Greg Valentine 690225 224856000 2008-07-10T18:45:02Z Cydebot 1215485 Robot - Moving category Polish-Americans to Americans of Polish descent per [[WP:CFD|CFD]] at [[Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2008 June 29]]. {{unreferenced|date=May 2007}} {{Infobox Wrestler |name=Greg Valentine |image=Greg Valentine.jpg |names=Baby Face Nelson<br>Johnny Fargo<br>Johnny Valentine, Jr.<br>'''Greg Valentine'''<br>The Blue Knight<br>Anthony Premus |height=6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |weight=249 lb (113 kg) |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|9|20}} |death_date = |birth_place = [[Seattle, Washington]] |resides= |billed= |trainer=[[Johnny Valentine]]<BR>[[Stu Hart]]<BR>[[Ed Farhat|The Sheik]] |debut=1970 |retired= |}} '''John Anthony Wisniski Jr.''' (born [[September 20]], [[1950]]) is a retired [[United States|American]] [[Professional wrestling|professional wrestler]], better known as '''Greg "The Hammer" Valentine'''. He is the son of wrestler [[Johnny Valentine]]. ==Career== ===Training=== Born in [[Seattle, Washington]], Valentine traveled around [[Texas]] in his teens with his father. During a summer vacation, he decided to drop out of college and become a wrestler. His father initially tried to deter him, but eventually ceded to his wishes and sent him to [[Canada]] in 1970 to train under [[Stu Hart]] in [[Calgary]]. Wisniski remained in Canada for a year, wrestling his debut match in July 1970 against [[Angelo Mosca|Angelo "King Kong" Mosca]] (he lost in around five minutes). Six months later, Wisniski relocated to [[Detroit, Michigan|Detroit]] to complete his training under [[Ed Farhat|The Sheik]]. ===The Fargo Brothers=== Initially reluctant to take his father's [[ring name]], Wisniski wrestled as '''Baby Face Nelson''' before becoming '''Johnny Fargo''', one half of '''The Fargo Brothers''' with Don Fargo between 1971 and 1974. The Fargo Brothers initially competed in the [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]] and [[Cleveland, Ohio|Cleveland]] based National Wrestling Federation before moving on to [[Texas]]. They split in 1974 and Wisniski went to [[Florida]], where he began performing as '''Johnny Valentine, Jr.''', hopeful that he could live up to his father's legacy. He later changed his ring name to '''Greg "The Hammer" Valentine''', and was billed as Johnny Valentine's brother, not his son, because of fears that the elder Valentine would be thought of as too old to be a legitimate threat. Greg Valentine remained in Florida for a year while also working in [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]] and in [[Japan]] under [[Antonio Inoki]] in 1975 and early 1976. ===National Wrestling Alliance=== In August 1976, Valentine debuted in [[George Scott (wrestler)|George Scott]]'s Mid-Atlantic promotion, an affiliate of the [[National Wrestling Alliance]] based in [[North Carolina]], [[South Carolina]], and [[Virginia]]. Valentine was hired to replace his father, who had been forced to retire after he broke his back in a [[Aviation accidents and incidents|plane crash]] in 1975. He immediately began [[feud (professional wrestling)|feuding]] with Johnny Weaver, who he "retired" with a [[Professional wrestling high-flying techniques#Diving elbow drop|top rope elbow drop]]. Valentine's elbow drop was promoted as a deadly move, with tapes of him breaking wooden boards with his elbow shown to the audiences before his debut. Valentine then formed a [[tag team]] with [[Ric Flair]], with whom he twice won the [[List of NWA World Tag Team Champions|NWA World Tag Team Championships]] and held the [[NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship|Mid Atlantic Tag Team Championships]] (between [[June 30]] and [[August 22]], 1977). They first defeated [[Anderson family|Flair's "cousins"]] [[Gene Anderson|Gene]] and [[Ole Anderson]] on [[December 26]], 1976 in [[Greensboro, North Carolina|Greensboro]], injuring Gene so badly that he had to be stretchered out. They held the titles until [[May 8]], [[1977]], when [[Minnesota Wrecking Crew|the Andersons]] defeated them in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Cages|steel cage match]] in the old [[Cricket Arena|Charlotte Coliseum]]. Flair and Valentine regained the tag titles from the Andersons on [[October 30]], this time leaving Ole unable to leave