Mark Vartanian

Sammy Couch, also known as 'Psycho' Sam Cody, is a retired professional wrestler.

Professional wrestling career

Early career

Couch was trained by Crusher Verdu and made his debut in professional wrestling on Thanksgiving Day in 1981 as Sam Cody. Cody for the most part wrestled on the independent level, making his career in the Midwest Championship Wrestling (MCW) circuit under the guidance of fellow wrestler and promoter "Big" Jim Lancaster. He did this stint during the early 1980s until the promotion dissolved in 1992. However, in 2004, the company resurfaced in St. Marys, Ohio and Botkins, Ohio, during the months of March and June. Cody participated in both shows and was also inducted into the Midwest Hall of Fame.^[1]

World Wrestling Federation

Cody competed briefly for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). He faced Kamala on the April 5, 1987 episode of WWF Wrestling Challenge; Kamala defeated Cody and left him with kayfabe injuries that required him to be carried from the ring on a stretcher.^[2]

USA Pro Wrestling

Cody also held the USA Pro Wrestling Tag-Team champion with the late Big Dick Dudley, going under the alias of 'Psycho' Sam Dudley, a member of the fictional Dudley Family.

Northern Wrestling Federation

Though Cody had wrestled as a jobber in the WWF and throughout the United States and Germany, it was not until he enlisted in the Cincinnati, Ohio promotion Northern Wrestling Federation (NWF), that Cody started to gain much fame on the independent level, even being ranked in 1992 as one of the top 500 wrestlers in the world. His most bankable gimmick was the deep rooted 'Kansas City Outlaws' tag team partnership with 'Rough House' Roger Ruffen, which originally started back in Jim Lancaster's MCW territory. Ruffen later interfered in a hair vs. mask match between Cody and Patriot, helping Cody to get the win.^[3]

Cody quickly became known, however, as the 'Hardcore Legend of The NWF', as he competed in many steel cage matches, as well as TLC matches (tables, ladders and chairs). Not only was Cody one of the premiere stars of the NWF, but he was also a teacher behind the scenes, helping would be wrestlers get their start in the business.

The last big time match that he participated in happened in Fairfield, Ohio against NWF talent Dustin Lillard. The match was under 'garbage can' rules, where garbage cans were at the wrestlers disposal any time throughout the match. Cody, after breaking his wrist during the match, getting suplexed on top of garbage cans and the like, he managed to pull off the victory over Lillard via pinfall. Cody was forced into retirement following a doctor's exam where he failed an MRI test, as doctors pointed out that the many years of steel chairs and other objects hitting his cranium has finally taken its toll. Soon after he was inducted into the NWF Hall of Fame.

Championships and accomplishments

• Midwest Championship Wrestling

• MCW Hall of Fame (Class of 2004)^[1]

• USA Pro Wrestling

• USA Pro Wrestling Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Big Dick Dudley^[4]

Personal life

In December 2007, Couch was driving under the influence of marijuana and jumped the median on I-75 and landed on top of another car, killing the woman driving it. The victim was a Spanish teacher for Mason High School in Mason, Ohio. Couch pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and is serving a five year prison sentence at CCI in Chillicothe, OH. He is scheduled to be released in 2011.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Smith, Jason (2004-02-17). "Weekend show pays tribute to Midwest stars". SLAM! Wrestling. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2004/02/17/351193.html. Retrieved 2009-07-31. 
2. ^ WWF Wrestling Challenge (taped March 11, 1987). Syndicated, Columbus, Ohio. 1987-04-05.
3. ^ McGrath, Jess (2004-02-22). "Indy Kingdom". Pro Wrestling Insider. http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=720&p=3. Retrieved 2009-07-31. 
4. ^ "USA Pro Wrestling Tag Team Title History". Solie's Title Histories. http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/ttusapw.html. Retrieved 2009-07-31. 

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