Jesse Ventura - What Adrian Adonis Was Like as a Wrestler

[@randyragsdale23]

Adrian Adonis was a hell of a worker inside the ring and an even better talker. His rivalry with Rowdy Roddy Piper proved just how good he was on the mic.

[@BillOLDbergSucks]

Very few big men move around like him.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

sadly talent gets trumped by drug addiction especially as bad as his was

[@jonathanturbide2232]

East-West Connection made a lot of money for old Verne, Adrian took the bumps while Jesse sold the tickets with his promos. Great combo.

[@shantheman6879]

Wasn't the same angle played with Adrian and Dick Murdoch in the WWF?

[@jonathanturbide2232]

@@shantheman6879 Yep 100%, they were called the North-South connection. 👍🏻

[@shantheman6879]

@@jonathanturbide2232 haha thanks.

[@MikeFiori-xy9hv]

You guys are forgetting the East-West connection also made it big in the WWF. Circa Spring '82. I still remember they made the cover of PWI at that time. Good times.

[@richg4189]

Adonis perfected being upside down when thrown into a turnbuckle. He was a great showman

[@white6delta]

I just watched sgt slaughter vs warrior at royal rumble 91, and sarge did one of those bumps and flew all the way to the floor. Its amazing to see guys that big do such an acrobatic move like that

[@rickstalentedtongue910]

Ric Flair abused it. But if you got it, use it.

[@ThouSwell-zx3fd]

Even when he was morbidly obese, Adrian was agile as a cat.

[@neiss616]

I was thinking who did that first, Adrian or Flair?

[@daviderickson8699]

Adrian could get tied up in the ropes more than anyone too. Poor guy must have had arms like Plastic Man to get them intertwined so quickly and consistently, lol.

[@stephenc8]

Piper and hart always speak very highly of Adonis also

[@standforhumanitariancauses4756]

I always look forward to hear from Jesse Ventura. He's an amazing person. He's authentic, genuine trustworthy, stand up , and a very solid person Something that's rare in today's society.

[@tpryce6243]

You forgot braggart and bullshit artist.

[@paulbryant8403]

He's a fuckin maniac

[@bostonrailfan2427]

only at wrestling…outside of it he’s a whacko

[@markboudreau1410]

"The East-West connection" one of the GREATEST Tag Teams of all time!! Good Night Irene!!

[@TitleMatchWrestling]

Watch the Full Jesse Ventura Shoot Instantly 🔥 Become a Title Match Master Today ⬇ kzbin.info/door/L-SpA6XXf282YMAelest8wjoin

[@christopherjames9843]

Both Adrian and Jessie worked out at World Gym East in Hamden, CT in the early 1980's. Adonis was a loner who wouldn't talk to anybody. Not friendly at all. While Jessie was incredibly friendly. I remember in around 1986 him telling us he was going to film a "Predator".

[@solyhhit]

I've heard so many good stories about Adrian Adonis.

[@hartiwanger9176]

Not from Tony Atlas

[@PunkSlapper123]

​@@hartiwanger9176Tony Atlas, just like Adonis, had a drug habit. But, unlike Adonis, Tony Atlas sucked in the ring.

[@rickstalentedtongue910]

@@PunkSlapper123 No, he was pretty good, just a power guy....)

[@bostonrailfan2427]

until you hear about Dan Spivey…then it gets put into a whole other perspective drugs are horrible, Adrian was a huge user

[@bostonrailfan2427]

@@hartiwanger9176or Dan Spivey

[@bigmike2464]

My fav Tag Team of all time. I started watching in 1978 in the AWA

[@iamtheai2759]

My first taste of wrestling was going to a live show featuring them vs Tony Garea and Rick Martel ….a long time ago

[@WTF187SUCKAAA]

I haven't seen a Rick Martel comment in a long time. I always liked his gimmick the Model. I thought he was great wrestler.

[@peterl2017]

The only thing better than listening to Jesse is listening to Will Sasso do Jesse. Killer Kross does a good job too!

[@carlosdanger947]

Jesse’s in ring performance was the shits BUT as an announcer he was awesome .

[@Brody-cx5vl]

East west connection was an underrated heel tag team.

[@IliasSotiropoulos-ve7dr]

How do you remember when they used to come to Rockford Illinois Jesse and Adrien alone will have a full house excellent time to see them perform thank you for the memories

[@MyNameIsUnavailable]

First ever singles match I ever saw in person was Adrian Adonis. He was a heel, but was still respectfully cheered, and won via Corner Bulldog. 1985

[@civilwildman]

If I met Jesse Ventura, I would - by the end of our interaction - definitely have to tell him "We thank you for your service, Jesse Ventura."

[@Luke-xi2pq]

Jesse wasn't lying. Adrian's physique looked a lot better when they were a tag team together. Wasn't that lean, but was getting a lot of muscular development, his abs were even noticable sometimes. The East-West connection was always underrated, some of the best promos out there, too.