under his own power. The team split after they were stripped of the titles in April 1978 by NWA president [[Eddie Graham]] as a result of their "unprofessional conduct". Flair then set his sights on the [[NWA World Heavyweight Championship]], while Valentine held the NWA World Tag Team Championships once more with [[James Raschke|Baron Von Raschke]] in 1978. At the same time, Valentine feuded with [[Wahoo McDaniel|Chief Wahoo McDaniel]] over the [[NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship]]. Wahoo had cost Valentine and Flair their first tag team championships (Wahoo, the then-nemesis of Flair, had been the special referee in the steel cage match), so Valentine was eager for revenge. On [[June 11]], 1977 in [[Raleigh, North Carolina|Raleigh]] he defeated Wahoo, breaking his leg in the process. Though Wahoo's legs were too thick for Valentine to apply his signature [[professional wrestling holds#figure four leglock|Figure Four leglock]], he managed to break Wahoo's ankle using a [[Suplex#Leg/Ankle Suplex|Leg/Ankle Suplex]]. The [[heel (professional wrestling)|heel]] Valentine then began wearing a T-Shirt with the slogan "''I broke Wahoo's leg''" on the front and "''No more Wahoo''" on the back. Wahoo returned on [[August 9]], 1977 and took back the title. Valentine would hold the title once more, defeating Wahoo again on [[September 10]] and losing to [[Ken Patera]] on [[April 9]], [[1978]]. ===World Wide Wrestling Federation=== Valentine began working on a casual basis for the [[World Wrestling Entertainment#World Wide Wrestling Federation|World Wide Wrestling Federation]], then owned by [[Vincent J. McMahon]], in November 1978. Managed by [[Ernie Roth|The Grand Wizard]], he was given the [[List of professional wrestling slang#G|gimmick]] of a methodical wrestler who broke the legs of all his opponents, including [[Joe Scarpa|Chief Jay Strongbow]]. In 1979, he faced [[WWE Championship|WWWF World Heavyweight Champion]] [[Bob Backlund]] and fought him to a one hour draw. Valentine returned to the WWWF, now known as the [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]], for a year in 1981 and continued to pursue the title. On [[October 19]], he was pinned by Backlund, but then handed the title belt by the dazed referee. The title was held up, and Backlund defeated Valentine cleanly in the [[November 23]] rematch. He also feuded with [[Pedro Morales]], who he "injured" by [[suplex]]ing him on the floor of the arena. ===National Wrestling Alliance=== Valentine returned to the NWA in late 1979 and asked Flair to reform their tag team. Flair, by then a [[face (professional wrestling)|face]], declined. Valentine held the NWA World Tag Team Championships once more with Ray Stevens in 1980. Four days after their victory, the promoter, [[David Crockett (wrestling)|David Crockett]] told Valentine and Stevens that he possessed [[Photographic film|film]] which proved that the illegal man had been pinned in the tag match, nullifying the win. When Crockett threatened to send the film to [[Bob Geigel]] (then the NWA President) who would overturn their victory, Stevens and Valentine attacked him and cut the film up with a pocket knife, destroying the evidence. Valentine later claimed to have "seen the light", and reformed his team with Flair, who believed that Valentine was now a face. In a tag match against [[Jimmy Snuka]] and [[Iron Sheik|The Iron Sheik]], Valentine abandoned Flair, leaving him outnumbered. Flair was beaten, and then Valentine snapped Gene Anderson’s [[hickory]] [[cane]] over his head, legitimately breaking his nose and splitting his lips. The former partners began feuding over Flair's [[WWE United States Championship|NWA United States Heavyweight Championship]], with Valentine finally defeating Flair for the title on [[July 26]] in Flair's adopted hometown of [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]]. He held the title until [[November 24]], when he was beaten by Flair; Flair became one of Valentine's main opponents while in the NWA. Valentine would hold the United States Championship twice more, renewing his feud with Wahoo in 1982 and defeating him for the title on [[November 4]] with the assistance of his [[manager (professional wrestling)|manager]], [[Oliver Humperdink|Sir Oliver Humperdink]]. [[Roddy Piper]] began pursuing the title, and, after Valentine