John Tenta diagnosed with advanced cancer

[SuperClerk]

John "Earthquake" Tenta posted this on the wrestlecrap.com board:

"Ever since I've started posting on this board I've felt that I was among friends. Everyone has been courteous, and even protective of me. I appreciate that. Well my friends, I am not just "sick", I have been diagnosed with advanced bladder cancer. I have a large tumor on my bladder blocking my left kidney from functioning properly. That is the bad news. The good news is that I will never give up my hope of beating this. I have too much to live for. I love my family, and plan to walk my daughter down the aisle in 10 years(or more), and plan on being at my son's first major league baseball game(in about 10 years when his dream comes true). I have a strong faith in God but know whatever He has planned for me I must follow. Because of my faith, I am not afraid to die, but I don't want to die. This, of course will now be the biggest battle EVER in my life, but I am not afraid. I will be going through testing this week, and starting chemo/radiation soon after that. I do not feel like I'm dying, and thus, refuse to believe that I will. People have had cancer for years before finding out, and still survived. I am a little uncomfortable but not in pain leading me to believe I am a lot stronger than my illness. If you believe in God, please pray for me, and my family, and if you do not, just wish me well. Of course I will not be answering any questions from now on until i am feeling better. I am a "tough guy" and won't go without a heck of a fight. I wish you all well, and as I've said before, and now it's truer than ever- crap happens!"

Hang in there 'Quake. You'll be in my prayers.

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"Foreign wrestling matches are a lot like foreign films; no one really understands 'em, but they don't want strangers to think they're stupid, so they rave about them and turn their noses up at anyone who says otherwise."

[SpicyMcHaggis]

It's sad when this happens. These guys seem to you when your younger like nothing can happen to them, and then all of a sudden this happens. Let's hope he's strong and can overcome this. My prayers are with you, John.

"Snootch to the nootch."

[BoondockSaint]

Damn. I always liked him as a kid. Then about a year ago I saw the wrestlecrap site and thought he was so cool because he knew he wasn't always perfect. He had a sense of humor about his career that others don't. Good luck John.

http://www.myimgs.com/random/boondocksaint/rfnet
Thanks to monsterone for the sig!

[BoondockSaint]

heres from pwinsider.com:
EARTHQUAKE JOHN TENTA ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT AND DISCUSSES HIS BATTLE WITH CANCER
by Mike Johnson @ 5:00:00 PM on 5/11/2004


John Tenta, who performed as Earthquake, The Shark, Golga and The Avalanche in the World Wrestling Federation and WCW sent the following statement to PWInsider.com to clear up recent rumors that have been swirling around the Internet.

Tenta also announces that his in-ring career is over as he has been diagnosed with advanced bladder cancer. Tenta's complete statement reads as follows:


This is "Earthquake" John Tenta sending you some news about myself. I have read the rumors on some sites that I am to be in an ABC pilot. That is not true. It is either someone's idea of a joke, or a site just making up it's own news. Surely though there are other people more newsworthy than myself!
The truth is I am at home, having been recently diagnosed with advanced bladder cancer. I go through testing this week with treatment starting shortly after. This is not a sympathy plea as I do not believe I will "go out" this way.

I simply now must admit my dream that came true, a boy becoming a pro wrestler is now over. It was a GREAT ride, and I thank all of my fans for their support throughout the years. My last WWE match was a dark match against one of my students in Orlando, Florida. My last wrestling match was last year in Japan with All Japan Pro Wrestling, the company I made my pro debut with. A fitting ending if I do say so myself.

I have to make a special thank you to Vince McMahon, for my "Earthquake" days, and putting myself on top of the world during my battles with Hulk Hogan.

I will beat my illness, and live on with my memories, and watch as my children's dreams come true. God bless all, and thank you once again for helping to make my dreams come true.

John Tenta

P.S. I have a thread on a forum at Wrestlecrap.com if anyone wants to leave a message for me, but please understand, I cannot answer all of them.



http://www.myimgs.com/random/boondocksaint/rfnet
Thanks to monsterone for the sig!

[samnyc]

Ok, since Tenta is going to kick the bucket soon hopefully Vince will bring him back for one last run. This is my fantasy booking. Please reply with your fantasy Tenta booking.

After Kane destroys the midcard Raw roster one Monday night, he grabs the mic and says, "Nothing can stop me - not a tornado, a flood, or an earthquake."

Then the Earthquake rumbling music starts and Tenta comes out and knocks Kane out of the ring with a haymaker. The fans go nuts for Earthquake.

He cuts a promo and says he wants one last run at the top, reveals he's going to die soon, and has nothing to lose. He then premeirs his desire video, which include vintage footage from the Brother Love show. He reflects on Hulk Hogan holding onto the cross after his own 1990 ambush.

