared vacant immediately afterwards and won by his former student 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...
after defeating The Psycho in Thomasville, Georgia
Thomasville, Georgia
Thomasville is the county seat of Thomas County, Georgia, United States. The city is the second largest in Southwest Georgia after Albany.The city deems itself the City of Roses and holds an annual Rose Festival. The town features plantations open to the public, a historic downtown, a large...
.
He has been credited, not only for having trained some of the top Mid-Atlantic independent wrestlers of the 1980s and 90s, but for being one of the standout stars during the final years of the territory-era. Dr. Thom Parks, a former referee and well-known "dirt sheet" writer, said in a 2003 interview that Leon "was a party animal, but he was also a very talented grappler. I really think he would have went far had he lived longer. Jimmy was funny and he could have a four star match versus a broom. He really had a lot of talent. It's just too bad that more people didn't get to see it. Of course, when you party as much as he did and do some of the unwise things he did, you can't expect a long lifespan. Even though we didn't see eye to eye on everything, Jimmy was probably my best friend in the wrestling business."
Championships and accomplishments
- American Wrestling Federation
- AWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time, first)
- Southern Championship Wrestling1
- SCW Southern Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Joey Maggs
- Star Cavalcade Wrestling
- SCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- SCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Axl RottenAxl RottenBrian 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...