Johnnie Rodz and Jose Estrada made a killer tag team that I regret never worked the NWA . I had heard of the guy as a magazine reader but wasn’t too impressed because he was opening match . In the South that doesn’t mean that much . Yet I kept hearing his name . So when I finally got UA-cam I finally got to see those Spectrum shows and Johnnie opened up the show and I was impressed !! He got people into the show right away . I still think its a shame that he did that so well that its where he stayed . But I supposed its good work , if you can get it . From what I have since heard was that he was also ramrod for the McMahons . His job was to keep the wild youngins in their place .
Thank you, thank you, thank you ! Johnny Rodz, I am so glad that you are well and sharing. JBL and Jerry this is the best interview yet. It is very unfortunate that the WWE just forgets about these legends we grew up with. The unpredictable Johnny Rodz was one of the most important parts of this promotion, the enhancement talent who’s job it was to make stars. There was no one better than Johnny. He was tough and his skills were unmatched. His life story growing up in the mountains of Puerto Rico and being educated in New York City was moving. He squared off with the best, making his opponent look good, I don’t know who else did as good as Rodz in the old WWWF. They used him in the Garden shows month after month, and he was always on the weekly TV giving stiff competition to some upcoming superstar. Thank you gentleman for trying to get an answer about the most intriguing question in the wrestling world, “was the Sammartino match in 1963 over Buddy Rogers match a shoot”. Bruno said that it was, but he never heard Buddy actually give up, just that when he had Buddy in the back breaker he heard the bell and the referee told Sammartino to put him down. Bruno said that he told Buddy Rogers “I don’t know what you were told, do your best, because I’m going to do mine”. Gentleman keep up the good work of bringing our legends to the public even though the WWE doesn’t seem to care about the people who made them what they are. There is a great match on UA-cam where there is a rare appearance of the Puerto Rican champion Carlos Colon visiting Madison Square Garden, who do they choose to make Carlos look like a champion, Johnny Rodz.
Great comment. As a kid watching channel 9 from New York - at midnight - I remember The Unpredictable Johnny Rodz. Back then, I never understood "enhancement talent" but I knew some of the regular guys who always got pinned week after week. However - and this is a BIG "however" - when I would see Rodz come out - the "unpredictable" was on my mind - and I always felt he was a legitimate threat to the guy facing him - and always wanted him to do whatever he had to do to pull-off a victory. Now I understand how he did his "job" in the ring - like a real professional. Now I only wish the powers at WWE would go back and take good $$$ care of that legendary professional wrestling athlete. Great interview.
If I could make a request , guys , how about Johnnie’s tag partner Jose Estrada . I am a big fan of that tag team . I think they could have been big draws as a tag team in the NWA . If I could ask them anything it would be why they did not try to work the Carolinas . I know Johnnie worked as Java Rouk in California but I have no knowledge of Jose leaving The WWF .
I think it may be that they were both about 5’7” -5’8” . The Carolinas was a tag team territory …but it was big guys mostly ( Except for Rip Hawk but Swede Hansen was big enough for both ) . Maybe its just me but neither of these guys worked like little guys so they looked like heavyweights to me .
Pete Sanchez is name I have not heard of in years, he along with Johnny, Baron Siculna were the guys wrestling the stars each week and putting them over
Cool but Rodz story of jiu-jitsu is way off. The Gracies were taught in Brazil by Japanese judoka and catch wrestler Count Coma Mitsuyo Maeda. Helio Gracie never beat anyone he lost his fights to Judoka and pro wrestler Masahiko Kimura and to pro wrestlers Fred Ebert and Wladek Zbyszko who nearly killed him. Helio was small and tough though and Gracie Jiu-jitsu was created for smaller weaker folks. All chronicled in the book Rough and Tumble that I wrote with Erik Paulson. The definitive history book on mma and professional wrestling
The Unpredictable Johnny Rodz is one of the greatest in professional wrestling. Loved watching him in the ring.
Johnny Rodz guy FOREVER. It is what it is PA!!!!
Johnnie Rodz and Jose Estrada made a killer tag team that I regret never worked the NWA . I had heard of the guy as a magazine reader but wasn’t too impressed because he was opening match . In the South that doesn’t mean that much . Yet I kept hearing his name . So when I finally got UA-cam I finally got to see those Spectrum shows and Johnnie opened up the show and I was impressed !! He got people into the show right away . I still think its a shame that he did that so well that its where he stayed . But I supposed its good work , if you can get it . From what I have since heard was that he was also ramrod for the McMahons . His job was to keep the wild youngins in their place .
