View source for Haystacks Calhoun

{{Short description|American professional wrestler (1934–1989)}}
{{for|the English wrestler|Giant Haystacks}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
|name        = Haystacks Calhoun
|image       = Haystacks Calhoun.png
|caption     =
|image_size  = <!-- only for images under 220px and leave off px part -->
|birth_name  = William Dee Calhoun
|birth_date  = {{Birth date|1934|8|3}}<ref name=Legends/>
|death_date  = {{Death date and age|1989|12|7|1934|8|3}}<ref name=Legends/>
|birth_place = [[McKinney, Texas]], U.S.<ref name=Legends/>
|death_place = [[Collin County, Texas]], U.S.
|resides     = 
|names       = Country Boy Calhoun<br />Haystacks<br />Haystacks Calhoun
|height      = 6ft 4in<ref name="WWEbio">{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/superstars/haystacks-calhoun|title=Haystacks Calhoun|publisher=[[WWE]]|access-date=June 19, 2019}}</ref>
|weight      = 601 lb<ref name="WWEbio"/>
|billed      = Morgan's Corner, Arkansas
|trainer     = 
|debut       = 1956
|retired     = 1980
}}
'''William Dee Calhoun''' (August 3, 1934 &ndash; December 7, 1989)<ref name=Legends>{{cite book|title=WWE Legends|last=Solomon|first=Brian|pages=[https://archive.org/details/wwelegends00solo/page/221 221–226]|publisher=[[Pocket Books]]|year=2006|isbn=978-0-7434-9033-7|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/wwelegends00solo/page/221}}</ref><ref name=OWOW>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/h/haystacks-calhoun.html|title=Haystacks Calhoun's profile|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|access-date=April 5, 2011}}</ref> was an American [[Professional wrestling|professional wrestler]], who used the professional name "'''Haystack'''" or "'''Haystacks'''" '''Calhoun'''.

== Early life ==

Born on August 3, 1934, William Dee Calhoun grew up on a farm in [[McKinney, Texas]]; a rural suburb located in [[Collin County, Texas|Collin County]] about {{convert|30|mi|km|abbr=off|sp=us}} north of Dallas. By age 14, he already weighed {{convert|300|lb|abbr=off|sp=us}}, as he routinely ate a dozen eggs for breakfast. By the time he was in his early 20s, Calhoun weighed over {{convert|600|lb}}. Legend has it that Calhoun was discovered by a traveling wrestling promoter who saw him pick up and move cows across a field. Calhoun first broke into wrestling in 1955 and he began competing for local promoter [[Orville Brown]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Courier|first=Mike Mooneyham Special to The Post and|title=Haystacks Calhoun was a true giant in the wrestling business|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/haystacks-calhoun-was-a-true-giant-in-the-wrestling-business/article_313eb0d0-2c13-11e7-af34-6ff1f2d7a991.html|access-date=June 29, 2021|website=Post and Courier|date=April 29, 2017 |language=en}}</ref>

