R.I.P Pro Wrestler Johnny Weaver

Johnny Weaver, professional wrestling's re-inventor of the sleeper hold, passed away on February 15.

I grew up watching professional wrestling, and in the 1970's Toronto was part of Jim Crockett Promotion territory, which meant most of the wrestling I watched was from Mid-Atlantic Wrestling, which was based out of North Carolina. These were the haydays of Ric Flair, Roddy Piper, Paul Jones, Wahoo McDaniel, Ivan Koloff, Ricky Steamboat, Sgt. Slaughter, The Brisco Brothers and Johnny Weaver.

Not a flashy man in or out of the squared circle, the unassuming Johnny Weaver, whose finish maneuver was the Weaverlock -- actually the sleeper hold which, up until Weaver's reintroduction the 1960's, was considered an illegal choke hold -- was a consummate tag team wrestler whose voice became part of my childhood, as he joined legendary commentators Rich Landrum and Bob Caudle on Mid-Atlantic's broadcast team. Weaver became renowned for singing: "Turn Out The Lights, The Party's Over" -- from Willie Nelson's song "The Party's Over" -- at the end of matches.

Weaver was 72.