Mark Vartanian
Encyclopedia
Sammy Couch, also known as 'Psycho' Sam Cody, is a retired professional wrestler.
and Botkins, Ohio
, during the months of March and June. Cody participated in both shows and was also inducted into the Midwest Hall of Fame.
(WWF). He faced Kamala on the April 5, 1987 episode of WWF Wrestling Challenge
; Kamala defeated Cody and left him with kayfabe
injuries that required him to be carried from the ring on a stretcher.
.
between Cody and Patriot, helping Cody to get the win.
Cody quickly became known, however, as the 'Hardcore Legend of The NWF', as he competed in many steel cage matches, as well as TLC matches (tables, ladders and chairs). Not only was Cody one of the premiere stars of the NWF, but he was also a teacher behind the scenes, helping would be wrestlers get their start in the business.
The last big time match that he participated in happened in Fairfield, Ohio against NWF talent Dustin Lillard. The match was under 'garbage can' rules, where garbage cans were at the wrestlers disposal any time throughout the match. Cody, after breaking his wrist during the match, getting suplex
ed on top of garbage cans and the like, he managed to pull off the victory over Lillard via pinfall. Cody was forced into retirement following a doctor's exam where he failed an MRI test, as doctors pointed out that the many years of steel chairs and other objects hitting his cranium has finally taken its toll. Soon after he was inducted into the NWF Hall of Fame.
Early career
Couch was trained by Crusher Verdu and made his debut in professional wrestling on Thanksgiving Day in 1981 as Sam Cody. Cody for the most part wrestled on the independent level, making his career in the Midwest Championship Wrestling (MCW) circuit under the guidance of fellow wrestler and promoter "Big" Jim Lancaster. He did this stint during the early 1980s until the promotion dissolved in 1992. However, in 2004, the company resurfaced in St. Marys, OhioSt. Marys, Ohio
St. Marys is a city in Auglaize County, Ohio, United States. The population was 8,342 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Wapakoneta, Ohio, Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
and Botkins, Ohio
Botkins, Ohio
Botkins is a village in Shelby County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,205 at the 2000 census. The village's welcome sign reads "Where the waters divide and the people unite."-Geography:Botkins is located at ....
, during the months of March and June. Cody participated in both shows and was also inducted into the Midwest Hall of Fame.
World Wrestling Federation
Cody competed briefly for the World Wrestling FederationWorld Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(WWF). He faced Kamala on the April 5, 1987 episode of WWF Wrestling Challenge
WWF Wrestling Challenge
WWF Challenge is a professional wrestling television program produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It was syndicated weekly and aired from 1986 to 1996. The show premiered as WWF Wrestling Challenge and became simply known as WWF Challenge in 1995. The show featured matches, pre-match...
; Kamala defeated Cody and left him with kayfabe
Kayfabe
In professional wrestling, kayfabe is the portrayal of events within the industry as "real" or "true". Specifically, the portrayal of professional wrestling, in particular the competition and rivalries between participants, as being genuine or not of a worked nature...
injuries that required him to be carried from the ring on a stretcher.
USA Pro Wrestling
Cody also held the USA Pro Wrestling Tag-Team champion with the late Big Dick Dudley, going under the alias of 'Psycho' Sam Dudley, a member of the fictional Dudley FamilyDudley family
The Dudley Family was a large professional wrestling stable of storyline half-brothers in Extreme Championship Wrestling.-Gimmick:The gimmick of the group was that, despite their obvious differences in physical appearance and race, the members were all said to be the sons of the fictional Willy...
.
Northern Wrestling Federation
Though Cody had wrestled as a jobber in the WWF and throughout the United States and Germany, it was not until he enlisted in the Cincinnati, Ohio promotion Northern Wrestling Federation (NWF), that Cody started to gain much fame on the independent level, even being ranked in 1992 as one of the top 500 wrestlers in the world. His most bankable gimmick was the deep rooted 'Kansas City Outlaws' tag team partnership with 'Rough House' Roger Ruffen, which originally started back in Jim Lancaster's MCW territory. Ruffen later interfered in a hair vs. mask matchProfessional wrestling match types
Many types of matches, sometimes called "concept" or "gimmick matches" in the jargon of the business, can be found in the form of performing art that is professional wrestling....
between Cody and Patriot, helping Cody to get the win.
Cody quickly became known, however, as the 'Hardcore Legend of The NWF', as he competed in many steel cage matches, as well as TLC matches (tables, ladders and chairs). Not only was Cody one of the premiere stars of the NWF, but he was also a teacher behind the scenes, helping would be wrestlers get their start in the business.
The last big time match that he participated in happened in Fairfield, Ohio against NWF talent Dustin Lillard. The match was under 'garbage can' rules, where garbage cans were at the wrestlers disposal any time throughout the match. Cody, after breaking his wrist during the match, getting suplex
Suplex
A suplex is an offensive move used in professional sport wrestling . The move consists of one wrestler picking up his or her opponent off the ground and then using a large portion of his or her own body weight to drive the opponent down on the mat. Nearly all suplexes have the attacker going down...
ed on top of garbage cans and the like, he managed to pull off the victory over Lillard via pinfall. Cody was forced into retirement following a doctor's exam where he failed an MRI test, as doctors pointed out that the many years of steel chairs and other objects hitting his cranium has finally taken its toll. Soon after he was inducted into the NWF Hall of Fame.
Championships and accomplishments
- Midwest Championship Wrestling
- MCW Hall of Fame (Class of 2004)
- USA Pro Wrestling
- USA Pro Wrestling Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Big Dick DudleyAlex RizzoAlex Rizzo was a professional wrestler, best known for his work in Extreme Championship Wrestling as Big Dick Dudley, the eldest of the Dudley Family.-Professional wrestling career:...