Evolution comes down and HHH knocks out Earthquake with the ringbell. But then Tugboat makes the save. He was in the back this night to support his friend and former tag team partner. Kane recovers and he and Tugboat have a staredown as Raw goes off the air. JR screams, "These two monsters are destined for a collision!"

The next week in Montreal, Earthquake beats Orton, Michaels, and Benjamin in a fatal four way match for a shot at the belt later in the night when Tugboat gives the big lateral splash to Michaels when the referee was distracted by Evolution. After the match, the Tugster and Kane scuffle and Tugboat is shown being sent to jail by the Mounties to spend the night!

In the back, Mean Gene is interviewing Dr. James Andrews about Earthquake's condition. Andrews claims that Earthquake's cancer is metastosizing in front of our eyes and he should not go through with the match later on! But he also says that gel electrophoresis has revealed that Earthquake's DNA is eerily reminiscent of the Undertaker's as Raw cuts to break. Lawler shreiks, "What does that mean, JR?"

The main has about 20 minutes. There is electric anticipation for Earthquake's entrance. He weighs in at 420 pounds. Jimmy Hart is special guest referee. Kane tries to interfere but the Dungeon of Doom reunites in front of our eyes and makes the save. But it is not clear what Kane's intentions were. A smart worker, Benoit works the big man's bladder area extensively.

Benoit has the crossface applied, but Earthquake looks at his cross and gets the power of Jesus. Earthquake powers out and nails a beautiful butterfly backbreaker which he smoothly transitions into an arm-leg bar which Dean Malenko taught him in the back before the show.

Outside the Dungeon of Doom is fighting Evolution, but the brawl enters the ring. Kevin Sullivan throws Ric Flair off the top rope. Barbarian and Meng line up HHH for the double yakuza kick but H ducks and they nail Tenta instead. Benoit didn't see it happen and makes a quick cover.

But Jimmy Hart refuses to count. When Earthquake is unconcscious Jake the Snake Roberts comes to ringside and makes Quake wear boots made out of the old snake Damien. Jake rips off the cross and feeds it to his newest snake, Satan. Empowered by his attraction to his upcoming death and wearing the boots of the snake he squashed, Earthquake gets up and reveals that he and Tugboat are Undertaker's and Kane's missing third and fourth brothers. Tugboat rolls out from underneath the ring, but he is cleanshaven and wearing his Typhoon outfit.

Earthquake's eyes roll into the back of his head and the big man nails Benoit with a headbut and quick sitdown splash to bring the title to the dark side.

As the show goes off the air JR hollers, "I'll be damned - it was a double cross all along!" Lawler screams. "Cancer only makes a dead man stronger. Who can stop this monster?" As Roberts, Kane, Hart, Earthquake, and Tugboat are celebrating amid the carcases of the Dungeon of Doom, Evolution, and Benoit, Undertaker's hell's bells sounds on the arena's PA system.

This message was edited by samnyc on 5-11-04 @ 9:23 PM

[Tenbatsuzen]

To clear up some confusion, there is a pilot at ABC featuring <b>Earthquake</b>, but it's the black comedian using the same stage name as John Tenta.



<center><img src="http://tenbatsuzen.homestead.com/files/psychosig03.jpg"></center>

[Se7en]

Ok, since Tenta is going to kick the bucket soon hopefully Vince will bring him back for one last run. This is my fantasy booking. Please reply with your fantasy Tenta booking.


I got as far as this rather tasteless little introductory paragraph and read no further.

<center><img border="0" src="http://se7enrfnet.homestead.com/files/7_sig.gif" width="300" height="100">
<br>
<br>
Don't blame me....I voted for Kodos.
I look forward to an orderly election that will eliminate the need for a violent bloodbath. </center>

[SuperClerk]

[quote]Ok, since Tenta is going to kick the bucket soon hopefully Vince will bring him back for one last run. This is my fantasy booking. Please reply with your fantasy Tenta booking.


I got as far as this rather tasteless little introductory paragraph and read no further.

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who felt that way.

http://members.aol.com/lindnro/piss1.gifhttp://www.aolaim.net/images/icons/sports/baseball/yankees.gif

"Foreign wrestling matches are a lot like foreign films; no one really understands 'em, but they don't want strangers to think they're stupid, so they rave about them and turn their noses up at anyone who says otherwise."

[JesterOfSadness]

I only went up to

"Ok, since Tenta is going to kick the bucket soon hopefully "

then I pushed the back button

Better yet, Just swallow some jacks-CM Punk

[Heather 8]

Christedge, the fucking gall of some people...

As someone who's lost several family members to cancer over the years, and have two grandparents currently undergoing treatment, I hope the best for Tenta and his family. Although I'm not a religious person myself, it's cool to see that his faith is helping him get through this.

http://publish.hometown.aol.com/deeprooteddark/images/stevievickierf.jpg
You call me a bitch like it's a bad thing.

[hatetreehighway]

IM NOT AN ANIMAL IM A HUMAN BEING..
THE SHARK....

