He was part of theWorld Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) from its early years, appearing on WWWF cards as far back as 1965.[2] He wrestledBob Backlund inMadison Square Garden while working for the WWWF at the time. Dubbed the "Fire Brand From the Bronx" and the "Unpredictable", he was a proficient worker and a solid heel. Johnny would often tag withJose Estrada, and Frank "the Gypsy" Rodriguez.[4] For much of the next two decades through mid-1985, Rodz was a mainstay of the federation,[5] though largely used asenhancement talent,[6][7] for which he was praised by some of his peers.[8] At times Rodz worked in Japan, Puerto Rico and other territories. This included him winning theCanadian International Heavyweight Championship in Montreal asJava Ruuk. On August 9, 1980, at theShowdown at Shea, he was defeated by "Polish Power"Ivan Putski.[9][10] His last WWF match was a loss toGama Singh on June 19, 1985.
After leaving the WWF, Rodz would work in the independent circuit in New York. He returned to Puerto Rico in 1990 as the Super Medicos feuding with the Texas Hangmen.
Rodz defeatedChris Candido at Century Toyota in Wallingford, Connecticut on June 28, 1992. Later that year the Super Medicos worked in Japan forW*ING and Network Of Wrestling.
On May 15, 1996, Rodz defeatedJohnny Valiant at Empire Wrestling Alliance in Hoboken, New Jersey.
In 1997, Rodz wrestled his last match and retired.
Johnny Rodz has been training students for over 30 years, out ofGleason's Gym inBrooklyn. Rodz has trained many students who have gone on to have successful careers in and out of the ring for various wrestling promotions, serve as high-level executives at television networks, and some even went on to become high-level government officials at agencies such as FDA and FDIC. Wrestlers trained by Rodz include:Tazz,Tommy Dreamer,D-von Dudley,Damien Demento,Prince Nana,Marti Belle,Wendy Choo,Big Vito,Masha Slamovich,William Morrissey,Vince Russo, and many more.[14][15] A few of Rodz' students have gone on to train other future superstars at their own wrestling academies.[16] Rodz founded the independent wrestling promotion known as World of Unpredictable Wrestling.[17][18]
^Chris Sokol (August 11, 2004)."Little Jeanne's destiny is old-school". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. RetrievedMarch 20, 2008.
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