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John Tatum (wrestler)
Encyclopedia
John Frankel III known by his ringname "Hollywood" John Tatum, is a retired American professional wrestler who competed in North American regional promotions including World Class Championship Wrestling
, Universal Wrestling Federation and the National Wrestling Alliance
as well as independent promotions such as the Global Wrestling Federation
and the United States Wrestling Association
during the 1980s and early 1990s. He is also the ex-boyfriend of Missy Hyatt
.
, Percy Pringle
and Michael Hayes
, he was booked as Hayes' cousin when he first began wrestling in the National Wrestling Alliance in 1983, although he later moved on to World Class Championship Wrestling with then girlfriend and manager Missy Hyatt
two years later.
In 1986, he began a feud with Chris Adams mocking him for being temporarily "blinded" (in reality, Adams wore an eye patch over his left eye while involved in a separate feud with Gino Hernandez
the previous January). During his time in WCCW, he and Hyatt would feud with Scott Casey
and his valet Sunshine which resulted in several cat fights between Hyatt and Sunshine.
' Universal Wrestling Federation and teamed with Jack Victory
against The Fantastics
(Bobby Fulton
& Tommy Rogers
) before eventually joining Eddie Gilbert's stable "Hot Stuff Inc." (later renamed "Hyatt & Hot Stuff International").
In 1987, Tatum and Hyatt began a storyline in which Tatum lost a "Valet For A Day Match" to The Missing Link
after interference by Gilbert (on behalf of Tatum). Shortly thereafter, Tatum began feuding with Gilbert in which had Hyatt siding with Gilbert after hitting him from behind with a "loaded" Gucci
handbag (considered to be one of the more unusual "heel turns" in wrestling at the time ). However, as a result of a real life affair between Hyatt and Gilbert, Tatum left the promotion with Victory at the end of year.
Returning to independent circuit, the two feuded over the World Class Championship Wrestling and Wild West Wrestling tag team titles with Steve & Shaun Simpson during the next year.
in the Texas end of the USWA and later began an angle involving Bill Dundee
both in Dallas and Memphis. Tatum introduced a new valet, known as "Tessa". However, unlike Missy Hyatt, Tessa was reluctant to interfere in his matches; and eventually she became a babyface manager, very similar to Sunshine. In addition, Tatum began using a thrust kick (similar to Chris Adams' superkick), which he called the California Kick.
Tatum drew huge controversy in a July 6, 1990 match at the Dallas Sportatorium
, whereas Tatum was slapped by Tessa, who became Dundee's valet. As Tessa turned away, Tatum knocked her unconscious with a superkick, resulting in her being carried out of the Sportatorium on a stretcher. This incident and another controversial incident involving Steve Austin and Toni Adams
(which led to Toni also being carried out on a stretcher), resulted in several TV stations cancelling its USWA broadcasts.
In 1991, Tatum reunited with Rod Price as the California Connection in the Global Wrestling Federation winning the Tag Team titles twice and competed in the GWF North American Championship tournament before leaving the promotion a year later. He continued wrestling on the Texas independent circuit for three years until his retirement in 1995 to take over his family's business at the Pensacola Interstate Fair in Pensacola, Florida.
As recently as January 2007, Tatum has made plans to open a wrestling academy in the summer of 2007 in his native Pensacola, Florida.
World Class Championship Wrestling
World Class Championship Wrestling ' was a regional professional wrestling promotion headquartered in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. Originally owned by promoter Ed McLemore, by 1966 it was run by Southwest Sports, Inc., whose president, Jack Adkisson, was better known as wrestler Fritz Von Erich...
, Universal Wrestling Federation and the National Wrestling Alliance
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
as well as independent promotions such as the Global Wrestling Federation
Global Wrestling Federation
Global Wrestling Federation was a professional wrestling promotion based in Dallas, Texas. It started in June 1991 and folded in September 1994. At one time its shows were presented on the ESPN television network. On many weeks, the promotion provided programming five days a week airing at 4 p.m...
and the United States Wrestling Association
United States Wrestling Association
The United States Wrestling Association or USWA was a professional wrestling promotion based in Memphis, Tennessee. It was founded by former CWA owner Jerry Jarrett.-Foundation:...
during the 1980s and early 1990s. He is also the ex-boyfriend of Missy Hyatt
Missy Hyatt
Melissa Ann Hiatt is an American professional wrestling valet, better known by her ring name, Missy Hyatt. She gained the majority of her fame while working for World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling....
.
Early career
A childhood friend of wrestlers Robert GibsonReuben Kane
Robert Gibson is a professional wrestler. He is famous as half of the tag team known as Rock 'N Roll Express, with Ricky Morton.-Early career:Cain started wrestling as Robert Gibson in 1977...
