Daniel Rodimer

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Dan Rodimer

| image = Dan Rodimer, candidate for Nevada's 3rd Congressional District.jpg

| caption = Rodimer in 2019

| birth_name = Daniel Stephen Rodimer

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|5|22}}

| birth_place = Denville Township, New Jersey, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Republican

| spouse = Sarah Rodimer

| children = 6

| education = University of South Florida (BA)
Ave Maria School of Law (JD)

| website =

| module = {{Infobox professional wrestler

|child = yes

|names = Dan Rodimer{{cite web |url=http://rajah.com/base/node/6713 |title=Dan Rodimer |access-date=June 15, 2008 |publisher=Rajah.com |archive-date=February 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204004450/http://rajah.com/base/node/6713 |url-status=dead }}
Dan Rodman{{cite web |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_20342.shtml |title=WWE Smackdown/ECW House Show Report |access-date=June 15, 2008 |publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch}}
Daniel Rodimer

|height = 6ft 7in{{cite web |url=http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2004/2004_10_21.jsp|title=$1,000,000 Tough Enough" Begins Tonight |access-date=June 15, 2008 |publisher=WWE Corporate |date=October 21, 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516073404/http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2004/2004_10_21.jsp|archive-date=May 16, 2008}}{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/d/daniel-rodimer.html |title=OWoW Profile |access-date=June 1, 2007 |publisher=onlineworldofwrestling.com}}

|weight = 300lbs

|billed = Clearwater, Florida

|trainer = Deep South Wrestling

|debut = 2004{{cite web |url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/rodimer.html |title=Dan Rodiman Biography |access-date=October 9, 2007 |publisher=Accelerator}}{{Better source needed|date=May 2020}}

|retired = 2007}}

}}

Daniel Stephen Rodimer (born May 22, 1978), also known by his ring name Dan Rodman, is an American retired professional wrestler, former football player, and former political candidate. In 2006, he signed a one-year developmental contract with WWE.

Rodimer won the Republican primary for Nevada's 3rd congressional district in 2020. He lost narrowly to Democratic incumbent Susie Lee in the November 2020 general election.{{cite web |title=Republican Dan Rodimer wins Nevada House primary, will challenge Rep. Susie Lee |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/502486-republican-dan-rodimer-wins-nevada-house-primary-will-challenge-rep-susie |work=The Hill |date=June 12, 2020 |access-date=June 14, 2020}} He has garnered endorsements from President Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, the National Rifle Association (NRA), and the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC).{{Cite web|title=President Trump Endorses Jim Marchant, Dan Rodimer for Congress|url=https://www.ktvn.com/story/42798870/president-trump-endorses-jim-marchant-dan-rodimer-for-congress|access-date=April 20, 2021|website=www.ktvn.com|date=October 21, 2020 |language=en}}{{Cite web|date=March 26, 2021|title=Ex-WWE star launches Texas campaign video: "Commies...are ruining America"|url=https://www.newsweek.com/dan-rodimer-texas-election-ron-scott-commies-1578974|access-date=April 20, 2021|website=Newsweek|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=April 16, 2020|title=National Right to Life Endorses Dan Rodimer for Congress in Nevada's 3rd Congressional District|url=https://www.nevadabusiness.com/2020/04/national-right-to-life-endorses-dan-rodimer-for-congress-in-nevadas-3rd-congressional-district/|access-date=April 20, 2021|website=Nevada Business Magazine|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=NRA Endorses "Big Dan" Rodimer for US Congress|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nra-endorses-big-dan-rodimer-124100929.html|access-date=April 22, 2021|website=finance.yahoo.com|language=en-US}} Just minutes before the March 5, 2021, filing deadline, he announced his candidacy for Texas's 6th congressional district special election.{{Cite news|last=Mutnick|first=Ally|title=Las Vegas wrestler rattles Texas special election|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/04/vegas-wrestler-texas-election-473834|access-date=March 5, 2021|work=POLITICO|language=en|date=March 4, 2021}}

On March 6, 2024, an arrest warrant was issued for Rodimer in Las Vegas on a charge of open murder.{{Cite press release |last=McMahill |first=Kevin |date=March 6, 2024 |title=Update – Suspect Identified – Suspicious Death Now Being Investigated as a Homide |url=https://www.lvmpd.com/Home/Components/News/News/836/263 |work=Las Metropolitan Police Department |access-date=March 16, 2024}} Rodimer surrendered to police the following day.{{cite news |title=Former congressional candidate and pro wrestler arrested in Vegas murder of man who was wrongly imprisoned for cold-case killing - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/daniel-rodimer-fomer-congressional-candidate-wrestler-accused-murder-chris-tapp-vegas/ |work=CBS News |date=March 7, 2024 |access-date=March 7, 2024}}

