Introduction
Edward John White (May 18, 1949 – August 26, 2005) was a Canadian professional wrestler, best known as Sailor White and as Moondog King of The Moondogs when he joined the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) in the early 1980s. White won championships in Canada and around the globe. He also wrestled in South Africa as Big John Strongbo.
Professional wrestling career
After doing work on Great Lakes boats, White made his professional wrestling debut in Pembroke, Ontario on May 22, 1972 against Michael Gango for promoter Larry Kasaboski. While in Quebec he was the Grand Prix tag team champion in 1976, International Heavyweight champion in 1982, International tag team champion twice in 1982–1984 and won the Canadian Television Championship in 1984.
He was most known for his time in the WWF as Moondog King where he teamed with Moondog Rex and won the WWF Tag Team Championship (then WWWF) from Tony Garea and Rick Martel in Allentown, Pennsylvania in March 1981.
After he was denied re-entry to the United States at the Canada–United States border, the WWWF replaced him with substitutes including Stan Hansen, Hulk Hogan, Lou Albano and Sgt. Slaughter before selecting Moondog Spot as a permanent replacement. Gorilla Monsoon explained his absence stating King had been hit by a car. White claims the border dispute involved a rival wrestling promoter alerting the authorities to his criminal past whereas some say it was drug related.
White ran twice for Canada's House of Commons. In April 2000, White in a St. John's West by-election for the Canadian Extreme Wrestling Party. His motto was "Parliament Needs a Moondog". On July 28, 2004, White ran for the Canadian House of Commons, representing the Green Party of Canada in Bonavista—Exploits, but lost to Scott Simms of the Liberal Party of Canada. White received 367 votes to Simms's 15,970.
Illness and death
He suffered from Bell's palsy in 1999 and had two heart attacks by then. In 2002 he underwent triple bypass surgery and on December 2, 2004 his taxi crashed, breaking two bones in his neck and pinching a nerve in his spinal cord. He remained hospitalized on life support until his death on August 26, 2005. White was survived by his daughter, Rozlynn, and grandchildren. His biography Sailor White was written by Dave Elliott.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Bear hug
- With Moondog Rex
- Backbreaker hold / Diving elbow drop combination – WWF
- Backbreaker / Back body drop combination – WWF
- Managers
- Captain Lou Albano
Championships and accomplishments
- Eastern Sports Association
- Lutte Internationale
- World Wrestling Federation