Jon Heidenreich

Jon Heidenreich, better known simply as Heidenreich (born June 28, 1972 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is a professional wrestler, best known for his stint with World Wrestling Entertainment.

Career

Heidenreich is an accomplished martial artist. He began training at age six and earned his first-degree black belt at the age of 12. Heidenreich also played professional football as an offensive lineman for the Atlanta Falcons, Washington Redskins, and New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. NFL officials often saw his toughness and exuberance as unnecessary roughness -- resulting in frequent game ejections. After his departure from the NFL, he was trained by the California-based Ultimate Pro Wrestling before he was first signed to a WWE developmental contract in 2001. After being released, he wrestled in Japan's Pro Wrestling ZERO-ONE, where he won a tag team title with Nathan Jones, and impressed WWE scouts. He was signed to another contract in 2003.

WWE Debut

Weeks before he would give Matt Hardy his "audition" tape, Jon Heidenreich was given a mixed tag team match on RAW with partner Trish Stratus. The duo went on to win this match, but did nothing to the either performers storylines.

On October 16 2003, he debuted as a face in an angle in which he tried to get a spot on both brands, he appeared on SmackDown! and handed a tape to Matt Hardy to give to then SmackDown! General Manager, Stephanie McMahon for a tryout. Matt threw the tape away.

At the 2003 WWE No Mercy event he appeared once again asking Hardy about the tape, then choked Shannon Moore but quickly apologized.

A week later on October 27 2003 he appeared once again looking for a tryout on the RAW brand in a skit with Hurricane and Rosey and then RAW General Manager, Stone Cold Steve Austin. At this time his gimmick involved him being controlled by another entity known as "Little Johnny." Despite speculation as to Little Johnny's identity - Heidenreich's son, a doll similar to George "The Animal" Steele's "Mine," a split personality or even Heidenreich's penis - the angle was dropped before being resolved. In a recent interview with WrestlingRadioNetwork.com^*, Heidenreich revealed that "Little Johnny" was actually meant to be his inner-child who was angry at the world for being teased about his obesity. This was supposedly inspired by Heidenreich's own childhood.

Heidenreich was sent back down to Ohio Valley Wrestling to further hone his skills.

SmackDown!

He returned as a heel on the SmackDown! brand, under the management of "agent" Paul Heyman. His new gimmick was as a psychopath: he ran in on random matches, attacked fans, and recited hateful poetry. His first feud was against The Undertaker, a match made after a run-in at No Mercy. At Survivor Series 2004, The Undertaker beat Heidenreich; at the annual Armageddon pay-per-view, though, Heidenreich interfered in the Undertaker's Fatal Four Way match, attacking him and thereby allowing WWE Champion John "Bradshaw" Layfield to retain the championship.

At Survivor Series 2004, and more recently at 2005's Royal Rumble, Heidenreich had an encounter with a like-minded psychotic from RAW, Gene Snitsky, in which they both exchanged their views on each other - "I like .. your .. poetry."; "I .. like what you do.. to babies." - while breathing heavily, a mannerism they shared.

At 2005's Royal Rumble, Heidenreich broke out on his own and secretly partnered with Snitsky, wherein Snitsky would interfere in Heidenreich's Casket Match with The Undertaker. It was later revealed that Kane was hidden in the casket, and pounced on both Snitsky and Heidenreich, where they continued their fight in the crowd, before letting the Casket Match continue. Heidenreich then went on to lose the match. This started a chain reaction of feuds, originally planned to lead to a match at WrestleMania 21 in which The Undertaker would partner with Kane to take on Snitsky and Heidenreich; however, the idea was later nixed by The Undertaker, who instead fought Randy Orton.

After his feud with Booker T, Heidenreich turned face, altering his psychotic gimmick to become a more sympathetic character not unlike Frankenstein in the James Whale films. Calling them "disasterpieces", his poetry became more light-hearted, receiving cheers from the crowd.

Heidenreich then started a segment on SmackDown! in which he made friends with audience members, read them a piece of his poetry and allowed them to stand in his corner for the match.

Legion of Doom

Heidenreich went on from the man of poetry to feuding with MNM after they attacked him when he was eating chocolate with the Divas, during an event in Hershey, Pennsylvania. After being attacked week in and week out on Smackdown!, he was finally helped out by Road Warrior Animal. Animal and Heidenreich then challenged MNM to a match at The Great American Bash, where they defeated them to win the WWE Tag Team Championship. It was Heidenreich's only championship in WWE.

On the July 28, 2005, episode of SmackDown!, Heidenreich shaved his hair into a mohawk on Animal's request. (In the plot line, initially he did not feel "worthy" of replacing Animal's partner, Road Warrior Hawk, but Animal convinced him that he wasn't looking for a replacement, but a tag team partner with talent.) The following Smackdown, Animal even talked Heidenreich into wearing face paint to make him more "L.O.D.". However, on August 18, 2005, Heidenreich was officially made part of the "L.O.D" when he was presented with his own Road Warrior spikes. Heidenreich and Animal lost the tag titles on the October 28, 2005 edition of Smackdown! to MNM.

Departure From WWE

WWE released a statement on January 17, 2006 acknowledging that they had come to terms with Heidenreich for a release from his contract. Contrary to popular belief, he did not request his release. He revealed this in an interview on the Voice of Wrestling internet radio show. He claims that he was not given an explanation for his release and was fired despite working ill at house shows.

As of May 2006, Heidenreich has been competing on the U.S. independent wrestling circuit. He sometimes appears wearing the full Legion of Doom paint and shoulder pads.

Personal information

Heidenreich has numerous tattoos, including a devil on his left chest.

In late August 2005 Heidenreich's family was stranded in Louisiana when Hurricane Katrina hit the area, he was unable to contact them and had begun a search to find them. He finally made contact with his wife, kids, and father on September 6, 2005.

The voice featured on Heidenreich's theme song is that of Paul Heyman.

He is unbeaten at arm-wrestling within the WWE.

In Wrestling

Finishing and Signature Moves

The Disasterpiece (Spinning sidewalk slam)
Power Dunk (Modified Shoulderbreaker)
Electric Chair Drop
Catapult Backbreaker

Tag Team Moves

Doomsday Device with Animal

Managers

Quotes

"And that was a poem by Heidenreich!"
"All these fans, are my friends"
"Who wants to be my friend?"
"Come on!"
"Bring it on!"
"That's it!"
"Come and get some!"
"That's right, L.O.D.!"
"Come on, get some more!"
"Oh, you want some more?!"

Heidenreich was known for being among the more verbose wrestlers during his time in the WWE, talking during his matches at an almost constant rate. One of his most memorable sayings was "Bap!" every time he'd knock someone down.