Early life and education

Rodimer grew up in Rockaway, New Jersey, and attended Seton Hall Preparatory High School in West Orange. He attended the University of South Florida and played college football for the South Florida Bulls.{{cite web|title=Ranking the Top Eight Prospects in WWE Developmental|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/The_Specialists_34/article_20506.shtml|access-date=June 15, 2008|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch}} He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. Rodimer attended the Ave Maria School of Law in Vineyards, Florida, where he graduated in 2013.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Career

Rodimer played semi-pro football for the Tampa Bay Barracudas and in the Arena Football League. He also worked as a personal trainer.{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_10447.shtml|title=Tough Enough final eight determined|access-date=June 15, 2008|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch|last=Keller|first=Wade}}

=World Wrestling Entertainment (2006–2007)=

Rodimer got into wrestling by becoming a contestant in the 2004 Tough Enough competition.

On July 12, 2006, Rodimer was signed to a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/inside/news/archive/rodimersigns|title=Dan Rodimer signs with WWE|website=WWE}} and was assigned to Deep South Wrestling. His first match came on September 7, when he defeated Heath Miller. On September 24, he had his first televised match in DSW as Dan Rodimer, defeating Tommy Suede.{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestling.com/article/news/1924|title=nWo vs. DX Feud Update, Cryme Tyme, Daniel Rodimer|last=Pena|first= Daniel|date=September 28, 2006 |access-date=June 15, 2008|website=ProWrestling.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203161432/http://www.prowrestling.com/article/news/1924|archive-date=February 3, 2009}}

Rodimer spent the first half of 2007 wrestling primarily in Ohio Valley Wrestling, WWE's other developmental territory. He feuded with Atlas DaBone throughout February and March.

Rodimer made his debut on Heat, beating Eugene. He then returned to OVW. Daniel appeared on Heat twice more that year. Rodimer was then transferred to the new Florida Championship Wrestling territory. However, he was released from his contract on August 22, 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/danrodmanreleased|title=Dan Rodman released|access-date=August 28, 2008|publisher=WWE}}

Campaigns for public office

In 2018, Rodimer ran for Nevada State Senate. He lost to Valerie Weber in the primary election by 142 votes, despite outspending her nearly two-to-one.{{Cite web|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/nevada/most-party-backed-candidates-cruise-to-wins-in-nevada-primary/|title=Most party-backed candidates cruise to wins in Nevada primary|first=Colton|last=Lochhead|date=June 13, 2018|website=The Las Vegas Review-Journal|access-date=March 27, 2021}}

In 2019, Rodimer announced his bid for Nevada's 3rd congressional district.{{Cite web|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/plenty-of-challengers-flock-to-nevadas-congressional-races-1980405/|title=Plenty of challengers flock to Nevada's congressional races|first=Rory|last=Appleton|date=March 13, 2020|website=Las Vegas Review-Journal|access-date=March 27, 2021}} He narrowly lost to incumbent Susie Lee in the general election.{{cite web |title=Silver State 2020 Election Results - U.S. Congress |url=https://silverstateelection.nv.gov/USCongress/ |website=Nevada Secretary of State |access-date=November 27, 2020}}

In March 2021, Rodimer announced his candidacy for Texas's 6th congressional district special election. He was noted for dramatically changing his accent and persona in his campaign ad compared to his run in Nevada the previous year.{{cite news|last=Kilander|first=Gustaf|date=March 27, 2021|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/dan-rodimer-nevada-texas-election-b1823188.html |title=Big Dan Rodimer goes full cowboy ahead of Texan congress run |work=The Independent |access-date=March 27, 2021}} He placed eleventh in the crowded jungle primary, attaining 2.6 percent of the vote share.{{cite news|url=https://www.chron.com/politics/article/dan-rodimer-texas-congress-election-wrestler-16147249.php|title=This Yankee moved to Texas to run for Congress and it obviously didn't go well|publisher=Houston Chronicle|last=Rosenthal|first=Abigail|date=May 3, 2021|accessdate=May 3, 2021}}

During his campaign, Rodimer cast doubt on the integrity of the 2020 presidential election, saying "I think that we had some serious issues with this election and we've got to make sure that doesn't happen again," in response to whether he believed the election was "stolen".{{Cite web|last1=Foran|first1=Clare Foran|last2=O'Sullivan|first2=Donie|date=April 30, 2021|title=Texas congressional race showcases GOP fight over Trump, conspiracy theories and election lies|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/30/politics/texas-6th-congressional-special-election-trump-conspiracy-theories/index.html|url-status=live|access-date=May 2, 2021|website=CNN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430101838/https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/30/politics/texas-6th-congressional-special-election-trump-conspiracy-theories/index.html |archive-date=April 30, 2021 }} Rodimer also said of the storming of the Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters, "On January 6, people come to me all the time, they say, 'Big Dan Rodimer, what would you have done differently?' Well, you know what? I wouldn't have been hiding under my desk like all the other folks. I would have been out there, walking to the very, very front, top of the stairs saying, 'hey, the fact is we are all Americans. We want fair and free elections."

