If you spent any time around a TV set or a smoky wrestling arena in the early 1970s, you probably heard the name. Or maybe you just heard the song. Jimmy Dean’s 1961 hit "Big Bad John" was everywhere, and it didn't take long for the wrestling world to realize that the "big, big man" from the song was the perfect blueprint for a powerhouse heel.
But who was the actual big bad john wrestler?
Honestly, it’s a bit of a rabbit hole. Unlike modern WWE stars with trademarked names, the "Big Bad John" moniker was passed around, borrowed, and reinvented across different wrestling territories. Most fans, however, are talking about one specific man who dominated the NWA circuits and became a cult legend in Australia.
The Man, the Myth, the Bicentennial Baby
The most famous version of Big Bad John was William Goodman. He wasn't just a big guy; he was a walking mountain of a man who knew how to work a crowd into a genuine frenzy.
He didn't just show up and wrestle. He made it an event. In the mid-70s, particularly in Memphis and the Florida territories, he was often introduced as the "Bicentennial Baby." Imagine a guy who weighed north of 400 pounds coming at you with that kind of branding. It was absurd. It was loud. It was exactly what wrestling needed during the territory era.
He moved between the NWA Mid-America and Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF) like a force of nature. In December 1972, he had a series of matches against Buddy Colt that people in Florida still talk about if they’re old enough to remember the smell of stale popcorn and sweat at the Jacksonville Coliseum.
Why Australia Fell in Love with a Villain
You can't talk about the big bad john wrestler without mentioning his stint in Australia. In the early 70s, Jim Barnett’s WCW (World Championship Wrestling—the Australian version, not the Ted Turner one) was one of the hottest promotions on the planet.
John didn't just wrestle there; he led an "Army."
The feud between Big Bad John’s Army and The People’s Army is legendary in the annals of Australian wrestling history. He was the ultimate "Ugly American" heel. He’d face off against icons like King Curtis Iaukea, and the heat was so intense you could practically feel it through the grainy black-and-white television broadcasts.
He had this way of moving—deliberate, heavy, and mean—that made you believe he really was the guy from the song who could hold up a collapsing mine shaft with his bare shoulders.
Deciphering the "Big Bad John" Confusion
If you search for the name today, you’re going to get hit with a lot of different faces. This is where most people get tripped up.
- John Czawlytko (Maxx Muscle): In the early 90s, WCW (the American one this time) tried to revive the name. A massive bodybuilder named John Czawlytko debuted as Big Bad John before eventually being repackaged as Maxx Muscle, the bodyguard for Diamond Dallas Page.
- Jon Heidenreich: Even the former WWE tag champ Heidenreich used the "Big Bad Jon" variation early in his career while he was finding his footing.
- Modern Indies: There’s a contemporary wrestler from Tennessee who goes by Big Bad John, keeping the name alive on the independent circuit today.
But for the purists, the real deal will always be the Goodman version. He was the one who captured the spirit of the Jimmy Dean ballad. He was the one who could main-event against the likes of Bill Dundee and Jerry Lawler and not look out of place.
The Wrestling Style: Power Over Polish
Let’s be real: Big Bad John wasn't out there doing 450 splashes or technical chain wrestling. That wasn't the point.
His style was "Maul and Brawl."
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He used his weight as a weapon. Every clubbing forearm looked like it could crack a rib. Every bearhug looked like it was actually ending a career. It was a simpler time in wrestling, where being a "monster" meant you didn't have to be fast; you just had to be unstoppable.
Key Career Highlights:
- NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Title: He held this multiple times, proving he could carry a territory as the top guy.
- The Memphis Connection: His work with Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee helped cement the "Memphis Style" of high-intensity brawling.
- Australian WCW Dominance: He was a legitimate superstar Down Under, often outdrawing the local talent.
Why We Still Talk About Him
Wrestling has changed. Everything is shiny, choreographed, and hyper-athletic now. But there's something about the big bad john wrestler archetype that never truly goes away.
We love the idea of the giant who walks into town, causes chaos, and leaves a trail of broken ring posts in his wake. Goodman understood the "theatre of the macabre" better than most. He wasn't trying to be liked. He was trying to be feared.
Honestly, he succeeded.
If you want to truly appreciate his impact, stop looking at modern highlight reels and go find some of the old Florida or Australian tapes. Look at the faces of the fans in the front row when he walks by. That’s not "sports entertainment" fear—that’s "I might actually get hit by a chair" fear. That is a lost art.
Next Steps for the History Buffs
To get the full picture of John’s era, you should look into the "Territory System" of the 1970s. Specifically, research Jim Barnett’s Australian WCW to see how American wrestlers were treated like rock stars abroad. You might also want to track down the Buddy Colt vs. Big Bad John footage from 1972; it’s a masterclass in how to build a heavy-hitter feud without needing a single microphone promo.