gave Piper a cake with a [[dog collar]] inside, the two had a series of brutal [[Professional wrestling match types#Names and Variations|Dog Collar Matches]], most notably at [[Starrcade (1983)|StarrCade 1983]], where Piper pinned Valentine in a non-title match after repeatedly whipping him with the steel chain. The feud was intensified by Valentine's propensity to focus on Piper's ear, which had been injured earlier in his career and would bleed easily. Piper would eventually defeat Valentine on [[April 16]], [[1983]], but Valentine regained the title on [[May 1]]; after the match, where he regained the US Title from Piper, Valentine nailed Piper in the ear with US Title. He dropped the title to Dick Slater on [[December 14]], just before leaving the NWA. ===World Wrestling Federation=== Valentine went to the WWF in 1984, (correctly) predicting that [[Vince McMahon|Vince McMahon's]] plan for national expansion would succeed. His first manager was [[Lou Albano|Captain Lou Albano]], and he was later managed by [[Jimmy Hart]]. On [[September 24]], 1984 in [[London, Ontario]] Valentine defeated [[Tito Santana]] for the [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|WWF Intercontinental Championship]], focusing on Santana's injured knee throughout the match. Santana initially thought he had the match won, but had in fact only achieved a two-count. As Santana was celebrating, Valentine rolled him up for the pin and the title. Following the win, Valentine put Santana in the figure four leglock, reinjuring him. While Santana was sidelined having leg surgery, Valentine feuded with [[Junkyard Dog]], who he faced in a title match at [[WrestleMania (1985)|WrestleMania]]. Valentine pinned Junkyard Dog after using the ropes, but Santana came to ringside and informed the referee, who restarted the match. Valentine then walked out, losing the match by count-out but saving his title. Santana eventually healed and fought Valentine in many matches (after he returned to the ring at Wrestlemania). He went on to win the title back on [[July 6]], [[1985]] in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Cages|steel cage match]] in [[Baltimore, Maryland|Baltimore]], climbing down the outside of the cage and slamming the door on Valentine's head as he attempted to exit. Valentine, incensed over losing the belt, destroyed it in the steel cage, forcing the WWF to get a new Intercontinental title belt. Valentine would then form a tag team with [[Edward Leslie|Brutus Beefcake]] known as '''[[The Dream Team (professional wrestling)|The Dream Team]]''', managed by [[John L. Sullivan (wrestler)|Johnny V]]. On [[August 24]], 1985 the Dream Team defeated [[U.S. Express|the US Express]] ([[Barry Windham]] and [[Mike Rotunda|Mike Rotundo]]) for the [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|WWF World Tag Team Championship]]. They held the titles until [[April 7]], [[1986]] when they were defeated at [[WrestleMania 2]] by the [[British Bulldogs]]. At [[WrestleMania III]], the Dream Team defeated [[Jacques Rougeau]] and [[Raymond Rougeau]] as a result of interference by Johnny V and [[Dino Bravo]]. Upset because of a missed move by Beefcake during the match, Valentine left with Bravo and abandoned Beefcake, resulting in Brutus [[List of professional wrestling slang#T|turning]] face later on in the night. Replacing Beefcake with Dino Bravo, Valentine formed '''[[The Dream Team (professional wrestling)#The New Dream Team|The New Dream Team]]'''. Valentine was unhappy about teaming with Bravo, who he felt he had little chemistry with. After the WWF asked him to "kidnap" Matilda, the [[bulldog]] mascot of the British Bulldogs, Valentine resigned. He was brought back soon after, with Jimmy Hart as his new manager, but was used in a much diminished role between 1987 and 1990. In 1988, Valentine feuded with newly-turned face [[Don Muraco|Don "The Rock" Muraco]], after Valentine viciously attacked Muraco's manager, former WWF World Heavyweight Champion [[Billy Graham (wrestler)|"Superstar" Billy Graham]]. Graham, walking with a cane, tried to intervene when Valentine held the figure-four leglock on jobber Ricky Ataki, after already winning the match. Valentine then put the figure-four on Graham, who had a plastic hip. Valentine was entered in the World Heavyweight Championship tournament at [[WrestleMania IV]], where