[Heather 8]

UPDATE... and not a good one (courtesy 1wrestling.com):


John "Earthquake" Tenta updated fans on his health in a post on the Wrestlecrap message board.

Tenta is currently undergoing chemo therapy to deal with a tumor in his left lung as well as enlarged lymph nodes in his heart. Doctors have told Tenta the cancer is incurable and have given him 13-18 months to live.

Tenta told fans in his message that he planned to fight the disease. "I'm not giving up, and hope to of course live longer."

The entire staff of 1Wrestling joins with fans around the world in wishing John Tenta the very best of luck in the coming months as he deals with this deadly disease.



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My sexy sig iz pastede on YAY!!!!11!

[fluffernutter]

Damn! Best of wishes to the MIGHTY Earthquake! Hopefully he can shake this cancer away.

http://scripts.cgispy.com/image.cgi?u=fluffernutter

[Iamnotatool]

Kick cancer's ass and give it a splash from high atop a steel cage.

<img src=http://thereisnogod.faithweb.com/images/iamnotatool.gif>
Please don't hold my huge nutbag against me, or I'll hold it against you that you have flapjack tits

This message was edited by Iamnotatool on 8-17-04 @ 4:54 PM

[BigKilla]

Vince McMahon's reaction to this news: " Cancer didn't screw John Tenta, ....John Tenta screwed John Tenta."

[Se7en]

That's fucking tasteless, Killa.

I'm no great fan of Vince, but this is really the wrong time and place for that shit.

<center><img border="0" src="http://se7enrfnet.homestead.com/files/7_sig.gif" width="300" height="100">
<br>
<br>
Don't blame me....I voted for Kodos.
I look forward to an orderly election that will eliminate the need for a violent bloodbath. </center>

[RF Godfather]

Damn! Best of wishes to the MIGHTY Earthquake! Hopefully he can shake this cancer away.

Same here. Get better Golga.

http://hometown.aol.com/nycsmart/images/lblack%20sig.jpg
"There's edgy... there's psychotic and then there's ONA!"
<marquee behavior=alternate>White Riot aka Ray Bottoms blows! Woooooooo!</marquee>

[BoondockSaint]

Earthquake wrote this on the wrestlecrap board:



Well my wife figured it was time to let me out of the house, and WWE was in Beaumont Saturday, so off we went on a 100 mile drive. When I got to the arena the security guard was talking to a WWE agent on a walkie-talkie to see if I could go in the wrestler's entrance. The agent asked if I was a big guy with a beard. The guard said no. I told him I just shaved it off today, which he repeated to the agent.(A likely story, right?) I pulled out my id and then they knew it was me. Yes, I finally shaved my hair and beard off. I haven't been without at least a moustache, since high school. Feels wierd, but it was starting to go now. The first person we saw was Ric Flair, and he immediately came over to hug me and ask how I was doing. Next was HHH, Kane,Chris Benoit,Christian,William Regal, Val Venis, Steven Richards and of course the Hebners,Steve Kiern, and Arn Anderson. The young guys that didn't know who I was with the different look, all came up and introduced themselves, like Randy Orton,Shelton Benjamin,Batista, Rob Conway, Sylvian Grenier, Eugene, Chuck Palumbo, and Coach. Everyone was of course so concerned for me, but this was one of those "Memory-making" days for my family, so HHH sent the agents to put my family in some good close seats, while I stayed in the back. HHH got a HHH t-shirt for my son, and a Lita t-shirt for my daughter, along with 2 programs, which I ran all over getting everyone to sign. Chris Benoit was awesome to my son. He gave my daughter a t-shirt, but to my son, get this, he gave a pair of his ring-worn tights! Then he thought my son would want to just "play" wrestler in them, but no, my son got him to sign them because he wants to display them. My son was so honored. So they watched most of the show, but unfortunately it was getting a bit too much for me physically, so we left before the semi, amd main events. Everyone was just so good to us, I couldn't thank them enough, I know they'd do it for any of the boys, but still to see the excitement, and happiness in my kids' eyes it's like......priceless. Don't tell anyone but I think my daughter likes Randy Orton.(Shhhh) HHH assured me that a letter to Vince would be personally delivered so everything went great.


http://p076.ezboard.com/fwrestlecrap42390frm13.showMessage?topicID=228.top ic

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/squrl/piazzazakk.jpg
M1 is the shit!

[shamus mcfitzy]

truly awesome wrestling personality that truly scared me as a really young Jake Roberts fan. (I cried when he sat on Damien on like Superstars). I wish him all the best and am glad his faith is helping him try to overcome the disease.

[buttercup20000]

It is very sad to here that John has been diagnosed with this serious disease. I have known him for a couple of years now because he lives in the next city over and met him at the local burger king. I have met his wife and children and they are all wonderful people. You couldn't meet a nicer guy and who has the "biggest" heart you can see. My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family.