Ron Slinker
Encyclopedia
David Slinker better known by his ring name
, Ron Slinker, was an American
professional wrestler
and martial artist who competed in several North American promotions
.
and sixth dan in Yōshūkai. He joined the United States Marine Corps
at age 17 before attending the University of Tampa
. He worked as a police officer for ten years. Slinker also coached martial arts and competed in 29 karate
tournaments, of which he won 27. In 1971, he was named to the United States judo team. That year, he also won the Amateur Athletic Union
Southeast heavyweight championship in judo.
, Mid-South Wrestling (later Universal Wrestling Federation), Florida Championship Wrestling and the National Wrestling Alliance
. At various times, he was managed by Woman or competed as part of Kevin Sullivan
's Army of Darkness. While competing in Tennessee, he challenged Jerry Lawler
for the Memphis
version of the NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship on April 10, 1978 but was unsuccessful. On May 4, 1979, he won his first championship belt by defeating David Schultz
for the NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship
, a title Schultz soon regained in a rematch.
Slinker also competed as a tag team
wrestler, teaming with Kendall Windham
, Edward Leslie
and Ron Bass
. On December 25, 1978 at the NWA Mid-South Superdome Extravaganza, Slinker and Bass competed in a tournament to determine the new holders of the NWA United States Tag Team Championship. They faced André the Giant
and Dusty Rhodes
but were defeated. Competing in a tag team with Sgt. Rock in 1990, Slinker also won the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship
. They won the title on November 12, 1990 and held the belts until the title was abandoned.
After retiring as a professional wrestler in the early 1990s, Slinker managed Ron Bass
and Robert Fuller
before becoming a promoter and booking agent in Florida. Meeting Rob Szatkowski, Slinker suggested he change his ring name to Rob Van Dam
, a name he has used ever since. He also introduced Szatkowski to Japanese promoter Giant Baba and helped him find work in World Championship Wrestling
. While working for the United States Wrestling Association
, Slinker also helped train such wrestlers as Flex Kavana, who later gained fame as The Rock.
, who has competed under the ring names Tex Slazenger, Phineas Godwinn, and Mideon. In 1981, Slinker appeared in Mr. No Legs, a kung fu
movie.
Throughout much of his life, Slinker struggled with addiction. He was arrested on multiple occasions, which led to charges of theft and conspiracy to deliver drugs. He died on March 28, 2008 of liver failure
, brought on by a lifetime of alcoholism.
Ring name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
, Ron Slinker, was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
and martial artist who competed in several North American promotions
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
.
Early life
Slinker began studying martial arts at a young age and attained the rank of second dan black belt in judoJudo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
and sixth dan in Yōshūkai. He joined the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
at age 17 before attending the University of Tampa
University of Tampa
The University of Tampa , is a private, co-educational university in Downtown Tampa, Florida, United States. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In 2006, the University celebrated its 75th anniversary...
. He worked as a police officer for ten years. Slinker also coached martial arts and competed in 29 karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
tournaments, of which he won 27. In 1971, he was named to the United States judo team. That year, he also won the Amateur Athletic Union
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
Southeast heavyweight championship in judo.
Career
Slinker wrestled for International World Class Championship WrestlingInternational World Class Championship Wrestling
International World Class Championship Wrestling was an independent professional wrestling promotion based in Boston, Massachusetts. It was promoted by Angelo Savoldi and his sons Mario, Tom, and Joseph Savoldi....
, Mid-South Wrestling (later Universal Wrestling Federation), Florida Championship Wrestling 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...
. At various times, he was managed by Woman or competed as part of Kevin Sullivan
Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)
Kevin Francis Sullivan is an American professional wrestler and booker, perhaps best known for his role in WCW as "The Taskmaster" and his leading of the "Dungeon of Doom".-Early career:...
's Army of Darkness. While competing in Tennessee, he challenged Jerry Lawler
Jerry Lawler
Jerry O'Neil Lawler is an American professional wrestler, wrestling commentator, musician, businessman, commercial artist and film actor, known throughout the wrestling world as Jerry "The King" Lawler. He is currently signed to WWE, working on its Raw brand as the color commentator and occasional...
for the Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
version of the NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship on April 10, 1978 but was unsuccessful. On May 4, 1979, he won his first championship belt by defeating David Schultz
David Schultz (professional wrestler)
David Schultz is an American retired professional wrestler. Although he is known for competing in North American regional promotions such as Stampede Wrestling, the National Wrestling Alliance and the American Wrestling Association during the late 1970s and 1980s, he is perhaps best remembered for...
for the NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship
NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship (Southern Division)
The NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship was originally the primary singles championship for Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling and was originally named the NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Championship...
, a title Schultz soon regained in a rematch.
Slinker also competed as a tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
wrestler, teaming with Kendall Windham
Kendall Windham
Kendall Windham is a former professional wrestler. He is the son of Blackjack Mulligan and the brother of Barry Windham.-Florida Championship Wrestling:...