he defeated [[Ricky Steamboat]] before losing to [[Randy Savage]], the eventual winner of the tournament. In April 1989 he began feuding with [[Ron Garvin|"Rugged" Ronnie Garvin]]. Two weeks after [[WrestleMania V]], he defeated Garvin in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Retirement match|retirement match]] on ''[[WWF Superstars of Wrestling|Superstars of Wrestling]]'' by reversing a [[Pin (professional wrestling)#Small package|small package]] and holding on to the ropes. Garvin became a referee until Valentine and Hart managed to have him fired. Garvin then became a ring announcer, and began aggravating Valentine. At [[SummerSlam (1989)|SummerSlam 1989]] he announced Valentine as being "thirty pounds overweight" as he approached the ring for his match with [[Ray Fernandez|Hercules]], and then announced Hercules as the winner when Valentine cheated to win. Valentine eventually demanded that Garvin be reinstated so that they could fight in the ring. For some time Valentine had been wearing a shin guard, which he would rotate (so it covered his calf, not his shin) in order to increase the pressure exerted by the Figure Four Leglock. He referred to the shin guard as the "Heartbreaker". Valentine would also (illegally) attach the shin guard to his arm in order to accentuate his [[Professional wrestling attacks#Elbow drop|elbow drops]]. In the course of the feud, Garvin countered with a rotated shin guard of his own, which he dubbed "the Hammer Jammer". The feud culminated in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Submission match|submission match]] at the [[Royal Rumble (1990)|1990 Royal Rumble]]. Garvin utilized the "Hammer Jammer" during the match, using it to "counter" Valentine's Figure Four Leglock when Valentine applied it on Garvin during the match. Valentine managed to remove the "Hammer Jammer" from Garvin's leg with help from his manager Jimmy Hart after which Valentine systematically wore down Garvin's leg, but eventually lost after Garvin hit him with the Heartbreaker and applied a [[Sharpshooter (professional wrestling)|sharpshooter]], forcing Valentine to submit. Shortly after, Valentine dyed his hair black and formed a tag team with [[The Honky Tonk Man]] known as '''[[Rhythm and Blues (professional wrestling)|Rhythm and Blues]]''' that was managed by Jimmy Hart. Rhythm and Blues feuded with [[The Bushwhackers]] and [[The Hart Foundation]], but were overshadowed by the [[Road Warriors|Legion Of Doom]], who were by then dominating the tag division. Valentine turned on Bravo and became a face on [[January 21]], [[1991]] at the [[Royal Rumble (1991)|Royal Rumble]], where he lasted forty four minutes. He was to feud with his former partner, the Honky Tonk Man, but Honky left the WWF before the feud could begin. Valentine lost to [[John Tenta|Earthquake]] in a [[squash (professional wrestling)|squash]] match at [[WrestleMania VII]], and was defeated again at [[SummerSlam (1991)|SummerSlam 1991]] by [[Mike Rotunda|Irwin R. Schyster]]. He took part in the talent-packed [[Royal Rumble (1992)|1992 Royal Rumble]], where he attacked his old rival Ric Flair before being eliminated by [[Barry Darsow|Repo Man]]. ===World Championship Wrestling=== Conscious of his diminishing status, Valentine left the WWF and signed with [[World Championship Wrestling]] in 1992. He formed a tag team with [[Terry Taylor]] for six months and the duo went on to win the [[NWA United States Tag Team Championship|WCW United States Tag Team Championship]]s. After Taylor was fired, Valentine was left without an [[List of professional wrestling slang#A|angle]], and eventually resigned in late 1992 when he was asked to [[job (professional wrestling)|lose]] to [[Sting (wrestler)|Sting]]. ===World Wrestling Federation=== He reappeared in the WWF at the [[Survivor Series (1993)|1993 Survivor Series]] under a mask as '''The Blue Knight''' in an elimination match pitting [[Shawn Michaels]] and his three "knights" against the Hart Family. He would return again, as Greg Valentine, at the [[Royal Rumble (1994)|1994 Royal Rumble]]. ===Independent circuit=== Valentine went on to tour the [[independent circuit]], wrestling in Japan, with the [[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]] based International Championship Wrestling promotion and with the [[American Wrestling Federation]]. Starting