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Johnny Rodz

Johnny Rodz
Johnny Rodz.jpg
Rodz on October 25, 2008
Birth name Johnny Rodriguez
Born (1938-05-16) May 16, 1938 (age 78)
New York City, New York
Residence Brooklyn, New York
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Java Ruuk
Johnny Rodz
Super Medico II
Billed height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Billed weight 230 lb (100 kg)
Billed from Bronx, New York
Debut 1964
Retired 1999

Johnny Rodriguez (born May 16, 1938) is a retired American professional wrestler. He has previously worked as a professional wrestler under the ring name Johnny Rodz.

He was part of the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) from its early years, appearing on WWWF cards as far back as 1965. He wrestled Bob Backlund in Madison Square Garden while working for the WWWF at the time. He was dubbed "the fire brand from the Bronx" by TV announcer Ray Morgan. He also went by the moniker "The Unpredictable". He was a solid worker and the consummate "heel" or bad guy. Johnny would often "tag-team" with Jose Estrada, and Frank "the Gypsy" Rodriguez. For much of the next two decades through mid-1985, Rodz was a mainstay of the federation, though largely used as a JTTS (jobber to the stars). On August 9, 1980 Showdown at Shea, he was defeated by "Polish Power" Ivan Putski.

For a time, he also worked with Mike and Gene LeBell's NWA Hollywood Wrestling in the '70s. He won a greater share of matches wrestling as 'Arabian Wildman' Java Ruuk and even won the promotion's battle royal in 1976.

In 1996, Rodz was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame by Arnold Skaaland.

On the March 1, 2007 episode of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's Impact showed The Latin American Xchange (LAX) attacking Rodz as part of their feud with Team 3D. Ten days later at Destination X, he accompanied Team 3D to the ring for their Ghettobrawl match with LAX at a Destination X pay-per-view.


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