, Edward Leslie
Edward Leslie
Edward Harrison "Ed" Leslie is an American professional wrestler, best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name Brutus The Barber Beefcake. He later worked for World Championship Wrestling under a variety of names, mainly as "The Disciple" of real-life best friend...
and Ron Bass
Ronald Herd
Ronald Heard is a former American professional wrestler, best known under the name Ron Bass. His gimmick was a Texan cowboy who entered World Wrestling Federation rings to the sound of a bullwhip.-Career:...
. On December 25, 1978 at the NWA Mid-South Superdome Extravaganza, Slinker and Bass competed in a tournament to determine the new holders of the NWA United States Tag Team Championship. They faced André the Giant
André the Giant
André René Roussimoff , best known as André the Giant, was a French professional wrestler and actor. His best remembered acting role was that of Fezzik, the giant in the film The Princess Bride...
and Dusty Rhodes
Dusty Rhodes (wrestler)
Virgil Riley Runnels, Jr. , better known as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler currently working for WWE...
but were defeated. Competing in a tag team with Sgt. Rock in 1990, Slinker also won the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship
NWA Florida Tag Team Championship
The NWA Florida Tag Team Championship is the primary tag team title in Pro Wrestling Fusion. It started out in 1968 as the main tag team title in Championship Wrestling from Florida and lasted until 1990 when it was abandoned. It was picked back up in 1997 by NWA Florida, where it was the primary...
. They won the title on November 12, 1990 and held the belts until the title was abandoned.
After retiring as a professional wrestler in the early 1990s, Slinker managed Ron Bass
Ronald Herd
Ronald Heard is a former American professional wrestler, best known under the name Ron Bass. His gimmick was a Texan cowboy who entered World Wrestling Federation rings to the sound of a bullwhip.-Career:...
and Robert Fuller
Robert Fuller
Robert Welch is a professional wrestler and manager better known by his ring names Robert Fuller and Col. Robert Parker. Robert and his brother Ron co-owned Continental Championship Wrestling for a time.-Career:...
before becoming a promoter and booking agent in Florida. Meeting Rob Szatkowski, Slinker suggested he change his ring name to Rob Van Dam
Rob Van Dam
Robert Alexander "Rob" Szatkowski , better known by his ring name Rob Van Dam , is an American professional wrestler and actor who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
, a name he has used ever since. He also introduced Szatkowski to Japanese promoter Giant Baba and helped him find work in World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
. While working for 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:...
, Slinker also helped train such wrestlers as Flex Kavana, who later gained fame as The Rock.
Personal life
Slinker had two children, David, Jr. and Dina. He also had a twin brother named Don, another brother named Bill, and a sister named Mary Jo. He also had a stepson, Dennis KnightDennis Knight
Dennis Knight is a retired American professional wrestler best known for his appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment as Phineas I. Godwinn and Mideon.-Career:...
, who has competed under the ring names Tex Slazenger, Phineas Godwinn, and Mideon. In 1981, Slinker appeared in Mr. No Legs, a kung fu
Chinese martial arts
Chinese martial arts, also referred to by the Mandarin Chinese term wushu and popularly as kung fu , are a number of fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in China. These fighting styles are often classified according to common traits, identified as "families" , "sects" or...
movie.
Throughout much of his life, Slinker struggled with addiction. He was arrested on multiple occasions, which led to charges of theft and conspiracy to deliver drugs. He died on March 28, 2008 of liver failure
Liver failure
Acute liver failure is the appearance of severe complications rapidly after the first signs of liver disease , and indicates that the liver has sustained severe damage . The complications are hepatic encephalopathy and impaired protein synthesis...
, brought on by a lifetime of alcoholism.
In wrestling
- ManagersManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
- Woman
- Kevin SullivanKevin Sullivan (wrestler)Kevin Francis Sullivan is an American professional wrestler and booker, perhaps best known for his role in WCW as "The Taskmaster" and his leading of the "Dungeon of Doom".-Early career:...
- Wrestlers managed
- Ron BassRonald HerdRonald Heard is a former American professional wrestler, best known under the name Ron Bass. His gimmick was a Texan cowboy who entered World Wrestling Federation rings to the sound of a bullwhip.-Career:...
- Robert FullerRobert FullerRobert Welch is a professional wrestler and manager better known by his ring names Robert Fuller and Col. Robert Parker. Robert and his brother Ron co-owned Continental Championship Wrestling for a time.-Career:...
Championships and accomplishments
- Championship Wrestling from Florida
- NWA Florida Tag Team ChampionshipNWA Florida Tag Team ChampionshipThe NWA Florida Tag Team Championship is the primary tag team title in Pro Wrestling Fusion. It started out in 1968 as the main tag team title in Championship Wrestling from Florida and lasted until 1990 when it was abandoned. It was picked back up in 1997 by NWA Florida, where it was the primary...
(1 time) - with Sgt. Rock
- Southeastern Championship WrestlingContinental Championship WrestlingContinental Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion based out of Knoxville, Tennessee from 1974 until 1988 and Dothan, Alabama from 1978 to 1990, managed by Ron Fuller. When Fuller sold the promotion to David Woods, it changed name to the Continental Wrestling Federation...
- NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship (Southern Division)NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship (Southern Division)The NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship was originally the primary singles championship for Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling and was originally named the NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Championship...
(1 time)