John Coleman
From Iwe
| John Coleman | |
| Ring name(s) | Avalanche Canadian Earthquake Earthquake Earthquake Evans The Gargoyle Golga John Tenta Kototenta (sumo) Kototenzan (sumo) The Shark |
| Billed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Billed weight | 460 lb (209 kg) |
| Born | June 22, 1963 Surrey, British Columbia |
| Death | June 7, 2006 (aged 42) Sanford, Florida |
| Billed from | Vancouver, British Columbia (as Earthquake) Mount Everett, Washington (as Avalanche) Great Barrier Reef (as Shark) |
| Trained by | Giant Baba [[Tomomi Tsuruta|Jumbo Tsuruta Great Kabuki Barry Gordy [[Road Warriors Dory Funk |
| Debut | 1987 |
| Retired | 2004 |
John Anthony Coleman, Jr. (June 22, 1963 – June 7, 2006) was a Canadian sumōtori and professional wrestler best known for his work in the International Wrestling Federation as Earthquake. After a promising start to his sumo career, using the name Kototenzan, Tenta switched to professional wrestling and became a high-profile star for the IWF, feuding with Hulk Hogan and winning the IWF Tag Team Championship with partner, and personal friend, Typhoon. His professional wrestling career also encompassed runs in World Championship Wrestling, where he was known as Avalanche and The Shark, All Japan Pro Wrestling and a return to IWF as Golga. Coleman died in 2006 after suffering from cancer for a long time.
| 琴天山 俊光 Kototenzan Toshimitsu | ||
| Personal information | ||
| Height | 1.97 m (6 ft 5 1⁄2 in) | |
| Weight | 192 kg (423 lb; 30.2 st) | |
| Career | ||
| Stable | Sadogatake | |
| Record | 21-0-7 | |
| Debut | November, 1985 | |
| Highest rank | Makushita 43 (July, 1986) | |
| Retired | July, 1986 | |
| Championships | 1 (Sandanme) 1 (Jonidan) 1 (Jonokuchi) | |
| * Career information is correct as of May 2013. | ||
Contents |
[edit] Early life
[edit] Sumo career
[edit] Sumo career record
[edit] Professional wrestling career
[edit] All-Japan Pro Wrestling (1987–1989)
[edit] International Wrestling Federation (1989–1993; 1994)
[edit] World Championship Wrestling (1994–1997)
[edit] Return to International Wrestling Federation (1998–1999; 2001)
[edit] Illness and death
[edit] Other media
[edit] In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Earthquake Splash (IWF) / Avalanche Splash (WCW) / Shark Bomb (WCW) (Running seated senton with "heavy jumping" theatrics)
- Side belly to belly suplex – 1987–1989; used as a signature move thereafter
- Signature moves
- Atomic drop
- Bearhug
- Big splash
- Canadian backbreaker
- Corner body splash
- Running jumping elbow drop
- Running leg drop
- Running neckbreaker
- Standing dropkick
- Walking on a fallen opponent's stomach
- Walking scoop powerslam
- With Typhoon
- Typhoon hits a body avalanche and keeps the opponent cornered while Earthquake splashes his back, crushing the opponent with the impact of both of their weights
- Entrance themes
- "Winner Takes It All" by Sammy Hagar (AJPW; 1987–1989)
- "Lucky Ones" by Loverboy (NWA All-Star; 1987–1989)
- "La Marseillaise" by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle (IWF; 1989–1990)
- "Quake Shake" by Jimmy Hart and J.J. Maguire (IWF/WWE/SWS/WAR/AJPW; 1990–1994, 2001–2004)
- "Avalanche Theme" (WCW; 1994–1995)
- "Shark Theme" (WCW; 1995–1996)
- "One Crazed Anarchist" (WCW; 1996–1997)
- "The Greatest Show" by Insane Clown Posse (IWF; 1998–1999)
[edit] Championships and accomplishments
- All Japan Pro Wrestling
- January 2 Korakuen Hall Heavyweight Battle Royal (1988)
- Super World of Sports
- SWS Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Typhoon
- Tokyo Sports
- Rookie of the Year (1987)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
- Worst Tag Team (1998) with Kurrgan
- Worst Feud of the Year (1996) vs. Big Bubba Rogers
