Johnny Rodz#Training
{{short description|American professional wrestler}}
{{use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
|name = Johnny Rodz
|birthname = John Rodriguez
|image = Johnny Rodz (cropped).jpg
|caption = Rodz, {{circa|2008}}
|alt = Photo of Rodz in 2008
|names = Java Ruuk
Johnny Rodz{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-caricatures.com/id150.html|title=Interview with Prince Nana|author=Steve Urena|publisher=Wrestling Caricatures|access-date=2008-03-20|date=January 6, 2006}}
Super Medico II
El Shafto
Army Medic
|height = 5 ft 8 in{{cite web |publisher=WWE.com |title=Hall of Fame: Johnny Rodz |url=https://www.wwe.com/superstars/johnnyrodz}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1938|5|16}}
|birth_place = New York City, New York, U.S.
|billed = "The Bronx"
|trainer =
|debut = 1965
|retired = 1997
|website =
}}
John Rodriguez (born May 16, 1938) is an American retired professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Johnny Rodz.{{cite web|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D00EFDC163CF93BA35753C1A9669C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2|title= Dying to Drop-Kick And Body-Slam, And Make It Pay|author=Corey Kilgannon|publisher=NY Times|access-date=2008-03-20|date=October 8, 2000}}
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.{{Cite book|last1=Duggan|first1=Hacksaw Jim|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GAZXoomM_O0C&dq=Johnny+Rodz&pg=PA21|title=Hacksaw: The Jim Duggan Story|last2=Williams|first2=Scott E.|date=2012|publisher=Triumph Books|isbn=978-1-60078-686-0|language=en}} For much of the next two decades through mid-1985, Rodz was a mainstay of the federation,{{Cite book|last=Mazer|first=Sharon|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kiHHDwAAQBAJ&dq=Johnny+Rodz&pg=PT72|title=Professional Wrestling: Sport and Spectacle, Second Edition|date=2020-01-27|publisher=Univ. Press of Mississippi|isbn=978-1-4968-2660-2|language=en}} though largely used as enhancement talent,{{Cite book|last1=Backlund|first1=Bob|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Lm2CDwAAQBAJ&dq=Johnny+Rodz&pg=PT214|title=Backlund: From All-American Boy to Professional Wrestling's World Champion|last2=Miller|first2=Robert H.|date=2015-09-15|publisher=Simon & Schuster|isbn=978-1-61321-696-5|language=en}}{{cite web|url=https://deadspin.com/the-profane-teachings-of-johnny-rodz-the-wrestler-who-1688109003|title=The Profane Teachings Of Johnny Rodz, The Wrestler Who Jobbed His Way Into The Hall Of Fame|last=Benes|first=Ross|work=Deadspin|access-date=July 27, 2020|date=April 13, 2016}} for which he was praised by some of his peers.{{Cite book|last1=Graham|first1=Billy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B4wHqptt_j8C&dq=Johnny+Rodz&pg=PA212|title=Superstar Billy Graham: Tangled Ropes|last2=Greenberg|first2=Keith Elliot|date=2006|publisher=Simon & Schuster|isbn=978-1-4165-0753-6|language=en}} 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.{{Cite book|last=Zbyszko|first=Larry|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9oi6NlcvsOkC&dq=Johnny+Rodz&pg=PT81|title=Adventures in Larryland!|date=2010-12-15|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=978-1-55490-322-1|language=en}}{{Cite book|last=Shields|first=Brian|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ktv7Nj2C9QUC&dq=Johnny+Rodz&pg=PA147|title=Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s|date=2010-06-15|publisher=Simon & Schuster|isbn=978-1-4516-0467-2|language=en}} 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{{Cite book|last=Piper|first=Roddy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PH9xrcRYz9AC&dq=Johnny+Rodz&pg=PA36|title=In the Pit with Piper|date=2002|publisher=Penguin|isbn=978-0-425-18721-0|language=en}}{{Cite book|last1=Toombs|first1=Ariel Teal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rlbXDwAAQBAJ&dq=Johnny+Rodz&pg=PA116|title=Rowdy: The Roddy Piper Story|last2=Toombs|first2=Colt Baird|date=2020-03-03|publisher=Random House of Canada|isbn=978-0-345-81621-4|language=en}} 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{{Cite book|last1=Dixon|first1=James|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nWZgCgAAQBAJ&dq=Johnny+Rodz&pg=PA216|title=Titan Shattered|last2=Maughan|first2=Lee|last3=Richardson|first3=Benjamin|last4=Henry|first4=Justin|date=2015-07-14|publisher=Lulu.com|isbn=978-1-326-35581-4|language=en}} 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.{{Cite book|last=Sammond|first=Nicholas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JyBvDwAAQBAJ&dq=Johnny+Rodz&pg=PA198|title=Steel Chair to the Head: The Pleasure and Pain of Professional Wrestling|date=2005-01-13|publisher=Duke University Press|isbn=978-0-8223-3438-5|language=en}}{{Cite book|last1=Kanyon|first1=Chris|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BqCyAgAAQBAJ&dq=Johnny+Rodz&pg=PT87|title=Wrestling Reality: The Life and Mind of Chris Kanyon Wrestling's Gay Superstar|last2=Clark|first2=Ryan|date=2011|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=978-1-77041-028-2|language=en}} A few of Rodz' students have gone on to train other future superstars at their own wrestling academies.