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Jon Heidenreich

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Jon Heidenreich
Born (1969-06-28) June 28, 1969 (age 55)
Duluth, Georgia
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Big Bad Jon[1]
Big Bad John[2]
Heidenreich[2]
Jon Heidenreich[1][2]
John Heidenreich[2]
Billed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)[1]
Billed weight300 lb (140 kg)[1]
Billed fromNew Orleans, Louisiana
Houston, Texas[3]
Trained byUltimate Pro Wrestling[1]
Tom Howard[2]
Danny Davis[2]
Nick Dinsmore[2]

Jon F. Heidenreich (born June 28, 1969)[4] is an American professional wrestler of Austrian descent, better known simply as Heidenreich. He is currently working for various independent wrestling promotions, including Nu-Wrestling Evolution and One Pro Wrestling. He is best known for his tenure with World Wrestling Entertainment, where he was a one time WWE Tag Team Champion with Road Warrior Animal as a part of the Road Warriors.

Early career

Prior to professional wrestling, Heidenreich played American football and in 1992, he was a member of the Washington Redskins, winners of that year's Super Bowl.[5] He played as an offensive lineman for two seasons (1994 and 1995) in the Canadian Football League for the Shreveport Pirates before playing for the Texas Terror of the Arena Football League (AFL) in 1996 and the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europa in 1997.[2] Though he was signed by several National Football League (NFL) teams (New Orleans, Atlanta, and Washington), he never played an NFL league game due to getting cut in training camp.[2] As such, he does not appear on any NFL team's all-time roster.

Professional wrestling career

Heidenreich began training California-based Ultimate Pro Wrestling before he was first signed to a World Wrestling Federation developmental contract in 2001 after he impressed Bruce Prichard.[5] After being released from the WWF, he wrestled in Japan's Pro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX promotion, where he won the NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championship with Nathan Jones and impressed WWE scouts, who re-signed him in 2003.[5]

World Wrestling Entertainment (2003–2006)

Heidenreich made his WWE debut on the September 29, 2003 episode of Raw with a gimmick that had him first trying to secure a tryout on the different WWE brands, then being "controlled" by an entity known as "Little Johnny".[6] Despite speculation as to Little Johnny's identity – Heidenreich's son, a doll similar to George "The Animal" Steele's "Mine", a split personality – the angle was dropped before being resolved. In an interview with ThePainClinic.net in 2007, Heidenreich revealed that "Little Johnny" was actually meant to be a small doll that represented his inner child who was still angry at being born in a charity hospital. He stated that he used the character in OVW and brought the doll out to the ring with him in the same vein as Al Snow used to bring out the styrofoam head. According to Heidenreich, the angle was supposedly inspired by his own childhood where he spoke to a doll himself at one point. Heidenreich claims that the writers in WWE mishandled the idea by trying to make 'Little Johnny' a sexual role, but if done correctly he felt it would have gotten over as "everyone has been teased for something".[7] Heidenreich was then sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling to further hone his skills.

Heidenreich and Undertaker competing at the Tribute to the Troops in 2004

He returned on the August 26, 2004 episode of SmackDown! as a heel under the management of agent Paul Heyman.[8] His new gimmick was as a psychopath: running in during random matches, attacking fans, and reciting hateful poetry.[5]

His first feud came against The Undertaker, and began after Heidenreich ran in during Undertaker's WWE Championship match at No Mercy.[9] Undertaker beat Heidenreich at the next month's Survivor Series, but again Heidenreich cost him a WWE Championship match at December's Armageddon when he interfered in the main event fatal four way match not once, but twice.[10][11]

At Survivor Series and at the 2005 Royal Rumble, Heidenreich had encounters with like-minded psychopath from the Raw brand, Snitsky.[10][12] During their brief Survivor Series meeting they exchanged their views on each other – while breathing heavily, a mannerism they shared, Snitsky told Heidenreich "I like... your...poetry."; and Heidenreich replied "I...like what you do...to babies", referencing an earlier Raw angle that had Snitsky accidentally cause the miscarriage of Lita's baby.[10]

At the Royal Rumble, Heidenreich broke out on his own; he secretly partnered with Snitsky, who agreed to interfere in Heidenreich's Casket Match with The Undertaker. During the match it was revealed that Kane was hidden in the casket, who pounced on both Snitsky and Heidenreich; they continued their fight in the crowd, while Heidenreich lost the Casket Match.[12] This started a chain reaction of feuds, originally planned to lead to a match at WrestleMania 21 in which The Undertaker would partner with Kane to take on Snitsky and Heidenreich. This idea was later nixed by The Undertaker, who instead fought Randy Orton.

