Greg the hammer valentine5/21/2023 ![]() Reveling in the heat that he generated, Valentine sported a T-shirt with the phrase, "I broke Wahoo's leg." It was a brilliant heel maneuver that enhanced the rivalry. In the process, he broke the veteran's leg, earning him the hatred of the territory's fans. In one of the most notorious angles of the era, Valentine trapped McDaniel in a figure-four. It was in the NWA that Valentine rose to fame during his feud with Wahoo McDaniel over the Mid-Atlantic heavyweight title. ![]() They held the gold on two separate occasions but split after their second reign. There, he partnered with the legendary "Nature Boy" Ric Flair to capture the NWA World Tag Team Championships. After all, there would be unfair expectations on him to live up to the legacy of the great Johnny Valentine.Īfter kicking around the industry as Babyface Nelson and Johnny Valentine, he finally began competing under the name Greg Valentine and moved to the National Wrestling Alliance in 1976. While some of today's brightest stars openly acknowledge their family's rich traditions, riding on the coattails of famous fathers or mothers, it was not always that easy for second- or third-generation competitors.ĭespite the fact that his father was one of the most respected in-ring veterans, Valentine was incredibly reluctant to carry on the family name. While he was never the flashiest worker or most vivid character, Valentine was one of the most respected.įind out why with this look back at his greatest matches and moments. After leaving WWE, "The Hammer" made frequent appearances on WCW Monday Nitro as late as 1997 and returned to compete on WWE Monday Night Raw in 2005, 35 years after his debut match! Greg "The Hammer" Valentine's hard-hitting style in the ring will never be forgotten by those who saw him, and along with fellow WWE Hall of Famers, "Nature Boys" Flair and Buddy Rogers, Valentine helped make the figure-four leglock a staple of sports-entertainment.Whether he was teaming with Brutus Beefcake and Honky Tonk Man or using his Heartbreaker shin guard to damage the legs of his opponents, he managed to succeed in an industry that was rapidly changing from a more serious profession to an over-the-top cartoon, which was a testament to his ability to remain relevant. Perhaps most impressive is the fact that Valentine is one of the few Superstars who can lay claim to competing on the NWA's first Starrcade (he defeated "Rowdy" Roddy Piper in a Dog Collar Match to win the United States Championship) as well as the first WrestleMania (he successfully defended the Intercontinental Championship against Junkyard Dog). As a singles competitor, Valentine won the United States Championship in the NWA and the Intercontinental Championship in WWE. Valentine also held the WWE World Team Title with Brutus Beefcake. "The Hammer" held the NWA Mid-Atlantic (every territory had their own tag team champions) World Tag Team Title with Ric Flair. In the late 70s and early 80s, Valentine bounced between the NWA and WWE. A top-ranked Superstar during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, his career saw him earn a slew of singles and tag team championships in different eras of sports-entertainment history in the NWA, WCW and WWE. ![]() One of the toughest, most rugged competitors ever to come down the pike, Greg "The Hammer" Valentine more than carried on the tradition first established by his legendary father, the late Johnny Valentine.
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