R.I.P. Earthquake

The first time I saw Earthquake in a wrestling ring, I was seven years old and my infatuation with pro wrestling was at an all-time high. I never missed an episode of Maple Leaf Wrestling. I remember Dino Bravo (one of my favorite wrestlers growing up as he hailed from my hometown of Montreal) was involved in a test of strength with the annoying and overly hyped Ultimate Warrior. Bravo had challenged Warrior to a push-up contest with the added stipulation that they would do them with a member of the audience sitting on their back.

So they brought out this massive fellow from the crowd who seemed of the innocent and jolly variety of massive dude. Bravo was game, had no problem doing the pushups with a 500-pound guy on his back. But in the middle of the Warrior's set, this huge guy completely squashed the Warrior. Despite my hatred of the Ultimate Warrior, I must admit, I was a little shaken up afterwards. I was seven, remember.

The next week, Bravo announced to the world that he had planted this same enormous dude from the pushups prank back in the stands to trick the stupid Warrior. He called him “The Canadian Earthquake” but he would soon be known as simply “Earthquake.” And just like that, one of the most intimidating heels in wrestling history was born.

Over the next decade Earthquake continued his dominating ways but, for some reason, he never seemed to regain the killer instinct he possessed in the early years. He would be repackaged in the WWF and WCW into different characters but it was never the same. Around six years ago, I remember hearing that Earthquake was battling bladder cancer and that he had opened his own website to keep his fans informed on his status. I would check the site from time-to-time and he seemed to be making progress.

Until now. John Tenta died Wednesday at the age of 42. I guess he is now up in wrestler’s heaven with so many of my childhood heroes. Owen Hart, British Bulldog, Junkyard Dog, the Big Bossman, Ravishing Rick Rude, Curt Hennig, Eddie Guerrero…the list goes on and on….

Sadly enough, the man who first introduced the world to John Tenta, Dino Bravo, died 16 years ago as well. Rest In Peace big man and try not to “earthquake splash” anyone up there.