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John Minton, or Big John Studd as he would eventually be known, was born on February 19th, 1948, in Butler, Pennsylvania. He started training to be a professional wrestler under 'Walter 'Killer' Kowalski'  at the age of 18. He first worked for the WWF (then the WWWF) under the name Chuck O'Connor, then as one of the Masked Executioners in 1976, leading to a Tag Team Title reign. He later went to Texas and became the masked Captain America, feuding with Fritz Von Erich, Stan Hansen, and 'Andre the Giant'. It was in Texas that he picked up the Big John Studd moniker.

Later, he moved to Jim Crockett's Mid Atlantic territory where he feuded with Greg Valentine and fellow giant Blackjack Mulligan (Bob Windham). He retired from wrestling in the late 70s, but was talked into coming back as Ron Reis' tag team partner in The Giants tag team. He went to the AWA but was generally unhappy there. In the mid 80s the WWF, under 'Vince McMahon Jr.' took off, and Studd was along for the ride. He was always near the top of the card, feuding with the likes of Hulk Hogan and teaming with Ken Patera to cut off Andre's hair. In his most famous match, he took on Andre in a 15,000 dollar bodyslam challenge at the first _Wrestlemania (1985)_. He retired again from pro wrestling, and got himself some acting gigs, including Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991). Falling off a motorcycle while filming this movie and frequent steroid use probably both accelerated his Hodgkins Disease. Studd learned he had the disease in 1993 right after collapsing after his last match, against the Honky Tonk Man (Wayne Farris). He spent 20 weeks in the hospital in 1994 (during which time he admitted under oath that he used steriods in the 80s during the WWF's steroid trial), and died from liver cancer on March 20th, 1995. He was 47 years old and left behind a wife and three children, John Jr., Janelle and Sean.

Winner of the 1989 WWF Royal Rumble, last eliminating &quot;Million Dollar
Man&quot; Ted Dibiase

He was one of the wrestlers featured in the cartoon series &quot;Hulk
Hogan&#39;s Rock N&#39; Wrestling&quot; (1985-198?), though he did not provide his
own voice.

Inducted into the WCW Hall of Fame on May 21st, 1995.

John Studd came out with his own line of workout and vitamin
supplements.

John Minton was diagnosed with Hodgkin&#39;s Disease and fought the disease for several years.

His gimmick was bringing a stretcher to the ring and he&#39;d beat his opponents so badly they would be taken out on the stretcher.

Wrestled for the World Wrestling Federation.

Notable Title Wins Include: WWWF Tag Team Titles; WWA Tag Team titles;
NWA Canadian Heavyweight title; NWA American Heavyweight title; NWA
Hawaii Tag Team titles; NWA Hawaii North American Heavyweight title;
NWA (Pacific) International Heavyweight title; NWA (Mid-Atlantic) Tag
Team titles (3); NWA Texas Tag Team titles; NWA National Tag Team
titles; EWU World Super Heavyweight title; World Class Texas Tag Team
titles; Florida Global Tag Team titles; Knoxville Southern Heavywieght
title; WWF Royal Rumble Winner

Three children: John Robert, Janelle, and Sean.

1977 Wrestling Rookie of the Year, 2nd runner-up.

Big John Studd was trained by Killer Kowalski

John Studd also trained several wrestlers including Ron Reis, who
debuted in WCW as &quot;Big&quot; Ron Studd.

Previous Managers: Bobby Heenan, Freddy Blassie.

He received several title shots at AWA champ Verne Gagne, but was
unable to win the coveted strap.

Trivia

John Minton

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