J. J. Dillon

James Morrison (born June 26, 1942) is an American retired professional wrestler and manager, better known by his ring name, J. J. Dillon.[1]

J. J. Dillon
J. J. Dillon at the Walter "Killer" Kowalski Memorial Show in Malden, Massachusetts on October 26, 2008
Birth nameJames Morrison
Born (1942-06-26) June 26, 1942
Trenton, New Jersey
WebsiteJJDillon.com
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)J. J. Dillon
James J. Dillon
Jo Jo Dillon
Jim Dillon
Jim Valence
Billed height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Billed weight238 lb (108 kg)
Trained byEddie Graham
DebutDecember 6, 1968
RetiredFebruary 19, 2003

Professional wrestling career

J. J. Dillon had an extensive wrestling career. He broke into wrestling at the age of 29, starting out in the early 1970s as a referee before transitioning into a wrestler and then a manager, while winning many championships and managing a variety of wrestlers throughout many different territories around the country. He made his Madison Square Garden debut on April 23, 1984 when he challenged Tito Santana for the WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship, losing by pinfall after a flying forearm by Santana.[2]

Dillon is most remembered in pro wrestling as a manager. He guided many wrestlers to singles and tag team titles in the NWA. Dillon, who became manager of Tully Blanchard,[3] achieved his greatest success as the manager of the Four Horsemen which consisted of "Nature Boy" Ric Flair, Blanchard, Arn Anderson , Ole Anderson, Lex Luger and Barry Windham. After leaving WCW in February 1989, he was a front office executive for the WWF until 1997. On April 21, 1997, he returned to WCW as an on-camera commissioner, a position which lasted until fall 1998. He returned to this role in 1999 before his final departure. In 2003, he had a short stint as an NWA representative in TNA.

In 2009, Dillon made a one-night appearance at Deaf Wrestlefest 2009 to team with "Beef Stew" Lou Marconi and "Handsome" Frank Staletto in a six-man tag team match against "Franchise" Shane Douglas, Dominic Denucci and Cody Michaels.[4][5][6]

On December 29, 2019, Dillon joined the Board of Directors of the International Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame.[7] On March 3, 2021, he returned to TNT to act as manager for Tully Blanchard on an episode of AEW Dynamite.[8] In 2022, he appeared on Judge Steve Harvey with wrestler Kevin Sullivan.[9]

Championships and accomplishments

Books
  • Dillon, James J.; Teal, Scott; Varriale, Philip (2005). Wrestlers are like seagulls : from McMahon to McMahon. Hendersonville, TN: Crowbar Press. ISBN 0-9745545-2-9. OCLC 62596130.

References
  1. "Zoltan organizes Deaf WrestleFest". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 30, 2009.
  2. "- YouTube". YouTube.
  3. "JJ Dillon & Tully Blanchard on 4 Horsemen Origin!". YouTube.
  4. Deitch, Charlie (April 30, 2009). "The Wrestler". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  5. Shrum, Rick (April 30, 2009). "Zoltan organizes Deaf WrestleFest". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  6. Csonka, Larry (May 5, 2009). "Various News: RVD Video Blog, Doug Basham Retires, JJ Dillon Returns to the Ring, More". News. 411mania.com. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  7. Lee, Joseph (January 2, 2020). "JJ Dillon Joins Board of International Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame". 411Mania. Archived from the original on January 2, 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  8. Defelice, Robert (March 3, 2021). "Shawn Spears And J.J. Dillon Help FTR And Tully Blanchard Defeat Jurassic Express On AEW Dynamite". Fightful.com. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  9. Middleton, Marc (2022-03-24). "Wrestling Legends Appear on ABC's "Judge Steve Harvey"". Wrestling Headlines. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
  10. "J.J. Dillon announced for 2016 Tragos/Thesz HOF". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on 2016-02-01. Retrieved 2016-01-27.
  11. NWA Macon Heavyweight Title history At wrestling-titles.com
  12. Meltzer, Dave (2012-12-10). "Mon. update: Major Spike announcement tomorrow, Aces & 8s identity, TNA injury updates, Hall of Fame inductions announced, WWE two PPVs this weekend, Jericho schedule, Amateur wrestling hits MSG first time ever". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 2012-12-10.
  13. "The Four Horsemen". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2012-01-09.
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