Johnny Valiant

Professional wrestling career Wrestling career (1967-1981) Sullivan grew up in Pittsburgh's North Hills suburb, not far from wrestling champion Bruno Sammartino. After asking for advice on how to become a professional wrestler, Sullivan became close friends with Sammartino and began his career in the Detroit territory wrestling, refereeing and working the ring crew for the wrestling villain and promoter, The Sheik. Kangaroo Al Costello trained Sullivan in the mat wars and soon he began traveling the twenty-five regional territories throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada. From 1969 through 1973, he enjoyed a protracted stint in the WWWF as "John L. Sullivan," a mid-card babyface, losing to top-tier heels like Killer Kowalski and Toru Tanaka, but repeatedly holding the notorious Baron Mikel Scicluna to a draw, and regularly defeating low-carders like Angelo Savoldi and Johnny Rodz. Autographs of Valiant during the "Sullivan" era are believed to be rare. On one of his visits to Ontario working for Dave McKigney, Sullivan met Jimmy Valiant. Jimmy took a shine to the young, enthusiastic Sullivan and shortly thereafter, brought him to the World Wrestling Association, where Dick the Bruiser teamed up Sullivan (now renamed Johnny Valiant) with Jimmy Valiant as the Valiant Brothers. Not as successful as the first incarnation, this Dream Team had a lengthy feud with the scorned Beefcake, now nicknamed "The Barber", who cut Valiant's hair on an episode of Superstars of Wrestling when an overly confident Luscious had given the New Dream Team the night off. Valiant left the WWF in March 1988, just before WrestleMania IV, and then returned to the AWA as a manager and led the Destruction Crew (Wayne Bloom and Mike Enos) to the AWA World Tag Team Championship in 1989 (defeating Greg Gagne and Paul Diamond in a tournament final). Police told local news Sullivan was not in a crosswalk, and the driver of the vehicle remained on the scene.

Championships and accomplishments Big Time Wrestling (San Francisco) NWA World Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version) (1 time) - with Jimmy Valiant Championship Wrestling from Florida NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jimmy Valiant NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (1 time) - with Jimmy Valiant Georgia Championship Wrestling NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jimmy Valiant Pro Wrestling Illustrated PWI Tag Team of the Year award in 1974 - with Jimmy Valiant World Wide Wrestling Federation WWF Hall of Fame (Class of 1996) - with Jimmy Valiant WWWF World Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Jimmy Valiant (1) and Jerry Valiant (1) World Wrestling Association WWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) WWA World Tag Team Championship (4 times) - with Jimmy Valiant