Big John Studd

Inducted into the WCW Hall of Fame on May 21st, 1995.

Studd learned he had the disease in 1993 right after collapsing after his last match, against The Honky Tonk Man (Wayne Farris).

He retired again from pro wrestling, and got himself some acting gigs, including Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991). Falling off a motorcycle while filming this movie and frequent steroid use probably both accelerated his Hodgkins Disease.

Winner of the 1989 WWF Royal Rumble, last eliminating "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase

In his most famous match, he took on Andre in a 15,000 dollar bodyslam challenge at the first _Wrestlemania (1985)_.

He first worked for the WWF (then the WWWF) under the name Chuck O'Connor, then as one of the Masked Executioners in 1976, leading to a Tag Team Title reign. He later went to Texas and became the masked Captain America, feuding with Fritz Von Erich, Stan Hansen, and 'Andre the Giant'. It was in Texas that he picked up the Big John Studd moniker. Later, he moved to Jim Crockett's Mid Atlantic territory where he feuded with Greg Valentine and fellow giant Blackjack Mulligan (Bob Windham). He retired from wrestling in the late 70s, but was talked into coming back as Ron Reis' tag team partner in The Giants tag team. He went to the AWA but was generally unhappy there. In the mid 80s the WWF, under 'Vince McMahon Jr. ' took off, and Studd was along for the ride. He was always near the top of the card, feuding with the likes of Hulk Hogan and teaming with Ken Patera to cut off Andre's hair.

John Minton, or Big John Studd as he would eventually be known, was born on February 19th, 1948, in Butler, Pennsylvania. He started training to be a professional wrestler under 'Walter 'Killer' Kowalski' at the age of 18.