LUSK RANCH

Cowboy Johnny Mantell "The Pride of Montague County" (given that monaker by long time Sportatorium annoucer Bill Mercer)

John started wrestling professonally in 1978 and continued till his last match in Waxahachie, Texas on August 6, 2005. He was seriously injured in a one vehicle roll over accident on November 10,2005 just outside of Decatur, TX on Hwy 287 that took him out of ever competeing in a wrestling ring again as well as all other physical activities that could further injure him.

John wrestled throughout the United States, Japan, and Europe. He started out as Johnny Boyd in Southern Louisiana, wrestled as The Hood in California and then took the Mantell name when he started wrestling with his brother, Ken Mantell. John not only traveled the roads with his brother for years but also famous names like Bruiser Brody, the Von Erichs, Rowdy Roddy Piper, the Funks', the Freebirds, Bob Orton and so many more! Many of those still alive still keep in contact with him today. He has stories that have never been told and some that probably should stay that way but he is working on putting some of those stories together soon. We will be posting a few here for his many fans. John continues to enjoy the sport unfortunely he is unable to still compete. He is asked all the time for his oponion and to help with young rookies and upstart companies. The amount of knowledge and history in his head is amazing, we just hope we can get it out and documented before he "looses" it.

Just always remember that John believes that he is still here with us unlike many of his "brothers" that have passed on because altough he attended the same parties and events that everyone else did he went home after a few hours and most of the other guys stayed to close it down. He had a family (he was raising his daughter, Jade and helping his parents) and he always had horses and the ranch to come back to. He says that all the time especailly when we get a call that another one of his friends has past. That is happening more and more lately. The stories that will be told will be first hand accounts from the '80's & '90's, the heyday of wrestling in Texas, USA!  The wrestling that you see on TV today doesn't even come close to the events that took place during those years, and there was  a different relationship between the men and women that traveled the roads together then. John had the first matches of many of the WWE Stars on TV today - JBL, John Bradshaw Latham, etc. (Check out the Photo Gallery - Wrestling Album for a picture of one of their first matches in Dallas). We are working on getting the website more friendly and informative on John and Lusk Ranch.

Shoot John and email at luskranch@yahoo.com if you have questions or a story!