Things Fans Should Know About Greg "The Hammer" Valentine

Debuting within the Nineteen Seventies, Greg “The Hammer” Valentine was a type of stable wrestlers who flew underneath the radar for a lot of followers as a result of he by no means did something flashy. Over the course of a near-40-year lengthy profession, he wrestled for WWE, the Nationwide Wrestling Alliance territories, and later WCW, leaping forwards and backwards amongst many promotions.

Contemplating that his heyday was arguably within the Nineteen Seventies and Nineteen Eighties, it’s possible many trendy followers don’t know a lot about him. Let’s check out the profession of Greg Valentine and what followers ought to know in regards to the legend, together with his origins, his basic match with Roddy Piper, and his numerous tag crew partnerships.

Greg Valentine Is The Son of Johnny Valentine

He Is A Second-Era Expertise

Johnny Valentine wrestled within the NWA

He’s the daddy of Greg Valentine

He retired from the ring early because of a airplane accident

Contemplating he cemented his personal legacy, it might come as a shock to some followers to search out out that Greg Valentine is definitely a second-generation expertise. Debuting in 1947, Johnny Valentine wrestled within the numerous Nationwide Wrestling Alliance Territories, held the USA Heavyweight Championship, and placed on matches with legends like Lou Thesz, Bobo Brazil, and Antonio Inoki. Nonetheless, in 1975 Valentine suffered a extreme again damage in an notorious airplane crash and was compelled to retire as an in-ring performer.

Greg Valentine Initially Distanced Himself From His Father

He Wished To Create His Personal Legacy

Born Jonathan Wisniski in 1951, the long run Greg Valentine noticed the professional wrestling enterprise first-hand when he’d journey the Texas territory together with his father, and finally sought to observe in Johnny Valentine’s footsteps whereas nonetheless in his teenagers. Whereas he didn’t approve at first, the elder Valentine had his son journey to Canada, the place he was educated by the legendary Stu Hart earlier than transferring to Detroit and getting additional coaching from Ed Farhat, the unique Sheik. When the youthful Valentine debuted in 1970, he opted to not use his father’s title, taking over monikers like Child Face Nelson and Johnny Fargo earlier than finally adopting the Valentine title.

Greg Valentine Was Tag Staff Companions With Ric Aptitude

He Teamed With One among The Greatest

In 1976, Greg Valentine made his solution to Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, a territory that may finally evolve into World Championship Wrestling, and the place his father was an energetic performer earlier than his airplane crash. There, he discovered himself tagging with Ric Aptitude, who paradoxically was additionally within the airplane crash with Greg Valentine’s father.

As a duo, Ric Aptitude and Greg Valentine feuded with the Minnesota Wrecking Crew — Gene Anderson and Aptitude’s future 4 Horsemen stablemate Ole Anderson. By the top of their partnership, Aptitude and Valentine would maintain the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Staff Championship and the NWA World Tag Staff Championship collectively.

“I Broke Wahoo’s Leg” Was Iconic Greg Valentine Shirt

He Was Half Of A Nice Storyline

Greg Valentine knew the facility of promoting

He created a t-shirt to promote a feud

He broke Wahoo McDaniel’s leg (in storyline)

Whereas Greg Valentine and Ric Aptitude have been tag crew companions, Valentine additionally acquired right into a singles feud with Chief Wahoo McDaniel because of McDaniel costing the pair the tag crew championships. Valentine ended up difficult McDaniel for his NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship, profitable the belt and in addition (kayfabe) breaking the previous champion’s leg within the course of. To capitalize it, Greg Valentine began carrying a now-iconic T-shirt that learn “I broke Wahoo’s leg.” Wahoo McDaniel would return from damage a few months later and win again the belt.

Greg Valentine Had Early Runs in WWE

He Was A Rookie Earlier than Finally Breaking Out

He made his WWE debut towards Frank Williams in 1978

He transitioned from the NWA to WWE

He went on a prolonged undefeated streak

Greg Valentine’s massive WWE run would occur within the mid-Nineteen Eighties, however he really had a couple of runs with the corporate earlier than that, beginning in 1978 when he arrived, and made his leg-breaking incident with Chief Wahoo McDaniel a full-on gimmick. He’d return to the corporate in 1981, and be a daily thorn within the facet of WWE Champion Bob Backlund, difficult for the title on a number of events. He’d additionally unsuccessfully tackle Pedro Morales for the Intercontinental Championship, and depart the corporate in 1982.