After a short feud with Booker T, Heidenreich turned face, altering his psychotic gimmick to become a more sympathetic character.[5][13] Calling them "disasterpieces", his poetry became more light-hearted and began receiving cheers from the crowd.[14] Heidenreich was then given a segment on SmackDown! in which he "made friends" with audience members, read them a piece of his poetry, and had them to stand in his corner during his match.[5] He also had a brief feud with Orlando Jordan, unsuccessfully challenging him for the WWE United States Championship.[14][15]

Heidenreich went on to feud with MNM (Melina, Johnny Nitro, and Joey Mercury) after they attacked him while he was eating chocolate with the divas, during an event in Hershey, Pennsylvania.[16] After being attacked week in and week out on SmackDown!, he was finally helped out by Road Warrior Animal.[17][18] Animal and Heidenreich then challenged MNM to a match at the Great American Bash, where they defeated them to win the WWE Tag Team Championship, Heidenreich's only WWE championship.[19][20]

On the July 28, 2005, episode of SmackDown!, Heidenreich shaved his hair into a mohawk at Animal's request with reluctance.[21] After Animal convinced him he wasn't looking for a "replacement" for Road Warrior Hawk to become road warrior heidenreich, but simply a partner with talent, Animal talked him into wearing face paint and, on the August 18 SmackDown!, he was made an "official" member of the Legion of Doom and presented with a pair of Road Warrior Spikes.[22] Heidenreich and Animal lost the tag titles back to MNM on the October 28 episode of SmackDown!.[23]

On January 17, 2006 WWE announced that Heidenreich had been released from his contract.[5][6]

World Wrestling Council (2006–2007)

Heidenreich after defeating Brutus Beefcake during the Hulkmania Tour in 2009.

After the WWE, Heidenreich moved on to World Wrestling Council, where he defeated Abbad on October 28, 2006 to win the WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship, the top title in the Puerto Rico based promotion. Two months later he lost the title to Carlito at the Lockout event. However, he was given the title back when Carlito was stripped of the title due to Carlito's contractual compromises with World Wrestling Entertainment. He lost the title a second time to Eddie Colón, Carlito's brother, on January 6, 2007.

Independent circuit (2007–present)

After leaving the WWE, Heidenreich made his debut in All-American Wrestling, a Louisiana-based promotion on May 19, 2007, where he defeated J.T. Lamotta. On May 18, 2008, he teamed with Rodney Mack to defeat Latinos Locos for the promotion's Tag Team Championship.[1] However, the title was vacated soon afterwards due to interference in the original title match.[24] On December 14, Heidenreich won the promotion's Heavyweight Championship in a three way Loser Leaves AAW match involving then-champion The Angel of Sinn and Haniel, in which he pinned Angel to win the title.[25]

Media

Heidenreich participated in the wrestling film, Bloodstained Memoirs.[26]

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

  • All-American Wrestling (Louisiana)
    • AAW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[25]
    • AAW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Rodney Mack[24]
  • American Wrestling Rampage
    • AWR No Limits Championship (1 time)[29]
  • Bluegrass Championship Wrestling
    • BCW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "OWOW profile". Online World Of Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Cagematch profile".
  3. ^ "NWE roster".
  4. ^ "ArenaFan profile". Arena Fan. Retrieved 2010-12-13.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Milner, Joh M. "Heidenreich". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  6. ^ a b Waldman, Jon (2006-01-18). "Comings and goings in WWE". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  7. ^ http://www.feelthepain.net/pc060207.mp3[dead link]
  8. ^ Plummer, Dale (2004-08-26). "Smackdown: Finally, an Orlando Jordan main event!". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  9. ^ Clevett, Jason (2004-10-04). "Fans won't remember No Mercy". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  10. ^ a b c Sokol, Chris (2004-11-15). "Orton survives at Series". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  11. ^ Plummer, Dale (2004-12-13). "WWE survives its own Armageddon". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-28. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ a b Plummer, Dale (2005-01-31). "Batista claims the Rumble". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-28. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ Sokol, Chris (2005-02-21). "JBL finds another Way Out". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  14. ^ a b Sokol, Chris (2005-05-23). "Judgment Day: Good, bad, ugly". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  15. ^ Plummer, Dale (2005-05-22). "Smackdown: No quit in Angle-Booker ... sigh". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  16. ^ Plummer, Dale (2005-06-16). "Smackdown: Sweet revenge for Orton in Hershey". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  17. ^ Sokol, Chris (2005-06-24). "Smackdown: Eddie & Rey dominate". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  18. ^ Plummer, Dale (2005-07-15). "Smackdown: A legend returns, Bash takes shape". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  19. ^ a b "Heidenreich and Road Warrior Animal's first WWE Tag Team Championship reign". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
  20. ^ Kapur, Bob (2005-07-25). "JBL reigns at a dull Bash". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  21. ^ Waldman, Jon (2005-07-29). "Smackdown: Who's your papi?". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  22. ^ Tylwalk, Nick (2005-08-19). "Smackdown: Set for SummerSlam". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  23. ^ McNamara, Andy (2005-10-28). "Smackdown: A gimmick-filled night". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-04-28.
  24. ^ a b "All American Wrestling - July 12, 2008 - Abbeville, LA".
  25. ^ a b "All American Wrestling results from 12/14 in Breaux Bridge, LA featuring Heidenreich".
  26. ^ "Official Site".
  27. ^ Nemer, Paul (2004-08-22). "Full WWE SmackDown Brand House Results – 8/21 – from San Diego, California". WrestleView. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
  28. ^ a b "Managers".
  29. ^ "AWR No Limits Championship history".
  30. ^ "NWA Mid-Florida Heavyweight Championship history". Solie.org. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
  31. ^ "NWA Intercontinental Tag Team Championship history". Solie.org. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
  32. ^ "TWA Tag Team Championship history". Solie.org. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
  33. ^ "WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship history". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
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