{"id":16755,"date":"2018-04-04T22:30:14","date_gmt":"2018-04-05T02:30:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=16755"},"modified":"2018-04-04T22:30:14","modified_gmt":"2018-04-05T02:30:14","slug":"breaking-luscious-johnny-valiant-dead-at-age-71","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2018\/04\/04\/breaking-luscious-johnny-valiant-dead-at-age-71\/","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING: “Luscious” Johnny Valiant Dead at Age 71"},"content":{"rendered":"

It was reported today by a local Pittsburgh news affiliate WXPI<\/a> that a local man hit and killed by a truck this morning has been identified as former wrestling great “Luscious” Johnny Valiant<\/strong>. It appears that Valiant, real name Tommy Sullivan, tried to cross a busy street and was struck by a passing truck. The truck pulled over and the driver was compliant with local law.<\/p>\n

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Johnny Valiant (on left), manager Cpt. Lou Albano, Jimmy Valiant (Photo: WWE)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Johnny Valiant grew up in Pittsburgh a fan (and soon to become friend) with local wrestling legend Bruno Sammartino<\/strong>. Trained by Al Costello<\/strong>, he started in 1967 working in the Detroit territory of the NWA, working under The Sheik<\/strong>. Alongside his ‘brother’ “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant<\/strong>, they paired as The Valiant Brothers<\/strong>, working in Dick The Bruiser<\/strong>‘s WWA, the AWA, NWA territories and even the WWF. Johnny was a 4x WWA Tag Team Champion, 2x WWF Tag Team Champion, as well as holding multiple regional NWA Tag Team titles. He retired from the ring in 1981.<\/p>\n