Ian Rotten

American professional wrestler and promoter

Ian Rotten

Ian Rotten in 2008.

Birth name| John Benson Williams
Born|  (1970-06-01) June 1, 1970 (age 53)[1]
Baltimore, Maryland[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)| Ian Rotten
Johnny Lawler[1]
Zach Blades[1]
Billed height| 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)[2]
Billed weight| 279 lb (127 kg)[2]
Billed from| Louisville, Kentucky
The Fifth Ward, Houston, Texas
Newcastle, England[3]
Trained by| Axl Rotten[1]
Debut| August 10, 1990

John Benson Williams (born June 1, 1970) is an American professional wrestler and promoter better known by his ring name Ian Rotten. He has wrestled in the Global Wrestling Federation (GWF), Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), the United States Wrestling Association (USWA), and his own wrestling promotion IWA: Mid-South.

## Professional wrestling career[edit]

### Early career[edit]

After becoming a fan of Dusty Rhodes and "Superstar" Billy Graham while growing up in Florida and Baltimore, Maryland, John Williams, began his career under the name Johnny Lawler, the storyline illegitimate son of Jerry "The King" Lawler. After a short stint as hockey gimmick Zach Blades, Williams went to wrestle in the Global Wrestling Federation.

### The Bad Breed[edit]

Main article: The Bad Breed

In GWF, Williams formed The Bad Breed, a tag team with Brian Knighton as brothers Ian and Axl Rotten, respectively. They defeated the Texas Mustangs (Bobby Duncum, Jr. & Johnny Hawk) for the GWF Tag Team Championship in January 1993, losing the titles shortly thereafter. In June 1994 in Extreme Championship Wrestling, the Bad Breed started a feud with The Public Enemy over the ECW Tag Team Championship, but never won the title.

### Later career[edit]

The Rotten brothers briefly feuded with each other prior to Williams' termination from ECW in late 1995. He moved to Kentucky, where he started a wrestling hotline followed by the IWA Mid-South promotion in early 1996. IWA was controversial for its use of violent and bloody hardcore wrestling. In 2008, IWA and Williams were investigated by Indiana State Police over the violence in their shows.[4] In 2011, IWA shut down and was restarted by a third party, with Williams making occasional appearances.

## Personal life[edit]

Williams is the father of John Calvin Glenn, known also by the ring name of J.C. Rotten.[5]

## Championships and accomplishments[edit]

*     * ACW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Drake Younger[6]
* Global Wrestling Federation
* GWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Axl Rotten[1]
* Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South
* IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship (8 times)[1]
* IWA Mid-South Tag Team Championship (5 times) - with Axl Rotten (2), Cash Flo (1), Tarek the Great (1) and Mad Man Pondo (1)[1]
* IWA Mid-South King of the Deathmatch (1997, 2001)[7][8]
* Juggalo Championship Wrestling
* JCW Tag Team Championship (1 times) - with Lane Bloody[1]
* NWA New Jersey
* NWA United States Tag Team Championship (New Jersey version) (1 time) - with Blaze[1]
* NWA Revolution
* NWA Revolution Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Danny McKay[1]
* Westside Xtreme Wrestling
* wXw World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[1]
* wXw Hardcore Championship (1 time)[1]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Ian Rotten". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-09-11.
2. ^ a b "Ian Rotten". cagematch.
3. ^ Heyman, Paul (Executive Producer) (July 1, 1995). Hardcore Heaven 1995 (Videotape). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Extreme Championship Wrestling.
4. ^ Thacker, Matt (August 5, 2008). "No charges from Sellersburg wrestling video". The Evening News and The Tribune. Indiana. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
5. ^ "JC ROTTEN INTERVIEW THE DEATH HOUR". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
6. ^ "ACW Tag Team Championship". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
7. ^ "King Of The Death Matches 1997". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
8. ^ "King Of The Death Matches 2001". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved September 30, 2018.

## External links[edit]

* Ian Rotten's profile at Cagematch.net , Wrestlingdata.com , Internet Wrestling Database

Links to related articles

* v
* t
* e

GWF Tag Team Champions

* Steve Simpson and Chris Walker
* California Connection (John Tatum and Rod Price)
* The Wild Bunch (Bill Irwin and Black Bart)
* Terry Simms and Scott Putski
* The Goodfellows (Gary Young and Steve Dane)
* The Ebony Experience (Booker T and Stevie Ray)
* The Rough Riders (Black Bart and Johnny Mantell)
* Texas Mustangs (Bobby Duncum Jr. and Johnny Hawk)
* Bad Breed (Axl and Ian Rotten)
* Sicilian Stallions (Guido Falcone and Vito Mussolini)
* Skyliners (Steve Dane and Chaz Taylor)
* Black Bart and Johnny Hawk
* The Fabulous Freebirds (Jimmy Garvin and Terry Gordy)

* v
* t
* e

IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship

1990s|

* Tower of Doom
* Doug Gilbert
* Ian Rotten
* Bull Pain
* Tracy Smothers
* Salvatore Sincere
* Buddy Landel
* Axl Rotten
* Ox Harley
* Billy Joe Eaton
* Harry Palmer
* Corporal Robinson
* Suicide Kid
* Chip Fairway
* Rollin' Hard
* Mad Man Pondo

2000s|

* 2 Tuff Tony
* Blaze
* Mitch Page
* Todd Morton
* Ca$h Flo
* Trent Baker
* Hido
* Chris Hero
* CM Punk
* Eddie Guerrero
* Colt Cabana
* M-Dogg 20
* B. J. Whitmer
* Mark Wolf
* Danny Daniels
* Jerry Lynn
* Petey Williams
* Arik Cannon
* A.J. Styles
* Jimmy Jacobs
* Darin Corbin
* Trik Davis
* Toby Klein
* Chuck Taylor
* Mike Quackenbush
* Eddie Kingston
* Dingo

2010s|

* Kongo Kong
* Hy-Zaya
* Shane Mercer
* John Wayne Murdoch
* Reed Bentley
* JJ Garrett
* Dave Crist
* Aaron Williams
* Larry D
* Michael Elgin
* Mance Warner
* Jake Crist (current)
* Calvin Tankman
* Nick Gage
* Logan James
* Kevin Giza

2020s|

* Ace Perry

* v
* t
* e

wXw Unified World Wrestling Champions

2000s|

* Mad Cow
* Eric Schwarz
* Thomas Blade
* Chris the Bambikiller
* Martin Nolte
* Chris Hero
* Alex Shelley
* Jimmy Jacobs
* Double C
* Ian Rotten
* Robbie Brookside
* Ares
* Mike Quackenbush
* Alex Pain
* Steve Douglas
* John Klinger
* Bryan Danielson
* Absolute Andy

2010s|

* Zack Sabre Jr.
* Big Van Walter/Big Daddy Walter
* Daisuke Sekimoto
* El Generico
* Axel "Axeman" Tischer
* Tommy End
* Karsten Beck
* Jurn Simmons
* Marty Scurll
* Axel Dieter Jr.
* Ilja Dragunov
* Bobby Gunns
* Timothy Thatcher

2020s|

* Marius Al-Ani
* Tristan Archer
* Levaniel
* Shigehiro Irie
* Robert Dreissker (current)

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template