JOHN RAMBO

Stats/Profile

John Rambo began his professional wrestling career 22 years ago when he started training with former WWF World Tag Team Champion Rocky Johnson. After training with Rocky Johnson, Rambo furthered his training at former WWF World Tag Team Champion Afa The Wild Samoan's "Samoan Pro Wrestling School." The first territory Rambo competed in, under the name John Maxwell, was back in 1989 for Jerry Jarrett's and Ed Marlin's CWA, in Memphis/Nashville, TN. The league consisted of Robert Fuller with Sylvia, Action Jackson, Ronnie Gosset, Dutch Mantel, P. Y. Chu Hi, Tojo Yamamoto, Mark Star, Chris Champion, Bill Dundee, Jeff Jarrett, John Paul, Tracy Smothers, Frankie Lancaster, Brian Lee, Tower of Pain (AKA Undertaker), Jerry Lawler, Austin Idol and Billy Travis.

After a very successful run in the independent circuits and South Pacific overseas tours back in 1989 & 1990, John Rambo was offered a WWF try out by Gorilla Monsoon in August, 1990, but opted to head out West and gain more experience in Don Owen's wrestling hotbed, the NWA / Pacific Northwest in Portland, Oregon. Both opportunities were impressive accomplishments for the first year pro wrestler. While there, Rambo continued to travel overseas and compete. "The Pacific Northwest was an excellent learning experience for me, especially with the weekly TV show that aired every Saturday night on KPTV-12 throughout the western states," Rambo stated. "When I first got there it was nothing to wrestle 40 to 50 nights in a row without a day off. That's a lot of traveling. But, that's called paying your dues. At the time, the territory consisted of Crush, Billy Jack Haynes, Buddy Rose, Raven (then Scotty the Body), Steve Doll (AKA Steve Dunn), Equalizer (now known as Davey Sullivan), Lynn Denton the Grappler, Jesse Barr, Matt Borne, Scott "Flash" Norton (former tag team partner with John Rambo), Ricky Santana, Carl Stiles, Al Madril (former tag team partner with John Rambo), Beetlejuice (Art Barr), Ron & Don Harris, Jimmy Snuka, Brickhouse Brown, Bart Sawyer, WCW instructor Mike Wenner, Moondog Ed Moretti, Col. DeBeers (former NWA/PNW Tag Team Champion with partner John Rambo), and a handful of other very talented wrestlers. Rambo spent 7 years in the Pacific Northwest, and in that time won the NWA (Pacific Northwest) Tag Team Championship with Col. DeBeers, NWA (Pacific Northwest) Television title, Championship Wrestling U.S.A. (Vancouver, WA.) Champion, and E.C.C.W. Heavyweight Champion (Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling) which was the last title Rambo earned on the West Coast in 1996 with a tough fought battle with Jimmy Snuka in Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Rambo returned to the East Coast in February 1997 to take over as operator and instructor at the Superior Pro Wrestling Training Center.

When asked who has been his toughest competition, Rambo states, "Everyone out in the Pacific Northwest was tough. A lot of successful talent came out of the group that were there then. But besides those guys, I'd have to say there's another big list of very tough opponents I have faced in the ring: Afa, Sika, Headshrinker Samu, Ivan Koloff, Nikita Koloff, Nikolai Volkoff, Rick Rude, Cactus Jack (aka Mankind), Tonga Kid, Phatu (aka Rikishi), Tower of Pain (aka the Undertaker), Iron Sheik, Bam Bam Bigelow, Rocky Johnson, Cheetah Kid (aka Rocco Rock), S.D. Jones, Junk Yard Dog, Outlaw Ron Bass, Rad Radford (aka Louie Spicolli), Ray 'Doink the Clown' Apollo, Matt Borne (aka Big Josh), Tito Santana, Iron Mike Sharpe, Big John Studd, Jimmy Jack Funk, Al Perez, Hercules Hernadez, Ken Patera, Honky Tonk Man, Kamala the Ugandan Giant, Larry Zbyszko, Sgt. Slaughter, Cousin Luke, Tommy Rodgers, Cowboy Bob Orton, Don Muroco, the late Kerry Von Erich (former tag team partner with Rambo) and I can go on and on. Once you get to my level, all the competition is very tough. That's why on Tuesday nights I don't hold back. Some of these guys are just starting their careers, and the others have a lot to learn. My matches with them are a learning experience. That's not to say on any given Tuesday one of these guys might get lucky on me. But the chances of that are slim." Some big name talent Rambo has squared off in main event matches with over the last five years have been Yokozuna, Disco Inferno, Terry Funk, Mankind, 911, King Kong Bundy, Honky Tonk Man, Firebreaker Chip Curt Thompson (UCW Worlds Tag Team Champion partner), Carl Stiles, the Rock & Roll Express, Stevie Richards, Original Doink the Clown (tag team partner), Balls Mahoney, and Manny Fernandez. The 1998 barb-wire feud with the Mad Russian made much mainstream media attention, as did earlier feuds with Ivan Koloff (1989), Cactus Jack (1990-1991), Iron Sheik (1990), and Bart Sawyer (1991-1994). Currently, John Rambo is one half of the newly formed ultimate hard-core tag team known as the "Hippie Extreme Team," along with partner Headshrinker Samu.

