John Anthony Tenta, Jr. (June 22, 1963 – June 7, 2006) was a Canadian sum?tori and professional wrestler 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 with partner, and 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.
As Golga, he always came to the ring with a stuffed Eric Cartman (from South Park) doll.
2
Wrestling finisher move "The Earthquake Splash"
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Quote
1
[Disowning his Shark gimmick] "I'm not a shark, I'm not a fish, I'm not an avalanche. I am a man! John Tenta! A 500 lbs. man!"
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Fact
1
As Avalanche, he was billed from "Mt. Everest, WA." As the Shark, he was billed from "Tsunami," later changed to "The Great Barrier Reef." While the Great Barrier Reef does exist, obviously nobody lives there.
2
While he usually used the running sit-down splash as his finisher, as the Shark he used a clothesline called the Shark Attack and, as himself in 1996 WCW, he used a powerslam.
3
Started his own short-lived promotion and wrestling school in Sanford, Florida called Intense Florida Wrestling.
4
The Shark's entrance music bore a distinct resemblance to the theme music from Jaws (1975).
5
While not as impressive as the Undertaker (Mark Calaway)'s WrestleMania streak, he had one of his own. Earthquake defeated Hercules (Ray Hernandez) at "WrestleMania VI." Earthquake defeated Greg Valentine at "WrestleMania VII." The Natural Disasters defeated Money Inc. by countout at "WrestleMania VIII." Earthquake defeated Adam Bomb (Bryan E. Clark II) at "WrestleMania X." His only WrestleMania loss came in the Gimmick Battle Royal at "WrestleMania X-7," where he was the fourth wrestler eliminated (he eliminated Tugboat before Kamala (Jim Harris) eliminated him.).
6
Made a good enough impression in the Gimmick Battle Royal to get a tryout match at the end of the year. He defeated Tank Meloche, one of his students, in a dark match before a TV taping at the TD Waterhouse Center in Orlando, FL on December 22, 2001. However, it did not lead to Quake getting a job with WWE.
7
Did a shoot interview with R.D. Reynolds, the webmaster of WrestleCrap.com, where he talked about his past gimmicks and angles. This led to a friendship which led to Tenta getting his own section on the site's message boards where he would answer fans' questions.
8
He was never pinned on PPV as Earthquake. In fact, he was only ever pinned twice on PPV in his entire career. Sting and Randy Savage defeated Avalanche and Big Bubba at "WCW SuperBrawl V" when Sting pinned Avalanche. The Headbangers (Mosh (Chaz Warrington) and Thrasher (Glenn Ruth)) defeated the Oddities (Golga and Kurrgan) at "WWF Rock Bottom" when Mosh pinned Golga after Golga had missed his running sit-down splash.
9
Attended Louisiana State University. For years he had a LSU Tigers tattoo on his arm. While he was doing the Shark gimmick, he endured a 24-hour procedure to have the Tiger turned into a shark. Soon after, he stopped doing the gimmick.
10
Won the Pro Wrestling Illustrated Achievement Award for "First Runners-Up Tag Team of the Year 1992". (with Typhoon)
11
Won the Pro Wrestling Illustrated Achievement Award for "Third Runner-Up Match of the Year 1990". (Royal Rumble)
12
Won the Pro Wrestling Illustrated Achievement Award for "Second Runner-Up Match of the Year 1990". (vs. Hulk Hogan)
13
Won the Pro Wrestling Illustrated Achievement Award for "First Runner-Up Feud of the Year 1990". (vs. Hulk Hogan)
14
Won the Pro Wrestling Illustrated Achievement Award for "Most Hated Wrestler of 1990".
15
Was selected as a member of Team Piper at Uncensored '97, but didn't compete when the Four Horsemen replaced the entire team except Piper.