[@thelastperfectman4139]

Yeah Adonis was pretty muscular then; when he was in WWF I was shocked at how flabby he became after his time in AWA.

[@username-zj9id]

​@@thelastperfectman4139 he looked like a completely different person. I remember not even being sure it was the same guy 😊

[@TONYGILLEY]

I'm going to have to rewatch some of Jesse's matches during his WWF run and before that, because I can't imagine going through an entire match without taking a bump. I get what he's saying about the bumps should mean something, but I figure taking some bumps are unavoidable given the nature of a wrestling match.

[@curthennig9448]

Jesse bragging about being lazy in the ring.

[@stelvis7413]

My first wrestling memories of tag teams are Jesse & Adrian, the Moondogs, Tony Garea & Rick Martel & the Wild Samoans. Remember seeing the East West Connection at the Hartford Civic Center in the early eighties.

[@patrickcleary5949]

The kiwi sheephearders

[@troyf.9050]

I used to communicate with Adrian's daughter. She was always nice!

[@rickstalentedtongue910]

When you say, communicate, that means...You touched her where, exactly?

[@troyf.9050]

@@rickstalentedtongue910 😁 No, not that far. We used to communicate on Adrian's old match footages.

[@robertjones8771]

🙏🏾Mr.Ventura is the MAN!Robert Jones from Tallullah,La LOVE YOU💯❤️

[@Graterstuuf]

Just wish the Dan Spivey match was televised.

[@jamesrideout123]

God Bless Jesse

[@chrisruth7057]

That's true cause Adrian Adonis whent from 245 lbs to as high as 325 lbs

[@johnkrolczyk2241]

When Adonis was in better shape he was a wrestling machine.

[@photonicus]

Even out of shape he was pretty good.

[@Graterstuuf]

Potatoed. Love it.

[@brandonlamontagne2075]

Adrian adonis was one hell of a worker and when he teamed with jesse ventura just watch the matches they had you knew who carried that team that's for sure. For adrian to not be in the wwe hof is a fn joke, look at the bimbos they inducted they dont even belong there. Adrian needs to be there because he was so talented and he could work with anybody, The darkside of the ring episode should be one of the very best which aires tonite on vice.

[@bornr2797]

I always say...jesse the body..one of my top favs....

[@msoi215]

#RIPAdrianAdonis

[@Jim-Tuner]

They put Adonis with Ventura because Ventura couldn't work at all in the ring. He had a good look and could talk, but in the ring he couldn't do anything. A singles match with Jesse Ventura was usually eight minutes of stalling and two minutes of selling by his opponent.

[@PunkSlapper123]

Jesse was more of an entertainer. He was not a good wrestler but he knew how to work a crowd. He played the heel role extremely well.

[@Jim-Tuner]

@@PunkSlapper123 He knew how to do an interview. But even working a crowd, his in-ring matches were just terrible. All he could do was stall and even in the old days, people realized that they were not getting what they paid for. His tag matches when he had an exceptionally good partner to do all the selling in the ring and put on a show (Adrian Adnois) did work. He could also work a crowd in those matches with his opponent doing alot of selling for him. But singles matches with Jesse were always terrible.

[@rickstalentedtongue910]

@@PunkSlapper123 Yup

[@bostonrailfan2427]

it’s why he hated bumps: he had to actually do his job

[@ernestcruz6316]

They should've been the team to take the belts off Garea and Martel instead of the Moondogs. But they had to give the titles to an Albano team, not a Blassie team like Ventura and Adonis.

[@wa1ufo]

Jesse, you are A-OK in my book!

[@albundy7623]

I can picture Adrian talking and Jesse standing there posing and kissing his biceps

[@MikeGrant-zt7uo]

Dr Jerry Graham is on of histor's greatest villains

[@horizontoday7874]

Should be in the HOF!

[@GaryDelabate]

Come on! The second Jessie started talking you know he wasn’t from San Diego!😅

[@bravebeard6225]

What does he mean when he says "Take a bum"?

[@Grisna_25-]

Jesee

[@verntoews6937]

1973 Winnipeg Manitoba arena . Davey Young and myself age 16 already 6'4" went out of bounds and I ended up in the wrestlers entrance hall. In standing next to Ventura and across from Adonis and amazed how short Ventura is. I looked at Dave and raised my hand to taunt Jesse's height and he pulled back and growled at me so I walked away😁

[@christopherjames9843]

Used to know Jessie in the early 80's. I would say about 6'2". Maybe 6'2.5".

[@peterisnardi1197]

I imagine an alternate reality where Adrian Adonis teamed up with Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine teamed up with Jesse...

[@rickstalentedtongue910]

For the sex?

[@sincman]

Let's be real here...Jesse did little to nothing inside the ropes. He was a great talker, had a great look but when the bell rang he was useless.

