Jock Ruddock
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Hailing originally from Forfar, Angus, in the East Central Lowlands of Scotland, Jock Ruddock traveled extensively throughout his life, eventually having residences in Parva Bay, New Zealand, (east of Whangarei), the Czech Republic and San Marcos, Texas.
Trained in the grappling arts by the late, great Kiwi wrestler Al Hobman and Scottish technical wizard George Kidd, Ruddock made his professional wrestling debut in New Zealand in November 1965.
He quickly fell into a longstanding rivalry with the great Bruno Bekker, which stretched all the way back to the earliest part of Ruddock's career in 1966, where he wrestled under a mask as Doctor Death (at first distancing himself from his "day job" as a police officer). Ruddock also used the ring name "Johnny Scott" during the early part of his wrestling career in the mid-1960s.
In Rarotonga Ruddock saw success early in his professional wrestling career, becoming the New Zealand West Coast Light-Heavyweight Champion in 1966 by defeating Claude Webb, and winning the Australasian Junior Heavyweight title the same year by defeating Len Holt. Showing the calibre of opponents that the Scottish-born Ruddock faced in his career, "Brutal" Bob Millar (Cousin Butch of the Bushwhackers) and also challenged the great John Da Silva for the Commonwealth title in 1967.
Far from confining his wrestling to New Zealand, Ruddock was to travel to other countries to further his experience, one of his earliest expeditions being his participation in a Scottish Battle Royal Team for Britain's Joint Promotions. He then followed that up in 1969 by touring Australia, wrestling Sweet Daddy Siki. Ruddock continued to be active in wrestling throughout the 1970s, becoming New Zealand Junior Heavyweight champion in 1978 by winning a tournament. Ruddock was to see further success in the USA by winning the California Heavyweight Title by beating Eddie Mansfield, also in 1978 and also found time to ply his wrestling trade in the USA, tag-teaming with the great Hector Guerrero in California and further afield in Panama.
In his career he achieved several titles including:
New Zealand West Coast Light Heavyweight
Australasian Junior Heavyweight
New Zealand Junior Heavyweight
California Heavyweight
Hailing originally from Forfar, Angus, in the East Central Lowlands of Scotland, Jock Ruddock traveled extensively throughout his life, eventually having residences in Parva Bay, New Zealand, (east of Whangarei), the Czech Republic and San Marcos, Texas.
Trained in the grappling arts by the late, great Kiwi wrestler Al Hobman and Scottish technical wizard George Kidd, Ruddock made his professional wrestling debut in New Zealand in November 1965.
He quickly fell into a longstanding rivalry with the great Bruno Bekker, which stretched all the way back to the earliest part of Ruddock's career in 1966, where he wrestled under a mask as Doctor Death (at first distancing himself from his "day job" as a police officer). Ruddock also used the ring name "Johnny Scott" during the early part of his wrestling career in the mid-1960s.
In Rarotonga Ruddock saw success early in his professional wrestling career, becoming the New Zealand West Coast Light-Heavyweight Champion in 1966 by defeating Claude Webb, and winning the Australasian Junior Heavyweight title the same year by defeating Len Holt. Showing the calibre of opponents that the Scottish-born Ruddock faced in his career, "Brutal" Bob Millar (Cousin Butch of the Bushwhackers) and also challenged the great John Da Silva for the Commonwealth title in 1967.
Far from confining his wrestling to New Zealand, Ruddock was to travel to other countries to further his experience, one of his earliest expeditions being his participation in a Scottish Battle Royal Team for Britain's Joint Promotions. He then followed that up in 1969 by touring Australia, wrestling Sweet Daddy Siki. Ruddock continued to be active in wrestling throughout the 1970s, becoming New Zealand Junior Heavyweight champion in 1978 by winning a tournament. Ruddock was to see further success in the USA by winning the California Heavyweight Title by beating Eddie Mansfield, also in 1978 and also found time to ply his wrestling trade in the USA, tag-teaming with the great Hector Guerrero in California and further afield in Panama.
In his career he achieved several titles including:
New Zealand West Coast Light Heavyweight
Australasian Junior Heavyweight
New Zealand Junior Heavyweight
California Heavyweight
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Biography of Jock Ruddock.
Author: Pablo Alvarez.
Published: July 2014.
Biography: #120.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Updated: June 13, 2019.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Biography of Jock Ruddock.
Author: Pablo Alvarez.
Published: July 2014.
Biography: #120.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Updated: June 13, 2019.