in the summer of 1996, Valentine made several appearances with WCW over the course of the next two years. He was used on a pay-per-appearance basis, but was rarely utilized and was allowed to continue wrestling on the independent circuit. On [[October 10]], [[1999]] he appeared on the infamous ''[[Heroes of Wrestling]]'' pay per view, pinning [[George Steele|George "The Animal" Steele]] with the assistance of [[Sherri Martel]]. He wrestled on the 2000 tour of the [[United Kingdom]] in which [[Rodney Anoa'i|Yokozuna]] died. He was also involved with the short-lived [[X Wrestling Federation]] as an investor and as an in-ring performer. In the 2000s, he began reducing his independent dates in order to pursue a career in [[real estate]]. On [[January 29]], [[2005]] at ''[[WrestleReunion]]'', Valentine won a seventeen man [[battle royal (professional wrestling)|battle royal]] to become the IWA Heavyweight Champion. He lost the title to [[Tito Santana]] at ''WrestleReunion #2'' on [[August 27]] of that year. Valentine also wrestled for several independent promotions, including [[American Wrestling Association|AWA Superstars of Wrestling]], which toured [[New England]]. In AWA Superstars of Wrestling, Valentine regularly wrestled [[Tony Atlas]]. ===World Wrestling Entertainment=== On [[March 13]], [[2004]], Valentine was inducted into the [[WWE Hall of Fame]] by his former manager Jimmy Hart. The following night, at [[WrestleMania XX]] at [[Madison Square Garden]], Valentine received loud applause when the class of 2004 was introduced. Shortly after being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, Valentine dedicated the plaque he received to his late father by saying: "This one's for you pop, [[Johnny Valentine]]." On [[October 3]], [[2005]], Valentine made an appearance at [[WWE Raw#Return to USA Network|WWE Homecoming]], and on [[October 23]] he was defeated by [[Rob Conway]] (then using a [[List of professional wrestling slang#G|gimmick]] similar to that of [[Randy Orton]]'s gimmick of "the legend killer") on an episode of [[WWE Heat]] after [[Nick Dinsmore|Eugene]] interfered on his behalf, causing the referee to award a victory via disqualification to Conway. He was present at the Retirement Ceremony of his long-time friend, [[Ric Flair]], on the [[March 31]], 2008 episode of [[WWE Raw]]. ==In wrestling== *'''Finishing and signature moves''' :*'''[[Professional wrestling holds#Figure four leglock|Figure four leglock]], sometimes while [[Professional wrestling holds#Reverse figure four leglock|applying it a 90° angle]]''' :*''Hammer Drop'' ([[Professional wrestling attacks#Elbow drop|Jumping elbow drop]] to the opponent's midsecion) :*[[Professional wrestling attacks#Bionic elbow|Bionic elbow]] :*[[Professional wrestling attacks#Elbow drop|Elbow drop]] :*[[Professional wrestling attacks#Backhand chop|Knife-edged chop]] :*[[Suplex#Belly to back suplex|Back suplex]] :*[[Piledriver (professional wrestling)#Texas Piledriver|Piledriver]] :*[[Suplex#Vertical suplex|Vertical suplex]] :*[[Professional wrestling attacks#Back elbow|Back elbow smash]] :*[[Ric Flair|On occasion, Valentine falls face first to the mat after getting hit in the face]] *'''With [[The Honky Tonk Man]]''' :*'''[[Professional wrestling double-team maneuvers#Double belly to back suplex|Double belly to back suplex]]''' *'''Signature foreign object''' :*'''''Heartbreaker''''' ([[Shin guard]]) *'''Managers''' :*[[Skandor Akbar]] :*[[Lou Albano|Captain Lou Albano]] :*[[Ernie Roth|Grand Wizard]] :*[[Jimmy Hart]] :*[[Oliver Humperdink|Sir Oliver Humperdink]] :*Luxurious Lynne :*[[Debra Miceli|Madusa]] :*Rico Suave :*[[John L. Sullivan (wrestler)|Johnny Valiant]] :*Darren Wise :*"Mr. Terrific" Tim Lawler ==Championships and accomplishments== *'''[[American Wrestling Association]]''' :*[[AWA Midwest Tag Team Championship]] ([[AWA Midwest Tag Team Championship#Title History|1 time]]) - with Jerry Miller<sup>1</sup><ref>[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ne/awa-mw-t.html AWA Midwest Tag Team Title history] At wrestling-titles.com</ref> *'''[[American Wrestling Federation]]''' :*[[American Wrestling Federation#AWF Tag Team Championship|AWF Tag Team Championship]] (1 time) - with [[Tommy Rich]] *'''[[International World Class Championship Wrestling]]''' :*[[IWCCW Heavyweight Championship]] ([[IWCCW Heavyweight