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WRESTLING: S.D. Jones made most of losing

By Alex Marvez, Scripps Howard News Service

Published October 30, 2008 at 7 p.m.

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He was "special" for more than his nickname.

S.D. "Special Delivery" Jones, one of the more memorable World Wrestling Entertainment performers during the 1970s and 1980s, died Sunday following complications from a stroke. Jones, whose real name was Conrad Efrain, was 63.

During a 22-year grappling career, Jones enjoyed only three title reigns for regional promotions. Even though he never wore gold in WWE, Jones will be remembered as a champion at making others look good.

Jones was the quintessential loser, a role referred to within the industry as a "jobber," "jabroni" or the more politically correct "enhancement talent."

To place his gig in perspective, Jones wrestled during an era in which a promoter's main focus was drawing fans to live events. Feuding wrestlers barely met on television, with the medium used primarily to hype upcoming arena bouts.

That's where grapplers like Jones worked their magic. A heel wrestler would be given a run for his money before ultimately defeating Jones, who remained a fan favorite despite loss after loss.

Jones was so good at being bad that he was part of two story lines at WWE's inaugural Wrestlemania show in 1985. Jones was Andre the Giant's tag-team partner in a televised bout when the latter had his hair cut by "Big" John Studd. That led to an Andre vs. Studd 'Mania grudge match.

Jones was then squashed in nine seconds at 'Mania by King Kong Bundy, another behemoth the WWE was pushing for headline matches against Andre and Hulk Hogan.

During a 2004 interview, Jones told the Slam! Wrestling Web site that he originally balked at being dispatched so easily in such a high-profile match but WWE owner Vince McMahon changed his mind with a "big, big, big, big payday."

"I knew there was no way I was going to get to that main championship," Jones said. "I was comfortable because I knew what (the promoters) wanted. . . . You're making a living, and you just keep on going."

As WWE and World Championship Wrestling battled for viewers and pay-per-view orders during the mid-1990s, more competitive matches with big-name talent were presented on television. That helped eliminate the kind of slots Jones filled before his retirement in the late 1980s.

Here's a quick look back at some other notable "jobbers":

* Sean Waltman: Long before finding stardom as X-Pac, Waltman was a scrawny television loser on WWE telecasts. Waltman's big break came when he scored a stunning upset over Scott "Razor Ramon" Hall on an early episode of Monday Night Raw in 1993.

* Steve Lombardi: No WWE performer has ever lost as many matches under so many different monikers. In the 1980s and 1990s, Lombardi worked under such names as the Brooklyn Brawler, Abe "Knuckleball" Schwartz and MVP (Most Violent Player, a precursor to the MVP gimmick currently used by Hassan Hamin Assad).

* Barry Horowitz: Known for patting himself on the back in exaggerated fashion before his matches, Horowitz forged a lengthy career. Wrestling in the mid-1980s as "Winless" Jack Hart, he dropped 131 consecutive matches before scoring his first victory.

Comments

  • October 31, 2008

    5:06 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Wubert writes:

    Alex!

    How about some props to jobbers from the SD Jones era! Johnny Rodz, Jose Estrada, Victor Martinez, Rick McGraw, Charlie Brown and forever remembered from Piper's Pit, Frankie Williams! There was also some guy billed from China, too, but I forget his name. Lee Wong, maybe?

    There was one night, back when the WWWF was on channel 9 on Saturdays at midnight here in NYC, when Quickdraw Rick McGraw came oh so close to beating the Magnificent Muraco. At that time I was 11 or 12 and still thought maybe pro-wrestling was "real" and I remember blowing up when Muraco pulled it out. My dad told me to relax.

    Rob