, Percy Pringle
Percy Pringle
William Alvin "Bill" Moody , better known by his ring name Paul Bearer, is a professional wrestling manager and former wrestler best known for his time in World Class Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation, later known as the WWE.-Early career:He entered the wrestling business in...
and Michael Hayes
Michael Hayes (wrestler)
Michael Seitz is a retired American professional wrestler and former musician. Seitz is best known for leading The Fabulous Freebirds under the ring name Michael "P.S." Hayes and for his role as the announcer Dok Hendrix in the World Wrestling Federation...
, he was booked as Hayes' cousin when he first began wrestling in the National Wrestling Alliance in 1983, although he later moved on to World Class Championship Wrestling with then girlfriend and manager Missy Hyatt
Missy Hyatt
Melissa Ann Hiatt is an American professional wrestling valet, better known by her ring name, Missy Hyatt. She gained the majority of her fame while working for World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling....
two years later.
In 1986, he began a feud with Chris Adams mocking him for being temporarily "blinded" (in reality, Adams wore an eye patch over his left eye while involved in a separate feud with Gino Hernandez
Gino Hernandez
Charles Eugene Wolfe, Jr. was a professional wrestler better known by his ring name Gino Hernandez. His in-ring nickname was "The Handsome Half-Breed" -Career:...
the previous January). During his time in WCCW, he and Hyatt would feud with Scott Casey
Scott Casey
Scott Casey is a retired American professional wrestler who is probably best known for his stint in the World Wrestling Federation between 1987 and 1990. His brother, Steve, was also a wrestler who appeared in the National Wrestling Alliance in the late 1980s and for the Global Wrestling...
and his valet Sunshine which resulted in several cat fights between Hyatt and Sunshine.
Universal Wrestling Federation
Leaving WCCW later that year, Tatum and Hyatt joined Bill WattsBill Watts
William F. "Bill" Watts is a former American professional wrestler and promoter. Watts was famous under his "Cowboy" gimmick in his wrestling career, and then as a tough, no-nonsense promoter in the Mid-South area of the United States, which grew to become the UWF.In 1992, he was the Executive...
' Universal Wrestling Federation and teamed with Jack Victory
Jack Victory
Kenneth "Ken" Rinehurst is an American professional wrestler and manager, better known by his ring name, Jack Victory. He is perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling between 1998 and 2001.-Career:Rinehurst debuted in 1985 in the Universal Wrestling Federation...
against The Fantastics
Fantastics
The Fantastics are a professional wrestling tag team composed of Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers.-History:While in the Mid-Southern area, Terry taylor was teamed with a budding young wrestler named Bobby Fulton, who at the time was a jobber on TV but showed promise...
(Bobby Fulton
James Hines
James Hines is a professional wrestler better known as Bobby Fulton of The Fantastics.-Career:James Hines started wrestling as a 16 year old in 1977 as Jimmy Hines....
& Tommy Rogers
Thomas Couch
Thomas R. Couch is a professional wrestler better known as Tommy Rogers of The Fantastics.-Career:Couch started wrestling in 1980 as Tommy Rogers in North Carolina...
) before eventually joining Eddie Gilbert's stable "Hot Stuff Inc." (later renamed "Hyatt & Hot Stuff International").
In 1987, Tatum and Hyatt began a storyline in which Tatum lost a "Valet For A Day Match" to The Missing Link
Dewey Robertson
Byron James John "Dewey" Robertson was a professional wrestler, known best for his ring name The Missing Link....
after interference by Gilbert (on behalf of Tatum). Shortly thereafter, Tatum began feuding with Gilbert in which had Hyatt siding with Gilbert after hitting him from behind with a "loaded" Gucci
Gucci
The House of Gucci, better known simply as Gucci , is an Italian fashion and leather goods label, part of the Gucci Group, which is owned by French company PPR...
handbag (considered to be one of the more unusual "heel turns" in wrestling at the time ). However, as a result of a real life affair between Hyatt and Gilbert, Tatum left the promotion with Victory at the end of year.
Returning to independent circuit, the two feuded over the World Class Championship Wrestling and Wild West Wrestling tag team titles with Steve & Shaun Simpson during the next year.
United States Wrestling Association & the Global Wrestling Federation
In 1990, Tatum wrestled in the United States Wrestling Association. He was involved in a brief angle with Kevin Von ErichKevin Von Erich
Kevin Ross Adkisson is a retired professional wrestler under the ring name Kevin Von Erich of the Von Erich Family. He is the last surviving son of wrestler Fritz Von Erich and had four brothers that wrestled, David, Kerry, Mike and Chris, as well as an older brother, Jack, Jr., who died in...
in the Texas end of the USWA and later began an angle involving Bill Dundee
Bill Dundee
William "Bill" Cruickshanks is a Scottish born-Australian professional wrestler better known by his stage name Bill Dundee. Cruickshanks is the father of Jamie Dundee and the father-in-law of wrestler Bobby Eaton....
both in Dallas and Memphis. Tatum introduced a new valet, known as "Tessa". However, unlike Missy Hyatt, Tessa was reluctant to interfere in his matches; and eventually she became a babyface manager, very similar to Sunshine. In addition, Tatum began using a thrust kick (similar to Chris Adams' superkick), which he called the California Kick.