Championship#Title History|1 time]])<ref>[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/newengland/icw/icw-h.html ICW/IWCCW Heavyweight Title history] At wrestling-titles.com</ref> *'''[[Maple Leaf Wrestling]]''' :*[[NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (Toronto version)|NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship ''(Toronto version)'']] ([[NWA Toronto Canadian Heavyweight Championship#Title History|1 time]])<ref>[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/on/nwa/on-can-h.html NWA Canadian Heavyweight Title (Toronto) history] At wrestling-titles.com</ref> *'''[[Jim Crockett Promotions|Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling]] | [[World Championship Wrestling]]''' :*[[NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship#Title History|2 times]])<ref>[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/midatlantic/ma-h.html NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Title history] At wrestling-titles.com</ref> :*[[NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship#Title History|1 time]]) - with [[Ric Flair]]<ref>[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/midatlantic/ma-t.html NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Title history] At wrestling-titles.com</ref> :*[[WCW World Television Championship|NWA Mid-Atlantic Television Championship]] ([[List of WCW World Television Champions|2 times]])<ref>[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/midatlantic/nwa/ma-tv.html NWA Mid-Atlantic Television Title history] At wrestling-titles.com</ref> :*[[WCW World Television Championship|NWA Television Championship]] ([[List of WCW World Television Champions|2 times]])<ref>[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/midatlantic/nwa/ma-tv.html NWA Mid-Atlantic Television Title history] At wrestling-titles.com</ref> :*[[WWE United States Championship|NWA United States Heavyweight Championship]] ([[List of WWE United States Champions|2 times]])<sup>2</sup><ref>[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-us-h.html NWA/WCW United States Heavyweight Title history] At wrestling-titles.com</ref> :*[[WCW World Tag Team Championship|NWA World Tag Team Championship ''(Mid-Atlantic version)'']] ([[List of WCW World Tag Team Champions|4 times]]) - with [[James Raschke|Baron Von Raschke]] (1), [[Ray Stevens (wrestler)|Ray Stevens]] (1), and [[Ric Flair]] (2)<ref>[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/midatlantic/nwa/ma-nwa-t.html NWA World Tag Team Title (Mid-Atlantic/WCW) history] At wrestling-titles.com</ref> :*[[NWA United States Tag Team Championship|WCW United States Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA United States Tag Team Championship#Title History|1 time]]) - with [[Terry Taylor]]<ref>[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-us-t.html NWA/WCW United States Tag Team Title history] At wrestling-titles.com</ref> *'''[[National Wrestling Alliance]]''' :*[[NWA North American Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA North American Heavyweight Championship#Title History|1 time]])<ref>[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/nwa/others/na-h.html NWA North American Heavyweight Title history] At wrestling-titles.com</ref> '''(First)''' *'''[[National Wrestling Alliance|NWA Hollywood Wrestling]]''' :*[[NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship#Title History|2 times]])<ref>[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ca/la/hw/ams-h.html NWA Americas Heavyweight Title history] At wrestling-titles.com</ref> :*NWA Beat the Champ Television Championship (2 times)<ref>[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ca/la/hw/ams-tv.html NWA Beat the Champ Television Title (Los Angeles) history] At wrestling-titles.com</ref> *'''[[National Wrestling Alliance|NWA Texas]]''' :*[[NWA North American Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA North American Heavyweight Championship#Title History|1 time]])<ref>[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/nwa/others/na-h.html NWA North American Heavyweight Title history] At wrestling-titles.com</ref> *'''[[Universal Wrestling Federation (Bill Watts)|NWA Tri-State]]''' :*[[NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Tri-State version)|NWA United States Tag Team Championship ''(Tri-State