Canadian Wrestler and Sumo Star John Tenta Passes Away

John Tenta: A force in the WWE's Golden Era

WWE Star Earthquake Dies at 42

John Tenta, a Canadian wrestler and sumo star known as Earthquake in the WWF, has died.

Tenta, who was 42, died on June 7, 2006, after a long battle with cancer. He had been diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2004 and had been in remission since 2005. However, the cancer returned in early 2006, and Tenta underwent surgery in April of that year. The surgery was unsuccessful, and Tenta died two months later.

Tenta was born in Richmond, British Columbia, on June 22, 1963. He began his wrestling career in the mid-1980s, competing in various independent promotions in Canada and the United States. In 1989, Tenta signed with the WWF and made his televised debut as Earthquake on the September 2, 1989, episode of WWF Superstars. Earthquake quickly became one of the most popular and feared wrestlers in the WWF, known for his size and strength.

Earthquake was a one-time WWF Tag Team Champion with Typhoon and challenged for the WWF Championship on several occasions. He also competed in the 1991 Royal Rumble match.

Tenta left the WWF in 1993 and returned to Japan, where he resumed his sumo career. He retired from sumo in 1996 and returned to the WWF in 1998. He wrestled for the WWF for two more years before retiring from professional wrestling in 2000.

Tenta is survived by his wife, Julie, and his three children.