Mr. Wrestling II

Mr. Wrestling II
Ring name(s)	Johnny "Rubberman" Walker The Grappler Mr. Wrestling II
Billed height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Billed weight	240 lb (110 kg)
Born	September 10, 1934 (1934-09-10) (age 77) Charleston, South Carolina
Resides	Honolulu, Hawaii
Trained by	Tony Morelli Pat O'Connor
Debut	1956
Retired	1987

John "Johnny" Walker (born in Charleston, South Carolina), better known as Mr. Wrestling II, is a retired American professional wrestler. As Mr. Wrestling II, Walker was one of the most popular wrestlers in the Florida and Georgia areas in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Some of Walker's most notable feuds involved The Assassin, The Spoiler, The Masked Superstar, Jack Brisco, Buddy Colt, Magnum T.A., Jimmy Garvin, Tim Woods, Minnesota Wrecking Crew, Larry Zbyszko, and The Road Warriors. Mr. Wrestling II, later in his career, was known to use his "running knee lift" to great effect.

Walker's wife, Olivia, was a seamstress and costume maker. Many of her clients were country music performers including Porter Wagoner. During an interview, Ric Flair stated that many of his robes were made by her.

Career as Mr Wrestling II

In 1972, Walker was semi-retired and running a gas station outside Atlanta when Georgia's promoter Paul Jones asked for him to headline his programs as a masked wrestler, because the original Mr Wrestling was unavailable to feature on a regular basis. Walker would have later become an absolute draw and legend for the territory, leading to ten times-heavyweight title.^[1]

Legacy and legends

President Jimmy Carter (a fellow Georgian) called Mr. Wrestling II his favorite wrestler (as well as his mother's favorite). Walker was invited to Carter's inauguration, but declined the invitation upon learning that he would have to unmask.^[2]

HCW

Mr. Wrestling II was the Director of Talent Relations for Hawai'i Championship Wrestling. On October 13, 2007, he came out of retirement and won the HCW Kekaulike Heritage Tag Team Championship with Mr. Wrestling 3, II's protégé.

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • Million-dollar Knee Lift

• Wrestlers trained or mentored
  • Magnum T.A.
  • Rick Rude
  • Tony Atlas
  • Mr. Wrestling III
  • Mr. Wrestling 3

Championships and accomplishments

• Championship Wrestling from Florida

• NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
• NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Boris Malenko
• NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version) (1 time)

• Continental Championship Wrestling

• NWA Alabama Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Deep South Wrestling

• DSW American Championship (1 time)

• Hawai'i Championship Wrestling

• HCW Kekaulike Heritage Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mr. Wrestling III

• Mid-South Sports / Georgia Championship Wrestling

• NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship (10 times)
• NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (5 times) – with Bob Orton, Jr. (1), Mr. Wrestling I (3), and Tony Atlas (1)
• NWA Macon Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Mr. Wrestling I (2), and Jerry Lawler (1)
• NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship (Georgia version) (1 time) – with Bill Dromo

• NWA Tri-State / Mid-South Wrestling Association

• Mid-South Mississippi Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• Mid-South North American Championship (1 time)
• Mid-South Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Tiger Conway, Jr. (1), and Magnum T.A. (1)
• NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (Tri-State version) (1 time)

• NWA Big Time Wrestling

• NWA Texas Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Amazing Zuma

• NWA Mid-America

• NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (9 times) – with Ken Lucas (2), Bob Ramstead (1), Sundown Kid (1), Dennis Hall (3), Tojo Yamamoto (1), and Bearcat Brown (1)
• NWA United States Junior Heavyweight Championship (4 times)
• NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (1 time) – with Oni Maiva
• NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (4 times) – with Len Rossi (2), and Bearcat Brown (2)

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated

• PWI Wrestler of the Year (1975)
• PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (1980)

• Southern Championship Wrestling (Jerry Blackwell)

• SCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Ranger Ross^[3]

• World Championship Wrestling

• WCW Hall of Fame (Class of 1993)

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards

• Most Overrated (1980)

He and Tony Atlas did win the NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) at one time. However, the reign and win aren't official nor are they recognized.^[4]

References

1. ^ "Masked in USA - Mr Wrestling II". WrestleHistory.com. http://www.wrestlehistory.com/2011/09/masked-in-usa-mr-wrestling-ii/. 
2. ^ Martin, Adam (2007-01-22), 'Mr. Wrestling II' Johnny Walker Interview: Talks about his early career, WrestleView.com, http://www.wrestleview.com/news2006/1169504607.shtml, retrieved 2008-09-16 
3. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (4th Edition 2000). Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. 
4. ^ Mid-Atlantic Title History

External links

Professional wrestling portal

• Online World of Wrestling - Mr. Wrestling II Wrestler Profile
• Georgia Wrestling History - Johnny Walker
• Wrestling Museum - Mr. Wrestling II Photos & Bio
• Hawaii Championship Wrestling
• The Birth of Mr Wrestling ll

Persondata
Name	Wrestling, Mr., Ii
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	September 10, 1934
Place of birth	Charleston, South Carolina
Date of death
Place of death