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John Tenta

Updated: Wikipedia source

John Tenta

John Anthony Tenta Jr. (June 22, 1963 – June 7, 2006) was a Canadian professional wrestler and sumo wrestler (rikishi) best known for his work in the World 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 WWF, feuding with Hulk Hogan and winning the WWF Tag Team Championship as a member of The Natural Disasters with 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 WWF as Golga. Tenta died in 2006 after a long battle with bladder cancer. Tenta, as Earthquake, was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2025 alongside Typhoon as The Natural Disasters.

Infobox

Born
John Anthony Tenta Jr. (1963-06-22)June 22, 1963 Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
Died
June 7, 2006(2006-06-07) (aged 42) Sanford, Florida, United States
Cause of death
Bladder cancer
Ring name(s)
Avalanche The Canadian Earthquake Earthquake Earthquake Evans The Gargoyle Golga John Tenta Kototenta (sumo) Kototenzan (sumo) The Shark
Billed height
6 ft 7 in (201 cm)
Billed weight
468 lb (212 kg)
Billed from
Vancouver, British Columbia (as Earthquake) Mount Everett, Washington (as Avalanche) Great Barrier Reef (as Shark)
Trained by
Giant Baba Jumbo Tsuruta Great Kabuki Terry Gordy
Debut
1987
Retired
2004

Tables

Kototenzan Toshimitsu · Sumo career › Sumo career record
1985
1985
Year
1985
January Hatsu basho, Tokyo
x
March Haru basho, Osaka
x
May Natsu basho, Tokyo
x
July Nagoya basho, Nagoya
x
September Aki basho, Tokyo
x
November Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka
(Maezumo)
1986
1986
Year
1986
January Hatsu basho, Tokyo
West Jonokuchi 7–0 Champion
March Haru basho, Osaka
East Jonidan 7–0–P Champion
May Natsu basho, Tokyo
West Sandanme 7–0 Champion
July Nagoya basho, Nagoya
East Makushita Retired –
September Aki basho, Tokyo
x
November Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka
x
Record given as wins–losses–absences    Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique     Also shown: ★=Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s) Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi Makuuchi ranks: Yokozuna — Ōzeki
Record given as wins–losses–absences    Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique     Also shown: ★=Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s) Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi Makuuchi ranks: Yokozuna — Ōzeki
Year
Record given as wins–losses–absences    Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique     Also shown: ★=Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s) Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi Makuuchi ranks: Yokozuna — Ōzeki
Year
January Hatsu basho, Tokyo
March Haru basho, Osaka
May Natsu basho, Tokyo
July Nagoya basho, Nagoya
September Aki basho, Tokyo
November Kyūshū basho, Fukuoka
1985
x
x
x
x
x
(Maezumo)
1986
West Jonokuchi 7–0 Champion
East Jonidan 7–0–P Champion
West Sandanme 7–0 Champion
East Makushita Retired –
x
x
Record given as wins–losses–absences Top division champion Top division runner-up Retired Lower divisions Non-participation Sanshō key: F=Fighting spirit; O=Outstanding performance; T=Technique Also shown: ★=Kinboshi; P=Playoff(s) Divisions: Makuuchi — Jūryō — Makushita — Sandanme — Jonidan — Jonokuchi Makuuchi ranks: Yokozuna — Ōzeki

References

  1. WWE Alumni
    http://www.wwe.com/superstars/wwealumni/earthquake/
  2. "1989 WWF Results"
    http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/89.htm
  3. "1998 WWF Results"
    http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/98.htm
  4. "John Tenta Profile"
    http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/j/john-tenta.html
  5. wrestlezone
    https://www.wrestlezone.com/news/1546752-report-natural-disasters-set-for-2025-wwe-hall-of-fame-induction
  6. USA TODAY
    https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2025/04/18/wwe-hall-of-fame-2025-highights-inductes-time-how-to-watch/83159482007/
  7. The Globe and Mail
  8. Andy Adams, "Kototenta: Canadian Comet!", Sumo World, May 1986, pg. 4
  9. Gerry Toff, "Ex-Wrestling Champ to Enter Sumo", Sumo World, January 1986, pg. 11
  10. Gerry Toff, "Ex-Wrestling Champ to Enter Sumo", Sumo World, January 1986, pg. 12
  11. Andy Adams, "Kototenta: Canadian Comet!", Sumo World, May 1986, pg. 3
  12. Andy Adams, "Kototenta: Canadian Comet!", Sumo World, May 1986, pg. 3-4
  13. Andy Adams, "Kototenzan Quits Sumo!", Sumo World, September 1986, pg. 11
  14. Chicago Tribune
    https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/07/06/sudden-sayonara-to-sumo/
  15. Andy Adams, "Kototenzan Quits Sumo!", Sumo World, September 1986, pg. 12
  16. "Kototenzan Toshimitsu Rikishi Information"
    http://sumodb.sumogames.de/Rikishi.aspx?r=5079
  17. The History of Professional Wrestling: The Results WWF 1963–1989
  18. www
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Siaw-vpQ4Ck
  19. Full Event Results
    http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/1989/results/
  20. "Full WrestleMania VI Results"
    http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/6/results
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