The best trainer Johnny
Thank you, thank you, thank you ! Johnny Rodz, I am so glad that you are well and sharing. JBL and Jerry this is the best interview yet. It is very unfortunate that the WWE just forgets about these legends we grew up with. The unpredictable Johnny Rodz was one of the most important parts of this promotion, the enhancement talent who’s job it was to make stars. There was no one better than Johnny. He was tough and his skills were unmatched. His life story growing up in the mountains of Puerto Rico and being educated in New York City was moving. He squared off with the best, making his opponent look good, I don’t know who else did as good as Rodz in the old WWWF. They used him in the Garden shows month after month, and he was always on the weekly TV giving stiff competition to some upcoming superstar. Thank you gentleman for trying to get an answer about the most intriguing question in the wrestling world, “was the Sammartino match in 1963 over Buddy Rogers match a shoot”. Bruno said that it was, but he never heard Buddy actually give up, just that when he had Buddy in the back breaker he heard the bell and the referee told Sammartino to put him down. Bruno said that he told Buddy Rogers “I don’t know what you were told, do your best, because I’m going to do mine”. Gentleman keep up the good work of bringing our legends to the public even though the WWE doesn’t seem to care about the people who made them what they are. There is a great match on UA-cam where there is a rare appearance of the Puerto Rican champion Carlos Colon visiting Madison Square Garden, who do they choose to make Carlos look like a champion, Johnny Rodz.
Great comment. As a kid watching channel 9 from New York - at midnight - I remember The Unpredictable Johnny Rodz. Back then, I never understood "enhancement talent" but I knew some of the regular guys who always got pinned week after week. However - and this is a BIG "however" - when I would see Rodz come out - the "unpredictable" was on my mind - and I always felt he was a legitimate threat to the guy facing him - and always wanted him to do whatever he had to do to pull-off a victory. Now I understand how he did his "job" in the ring - like a real professional. Now I only wish the powers at WWE would go back and take good $$$ care of that legendary professional wrestling athlete. Great interview.
salute the legends. soy una chica JOHNNY RODZ 🥰🏆🏆🏆
Johnny Rodz was one of the 4 heels in the WWWF in 1978, he was always a tough guy
Great legend
If I could make a request , guys , how about Johnnie’s tag partner Jose Estrada . I am a big fan of that tag team . I think they could have been big draws as a tag team in the NWA . If I could ask them anything it would be why they did not try to work the Carolinas . I know Johnnie worked as Java Rouk in California but I have no knowledge of Jose leaving The WWF .
I think it may be that they were both about 5’7” -5’8” . The Carolinas was a tag team territory …but it was big guys mostly ( Except for Rip Hawk but Swede Hansen was big enough for both ) . Maybe its just me but neither of these guys worked like little guys so they looked like heavyweights to me .
That’s a great idea!
Best show yet. So many questions answered.
A lot of questions not asked but it's not their fault. Johnny can ramble on and on.
I don’t know how easily wrestling came to him but he appeared to be a natural . Its also hard to believe he is 82 years old .
Pete Sanchez is name I have not heard of in years, he along with Johnny, Baron Siculna were the guys wrestling the stars each week and putting them over
Well worth the 2+ hours to watch!
Tiny bubbles? Tiny Tim? NO. Dean Ho? NO. Try Don Ho...
Let’s go pa
AYEEEEEE JOHNNY!!!!!!
Unpredictably a very positive interview.
This should be good
This ought to be good.
WUW GLEASONS GYM!!
1:31:38 woop woop!!! 🥊🤼♂
Gotta love you tube.
Way too Much History and too many Amazing era's not to have him back hopefully.
Cool but Rodz story of jiu-jitsu is way off. The Gracies were taught in Brazil by Japanese judoka and catch wrestler Count Coma Mitsuyo Maeda. Helio Gracie never beat anyone he lost his fights to Judoka and pro wrestler Masahiko Kimura and to pro wrestlers Fred Ebert and Wladek Zbyszko who nearly killed him. Helio was small and tough though and Gracie Jiu-jitsu was created for smaller weaker folks. All chronicled in the book Rough and Tumble that I wrote with Erik Paulson. The definitive history book on mma and professional wrestling
Wtf is this guy talking about?