1. John R Barend, better known as "Handsome" Johnny Barend, was an American professional wrestler.
10 Facts About Johnny Barend
1. 2.
Johnny Barend was trained to wrestle professionally by Ed Don George and made his professional debut on November 1,1949, defeating Faro Rinaldi.
3.
Johnny Barend first appeared in Hawaii with 50th State Big Time Wrestling in September 1955.
4.
Johnny Barend would hold the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship a number of times with a variety of partners as well as the San Francisco version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship.
5.
Johnny Barend left NWA Upstate in mid-1964 to wrestle for 50th State Big Time Wrestling in Hawaii.
6.
In December 1965, Johnny Barend left NWA Upstate to return to Hawaii.
7.
Johnny Barend usually played the part of the "heel" or bad guy.
8.
Johnny Barend would enter the ring wearing his customary hat and sunglasses an unlit cigar gracing his lips and would goad fans with his soliloquies.
9.
Johnny Barend died on September 20,2011, in Avon, New York.
10.
Johnny Barend reportedly died peacefully in his sleep from natural causes after refusing a visit to the hospital as suggested by his doctor.