Looking for info

Question
I am looking for information on the following past wrestler.  He went by the name of Judge Dread or Dread.

Answer
Hello Deb,

You didn't originally ask this question of me, but I have the time to answer it, so I am.

The wrestler you are asking about was known variously as Judge Dread and Judge Dredd. If he was known as simply Dread, I do not know of it. The name and gimmick was based from the comic book character Judge Dredd. He was known as Judge Dredd in Extreme Championship Wrestling. Everywhere else, he was known as Judge Dread. I do not know for sure, but ECW may have worked out a deal regarding the use of the Dredd name, which otherwise could have lead to legal complications.

He is not the same person as the rapper who uses the name Judge Dread. He briefly wrestled, but under a very different name.

His height was billed as 201 cm and his weight was billed as 177 kg. He debuted in 1991; I do not know where. His style was that of a brawler and powerhouse and he is best known for his work in hardcore promotions ECW and FMW. He worked often in the Michigan area as well as in Japan. I believe he was born in Michigan. I do not know his real name, nor any details about where he is from and how he got into wrestling.

His career lasted from 1991-1996, as far as I've been able to discover, but he also made a special appearance at the IWA Mid-South 11th Reunion show, which was held on October the 13th, 2007. There he participated in a six-man match alongside Jaosn Hades, Troy Walters, Lucky, Dingo and winner Devon Moore.

In addition to FMW and ECW, he also appeared for the United States Wrestling Association (USWA), where he may have debuted, NWA Sabu, Midwest Territorial Wrestling, Midwest Championship Wrestling, the National Wrestling Conference (a Las Vegas promotion), the Championship Wrestling Federation (a Memphis promotion) and IWA- Mid South.

In 1992, as Judge Dredd, he was placed 289 on the PWI 500, his highest rank. he was 430 in 1993 and 444 in 1944. He held two championships, both brief title reigns. For a period of nine days, the 15th of June 1991 to the 24th of June, 1991, as Judge Dredd he was USWA Western States Tag Team Champion, partnering Samu.

They were the only champions. The title was thus extremely short-lived. The title had been formed when Samu and Judge Dredd entered the company and they were announced as the first champions. On the 24th of June, they lost to the then USWA World Tag Team Champions, Jeff Jarrett and Robert Fuller. The title was then unified into the USWA World Tag Team Championship.

In addition, for a period of 35 days, from the 15th of June, 1996 to the 20th of July, 1996, as Judge Dread, he was CWF Heavyweight Champion. he was the second champion overall, winning the title from Mike Kelly in Berkley, Michigan. He dropped the title to Skull Ganz, also in Berkley.

He has had matches with some pretty big names, including hardcore wrestling pioneer The Shiek, and Hayabusa, one of FMW's top stars, both of whom he had quite a number of matches with, as well as Tarzan Goto and Mr. Gannosuke, two other big names in FMW.

In FMW, Sabu and later, Big Titan and then Ricky Fuji were his tag team partners. In the National Wrestling Conference, he teamed up with Johnny Paine. The two were part of the NWC Tag Team Title Tournament held in 1995 and went through to the semi-final.

I haven't found anything about any storylines he was in, or what position on the card he was in, at least so far.