[@millyonair9225]

And some guys can't even do that.

[@sall4090roughcuts]

sad the WWE still has not inducted Adrian in the HOF - travesty -

[@michaelvrckoff6966]

Win if you can lose if you must but always cheat or close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades 2 quotes Jesse always used

[@fixpacifica]

I think he also said, "If you're not cheating, you're not trying. " Or maybe it was Lawlor who said that. Anyway, words to live by.

[@undertakerfanz628]

He was a wrestler afraid to take bumps that's why he became an announcer

[@JayceeGenocide]

He wanted to win every match like Hogan.

[@undertakerfanz628]

@@JayceeGenocide that didn't work for me brother

[@nikpelaou3638]

Yeah, but be real. Does anybody want to take bumps.

[@Jim-Tuner]

He wasn't really a wrestler. He was just plain bad in the ring. They made him an announcer because he could talk and his tryout matches for a singles feud with Hogan totally bombed. Every singles match with Jesse was about eight minutes of pure stalling followed by maybe two minutes of action. He had a look and he could talk, but he was done once the bell rang.

[@thoraxicaa4825]

​@@nikpelaou3638Like Lesnar in MMA...it was always said that he didn't like to be punched in the face. Who likes to be punched in the face???

[@CesarHernandez-pd1eb]

A navy seal that hates bumps.😂😢

[@Xryder15]

Exactly! Lol...I like jesse but he has his own BS with him as well.

[@yoshiike1]

Awesome

[@randaloopy]

What does he mean by "taking bumps"?

[@chrisacres]

Taking a decent fall or injury during a match. Take Mankind being flung off HIAC - that was a helluva bump.

[@harryballzaky2674]

What the hell are "Bumps?"

[@justafan5598]

Taking a bump means to make yourself fall down to sell a move. I hear those rings are hard as hell so you have to be tough to do it. Adrian was tough.

[@edwarren4877]

Ask Danny Spivey how good Adrian was

[@j.m.youngquist419]

What is a bump

[@squadgeman3247]

I remember when Adrian died. It was a big deal for us Newfies.

[@bobbyjohnson9409]

What Jesse says at the end is exactly why Austin is 1 and Hulk is 2 in my view. Austin was a great worker as stunning Steve for years but got over the most after the neck injury and didn’t do much but just brawled as Stone Cold, cause he couldn’t do as much anymore. Hulk can wrestle very good like in Japan against Great Muta but in the states, he cuffs his ear to the crowd and is a legend. Who cares that Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, and Ric Flair can go an hour and are great in ring performers? The term in ring was always annoying. Once u enter the curtain and arena, you are working. Shawn can do all the flips he wants. Dude wasn’t a draw so he’s not the goat. Bret didn’t draw either. Flair did but for the NWA which is more regional. He couldn’t draw in 1991 when he went to the WWF or in 2001 when he returned to the WWF after WCW closed. He’s more of a southern legend

[@DrGreenthumb820803]

Crack is not your friend.

[@rickstalentedtongue910]

@@DrGreenthumb820803 Wanna bet?

[@DrGreenthumb820803]

@@rickstalentedtongue910 😂

[@millyonair9225]

Youre all over the place, dude.

[@robertcoggeshall3071]

At least jesse admits not taking bumps.

[@DavidAdams-r5x]

Jesse spends alot of time in the baha running a fish taco shop

[@amanrob]

Thickest accent for someone from San Diego

[@NunYabidness-e1j]

Sucks adrian died avoiding a moose with the Vachons

[@ancientredwoods8502]

Sorry Jesse you were not a natural, Adrian however definitely was.

[@Curls105anarm]

Is it wrong to see Adrian as a victim? He was given the adorable gimmick.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

Adrian is a sad case of someone who wasted their talent on drugs, his weight gain is directly linked with his growing drug addiction thst ended up killing his career

[@paulpatane2439]

Jesse was a horrible wrestler. So boring in the ring

[@souperstar7050]

A wrestler who doesn't like to take a bump, is like a stooge that doesn't like to get slapped. So I guess that makes Jesse the Joe Besser of wresters.

[@brunopaolucci6054]

And that’s why you’re never in the conversation as even a good wrestler

[@demonicon1]

I ain't got time to bleed

[@justafan5598]

He ain't had time to bump either.

[@bold810]

Seriously, what is the trip about Adrian Adonis? He was a Gay Man, and now he's dead. Hey.. dudes that are scared and "unsettled". Adrian has been dead for a long time. Adrian will not come up out of his grave to ask if your glutes need a waxing #Macho Macho Fairies #I'aim manly I ride Harley Davidson

[@ThouSwell-zx3fd]

Bro it was just a gimmick, adrian was straight as an arrow, married with kids

[@undertakerfanz628]

What are your memories? 🙄🙄🤮

[@JakePantyShields]

Ventura is a legend in his own mind