Woody Farmer
Woody Farmer | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 25, 1935 Buchanan County, Virginia, United States |
| Died | February 29, 2012 (aged 76) Union City, California, |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Professional wrestler |
| Years active | 1960s-2008 |
Woody Farmer (December 25, 1935 - February 29, 2012) was a professional wrestler who was active in the 1960s and 1970s. He was also wrestling occasionally while in his seventies. He also acted in a few films during the 1980s.
Background
As a young man, Farmer joined the army and the workout schedule of the army led to him taking up wrestling as a hobby. It then became a career for him. Farmer's son Rex is a wrestler who wrestles under the name of Shane Kody.[1] His grandson Rex, Jnr. is also a wrestler known as Riot.[2]
During his career, Farmer had at least two titles. Once with Bobby Duncum for the NWA Western States Tag Team title in 1971 and California State Heavyweight in 1982, defeating Mike York.[3]
Career
1960s to 1970s
Farmer started out wrestling in the 1960s and was trained by Ray Stevens. His early wrestling days were spent on the Northern California, Hawaii and Las Vegas wrestling circuits.[4]
In Phoenix on January 7, 1966, Farmer was beaten by Nikita Mulkovich. He was beaten again by Mulkovich on January 31.[5] On October 2, 1970, Farmer and Tito Montez took on The Comancheros in Phoenix, but were beaten by them. On the 19th of that month, they beat The Comancheros.[6]
In 1967 he wrestled for World Wide Wrestling Federation as a jobber.
In 1971, with partner Bobby Duncum, farmer defeated The Beast and Bulldog Brower and won the NWA Western States Tag Team Titles.[7]
1980s to 2000s
In 1980, Farmer was photographed at a gym for a publicity stunt with iconic stripper Carol Doda.[8] From 1989 to 1992, Farmer was a promoter and achieved a degree of success in that field.[9][10]
It was reported by the East Bay Times on February 15, 2007 that 71 year old Farmer, along with his son 43 year old son Shane Kody and 21 year old grand son Riot (both wrestlers) were to wrestle another three man tag team for the Night of Champions on the 24th of that month.[11] On February 24 for Bay Wrestling Federation in Alameda, California, he teamed with his son Shane Kody and his grandson Riot defeating Boom Boom Comini, Johnny Starr and Mr. Frost.
Films
In 1985, he played an international wrestler in Grunt! the Wrestling Movie which was directed by Alan Holzman.[12][13] Farmer had a role as Fuzzy in the Frank Harris directed Low Blow which starred Leo Fong as private eye, Joe Wong.[14][15] He would appear in another film involving Fong's Joe Wong character, this time in Blood Street.[16]
Death
Farmer died in California from cancer at age 76 on February 29, 2012.[17]
Filmography
| Title | Role | Director | Year | Notes # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grunt! The Wrestling Movie! | Battle Royale Wrestler | Allan Holzman | 1985 | |
| Low Blow | Fuzzy | Frank Harris | 1986 | |
| Blood Street | Allan | George Chung Leo Fong |
1988 |
References
- ^ East Bay Times, April 10, 2008 - Wrestlers rock ring for a worthy cause By Laurie Burkitt
- ^ Slam Wrestling - Woody Farmer leads three generations to battle By Mike lano
- ^ OnlineWorldofWrestling.com - Woody Farmer, Title History
- ^ Slam Wrestling - Woody Farmer leads three generations to battle By Mike lano
- ^ The History of Arizona Wrestling, By Dale Pierce Page 47
- ^ The History of Arizona Wrestling, By Dale Pierce - Page 61
- ^ F4Wonline.com, April 8, 2018 - Daily Pro Wrestling History (04/08): Larry Zbyszko wins AWA World title by Brian Hoops
- ^ San Jose Mercury News, November 20, 2015 - Celebrity San Francisco stripper Carol Doda led quiet early life in Vallejo By Richard Freedman
- ^ Cagematch.net - Woody Farmer, Career Data
- ^ Pro Wrestling: A Comprehensive Reference Guide, By Lew Freedman - Page 217 Promoters, wrestling
- ^ East Bay Times, February 15, 2007 - Wrestlers to face off for charity in Hayward By Rachel Cohen
- ^ TV Guide - Grunt! the Wrestling Movie, Cast
- ^ AllMovie - Grunt! the Wrestling Movie (1985), Cast
- ^ TV Guide - Low Blow, Cast & Crew
- ^ Rotten Tomatoes - Low Blow (1986), Cast
- ^ Comeuppance Reviews, 2/01/2011 - Blood Street (1990)
- ^ Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2012, By Harris M. Lentz III - Page 93 Famer, Woody