At age 10, Rambo began Tae Kwon Do and Tang Soo Do training under the tutelage of South Korean Army "Martial Arts" instructors Grand Master Soon-Ho Chang (Chang's School of Martial Arts) and Yong-Man Lee. In the early 80's, Rambo helped instruct self defense classes for the "Neighborhood Block Watch" program in Bethlehem, PA (City of Bethlehem Police Department). With an actual 34 years experience in various Marital Arts styles and a master in Tae Kwon Do, John incorporates his skills in these arts to his wrestling and teaching skills. This Martial Arts knowledge is now being passed on to the NWL wrestlers and trainees who are interested in participating in the HoPWF's "hardcore/shoot" division.

Along with the necessary "smarts" required to make it in the ring, Rambo also took advantage of a college education after earning athletic and academic honors at Freedom High School (' 79) in Bethlehem, PA. Along with scholastic studies, Rambo was top of the class in brick & concrete masonry at the Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School. Maintaining above a 3.0 GPA all throughout his junior high and senior high school years, Rambo learned early that hard work does pay off. Rambo excelled in football, achieving All-City, Lehigh Valley All Star "LARC" Classic (McDonald's Lehigh Valley All Star Football Classic) and All-Region status. Today, he is still labeled as one of the best offensive lineman to come out of Freedom H.S. Rambo was also a Track & Field standout taking 5th place overall in District 11, and still holds the all time season point record in the javelin at Freedom H.S. (48 pts for 9 first place throws and 1 second place toss). Rambo earned a total of 6 letters during his high school sports career, before attending Lehigh University, where he studied Mechanical Engineering/Mechanical Drafting and Architecture. Recruited by over 100 colleges and universities across the country, Rambo was most impressed with the academic curriculum Lehigh had to offer. "When I go around to the various schools and give speeches, my experiences come in handy when I try to relate to the students," says Rambo. John Rambo makes it a point to volunteer his time and go to schools to discuss many topics which concern our youth today. In 2005, Rambo founded the NWL/HOUSE of PAIN "Community Scholarship" Program, that allows local teens the opportunity to become a member of the NWL/HOUSE of PAIN free of charge. If anyone is interested in having Rambo attend their school to speak to the students, feel free to contact John at JRamboNWL@aol.com.

For the past 13 years, John Rambo has been promoting professional wrestling events in Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. With over 1200 shows under his belt, Rambo has built a steady fan following for the NWL/HoPWF, offering weekly events at the training center and on the road. What started off as strictly a practice "training" league, the HoPWF has grown to become one of the premiere independent leagues in pro wrestling. Rambo always says, "If any fan comes up to me after a show and tells me to my face they did not have a good time, I will give them their money back." If you haven't checked out an NWL/HoPWF show, you have a guaranteed reason to do so!

On Sunday, April 18, 2010, John Rambo was inducted into the New England Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2010 along with some of the biggest names in professional wrestling. This is a tremendous honor and adds further credibility to the NWL/HoPWF and the SPWTC/HOUSE of PAIN. New England Pro Wrestling Hall Of Fame Class of 2010 Induction Ceremony. What a great time! So many big name stars and what a tremendous honor to not only be inducted in the same class of them but also have so many of them actual friends of mine from my 22 year career in pro wrestling. If anyone else took photos, please send them to me and I'll add them to the album along with all the photos our group took. What a great feeling to earn another great spot in the professsional wrestling history books/records! Visit my Facebook page to see the complete photo album with big name stars such as Ox baker, Jimmy Superfly Snuka, Living Legend Zbyszko, Mr. Sports Illustrated Robbie Ellis, WWE referee Tim White, John Cena Sr., original Doink the Clown Matt Borne and many others! Facebook | John Rambo. "Thank you Joe Bruen for a fantastic time and a lifelong memory!" ~ John Rambo NEPWHOF Class of 2010

As for hobbies and interests, Rambo says, "I love to cook and watch TV and new video releases. When I take a break away from my work, I like to watch Court TV, History Channel, Discovery Channel, A&E and FOX News." When it comes to cooking, Rambo has built himself quite a reputation as an actual chef. Rambo gives credit to his mother for his cooking skills, and a lot of time spent in front on an oven and stove. After some of the events, NWL/HOUSE of PAIN members get to sit down and enjoy a home cooked meal prepared by Rambo. "It took many years of practice and work, but I'm glad I got into cooking. Knowing how to cook main dishes, breads, desserts, sauces, etc., comes in very handy and it's an excellent trade to have to fall back onto."

Titles Held    

• NWL Heavyweight Champion (10X) - defeated Ivan Koloff 1989, defeated Iron Sheik 1990, defeated Cactus Jack (AKA Mankind) 1991, defeated Bob Starr 1997, defeated Gutterboy 1999, defeated Spazman Anthony 2001 & 2002, defeated Gutterboy 2006, won vacant title 2007, defeated Shane Shadows 2009

• WXW Heavyweight Champion - defeated Hungarian Barbarian 1997

• NWA / Pacific Northwest  World Tag Team Champion (Partner Col. DeBeers) 1992

• NWA / Pacific Northwest TV Champion - defeated Bart Sawyer 1992

• Championship Wrestling, USA TV Champion - defeated MIke Wenner 1992

• UCW World Tag Team Champion (partner "Firebreaker Chip" Curt Thompson) - 1997

• NWA / ECCW Heavyweight Champion - deafeated Jimmy Snuka 1996

• MECW Heavyweight Champion - defeated Morgus the Maniac 1997

• AWF Heavyweight Champion - defeated The Bounty Hunter 1990

• Other various independent wrestling titles