Reuben de jong images of hearts

Reuben de Jong

New Zealand martial artist and strongman

Reuben de Jong is a New Zealandheavyweightkickboxer, mixed martial artist, strongman and professional wrestler of Dutch descent. He is a two-time professional strongman champion of New Zealand and competed in the K-1 Kings of Oceania in and De Jong is the holder of two national records in the farmer's walk and stone lifting, and the Guinness World Record for running through the most panes of glass in under one minute. He was signed with WWE under the name of Russell Walker in , but was released the same year.

A television actor and stuntman, De Jong has had small roles in Maddigan's Quest, Legend of the Seeker, and as Theokoles in Spartacus: Blood and Sand. In , he entered professional wrestling and became one of the stars of Impact Pro Wrestling, capturing the IPW New Zealand Heavyweight Championship within two months of his debut. On 7 December he won the Hughes Academy Championship, pinning Spencer Kyle.

Biography

Early career

Born in West Auckland, New Zealand, Reuben de Jong began working out while attending Waitakere College.[1] In one of his first strongman performances, he won notice at the th Waipu Highland Games and "put pressure on the two lead contenders" Pat Hellier and Australian Craig Reid. Brian O'Brien, committee secretary for the Highland Games, told the New Zealand Press Association that de Jong had "competed well in a number of the strongman events and would be one to watch in the future".[2]

He would eventually win the "New Zealand's Strongest Man" competition two cosecutive years ( and ), and was able to "pull tonne trucks without breaking a sweat". On 1 April , he was among the strongmen invited to compete in Freddy Hooker's "Strongest Man in the World Ever&#;— Aotearoa " at Mount Maunganui. The competition was judged by Levi Vaoga.[3] In July , de Jong was featured in the Western Leader following his appearance as a Viking in a popular television advertisement. After Sarah Valentine talent spotted him he joined Background Talent, a New Zealand-based talent agency, where he landed roles in a number of feature films and television series including Maddigan's Quest, Narnia, Legend of the Seeker, and Spartacus: Blood and Sand. He was then in training as a Mixed Martial Arts fighter[1] and studied under Karl Webber[4] and Ray Sefo.

K-1 and Mixed martial arts

Reuben de Jong began his K-1 and MMA career shortly after graduating from Ray Sefo's Fight Academy. In the summer of , he entered the K-1 Kings of Oceania, a qualifying tournament for the K-1 World Grand, at the Trusts Stadium on 24 June He lost to Jason Suttie in a 3rd-round decision in Round 1 and Peter Sampson via TKO in Round 2, however, he managed to score a second-round TKO over Simi Tai at Round 3 on 18 November [5][6] At the K-1 Kings of Oceania, he suffered another 3rd-round decision loss to Jason Retti.[7] On 27 October , he fought to a split decision with Felise Leniu at Carnage in the Cage held at the ASB Stadium.[8][9][10] He was also scheduled to face Sio Vitale[11] and Alexei Ignashov[12] during , but took a break from professional fighting the next year.

Return to strongman competition

In January , he and fellow New Zealand strongman Mick Cottrell represented the country at the th Browns Athletic Society's sporting carnival in competition against Australia's Craig Reid and Aaron Monks, and Scotland's Alastair Gunn and world champion caber tosser Malcolm Cleghorn. Sir Colin Earl Meads, a legendary rugby unionlock forward for the All Blacks during the s and 60s, was in attendance.[13][14]

The next month, de Jong was interviewed by the Howick and Pakuranga Times while training for the upcoming Highland Games on 1 March. He was specifically preparing for the farmer's walk, in which competitors attempt to walk as far as they can while carrying &#;kg weights in each hand, and stated his intention to break his own national record.[15] He had previously set the national record in this event at m[16] as well as holding the New Zealand record for stone lifting.[15]

On 24 July , de Jong appeared on the first episode of NZ Smashes Guinness World Records where he broke the Guinness World Record for running through the most panes of glass (15) in under one minute. The record was previously held by Czech footballer Martin Latka who smashed through 11 panes of glass on German television earlier that year.[17][18]

Professional wrestling

Impact Pro Wrestling NZ ()

After nine months of training, de Jong made his debut as a professional wrestler for one of the country's three major promotions Impact Pro Wrestling, debuting in a Rookie Battle Royal match at IPW Nightmare Before Xmas 09, winning a contract with the company. His first match was against Les West defeating him at an IPW live event in Auckland on 20 March ; he made his television debut on IPW Ignition several weeks later.[19]

On 29 May , he defeated "The One" Vinny Dunn at the IPW Genesissupercard for the IPW New Zealand Heavyweight Championship.[20][21] Dunn had beaten Alexander in the main event to retain the championship when he was unexpectedly confronted by de Jong, responding to the open challenge Dunn had issued to any pro wrestler in New Zealand the previous month, and Dunn agreed to face him in an impromptu match for the title.[22] The match was later aired on 22 July edition of IPW Ignition.[23]

De Jong lost the IPW New Zealand Heavyweight Championship back to "The One" Vinny Dunn on 21 August , at IPW Rival Turf after he had been inadvertently struck in the head with a briefcase by his manager, Justin Lane. Dunn then forced de Jong to submit with an ankle lock.[24]

World Wrestling Entertainment / WWE ()

In February Reuben signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment, and began training at WWE's Florida Championship Wrestling developmental territory. De Jong is listed on FCW's roster under the name "Russell Walker."[25] In June he was released.