Personal life

Rodimer and his wife Sarah reside in Mansfield, Texas, where he moved with his family in 2021.{{Cite press release|last=Congress|first=Rodimer For|title=Dan Rodimer Announces Surprise Run for Congress in Texas' 6th District, Cites Personal Ties to Lone Star State As Reason|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dan-rodimer-announces-surprise-run-for-congress-in-texas-6th-district-cites-personal-ties-to-lone-star-state-as-reason-301241514.html|access-date=March 27, 2021|website=www.prnewswire.com|language=en}} Prior to this, the family lived in Las Vegas, where Rodimer was a member of the Clark County School District Safety Advisory Committee in 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://media.lasvegasnow.com/nxsglobal/lasvegasnow/document_dev/2018/12/05/CCSD_safety_recommendations_1544038518620_64240381_ver1.0.pdf|title=CCSD Safety Advisory Board Recommendations|last=Cupid-McCoy|first=Jennifer|date=December 5, 2018|website=Las Vegas Now|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417090410/https://media.lasvegasnow.com/nxsglobal/lasvegasnow/document_dev/2018/12/05/CCSD_safety_recommendations_1544038518620_64240381_ver1.0.pdf |archive-date=April 17, 2021 |access-date=}} They have six children.{{cite news |last1=Griffin |first1=Allie |date=March 7, 2024 |title=Ex-GOP candidate and former pro-wrestler Dan Rodimer arrested for Las Vegas hotel room murder |url=https://nypost.com/2024/03/07/us-news/ex-gop-candidate-and-former-pro-wrestler-dan-rodimer-arrested-for-vegas-murder/ |work=New York Post |access-date=March 25, 2024}}{{cite news |title=Former congressional candidate and pro wrestler arrested in Vegas murder of man who was wrongly imprisoned for cold-case killing - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/daniel-rodimer-fomer-congressional-candidate-wrestler-accused-murder-chris-tapp-vegas/ |work=CBS News |date=March 7, 2024 |access-date=March 25, 2024}}

Legal issues

=Assault accusations=

Rodimer has been accused three times of assault but has no convictions.{{Cite web|date=September 2, 2020|title=Sun issues correction, apology on Rodimer editorial - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2020/sep/02/sun-issues-correction-apology-on-rodimer-editorial/|access-date=November 2, 2020|website=lasvegassun.com|language=en}} After an arrest on charges of battery in 2010, Rodimer entered a deferred prosecution agreement. In that agreement he admitted to committing the offense, and upon completion of a six-week anger management training course the charge was dropped. He was also accused of assault in 2011 and 2013, according to records from the Collier County (Florida) Sheriff's Office; however, in both cases no charges were filed.{{Cite web|url=https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/staunch-republican-former-professional-wrestler-attempting-to-become-nevadas-jesse-ventura|title=Staunch Republican, former professional wrestler attempting to become Nevada's Jesse Ventura|last=Snyder|first=Riley|date=May 17, 2018|website=The Nevada Independent|access-date=September 4, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2019/oct/04/wrestler-vying-for-us-house-seat-in-nevada-had-3-a/|title=Wrestler vying for U.S. House seat in Nevada had 3 assault reports|last=Price|first=Michelle L.|date=October 4, 2019|website=Las Vegas Sun|access-date=September 4, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/b6076f09b66405998d4a140da407dcbf|title=Ex-wrestler running for Congress subject of 911 calls|last=Riccardi|first=Nicholas|date=July 28, 2020|website=Associated Press|access-date=September 4, 2020}}

=Murder allegation=

On March 6, 2024, an arrest warrant was issued for Rodimer on an open murder charge in Las Vegas in connection with the death of Chris Tapp in Las Vegas the previous October. Tapp was himself convicted of murder but later exonerated and served two decades in prison before being exonerated. Rodimer surrendered to police the following day. Rodimer has plead not guilty to the charge.{{cite news |last1=Newberg |first1=Katelyn |date=May 8, 2024 |title=Ex-congressional candidate pleads not guilty to murder charge |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/courts/ex-congressional-candidate-pleads-not-guilty-to-murder-charge-3047406/ |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |access-date=May 20, 2025}}