== Professional wrestling career ==

Initially performing under the name "Country Boy Calhoun", he performed in various regional territories, including Houston, Kansas City, and Canada. However, he first appeared nationally on [[Art Linkletter]]'s ''[[House Party (radio and TV show)|House Party]]'', a televised variety show where Calhoun tossed full bales of hay into a high loft. As a result of this feat, he adopted the name "Haystacks Calhoun." Recognizing the show business potential of such a gimmick, Calhoun decided to exaggerate his [[hillbilly]] persona by adopting the fictional birthplace of Morgan's Corner, Arkansas, while sporting a bushy beard, white t-shirt, blue overalls, and a genuine horseshoe around his neck on a chain.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Slagle|first=Stephen Von|date=May 25, 2020|title=Haystacks Calhoun|url=https://historyofwrestling.com/haystacks-calhoun/|access-date=June 29, 2021|website=History of Wrestling|language=en-US}}</ref> Moreover, while promoters typically did not book him for championships, he seldom lost a match. He was often booked in handicap matches and battles royal. He was matched up against fellow wrestling giant [[Happy Humphrey]] (who was billed as the heaviest wrestler in the world) in a series of highly promoted altercations at [[Madison Square Garden]] during the early 1960s.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Schramm|first=Chris|date=April 1, 1999|title=Happy Humphrey was the giant|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/1999/04/01/happy-humphrey-was-the-giant/|access-date=November 15, 2021|website=Slam! Wrestling}}</ref> At over 750&nbsp;lbs (340&nbsp;kg), Humphrey outweighed Calhoun by over {{convert|150|lb|kg|abbr=on}} and was considerably slower than Calhoun. Calhoun took the majority of the decisions over Humphrey, many by count out as Humphrey often could not get himself back into the ring by the count of 20 when thrown out.<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 26, 2019|title=The 5 Heaviest Wrestlers Ever (& 5 Heavier Than They Seem)|url=https://www.thesportster.com/wrestling/heaviest-wrestlers-ever-heavier-than-they-seem/|access-date=June 29, 2021|website=TheSportster|language=en-US}}</ref> Calhoun stated: "He had very poor balance, was easy to get around and easy to handle. I slammed him easier than the average-size fellow. When I learned he was up to 800 pounds I warned him that it wasn't healthy."<ref name=":1" />
[[File:Tex McKenzie, Haystacks Calhoun and Mario Milano - 1971 - Wrestling News n.24.jpg|thumb|Calhoun (middle), with [[Tex McKenzie]] and [[Mario Milano]], {{Circa|1971}}]]
On April 14, 1961, in the [[Chicago International Amphitheatre|Chicago International Amphitheater]], he challenged [[WWWF United States Heavyweight Championship|Capitol Wrestling NWA United States heavyweight champion]] "Nature Boy" [[Buddy Rogers (wrestler)|Buddy Rogers]] in a second attempt to take the U.S. title. This bout ended in failure when Rogers dropkicked Calhoun to the ropes and the middle rope broke and Calhoun tumbled to the concrete floor and was counted out.<ref>{{Citation|title=Haystack Calhoun vs. Buddy Rogers (04/14/1961)| date=September 11, 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcP6KizyhXc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/zcP6KizyhXc| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=June 29, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Calhoun had also lost his first championship bout with Rogers in New York's [[Sunnyside Garden Arena]] on January 28, 1961. Although mainly active in the eastern half of the United States, he also wrestled in Australia, on tour with other American wrestlers in bouts promoted by United States promoter Sam Menacker. He also wrestled for [[NWA: All-Star Wrestling]] in Vancouver, where he twice won the [[NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version)|NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship]] with [[Don Leo Jonathan]]. He formed a tag team with the over {{convert|600|lb|adj=on}} [[Man Mountain Mike]] on the West Coast. Their combined weight was over {{convert|1200|lb}} in the ring.<ref>{{cite book|page=87|first=Ross|last=Davies|publisher=Rosen Publishing Group|year=2001|title=Haystacks Calhoun|isbn=0-8239-3435-7}}</ref> After engaging in a feud against [[Dick the Bruiser]], Calhoun then generally traveled from territory to territory, never staying in one region for too long.

In 1966 he won both the [[NWA Tri-State Tag Team Championship]] and the NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship while teaming with a young [[Jack Brisco]] and Don Leo Jonathan, respectively.<ref name=":0" /> Moreover, he then helped attract fans to the fledgling Northeast promotion [[WWE#World Wide Wrestling Federation|World Wide Wrestling Federation]] (WWWF). On May 30, 1973, Calhoun paired with [[Tony Garea]] to defeat the Japanese duo of [[Mr. Fuji]] and Prof. [[Charles Kalani, Jr.|Toru Tanaka]] for the WWF Tag Team Title; six months later they dropped the titles back to Fuji and Tanaka.<ref name=":0" /> He continued working for WWWF until 1979. Calhoun as well continued working in various territories until retiring from wrestling in 1980.

