Doctor In The House
Chapter Three: Dr. John Bonica
#PWHS #Article #DrInTheHouse #DrBonica #PainManagement
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Dr John Bonica is a story of class, respect, and fulfillment of humanity’s highest potential. Society likes to look down their nose on the mainly male soap opera business entertainment known around the world loosely as Pro Wrestling. There is an attempt to make the fans and participants alike to feel as if they are lagging behind in the evolution of mankind. However, there comes along at least one every generation that causes them to stop this propaganda and reconsider for a few minutes. I place the bright spotlight on the life of a wrestling doctor that is still affecting lives around the world to this very day, especially in the maternity wards of every hospital.
Dr Bonica used wrestling as a means to pay for his studies at Long Island University and then the Marquette University School of Medicine. He found success in wrestling from high school through the professional ranks. At age 22 he won the Light Heavyweight Championship of Canada and 2 years later added to his resume the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship while still attending school. He used different names including the Masked Marvel (our favorite name in Pro Wrestling History) and even Johnny “Bull” Walker. His fights with such names as Lou Thesz, Jim Londos, Dr Grable, Angelo Savoldi, and Ed “Strangler” Lewis left him a chronic pain sufferer himself.
Dr Bonica was an anesthesiologist that is widely acclaimed as the Founding Father of the study in pain management. Two events played as a major catalyst to make him blaze new trails in the study of pain and its management. The first one came about from his time spent in service and seeing/hearing the pain of the soldiers caused by wounds of the battlefield. His wife was the focal point of his second inspiration. She almost lost their first child because of complications from the ether anesthesia during childbirth.
The fruits of his labor include 175 Pain Clinics being established by 1977, and wrote 41 books while contributing to 61 others. His book The Management of Pain has been considered the standard for many years even though its first writing was in 1953 and updated in 1990. In addition, his great work in the Medical Science field, along with his above-average wrestling skills, landed him a special award presented by the respected Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame located in Amsterdam, New York in 2004.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Doctor In The House: Chapter Three.
Author: Terry Kent.
Published: July 2014.
Article: #30.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Doctor In The House: Chapter Three.
Author: Terry Kent.
Published: July 2014.
Article: #30.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
While wrestling as the Masked Marvel at a circus during his college days, his medicinal skills were revealed in an unusual way. The Lion Tamer had an act where he would stick his head in a lion’s mouth. To keep from suffocating, the Lion Tamer would tickle the lion’s ear and he would re-open his mouth. One day the lion was not ticklish, and the Lion Tamer almost suffocated. The Masked Marvel without his mask ran to the unconscious performer and the secret of his private life was exposed.
Dr Bonica cared for famous wrestler Maurice (the Angel) Tillet who had special pains being a hunchback-like performer.
Dr Bonica cared for famous wrestler Maurice (the Angel) Tillet who had special pains being a hunchback-like performer.
Doctor In The House: Chapter Two - Read Here.
Other articles by Terry can be Read Here.