The small towns made for interesting match-ups like Davis teaming with McKigney (The Wildman) against the mammoth Haystacks Calhoun in one of those handicap matches that seemed to be on every card. On the trips through Ontario, the familiar names pop up, Chris Tolos, Dewey Robertson, Red Lyons, Sweet Daddy Siki, and local favorite heel Waldo Von Erich, “He was funny and real nice to me. Taught me a few things about the bit too” Davis remembers fondly. 

Some of the other familiar stars on those shows would include Ox Baker, Tony Parisi, Stan Stasiak, The Beast, Ron Doner, Kurt Von Hess, and Tiger Jeet Singh.  

One of the great attractions of this circuit was the Wrestling Bear. “Never wrestled it” said Davis “Got in the ring with it one time just playing before a show.” The Bear would be a big hit down in Roy Shire’s San Francisco promotion as well during tours of the States in the winter months. 

Ontario was the home away from home for The Sheik in those days and he would appear on many cards throughout the circuit. “Scary at first,” Davis says of the feared Arab wildman, “but I got along great with him, even though his payoffs sucked.” The exalted one would appear here long after his exodus from MLG, sometimes headlining a small card on the same night as a Gardens show.  

Davis, like most of the wrestlers at that time, faced an uphill battle for monetary security. Unless you were one of the few big stars, the traveling expenses, the lack of any health insurance and the low drawing cards leading to low payoffs could kill a career fast.  

“Nearest thing to a salary would be a weekly guarantee that Bill Watts paid. Only got the minimum guarantee one week around Christmas when I only worked one show that week,” recalls Davis, “WWWF paid hotel and transportation. Most of the time, the BIG boys had their trans paid, and the only way mine was paid was when you drove them to a show.” 

In 2004 it will be 25 years since Johnny Davis last hit the canvas. It will also mark the 25th anniversary of his second career with Delta Airlines. 

I would like to wish him hearty congratulations on both milestones and thank Mr. Davis for sharing his memories with us this month at Kayfabe Memories.     

Vital Stats 

Johnny Davis
Aka The Spoiler 
Aka Ed White 

6’5, 260 lbs 

Territories Worked: Toronto, Detroit, WWWF, St. Louis, Mid South 

Training: Lou Klein’s gym “from whoever happened to be there that day. Mostly Denny Alberts.”

Debut: Late 1974 against Ricky Cortez in Kalamazoo, Michigan

Retired: Early 1979 vs. Gino Hernandez at Olympia Stadium in Detroit

Toughest Opponent:  Johnny Valentine

Favorite Wrestler/ Opponent:  Bobo Brazil

Wrestling Hero’s:  The Sheik, Dick The Bruiser, Bruno Sammartino, Jimmy Valiant, Bobby Davis, Buddy Rogers

Tag Partners: Denny Alberts