Lanny Kean

Lanny Kean
Kean as "Big Daddy Cyrus" in Memphis in 1995.
Ring name(s)	Moondog Cujo[1] Moondog Splat[2] Hillbilly Cousin Junior[1] Lanny Kean[1] Ox Brody[1] Big Daddy Cyrus[1]
Born	April 19, 1960(1960-04-19) Jamestown, Kentucky, United States
Died	January 13, 2009(2009-01-13) (aged 48) Franklin, Indiana
Debut	1983[1]

Lanny Neal Kean, Jr. (March 19, 1960 – January 13, 2009) was an American professional wrestler. He competed under several ring names, including Moondog Cujo and Cousin Junior. He died of a heart attack on January 13, 2009.^[1]

Career

In 1983, Kean made his professional wrestling debut in Kentucky, where he competed as "Luscious" Lanny Kean. Two years later, he was brought into the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) as Cousin Junior, a member of the Hillbilly family.^[3] The kayfabe (storyline) family used the gimmick of unintelligent rural Southerners and performed square dances in the ring.^[4][5] They feuded with some of the WWF's top wrestlers, including Jesse Ventura, Bob Orton, Jr., and Roddy Piper.^[5] Kean's character was based upon Jethro Bodine from The Beverly Hillbillies, who Jimmy Hart, a manager in the company, suggested he emulate.^[3]

Kean was later replaced by Gene Petit, who competed as Cousin Luke. The reason for Kean's departure from the WWF is unclear. Hillbilly Jim, the leader of the Hillbilly family, has stated that Kean "went crazy". The true reason behind his dismissal is often thought to be drug abuse.^[3] Kean later competed in the Continental Wrestling Association, an affiliate of the American Wrestling Association (AWA), under the name Hillbilly Junior. He formed a tag team with Stan Frazier, who had been a member of the WWF's Hillbilly family as Uncle Elmer but used the name Giant Hillbilly in the AWA. They won the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship on August 30, 1986 by defeating the MOD Squad.^[6]

He next joined the United States Wrestling Association (USWA), where he was a member of the Moondogs under the name Moondog Cujo.^[3] Later, he was renamed Big Daddy Cyrus and feuded with Jerry Lawler, who held the USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship.^[1][7] He formed a tag team with Crusher Bones in 1995.^[1] In 1997, Dutch Mantel gave Kean the ring name "Bloody" Ox Brody, which was a tribute to Ox Baker and Bruiser Brody.^[1][3]

Kean took several years off of wrestling but decided to return to competition as Moondog Cujo. In one match on April 27, 2007 after his comeback, Moondog Cujo Managed by Sal Corrente defeated The Barbarian in a Hardcore match in Memphis Wrestling.^[1] He also resumed his feud with Lawler.^[3]

Personal life

Kean lived in Jamestown, Kentucky with his fiancee Sandra Deel. He had a daughter named Crystal. On January 13, 2009, Kean died of a heart attack in Franklin, Indiana at age 48.^[1][3]

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • Mule kick^[3]

• Managers
  • Hillbilly Jim^[3]
  • Sal Corrente^[1]

• Nicknames
  • "Bloody" Ox Brody^[1]
  • "Lucious" Lanny Kean^[1]

Championships and accomplishments

• Continental Wrestling Association

• AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Giant Hillbilly^[6]

• Mid-Continental Wrestling Association
  • MWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[8]

• United States Wrestling Association

• USWA World Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Moondog Spot (2), and Moondog Spike (2)^[9]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o} "Lanny Kean's profile". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/b/big-daddy-cyrus.html. Retrieved 2009-09-05. 
2. ^ "Moondogs profile". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/m/moondogs.html. Retrieved 2009-09-05. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i} Oliver, Greg (2009-01-13). "Lanny Kean, a.k.a. Cousin Junior, dies". SLAM! Wrestling. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2009/01/13/8013021.html. Retrieved 2009-01-13. 
4. ^ Reynolds, R.D. (2003). WrestleCrap: The Very Worst of Pro Wrestling. ECW Press. p. 31. ISBN 1-55022-584-7. 
5. ^ ^{a b} Oliver, Greg. "Cousin Luke made a lasting impression". SLAM! Wrestling. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2008/05/14/5568736.html. Retrieved 2009-01-13. 
6. ^ ^{a b} "NWA (Mid-America)/AWA Southern Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tn/cwa/awa-s-t.html. Retrieved 2009-01-13. 
7. ^ "Wrestler Results Archive: Jerry "The King" Lawler". SLAM! Wrestling. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/ResultsArchive/Wrestlers/lawler-jerry.html. Retrieved 2009-01-13. 
8. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (4th Edition 2000). Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. 
9. ^ "Larry Booker's profile". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/m/moondog-spot.html. Retrieved 2009-09-05. 

External links

Professional wrestling portal

• Profile at Online World of Wrestling

Persondata
Name	Kean, Lanny
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	April 19, 1960
Place of birth	Jamestown, Kentucky, United States
Date of death	January 13, 2009
Place of death	Franklin, Indiana