==Death and legacy==
Calhoun's weight and declining health eventually forced him into retirement, and he was ultimately confined to a double-wide trailer after losing his left leg to [[Diabetes mellitus|diabetes]] in 1986.<ref name=":2" /> He died at age 55 on December 7, 1989.<ref name="OWOW" /> His daughter donated mementos of his wrestling career to the Collin County museum.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Position|first=The Gorilla|date=December 7, 2017|title=IN MEMORIAM: HAYSTACKS CALHOUN|url=https://thegorillaposition.com/haystacks-calhoun/|access-date=June 29, 2021|website=The Gorilla Position|language=en-US}}</ref>

Calhoun was more directly an influence on British super heavyweight wrestler [[Martin Ruane]], best known in America for his stint as Loch Ness in [[World Championship Wrestling]]. Ruane achieved fame in his home country as "Giant Haystacks", a modified version of Calhoun's gimmick. Ruane first wrestled as "Haystacks Calhoun", a direct copy of the American original, while working for [[All Star Wrestling#1970s - Wrestling Enterprises|Wrestling Enterprises (of Birkenhead)]] in the early 1970s, before modifying his name and character.<ref>''[[The Wrestling]]'', [[Simon Garfield]], [[Faber & Faber]] 1996 edition, page 138</ref> Thus adapted, Ruane later moved to [[Professional wrestling in the United Kingdom#Joint Promotions|Joint Promotions]] where he achieved television exposure and national fame as the tag team partner, and later arch enemy, of [[Shirley Crabtree|Big Daddy]].<ref name=ipppzb>{{cite web|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/g/giant-haystacks.html| title=OWOW profile| date=August 21, 2023|publisher=onlineworldofwrestling.com}}</ref><ref>''The Wrestling'' Simon Garfield, Faber & Faber 1996</ref>

Calhoun often appeared at [[Turner's Arena|Capital Arena]] in Washington, D.C., scuffling on televised bouts. [[A. J. Weberman]] was head of Haystacks Calhoun fan club.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bob-dylan-in-the-alley-the-alan-j-weberman-story-189254/|title=Bob Dylan in the Alley: The Alan J. Weberman Story|last=Dreifus|first=Claudia|date=March 4, 1971|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=October 21, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

He and colleague [[Andre the Giant]] were known for a story Andre told about their visit to a diner: {{blockquote|There was a place next to the arena which was one of those all-you-can-eat-for-two-dollars joints...&nbsp;When Haystacks and I walked in you could see the waitress almost faint. About 30 seconds later the manager comes out, takes a peek at us, and shakes his head and goes back to the kitchen...&nbsp;Haystacks and I decided to tie on a real big feed that night and the waitresses were hysterical. They told us the manager was tearing his hair out and practically in tears. But we felt badly, since we must've eaten about $25 worth of food for $4. So after it was over we told him we'd pay the regular price instead of the all-you-can-eat price. He thanked us for that and told us two more like us could put him out of business.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mooneyham |first1=Mike |title=Haystacks Calhoun was a true giant in the wrestling business |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/haystacks-calhoun-was-a-true-giant-in-the-wrestling-business/article_313eb0d0-2c13-11e7-af34-6ff1f2d7a991.html |website=Post and Courier |access-date=30 June 2021 |language=en |date=April 29, 2017}}</ref>}}

In 2003, WWE listed him as one of the 50 greatest WWE superstars of all time.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.amazon.com/Top-Greatest-Superstars-Time-Wrestling/dp/B0050YCAOK|title=The Top 50 Greatest Superstars of All Time WWE Wrestling|date=January 2004}}</ref> On March 31, 2017, Calhoun was posthumously inducted into the [[WWE Hall of Fame]] as a part of the Legacy Wing.<ref name="Legacy2017" />

==Other media==
Calhoun appears briefly at the end of the 1962 theatrical motion picture version of [[Rod Serling|Rod Serling's]] teleplay ''Requiem For A Heavyweight''.<ref name=":0" /> The protagonist, played by [[Anthony Quinn]], is a punch-drunk prize fighter slipping into oblivion but his manager, played by [[Jackie Gleason]], finds a way to squeeze a few more bucks from his career by lining him up for a "professional wrestling" match. The opponent's name is stated on a poster for the event, and announced as Quinn's character approaches the ring, but only the upper fourth of the wrestler's torso is seen, from the rear, on screen. He scratches his head in response to the behavior of this unknown newcomer.<ref name=":0" /> The film's credits make no reference, however, to Calhoun's participation.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|title=Remembering the Past: Haystacks Calhoun was a true giant in the wrestling business|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/remembering-the-past-haystacks-calhoun-was-a-true-giant-in-the-wrestling-business/article_bd496f0c-55b3-11eb-a085-0ba252a391ff.html|access-date=June 29, 2021|website=Post and Courier|date=January 16, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> He was known for his frequent appearances on television including Groucho Marx' show ''You Bet Your Life'' and talk shows hosted by Jack Paar and Merv Griffin.<ref name=":2" /> Calhoun showed off his strength when he appeared on Art Linkletter's program ''House Party'', where he tossed bales of hay with ease.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Rickard|first=Mike|date=March 11, 2018|title=Haystacks Calhoun - Dead at 55|url=https://wrestlerdeaths.com/haystacks-calhoun-death|website=Wrestler Deaths}}</ref>

