Johnny Rodz

John Rodriguez (born May 16, 1938) is an American retired professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Johnny Rodz.

Professional wrestling career

World Wide Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Federation (1965–1985)

He was part of the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) from its early years, appearing on WWWF cards as far back as 1965. He wrestled Bob Backlund in Madison Square Garden while working for the WWWF at the time. Dubbed the "Fire Brand From the Bronx" and the "Unpredictable", he was a proficient worker and a solid heel. Johnny would often tag with Jose Estrada, and Frank "the Gypsy" Rodriguez. For much of the next two decades through mid-1985, Rodz was a mainstay of the federation, though largely used as enhancement talent, for which he was praised by some of his peers. At times Rodz worked in Japan, Puerto Rico and other territories. On August 9, 1980, at the Showdown at Shea, he was defeated by "Polish Power" Ivan Putski. His last WWF match was a loss to Gama Singh on June 19, 1985.

NWA Hollywood Wrestling (1976–1978)

For a time, he also worked with Mike and Gene LeBell's NWA Hollywood Wrestling. He won a greater share of matches wrestling as "Arabian Wildman" Java Ruuk and even won the promotion's battle royal in 1976.

Post-retirement

In 1996, Rodz was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame class of 1996 by Arnold Skaaland.

On the March 1, 2007 episode of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's ''Impact'' showed the Latin American Xchange (LAX) attacking Rodz as part of their feud with Team 3D. Ten days later at Destination X, he accompanied Team 3D to the ring for their Ghettobrawl match with LAX at the pay-per-view.

Training

Johnny Rodz has been training students for over 30 years, out of Gleason's Gym in Brooklyn. Rodz has trained many students who have gone on to have successful careers in and out of the ring for various wrestling promotions, serve as high-level executives at television networks, and some even went on to become high-level government officials at agencies such as FDA and FDIC. Wrestlers trained by Rodz include: Tazz, Tommy Dreamer, D-von Dudley, Damien Demento, Prince Nana, Marti Belle, Wendy Choo, Big Vito, Masha Slamovich, William Morrissey, Vince Russo, and many more. A few of Rodz' students have gone on to train other future superstars at their own wrestling academies. Rodz founded the independent wrestling promotion known as World of Unpredictable Wrestling.

Wrestlers trained

* Vito LoGrasso
* Damien Demento
*Tommy Dreamer
* Big Dick Dudley
*Bubba Ray Dudley
*D-Von Dudley
*Bill DeMott
* Elektra
* Jason Knight
*The Batiri
*Vince Russo
*Matt Striker
*Prince Nana
* "The Redwood" Big Bill
* Angel Medina
*Tazz
* Ricky Vega
* S. D. Jones
*Marti Belle
* Kevin Matthews
*Masha Slamovich

Championships and accomplishments

*Cauliflower Alley Club
**Other honoree (1995)
*Lutte Internationale
** Canadian International Heavyweight Championship ( 1 time)
*Northeast Championship Wrestling
**NCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time, final)
*Northeast Championship Wrestling (Tom Janette)
**NCW Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
*World Wrestling Council
**WWC World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Super Medico I
** WWC North American Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Super Médico I
** WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship ( 1 time)
** WWC Caribbean Tag Team Championship ( 3 times) – with Super Médico I
*World Wrestling Federation
** WWF Hall of Fame ( Class of 1996)

References

External links

World of Unpredictable Wrestling
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Johnny Rodz on Substack

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rodz, Johnny
American male professional wrestlers
American people of Puerto Rican descent
Living people
American professional wrestling trainers
WWE Hall of Fame inductees
20th-century male professional wrestlers
20th-century American professional wrestlers
People from Yabucoa, Puerto Rico
Professional wrestlers from New York City
Professional wrestling promoters
1941 births
WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Champions
WWC World Tag Team Champions