John Weiss
Acting
Biography
John Weiss is an American retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Johnny Hotbody. In Eastern Championship Wrestling, he won the ECW Championship, ECW Tag Team Championship, and ECW Television Championship. Johnny Hotbody broke into professional wrestling in the late 1980s after completing his training at The Monster Factory, operated by Larry Sharpe. He made a name for himself in several Pennsylvania and New Jersey- based independent promotions before signing with Philadelphia's Tri-State Wrestling Alliance in 1990. Hotbody had a long-running feud with Tony Stetson. The TWA closed its doors suddenly in 1991, but was soon replaced by Eastern Championship Wrestling (later Extreme Championship Wrestling), run by Tod Gordon. On April 26, 1992, Hotbody won the ECW Heavyweight Championship by defeating "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka. He held the title for nearly three months, before losing it back to Snuka on July 14. Later that year, on August 12, he became the first ever ECW Television Champion by defeating Larry Winters. He was later forced to relinquish the title on September 12, 1992, after sustaining a legitimate broken ankle. Upon his return, he formed The Suicide Blondes with Chris Candido, and, for most of 1993, he competed in tag team competition. He won his first ECW Tag Team Championship with Candido on April 3, 1993, when they defeated Tony Stetson and Larry Winters. Chris Michaels was later introduced as the third member of The Suicide Blondes, which resulted in The Suicide Blondes defending the Tag Team Championships under the Freebird Rule, which meant that any combination of the three were allowed to defend the championship. He also began a feud with Tommy Cairo, attacking him after matches. The Suicide Blondes defeated Cairo and J.T. Smith in a tag team match, and for the next few weeks Hotbody competed against Cairo in matches, losing a standard singles match to him, but winning a Lumberjack match. They lost the Tag Team Championship to The Super Destroyers (A.J. Petrucci and Doug Stahl) on May 15, but the combination of Hotbody and Michaels regained it that same day. Later that year, on October 1, Hotbody, along with his former adversary Stetson, was awarded the Tag Team Championship, after the previous champions, The Dark Patriot and Eddie Gilbert, left the promotion, resulting in the titles being vacated. They had successful title defenses against Badd Company (Paul Diamond and Pat Tanaka), The Sandman and J.T. Smith, and Ian and Axl Rotten over the next month. They dropped the championship to Tommy Dreamer and Johnny Gunn, however, in a nine-second match, on November 13. Hotbody later competed for the NWA New Jersey, where he was awarded the New Jersey version of the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship on September 25, 1998. He lost it to Rik Ratchett that same day. After successful tours in several Philadelphia-area independent promotions, Hotbody retired from active competition in 2001.
Known For
The biggest WWE Superstars of the late 1980s and early '90s settle their differences in the ring on "Wrestling Challenge"; featuring exciting matches and memorable interviews, this weekly television series captures an important era of WWE history.
WWF Wrestling Challenge
The first of two ghoulish nights of action, brought to you by Jim Crockett Promotions and Tod Gordon's Eastern Championship Wrestling features the biggest stars of professinal wrestling! Witness Kevin Sullivan, Jimmy Snuka & Don Muraco vs Abdullah the Butcher, JT Smith & Terry Funk . The ECW Tag Team Straps are up for grabs as Pat Tanaka & Paul Diamond take on Tony Stetson & Johnny Hot Body. A battle of maniacs as Sabu battles with the Tazmaniac! See a Steel Cage Match for the ECW Television Title between Terry Funk and Jimmy Snuka. Also Public Enemy vs Silver Jet & Gino Caruso • Rockin' Rebel vs Don E Allen • Ian & Axl Rotten vs Chad Austin & Todd Shaw • Malia Hosaka vs Molly McShane...and so much more!
NWA Bloodfest • Night One
A celebration of Terry Funk's return to ECW in 1995; Cactus Jack takes on DC Drake in the main event; ECW World Heavyweight Champion Shane Douglas battles Marty Jannetty; The Pitbulls face Chad Austin and Joel Hartgood.
ECW Return of the Funker 1995
Public Enemy takes part in a three-way dance match for the ECW World Tag Team Title; Shane Douglas puts the ECW World Championship on the line.
ECW 3 Way Dance
The second of two ghoulish nights of action, brought to you by Jim Crockett Promotions and Tod Gordon's Eastern Championship Wrestling. The maniacal Abdullah the Butcher goes to war with Kevin Sullican in a Steel Cage! The ECW Title is up for grabs as Sabu battles the Franchise Shane Douglas. • Public Enemy vs Don Muraco & Jimmy Snuka • Tommy Dreamer vs the Tazmaniac • Sir Richards Michaels vs Rockin' Rebel...and much more action!
NWA Bloodfest • Night Two
Eastern Championship Wrestling and The World Wrestling Alliance collide in an event of epic proportions featuring the hottest pro wrestling stars of today!
ECW/WWA Battle of the Belts
The Tri-State Wrestling Alliance presents it's second 'Winter Challenge' event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania!
TWA Winter Challenge II
The Tri-State Wrestling Alliance bring you an incredible night of action with the biggest wrestling superstars!
TWA Spring Spectacular
The biggest superstars in professional wrestling collide at The Original Sports Bar in Philly!
TWA Autumn Armageddon '91
Main Event Championship Wrestling became the talk of the Internet for this premier show at the ECW Arena. Witness their first (and last) show that would go down in infamy. See Buff Bagwell get booed out of the building, but not before Steve Corino verbally punks him out. Sabu vs. The Sandman delivers with table smashing violence that made their ECW feud legendary with a surprising ending.
MECW Inaugural Show
"Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert faces Terry Funk in the Texas chain match massacre main event: The Sandman vs. Rockin' Rebel in a Philadelphia street fight match; Dick Murdoch takes on Dark Patriot Il.
ECW Super Summer Sizzler 1993
The Tri-State Wrestling Alliance takes over Philly with an all-star card so hot, it's sure to burn the ropes!
TWA Summer Sizzler
Terry Funk and Jerry Lawler renew a nearly ten-year rivalry in The City of Brotherly Love!
TWA Autumn Armageddon '90
Before the got extreme, NWA Eastern Championship Wrestling presents it's inagural showcase event, ECW November to Remember '93 from the infamous ECW Arena in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania!
ECW November to Remember 1993
Witness ECW get its start at a sports bar in Philadelphia before becoming one of the most influential pro wrestling organizations of all time.
The Best of ECW 1992: Volume 1
Ivan Koloff, Salvatore Bellomo, The Sandman and more set the tone for the mayhem that would occur over the next decade in ECW.