On April 26, 2022, Haystacks Calhoun was depicted on NBC's [[Young Rock]] in season 2 episode 7, “An Understanding.” Calhoun was portrayed by [https://www.imdb.me/stevemoulton Steve Moulton] in this episode which told the story of how [[Dwayne Johnson]]’s parents met and fell in love.

==Championships and accomplishments==
*'''[[Big Time Wrestling (Boston)|Big Time Wrestling]]'''
** BTW World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with [[Sweet Daddy Siki]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/newengland/bigtime/bigtime-t.html |title=Big Time Wrestling Tag Team Title (Massachusetts) |author= |year=2003 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |work=Wrestling-Titles.com |access-date= |archive-date=November 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117135029/https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/newengland/bigtime/bigtime-t.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '''[[Championship Wrestling From Florida]]'''
**[[NWA Florida Tag Team Championship]] (1 time) - with [[Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)|Kevin Sullivan]]
* '''[[Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling]]'''
**[[NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version)|NWA Southern Tag Team Championship]] (1 time) - with Amazing Zuma
* '''[[NWA All-Star Wrestling]]'''
**[[NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version)]] ([[NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version)#Title history|2 times]]) - with [[Don Leo Jonathan]]<ref name="OWOW" />
* '''[[NWA Tri-State]]'''
**[[NWA Tri-State Tag Team Championship|NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Tri-State version)]] ([[NWA Tri-State Tag Team Championship|1 time]]) - with [[Jack Brisco]]
* '''[[World Wide Wrestling Federation]] / [[WWE]]'''
**[[World Tag Team Championship (WWE, 1971–2010)|WWWF World Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of World Tag Team Champions (WWE, 1971–2010)|1 time]]) - with [[Tony Garea]]<ref name="OWOW" />
**[[WWE Hall of Fame]] (Class of 2017)<ref name=Legacy2017>{{cite web|title= Congratulations to the 2017 WWE Hall of Fame Legacy inductees |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wwe-hall-of-fame/wwe-hall-of-fame-2017/article/legacy-inductions|publisher=WWE|date=March 31, 2017|access-date=March 31, 2017}}</ref>
* '''[[Worldwide Wrestling Associates]]'''
**[[WWA International Television Tag Team Championship]] ([[WWA International Television Tag Team Championship|1 time]]) - with [[Abe Jacobs]]<ref name="OWOW" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{WWE superstar}}
*{{Find a Grave|10913479}}
*{{IMDb name|1866096|William 'Haystacks' Calhoun}}
*[http://texashistory.unt.edu/search/?q=Calhoun%2C+Haystacks&t=dc.subject Haystacks Calhoun photos] from the Collin County Historical Society, hosted by the Portal to Texas History
*[http://www.wrestlingmuseum.com/pages/wrestlers/haystacks2.html Haystacks Calhoun] 
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828232950/http://www.wrestlingmuseum.com/pages/wrestlers/haystacks2.html |date=August 28, 2008 }} at WrestlingMuseum.com
* {{professional wrestling profiles}}

{{World Tag Team Championship (WWE)}}
{{WWE Hall of Fame Legacy Wing}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Calhoun, Haystacks}}
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:20th-century American professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:1989 deaths]]
[[Category:American male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:Deaths from diabetes in Texas]]
[[Category:Fictional hillbillies]]
[[Category:People from McKinney, Texas]]
[[Category:Place of death missing]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Dallas County, Texas]]
[[Category:WWE Hall of Fame Legacy inductees]]
[[Category:Stampede Wrestling alumni]]
[[Category:Professional wrestlers from Texas]]
[[Category:World Tag Team Champions (WWE, 1971–2010)]]