NWA Wrestling Legend Johnny Weaver Dies at 72 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 02-15-2008, 11:50 PM

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Johnny Weaver, a Charlotte wrestler who mastered the Sleeper hold, died Friday of natural causes. He was 72.

Weaver, who later became a Mecklenburg Sheriff's deputy, was found in his home by fellow deputies after he didn't show up for work on Friday. Funeral arrangements had not been finalized by Friday night.

Weaver, who started wrestling in 1955, often fought in the old Charlotte Coliseum and in the 1960s and 1970s went up against foes like Baron von Raschke and the Missouri Mauler. He was in the ring in an era when Charlotte was a wrestling capital and performers would drive themselves to matches across the South.

"He was one of us," said George South, who tag-teamed with Weaver in the 1980s and was put in a Sleeper hold by him at a Spartanburg reunion a year ago. "It was nothing to run into him getting a cup of coffee at a gas station."

In his 50s, Weaver became one of the oldest people to take the basic law enforcement test and ultimately joined the sheriff's office. He spent most of his 19-year career transporting prisoners on the same back roads he'd traveled as a wrestler and promoter, colleagues say.

"Anytime we'd need to go anywhere, we'd ask Johnny," said Capt. Mike Smith. "If you needed to get from Surry County to Buncombe County, Johnny could tell you how to get there. And he could probably tell you where to eat along the way."

Capt. Jeff Eason said many in the sheriff's office grew up watching the wrestler on Saturday mornings and Sunday nights.

"We'd been watching Johnny for years," he said. "He called everyone `kid.'

" 'Hey, kid this' and 'hey, kid that.' That was his thing. If he was ever in a bad mood you'd never know

GARFIELDKOOL · 02-16-2008, 10:34 AM

He was before my time, but I remember watching NWA wrestling in the late 80s and he was accompanied Dusty Rhodes to the ring in a feud with Lex Luger. Dusty had admired his sleeper hold that he used it briefly and called it the "Weaver Lock."

02-15-2008, 11:50 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,508	NWA Wrestling Legend Johnny Weaver Dies at 72 Link Johnny Weaver, a Charlotte wrestler who mastered the Sleeper hold, died Friday of natural causes. He was 72. Weaver, who later became a Mecklenburg Sheriff's deputy, was found in his home by fellow deputies after he didn't show up for work on Friday. Funeral arrangements had not been finalized by Friday night. Weaver, who started wrestling in 1955, often fought in the old Charlotte Coliseum and in the 1960s and 1970s went up against foes like Baron von Raschke and the Missouri Mauler. He was in the ring in an era when Charlotte was a wrestling capital and performers would drive themselves to matches across the South. "He was one of us," said George South, who tag-teamed with Weaver in the 1980s and was put in a Sleeper hold by him at a Spartanburg reunion a year ago. "It was nothing to run into him getting a cup of coffee at a gas station." In his 50s, Weaver became one of the oldest people to take the basic law enforcement test and ultimately joined the sheriff's office. He spent most of his 19-year career transporting prisoners on the same back roads he'd traveled as a wrestler and promoter, colleagues say. "Anytime we'd need to go anywhere, we'd ask Johnny," said Capt. Mike Smith. "If you needed to get from Surry County to Buncombe County, Johnny could tell you how to get there. And he could probably tell you where to eat along the way." Capt. Jeff Eason said many in the sheriff's office grew up watching the wrestler on Saturday mornings and Sunday nights. "We'd been watching Johnny for years," he said. "He called everyone `kid.' " 'Hey, kid this' and 'hey, kid that.' That was his thing. If he was ever in a bad mood you'd never know
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02-16-2008, 10:34 AM	#2
GARFIELDKOOL Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 02, 2004 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 7,204	He was before my time, but I remember watching NWA wrestling in the late 80s and he was accompanied Dusty Rhodes to the ring in a feud with Lex Luger. Dusty had admired his sleeper hold that he used it briefly and called it the "Weaver Lock."