16
Stomped Jake Roberts' snake Damien in 1991.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
All Japan Pro Wrestling 2002 Real World Tag League Gaora TV Special
2002
TV Movie
Big John Tenta
WCW Monday Nitro
1995-1997
TV Series
The Shark / John Tenta
WCW Bash at the Beach
1996
TV Movie
John Tenta
WCW World Championship Wrestling
1996
TV Series
The Shark
WCW SuperBrawl VI
1996
TV Movie
The Shark
WCW World War 3
1995
TV Movie
The Shark
Clash of the Champions
1995/I
TV Movie
Avalanche
Clash of the Champions XXIX
1994
TV Movie
Avalanche
WWF Superstars
1989-1994
TV Series
Earthquake
Earthquake - The Natural Disasters
The Canadian Earthquake
...
WWF: Smack 'Em Whack 'Em
1993
Video
Earthquake
WWF Challenge
1991-1992
TV Series
Earthquake
Saturday Night's Main Event
1990-1991
TV Series
Earthquake
WWF UK Rampage '91
1991
TV Movie
Earthquake
WWF Prime-Time Wrestling
1991
TV Series
Earthquake
Royal Rumble
1991
Video
Earthquake
Summerslam
1990
Video
Earthquake
World Wrestling Federation
1990
TV Series
Earthquake
Royal Rumble
1990
Video
Earthquake
No Holds Barred: The Match/The Movie
1989
TV Movie
Earthquake
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
WrestleMania X-Seven
2001
TV Special
Earthquake
Beyond the Mat
1999
Documentary
Himself (uncredited)
WWE Sunday Night Heat
1998-1999
TV Series
Golga
WWE Raw
1994-1999
TV Series
Golga
Earthquake
Golga- The Oddities
WWF Royal Rumble: No Chance in Hell
1999
TV Special
Golga
WWF Rock Bottom: In Your House
1998
TV Special
Golga
Summerslam
1998
TV Special
Golga- The Oddities
WCW The Great American Bash
1996
TV Special
John Tenta
WCW Fall Brawl: War Games
1995
TV Special
The Shark- The Dungeon Of Doom
Clash of the Champions
1995/II
TV Special
The Shark
WCW Uncensored
1995
TV Special
Avalanche
WCW SuperBrawl V
1995
TV Special
Avalanche
Starrcade
1994
TV Special
Avalanche
Halloween Havoc
1994
TV Special
Avalanche
WrestleMania X
1994
TV Special
Earthquake
Royal Rumble
1993
TV Special
Earthquake
Survivor Series
1992
TV Special
Earthquake
Summerslam
1992
TV Special
Earthquake
WrestleMania VIII
1992
TV Special
Earthquake
Royal Rumble
1992
TV Special
Earthquake- The Natural Disasters
Survivor Series
1991
TV Special
Earthquake (Natural Disasters)
WWF Battle Royal at the Albert Hall
1991
TV Special
Earthquake
Summerslam
1991
TV Special
Earthquake
WrestleMania VII
1991
TV Special
Earthquake
Survivor Series
1990
TV Special
Earthquake (The Natural Disasters)
WrestleMania VI
1990
TV Special
Earthquake
Survivor Series
1989
TV Special
The Canadian Earthquake - The King's Court
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
WWE Royal Rumble
2016
TV Special
Earthquake
WWE Hall of Fame
2015
TV Special
Earthquake
True Giants
2014
Earthquake
Macho Man: The Randy Savage Story
2014
Video documentary
Avalanche
WWE: The Best of WarGames
2013
Video
The Shark
Attitude Era
2012
Video
Golga
The Big Show: A Giant's World
2011
Video
The Shark
WWE: Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan
2010
Video
Earthquake
Hulk Hogan's Unreleased Collector's Series
2009
Video
Earthquake
WWE Summerslam: The Complete Anthology, Vol. 3
2009
Golga
WWE: Greatest Stars of the '90s
2009
Video
Earthquake
Golga
WWE: Summerslam - The Complete Anthology, Vol. 1
2009
Earthquake
The WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event
2009
Video
Earthquake
Starrcade: The Essential Collection
2009
Avalanche
The Life and Times of Mr. Perfect
2008
Video
Earthquake
WWE Vintage Collection
2008
TV Series
Earthquake
WWE Royal Rumble: The Complete Anthology, Vol. 3
2008
Video
Golga
WWE: Royal Rumble - The Complete Anthology, Vol. 1
$6 Million