Tatum drew huge controversy in a July 6, 1990 match at the Dallas Sportatorium
Dallas Sportatorium
The Sportatorium, located in downtown Dallas, Texas , was a barn-like arena used primarily for professional wrestling events...
, whereas Tatum was slapped by Tessa, who became Dundee's valet. As Tessa turned away, Tatum knocked her unconscious with a superkick, resulting in her being carried out of the Sportatorium on a stretcher. This incident and another controversial incident involving Steve Austin and Toni Adams
Toni Adams
Toni Leah Adams was an American professional wrestling manager and valet who appeared in several North American regional promotions during the 1980s including the Universal Wrestling Federation and the United States Wrestling Association, although she was best known as the manager of her late...
(which led to Toni also being carried out on a stretcher), resulted in several TV stations cancelling its USWA broadcasts.
In 1991, Tatum reunited with Rod Price as the California Connection in the Global Wrestling Federation winning the Tag Team titles twice and competed in the GWF North American Championship tournament before leaving the promotion a year later. He continued wrestling on the Texas independent circuit for three years until his retirement in 1995 to take over his family's business at the Pensacola Interstate Fair in Pensacola, Florida.
As recently as January 2007, Tatum has made plans to open a wrestling academy in the summer of 2007 in his native Pensacola, Florida.
Championships and accomplishments
- Big D Pro Wrestling
- Big D Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Big D Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Gary Young (1) and Rod Price (1)
- Global Wrestling FederationGlobal Wrestling FederationGlobal Wrestling Federation was a professional wrestling promotion based in Dallas, Texas. It started in June 1991 and folded in September 1994. At one time its shows were presented on the ESPN television network. On many weeks, the promotion provided programming five days a week airing at 4 p.m...
- GWF Tag Team ChampionshipGWF Tag Team ChampionshipThe GWF Tag Team Championship was the tag team title in the Global Wrestling Federation in Texas. The title existed from 1991 until 1994, when GWF closed. The title was featured on the promotion's show that aired nationally on ESPN...
(2 times) – with Rod Price
- Pro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling Illustrated is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.-History:The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979...
- PWI ranked him #407 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI Years in 2003
- Universal Wrestling Federation
- UWF World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Jack VictoryJack VictoryKenneth "Ken" Rinehurst is an American professional wrestler and manager, better known by his ring name, Jack Victory. He is perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling between 1998 and 2001.-Career:Rinehurst debuted in 1985 in the Universal Wrestling Federation...
- Wild West Wrestling
- WWW Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Jack Victory
- World Class Championship Wrestling / World Class Wrestling AssociationWorld Class Championship WrestlingWorld Class Championship Wrestling ' was a regional professional wrestling promotion headquartered in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. Originally owned by promoter Ed McLemore, by 1966 it was run by Southwest Sports, Inc., whose president, Jack Adkisson, was better known as wrestler Fritz Von Erich...
- CWA Southwestern Heavyweight ChampionshipCWA Southwestern Heavyweight ChampionshipThe CWA Southwestern Heavyweight Championship was a short-lived professional wrestling title defended in the United States Wrestling Association and the World Class Wrestling Association during their joint promotion in 1989 and 1990...
(3 times) - WCWA Texas Tag Team ChampionshipWCWA Texas Tag Team ChampionshipThe WCWA Texas Tag Team Championship was the secondary tag team championship in World Class Championship Wrestling, originally known as the NWA Texas Tag-Team title until 1981 where they were abandoned. The titles were brought back in 1987 as the WCWA Texas Tag-Team titles but once the WCWA joined...
(4 times) – with Jack Victory (3) and Jimmy Jack Funk (1) - WCCW Television ChampionshipWCCW Television ChampionshipThe WCWA Television Championship was a secondary championship that was used and defended in the World Class Wrestling Association. Originally created in 1979 as the WCCW Television Championship, it was primarily defended on their weekly television show...
(1 time)
Further reading
- Missy Hyatt, Missy and Mark Goldblatt. Missy Hyatt, First Lady of Wrestling. Toronto: ECW Press, 2001. ISBN 1-55022-498-0
- Shoot Interview With "Hollywood" John Tatum. Perf. John Tatum. 2007. DVD. Highspots.com.