Impact Pro Wrestling NZ Return ()

De Jong returned to IPW at Nightmare B4 Xmas in December defeating Tykade and Dominic Le Fauce via DQ in a Land of The Giants match.[26]

Championships and accomplishments

Professional wrestling

Strongman competition

  • New Zealand's Strongest Man
  • New Zealand's Strongest Man

Fight record

Kickboxing record

1 Win (1 (T)KO's), 3 Losses
DateResultOpponentEventMethodRoundTime
Loss Jason Retti K-1 Kings of Oceania Round 1, Auckland, New Zealand Decision 3
Win Simi Tai K-1 Kings of Oceania Round 3, Auckland, New Zealand TKO (Corner Stoppage) 2
Loss Peter Sampson K-1 Kings of Oceania Round 2, Auckland, New Zealand TKO (Low kicks) 3
Loss Jason SuttieK-1 Kings of Oceania Round 1, Auckland, New Zealand Decision 3

MMA record

2 Wins (2 decisions), 0 Losses
DateResultOpponentEventMethodRoundTime
Win Felise Leniu Carnage in the Cage, Auckland, New Zealand Decision (Split) 3
Win Gala Tolua UE&#;— New Zealand Vale Tudo: A Test of Courage, Auckland, New Zealand Decision 0

See also

References

  1. ^ abWhite, Peter (11 July ). "A Viking in the ring". Western Leader. p.&#;1. Retrieved 22 April
  2. ^New Zealand Press Association (4 January ). "Luck of the Irish at Highland Games".
  3. ^Hay, Rob (29 March ). "Would-be strongman puts his money on line". Bay of Plenty Times.
  4. ^"Karl Webber Inducted into the ICNZ Hall of Fame". Current News & Updates. Retrieved 26 July [permanent dead link&#;]
  5. ^"Reuben De Jong". Fighter's profile. Retrieved 26 July
  6. ^"Fight Results ". Fight Results. Retrieved 26 July
  7. ^"Fight Results ". Fight Results. Retrieved 26 July
  8. ^Comstock, Jeff (2 October ). "Worldwide October MMA Fight Cards". Retrieved 26 July
  9. ^"Reuben de Jong Fighter Profile". Fighters. Archived from the original on 14 July Retrieved 26 July
  10. ^"Fighter Profile: Reuben De Jong". MMA Universe Fighter Archive. Archived from the original on 1 December Retrieved 26 July
  11. ^"Vitale has a warrant for War". Fight Reports. 3 September Retrieved 26 July
  12. ^"Can Ignashov make a comeback?: Tale of a sleeping giant". 6 July Archived from the original on 24 July Retrieved 26 July
  13. ^"Browns carnival adds the clash of the strong men to programme". The Southland Times. 1 January
  14. ^"th event caters for 'everyone'". The Southland Times. 1 January
  15. ^ abTuapawa, Jo (19 February ). "Reuben aiming for record". Howick and Pakuranga Times. Archived from the original on 27 July
  16. ^Tuapawa, Jo (23 February ). "Och aye, the games are on". Howick and Pakuranga Times. Archived from the original on 27 July
  17. ^"NZ Smashes Guinness World Records Premiere". TV Highlights. 30 August Retrieved 26 July
  18. ^Presenters: Marc Ellis and Chris Sheedy (30 August ). "NZ Smashes Guinness World Records: Reuben de Jong". NZ Smashes Guinness World Records. Series 1. Episode 1. Auckland. Television New Zealand. TV2. Archived from the original on 9 January
  19. ^Presenters: Dion McCracken and Nathan Fenwick (4 June ). "IPW Ignition: June 4, ". IPW Ignition. Triangle Stratos.
  20. ^Ogilvie, Steve (). "New Zealand Results". New Zealand Independent Results. Retrieved 26 July
  21. ^Meltzer, Dave (24 May ). "MON. UPDATE: Raw preview, NXT tomorrow, wrestler sells believably, Raw ratings, Best TV show, TUF". Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online. Retrieved 26 July
  22. ^Farmer, Luke (30 May ). "New IPW Champion crowned!". Stories. Retrieved 26 July
  23. ^Presenters: Dion McCracken and Nathan Fenwick (22 July ). "IPW Ignition: July 22, ". IPW Ignition. Triangle Stratos.
  24. ^Farmer, Luke (24 August ). "Rival Turf: Dunn gets screwed!". Stories. Retrieved 23 September
  25. ^Farmer, Luke (23 February ). "Reuben de Jong signed to WWE Developmental contract!". Stories. Retrieved 23 February
  26. ^IPW (19 December ). "A Nightmare end to !". Stories. Retrieved 23 February

External links