John Anthony Tenta Jr., the Surrey-born Canadian, left an indelible mark on the world of professional wrestling. Known to many as Earthquake, Tenta’s journey was far from conventional, with his career path winding through the realms of sumo wrestling before he made his seismic impact on the wrestling world. This article explores Tenta's life, focusing on his transition from a sumo wrestler to a professional wrestler, his weight loss, and his impact on the wrestling world.
Early Life and Sumo Beginnings
Born in 1963, Tenta was a promising amateur wrestler in Canada, securing the title of Canadian junior champion by 1981. He further showcased his talent by finishing sixth in the super heavyweight division at the World Junior Wrestling Championships. His wrestling prowess earned him an athletic scholarship to Louisiana State University (LSU), where he competed in NCAA-level collegiate wrestling and participated on the football team as a defensive tackle.
However, a unique opportunity arose when legendary sumo wrestler Kotozakura Masakatsu offered Tenta a chance to try sumo wrestling in Japan. In October 1985, Tenta joined the Sadogatake stable under the name Kototenta, later changed to Kototenzan. His sumo career was nothing short of remarkable. Tenta compiled an undefeated 24-0-7 record across the three lower divisions of the sport (Jonukuchi, Jonidan, and Sandanme), winning titles in each.
Despite his success, Tenta found the sumo lifestyle challenging. In a 1986 CBC interview, he cited the demands, pressure, and physical toll as reasons for his departure. He also mentioned the requirement to remove his tiger tattoo, which clashed with the sumo world's perception of tattoos as symbols of gangsters.
Transition to Professional Wrestling
After leaving sumo, Tenta transitioned to professional wrestling, joining All Japan Pro Wrestling in May 1987. Under the tutelage of Shohei "Giant" Baba, he honed his skills alongside wrestling legends like Jumbo Tsuruta and The Great Kabuki. In 1989, he caught the attention of Vince McMahon’s WWF.
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Tenta made his WWF television debut on WWF Superstars of Wrestling as a planted "fan" during Dino Bravo’s strength demonstration. He was introduced as "John from West Virginia" and attacked The Ultimate Warrior, thus marking the birth of the Canadian Earthquake.
Earthquake in WWF
As Earthquake, Tenta was pushed as an unstoppable monster heel. His career peaked during his feud with Hulk Hogan in 1990. Earthquake repeatedly crushed Hogan's ribs with his signature "Earthquake splash," leading to a series of matches between the two.
After his feud with Hogan, Earthquake feuded with Jake "the Snake" Roberts, which led to the infamous "squashing Damien" program. Later, in 1991, Earthquake formed a tag team with Typhoon (Fred Ottman) called The Natural Disasters. Managed by Jimmy Hart, the duo initially feuded with the Legion of Doom before becoming fan favorites and winning the WWF World Tag Team Championship.
Weight Loss and Career Transitions
Mark “Gorgeous Michelle Starr” Vellios, a fellow pro wrestler, recalled that Tenta was "a lot smaller than before, wasn’t as big, because he lost a lot of weight" when he saw him in England in the early 2000s. At that time, Tenta wasn’t wrestling fulltime anymore.
Tenta left the WWF in January 1993 and briefly returned in 1994. He then ventured to WCW, where he cycled through a series of gimmicks, including Avalanche, The Shark, and wrestling under his real name. Tenta had one final run in WWF in 1998 as the masked Golga. He retired from wrestling in 2004 after being diagnosed with bladder cancer.
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Life Outside the Ring
Brenda Tenta, John’s sister, fondly remembers him as being very good-natured and always keeping in touch with the family. She recalled that he brought back souvenirs from wherever he travelled.
Dorothy Irwin interviewed Tenta in 1988 as he was leaving behind his sumo wrestling career in Japan. Tenta spoke candidly about his experiences in sumo, the challenges he faced, and his decision to pursue professional wrestling. He also discussed his training regimen, his ideal weight, and his future goals.
Legacy
John Tenta passed away on June 7, 2006, just weeks shy of his 43rd birthday. Despite his fearsome ring persona, he was known for his politeness backstage. Bret Hart recalled that Tenta was a "quiet, demure gentle giant who said please and thank you to everyone and called everyone 'sir.'"
Tenta's legacy extends beyond his wrestling achievements. He is remembered as one of wrestling's nicest and most uniquely skilled big men. In April 2025, Tenta and Fred Ottman, as Earthquake and Typhoon, will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
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