Greg Valentine Had A Legendary Feud With Roddy Piper

They Made The Canine Collar Match Well-known

Valentine and Piper feuded over the USA Title

They wrestled within the first Canine Collar match

Piper got here up with the thought and the remainder is historical past

After leaving WWE, Greg Valentine would return to the Mid-Atlantic territory, the place he’d change into a three-time United States Champion — the identical title that WWE acknowledges immediately — and enter a violent feud with Roddy Piper over the belt. The basic match between the 2 was a Canine Collar Match that occurred at Starrcade ‘83, which was a non-title affair that Piper would win. Piper finally defeated Valentine for the US belt, however Valentine would win it again weeks later.

Greg Valentine Captured The WWE Intercontinental Championship

He Was One Of The Greatest Early IC Champions

Valentine had a dominant run as Intercontinental Champion

He held the gold for practically 300 days

He helped to additional the legacy fo the title

In 1984, Greg Valentine returned to WWE, the place he quickly dethroned Tito Santana to seize his first title within the promotion, the Intercontinental Championship, injuring Santana’s leg in a post-match determine 4 leglock. Whereas Santana recovered, Valentine went on to defend the IC strap on the very first WrestleMania, shedding to Junkyard Canine by countout and racking up a 285-day run with the belt.

As soon as Tito Santana returned, he defeated Valentine to win again the title in a metal cage match, however Valentine destroyed the belt in a match of rage. In consequence, a brand new Intercontinental Championship belt was minted, introducing what’s thought-about the basic design of the title belt.

Greg Valentine Fashioned The Dream Staff With Brutus Beefcake

The Dream Staff Discovered Success In WWE

The Dream Ream received the WWE Tag Staff Titles

Their reign lasted for 226 days

Valentine turned towards Beefcake, ending their duo

Quickly after shedding the IC Title, Greg Valentine would as soon as once more return to tag crew wrestling, forming The Dream Staff with Brutus Beefcake. Collectively, Valentine and Beefcake defeated The U.S. Specific to win the Tag Staff Championship, holding it for 226 days till they dropped them to the British Bulldogs at WrestleMania 2. A 12 months later, at WrestleMania 3, Valentine would activate Beefcake and undertake Dino Bravo as his tag crew associate to create a brand new model of The Dream Staff.

Greg Valentine Fashioned Rhythm & Blues With The Honky Tonk Man

Valentine Loosened Up To Turn out to be A Musician

Greg Valentine was principally a severe performer

He turned extra comedic throughout his time with The Honky Tonk Man

He embraced the Elvis persona

After the brand new Dream Staff was over, Greg Valentine discovered a brand new midcard heel to crew up with within the Honky Tonk Man. Managed by Jimmy Hart, Valentine and Honky turned Rhythm & Blues, with Greg Valentine matching Honky Tonk Man’s power by dying his hair black to match his associate’s signature Elvis impersonator look. After feuds with the Hart Basis and the Bushwhackers, the 2 entered a break-up angle, however sadly Honky Tonk Man departed WWE earlier than the previous companions might have a match.

Greg Valentine Wrestled For WCW

He Was One Of Many Names To Depart WWE For The Competitors

Greg Valentine had a profession after WWE

He had numerous spells in WCW

He was squashed towards The Large on Nitro

After leaving WWE himself in 1992, Greg Valentine would soar ship to WCW, the place he’d first crew with Terry Taylor to seize the USA Tag Staff Championship, holding the belts for 90 days and later feuding with the Rhodes household. After departing the corporate that very same 12 months and wrestling on the indie and worldwide scenes — together with a few matches in WWE —, Valentine returned to WCW in 1996 and spent the following two years wrestling sporadically on tv towards notables like Lex Luger, The Large, and Randy Savage.