{{Cite book|last=DK|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YLXmDwAAQBAJ&dq=Johnny+Rodz&pg=PT160|title=WWE Encyclopedia of Sports Entertainment New Edition|date=2020-09-29|publisher=Penguin|isbn=978-0-7440-3510-0|language=en}} Rodz founded the independent wrestling promotion known as World of Unpredictable Wrestling.{{Cite web|url=https://wuwonline.com/|title=World of Unpredictable Wrestling|website=World of Unpredictable Wrestling|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-05}}{{Cite book|last1=Chow|first1=Broderick|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=STQlDwAAQBAJ&dq=Johnny+Rodz&pg=PA205|title=Performance and Professional Wrestling|last2=Laine|first2=Eero|last3=Warden|first3=Claire|date=2016-08-12|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-317-38507-3|language=en}}
=Wrestlers trained=
{{div-col}}
- Vito LoGrasso
- Damien Demento
- Tommy Dreamer
- Big Dick Dudley
- Bubba Ray Dudley
- D-Von Dudley{{Cite book|last=Loverro|first=Thom|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JrGwTebNiUIC&dq=Johnny+Rodz&pg=PA158|title=The Rise & Fall of ECW: Extreme Championship Wrestling|date=2007-05-22|publisher=Simon & Schuster|isbn=978-1-4165-6156-9|language=en}}
- Bill DeMott
- Elektra{{Cite web|title=WrestlingClassics.com Message Board: Elektra Talks about the death of her ex-husband Big Dick Dudley on Chairshots radio|url=http://wrestlingclassics.com/.ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=9;t=048277|access-date=2021-08-02|website=wrestlingclassics.com}}
- Jason Knight
- The Batiri
- Vince Russo{{Cite book|last=Russo|first=Vince|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TmCiPQR_GVgC&dq=Johnny+Rodz&pg=PA75|title=Forgiven: One Man's Journey from Self-Glorification to Sanctification|date=2005|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=978-1-55022-704-8|language=en}}
- Matt Striker
- Prince Nana{{Cite book|last=Greenberg|first=Keith Elliot|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U9bpDwAAQBAJ&dq=Johnny+Rodz&pg=PT95|title=Too Sweet: Inside the Indie Wrestling Revolution|date=2020-09-01|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=978-1-77305-576-3|language=en}}
- "The Redwood" Big Bill
- Angel Medina
- Tazz{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2004/08/06/pf-571552.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115100718/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2004/08/06/pf-571552.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 15, 2013|title=Little Jeanne's destiny is old-school|author=Chris Sokol|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=2008-03-20|date=August 11, 2004}}{{Cite book|last=Picarello|first=Robert|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8GAdkdQ9ArAC&dq=Johnny+Rodz&pg=PA140|title=Monsters of the Mat|date=2002|publisher=Penguin|isbn=978-0-425-18594-0|language=en}}
- Ricky Vega
- S. D. Jones{{Cite book|last=Shoemaker|first=David|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uPIKDAAAQBAJ&dq=Johnny+Rodz&pg=PA126|title=The Squared Circle: Life, Death, and Professional Wrestling|date=2014-11-04|publisher=Penguin|isbn=978-1-59240-881-8|language=en}}
- Marti Belle
- Kevin Matthews
- Masha Slamovich{{Cite web |date=2020-04-14 |title=Tales From The Mat Presents: Masha Slamovich's Life Sequestered Abroad In A Joshi Dojo |url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2020/04/tales-from-the-mat-presents-masha-slamovich-life-669243/ |access-date=2023-01-12 |website=Wrestling Inc. |language=en-US}}
{{div-col-end}}
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){{cite book|author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will|title=Wrestling Title Histories|publisher=Archeus Communications|year=2000|edition=4th|isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}
- 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
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons}}
- [http://www.wuwonline.com World of Unpredictable Wrestling]
- {{wwe superstar|johnnyrodz}}
- {{professional wrestling profiles}}
- [https://www.mondaynightwrestling.com/p/b6f77bca-ed03-4703-8671-2079f28b8b65 Johnny Rodz on Substack]
{{WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship}}
{{WWE Hall of Fame}}
{{WWC World Tag Team Championship}}
{{Portal bar|Biography}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rodz, Johnny}}
Category:American male professional wrestlers
Category:American people of Puerto Rican descent
Category:American professional wrestling trainers
Category:WWE Hall of Fame inductees
Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers
Category:20th-century American professional wrestlers
Category:People from Yabucoa, Puerto Rico
Category:Professional wrestlers from New York City
Category:Professional wrestling promoters