Johnny Valiant Biography

John L. Sullivan (Thomas Sullivan) is an American retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Johnny Valiant. He competed in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), which became the World Wrestling Federation during his time with the promotion. He won the World Tag Team Championship two times. The first run (which lasted over a year) was with his first and most famous storyline brother Jimmy Valiant over Tony Garea & Dean Ho on May 8, 1974; his second title run was with his second storyline brother Jerry Valiant over Tony Garea & Larry Zbyszko on March 6, 1979.

Professional wrestling career

Sullivan grew up in Pittsburgh's North Hills suburb, not far from wrestling champion Bruno Sammartino. After asking for advice on how to become a professional wrestler, Sullivan became close friends with Sammartino and began his career in the Detroit territory wrestling, refereeing and working the ring crew for the notorious wrestling villain The Sheik. Kangaroo Al Costello trained Sullivan in the mat wars and soon he began traveling the twenty-five regional territories throughout the U.S, Puerto Rico and Canada. From 1969 through 1973, he enjoyed a protracted stint in the WWWF as a mid-card babyface, losing to top-tier heels like Killer Kowalski and Toru Tanaka, but repeatedly holding the notorious Baron Mikel Scicluna to a draw, and regularly defeating jobbers like Angelo Savoldi and Johnny Rodz. On one of his visits to Ontario working for "Bearman" Dave McKigney, Sullivan met "Handsome" Jimmy Valiant who had worked as "Jimmy Valen," "Big John Valen," and "Jimmy the Body Valentine." Jimmy took a shine to the young, enthusiastic Sullivan and shortly thereafter, brought him to the World Wrestling Association, where Dick The Bruiser teamed up Sullivan with Jimmy Valiant as the Valiant Brothers. A victory for the WWA tag team titles over Dick the Bruiser and Bruno Sammartino put the name of the Valiant Brothers on the marquee and the Valiants proceeded to have a five-year run which fans still talk about to this day.

Managerial career

After he retired from active competition, Valiant went on to a successful career as a manager; most notably leading the "Dream Team" Greg Valentine and Brutus Beefcake to the WWF Tag Team championship in 1985. He managed Hulk Hogan in the AWA in the early 80s and soon moved on back to the WWF to his Dream Team who famously defeated Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda for the titles by rubbing Johnny V's lit cigar in their eyes. After his Dream Team lost the Tag Titles to the British Bulldogs at WrestleMania 2, Johnny V added Canadian strongman Dino Bravo to his stable. At WrestleMania III, Valiant, Valentine and Bravo abandoned Beefcake in the ring after a battle with The Rougeau Brothers and the New Dream Team of Valentine and Bravo was born. Not as successful as the first incarnation, this Dream Team had a lengthy feud with the scorned Beefcake, now known as Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake, in which Beefcake famously cut and ruined Johnny V's hair. Also in this stint in the WWF, Johnny V was known to do commentary on matches from time to time and introduced the team of Demolition before they were paired off with Mr. Fuji. After leaving the WWF, Valiant returned to the AWA and led the Destruction Crew: Wayne Bloom and Mike Enos to the AWA World Tag Team Championship in 1989 (defeating Greg Gagne and Paul Diamond in a tournament final).

After wrestling

Sullivan still goes by the moniker of Johnny Valiant as an actor and comedian. He has appeared on multiple episodes of The Sopranos and Law & Order. He also has several feature films on his resume. His one man show "An Evening with Johnny Valiant" has garnered critical praise from "Time Out New York," "The Village Voice" and WBAI Pacifica Radio. He was remarried in 2004 and lives in Queens, New York City.

A documentary and sequel featuring Johnny Valiant, Jimmy Valiant, and indy wrestlers Sky Hosoya and Larry Brisco called "The Absolute Truth About Pro Wrestling (Parts 1 and 2)" was released in 2008.

In wrestling

• Wrestlers managed

• Brutus Beefcake
• Hulk Hogan
• The Spoiler
• Greg Valentine
• Dino Bravo
• Demolition
• The Destruction Crew

Championships and accomplishments

• Championship Wrestling from Florida

• NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jimmy Valiant
• NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (1 time) - with Jimmy Valiant

• Georgia Championship Wrestling

• NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jimmy Valiant

• NWA San Francisco

• NWA World Tag Team Championship (San Francisco version) (1 time) - with Jimmy Valiant

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated

• PWI Tag Team of the Year award in 1974 - with Jimmy Valiant

• World Wide Wrestling Federation

• WWF Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)
• WWWF World Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Jimmy Valiant (1) and Jerry Valiant (1)

• World Wrestling Association

• WWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• WWA World Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Jimmy Valiant