Johnny Rich
{{Short description|American professional wrestler (born 1958)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
|name = Johnny Rich
|image =
|birth_name = John Richardson
|names = Johnny Rich
Intern
Roy Rogers
|height = {{height|ft=6|in=1}}
|weight = {{convert|246|lb|kg|abbr=on}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=2055&gimmick=Johnny+Rich|title=Profile|publisher=CageMatch|accessdate=2012-08-17}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|11|21}}
|death_date =
|birth_place = Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
|death_place =
|resides =
|billed =
|trainer = Tojo Yamamoto
|debut = 1981
|retired = 2007
}}
John Richardson (born November 21, 1958) is an American retired professional wrestler better known by his ring name Johnny Rich. He wrestled for the World Championship Wrestling in the early 1990s, Mid-South Wrestling, Continental Championship Wrestling, Continental Wrestling Association in Memphis, Georgia Championship Wrestling and other Southern promotions.
Professional wrestling career
Rich made his debut in 1981 in Memphis as Roy Rogers.{{cite web|url=http://www.profightdb.com/wrestlers/johnny-rich-587.html|access-date=January 23, 2024 |website=Internet Wrestling Database|title=Johnny Rich }} He later worked for Mid-South Wrestling from 1982 to 1983. He made his debut for Continental Championship Wrestling in 1985.
In 1984, he won the NWA Southeast United States Junior Heavyweight Championship defeating Rip Rogers.
Rich was part of the Rat Patrol with Tonga Kid and Steve Armstrong where he won the NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship four times with them. Later he won the titles again with his real-life cousin Tommy Rich as the Riches twice.{{cite web|url=https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/johnny-rich/ |title=Johnny Rich; Online World of Wrestling }}
In 1988, he teamed with Davey Rich (David Haskins) billed as his cousin as the Riches and later the Party Patrol in the South and Smoky Mountain Wrestling until 1992.
In 1989, he made his debut in World Championship Wrestling with Davey Rich as a team. In 1990, Rich would go on his own. He participated in the WCW Light Heavyweight Championship tournament where he lost to Richard Morton in the quarter finals in August 1991.{{cite web|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/wcwlight91tourney.htm|title=WCW Light Heavyweight Championship Tournament – 1991|publisher=The History of WWE|access-date=February 17, 2016}} He would also team with Joey Maggs as The Creatures, a masked tag team which appeared at Halloween Havoc that year, losing to Big Josh and P. N. News on October 27, 1991.{{cite web |url=http://www.softwolves.pp.se/wrestling/wcw/1991#havoc91 |title=World Championship Wrestling Results 1991 - Halloween Havoc 1991 |author=Karlsson, Peter |date=2005-04-10 |publisher=American Wrestling Trivia }} They would continue as a team until 1993.{{Cite web |date=2022-02-21 |title=10 WCW Tag Teams You Definitely Won't Remember |url=https://whatculture.com/wwe/10-wcw-tag-teams-you-definitely-won-t-remember?page=3 |access-date=2021-01-28 |website=Whatculture|language=en-US}} In 1994, Rich left WCW.
He would work in the independent circuit until retiring in 2007.
Championships and accomplishments
- Southeastern Championship Wrestling/Continental Championship Wrestling
- NWA Southeast United States Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship (6 times) - with Tonga Kid (3), Steve Armstrong (1) and Tommy Rich (2){{Cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/al/secw/se-t.html|title = NWA Southeastern Tag Team Title (Alabama & e. Tennessee)}}
- NWA Alabama Heavyweight Championship (1 time){{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | year=2006|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 }}
- AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Davey Rich
- USA Wrestling
- USA Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Davey Rich