Pro Wrestling personality John Riker, better known as Ralphus, is reportedly no more. In fact, he had passed away not very recently, but earlier last year.
AEW wrestler and Pro Wrestling’s undisputed icon Chris Jericho revealed the information on a late night edition of his ‘Saturday Night Special’ across two social media platforms in Facebook and YouTube.
It seems that Jericho himself only recently learnt the death of someone who was associated with him during his early career. “I just found out he passed away like last year. God bless John Riker, that was his real name,” he said.
During his Saturday Night Special show on YouTube, Chris Jericho revealed his old WCW security guard Ralphus passed away last year 😢#RIPRalphus
(SOURCE: https://t.co/ILc1s0yIgL) pic.twitter.com/G0YjpDKobH
— Ryan Satin (@ryansatin) September 7, 2020
John Riker aka Ralphus Was An Important Part Of Y2J’s Early Career
Riker originally worked as a truck driver for WCW, where a young Chris Jericho was getting more and more popular as a star in its famed Cruiserweight division. Jericho handpicked Riker, because of his odd apperance, to be a part of a gimmick he was portraying.
Jericho used a trio of personal security members while coming to the ring, and the team comprised of Viva Los Jericho, Jerichoholic Ninja and Riker, as Ralphus. Ralphus would ward off anyone who tried to touch the future multiple times World Champion.
Chris Jericho with Ralphus,and the rest of his personal security team back in 1998. pic.twitter.com/2LOAs8N0li
— Rasslin' History 101 (@WrestlingIsKing) November 24, 2019
When Jericho left WCW to find what would eventually prove to be a greener pasture for him in WWF, Ralphus remained as a bodyguard for British wrestler Norman Smiley for some time, before leaving the promotion. For the time Riker, as Ralphus, was a part of WCW, his comic character was quite loved by fans.
While being alligned with Smiley in 2000, Ralphus went on to be a part of a few matches, most of which were handicap match against the likes of Terry Funk and Big Vito. His only singles match resulted in a loss against Vito.
He went on to appear in wrestling conventions and signing meets for some time, before disappearing from the industry completely.
Jericho also mentioned how in 2018 he had sent the man an email, asking him whether he would be interested to be a part of his Talk Is Jericho podcast. In a reply, Riker asked him whether it was the real Chris Jericho and Y2J, with an affirmation, sent him his number. However, he never got a reply from the former WCW personnel.
We at SportsRoom are sad to hear about the passing, and offer condolences to his family and friends.
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