version)'']] ([[NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Tri-State version)#Title history|2 times]]) - with [[Bill Watts]] (1) and Gorgeous George, Jr. (1)<ref>[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/midsouth/nwa/tri-us-t.html NWA United States Tag Team Title (Tri-State version) history] At wrestling-titles.com</ref> *'''[[National Wrestling Alliance|NWA Western States Sports]]''' :*[[NWA Western States Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Western States Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) - with Don Fargo<ref>[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/amarillo/ws-t.html NWA Western States Tag Team Title history] At wrestling-titles.com</ref> *'''[[National Wrestling Federation]]''' :*[[NWF World Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWF World Tag Team Championship#Title history|2 times]]) - with Don Fargo<ref>[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/oh/nwf/nwf-t.html NWF World Tag Team Title history] At wrestling-titles.com</ref> *'''[[World Wrestling Council]]''' :*[[WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship]] ([[WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship#Title History|1 time]])<ref>[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/pr/wwc/carib-h.html Caribbean Heavyweight Title history] At wrestling-titles.com</ref> :*[[WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship]] ([[WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship#Title History|1 time]])<ref>[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/pr/wwc/wwc-h.html WWC Universal Heavyweight Title history] At wrestling-titles.com</ref> *'''[[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation | World Wrestling Entertainment]]''' :*[[WWE Intercontinental Championship|WWF Intercontinental Championship]] ([[List of WWE Intercontinental Champions|1 time]])<ref>[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/ic.html WWF/WWE Intercontinental Heavyweight Title history] At wrestling-titles.com</ref> :*[[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|WWF Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of World Tag Team Champions (WWE)|1 time]]) - with [[Edward Leslie|Brutus Beefcake]]<ref>[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwf-t.html WWWF/WWF/WWE World Tag Team Title history] At wrestling-titles.com</ref> :*[[WWE Hall of Fame]] ([[WWE Hall of Fame#2004|Class of 2004]])<ref>[http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/hof.html WWF/WWE Hall of Fame Inductees] At wrestling-titles.com</ref> <small><sup>1</sup>Wrestled under the name of Johnny Valentine, Jr. at the time.</small><br> <small><sup>2</sup>Valentine actually won the title 3 times, but WWE only recognizes him as a 2 time champion.</small> ==Personal life== Greg married Julie on [[February 14]], 1995. He has 2 daughters, Vanessa and Romayne, from a previous marriage to his first wife, who once appeared on WWF TV in 1984 to give Valentine a back rub, which he claimed was the secret of his success. Vanessa began training with the Hart Brothers in the late 1990s. He is a [[Born again Christianity|born again Christian]], and occasionally speaks at [[high school]]s and [[college]]s with [[Ted DiBiase]]. He is also a part of Christian wrestling organization, World Impact Wrestling. He is the brother-in-law to wrestler [[Brian Knobbs]]. Valentine appeared on an episode of [[Hogan Knows Best]] as one of Hulk's party guests. ==References== {{reflist|2}} *[http://www.midatlanticgateway.com/Resource_Center/interviews/valentine/valentine01.htm Greg Valentine interview] [http://www.gerweck.net/news/1185863673.shtml] ==External links== {{Portal|Professional wrestling|break=yes}} *[http://www.gregvalentine.newpathproductions.com/ The official website of Greg Valentine] *[http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/gregvalentine/bio/ WWE Hall of Fame Profile] *{{imdb name|id=0884233|name=Greg Valentine}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Valentine, Greg}} [[Category:1950 births]] [[Category:American professional wrestlers]] [[Category:Dungeon graduates]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Seattle, Washington]] [[Category:Americans of Polish descent]] [[Category:World Wrestling Council]] [[Category:WWE Hall of Fame]] [[de:Greg Valentine]] [[it:Greg Valentine]] [[ja:グレッグ・バレンタイン]]