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{{short description|American professional wrestler}}
{{Infobox Wrestler
{{For|the football player named Edgar "Special Delivery" Jones|Edgar Jones (running back)}}
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|name = Conrad Efraim
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
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|names = Special Delivery Jones<ref name="wwebio">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/wwealumni/sdjones/bio/|title=S.D. Jones's WWE Alumni Bio|accessdate=2010-05-26|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref><br />Roosevelt Jones<br />S.D. Jones<ref name="wwebio"/>
{{Infobox professional wrestler
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|image =
|name = S. D. Jones
⚫
|image_size =
|birthname = Conrad Efraim
|img_capt =
⚫
|names = Roosevelt Jones<br />S. D. Jones<ref name="wwebio"/><br />Special Delivery Jones<ref name="wwebio">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/sdjones|title=S.D. Jones's WWE Alumni Profile|access-date=2012-03-19|publisher=[[WWE]]}}</ref>
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|height = {{height|ft=6|in=1}}<ref name="wwebio"/>
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|image = Conrad Efraim.jpg
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|weight = {{convert|260|lb|kg|abbr=on}}<ref name="wwebio"/>
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|image_size = 200px
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|caption =
⚫
|height = 6 ft 1 in<ref name="wwebio"/>
⚫
|weight = 260 lb<ref name="wwebio"/>
|birth_date = {{birth date|1945|3|30|mf=y}}<ref name="death"/>
|birth_date = {{birth date|1945|3|30|mf=y}}<ref name="death"/>
|birth_place = [[Antigua]], [[West Indies]]<ref name=oww/>
|birth_place = [[Antigua]], [[British Leeward Islands]]<ref name=oww/>
|death_date = {{death date and age|2008|10|26|1945|3|30|mf=y}}<ref name="death"/>
|death_date = {{death date and age|2008|10|26|1945|3|30|mf=y}}<ref name="death"/>
|death_cause = [[Stroke]]
|death_place = [[Antigua]], [[Antigua and Barbuda]]<ref name=oww/>
|death_place = [[Antigua]], [[Antigua and Barbuda]]<ref name=oww/>
|billed = [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]]<ref name="wwebio"/>
|billed = "[[Antigua]] in the [[West Indies]]"<br>[[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]
|trainer = [[Johnny Rodz]]
|trainer = [[Johnny Rodz]]
|debut = 1971
|debut = 1971
|retired = 1991
|retired = 1995
}}
}}
'''Conrad Efraim''' (March 30, 1945 – October 26, 2008) was a former [[Professional wrestling|professional wrestler]] best known as '''Special Delivery Jones''' or '''S.D. Jones''' from his time in the [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF). He also wrestled in [[Jim Crockett Promotions]] and the [[National Wrestling Alliance]] (NWA), and he won the [[NWA Americas Tag Team Championship]] three times.<ref name=slam/>
'''Conrad Efraim''' (March 30, 1945 – October 26, 2008) was an [[Antigua and Barbuda|Antiguan]] [[Professional wrestling|professional wrestler]] best known by his [[ring name]], '''Special Delivery Jones''' or '''S. D. Jones''' (sometimes referred to as '''S. D. "Special Delivery" Jones''') from his time (1974–1990) in the [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF, now WWE). He also wrestled in [[Jim Crockett Promotions]] and the [[National Wrestling Alliance]] (NWA), and he won the [[NWA Americas Tag Team Championship]] three times.<ref name=slam/>


⚫
==Professional wrestling career==
==Career==
Before becoming a wrestler, Efraim worked at a telephone company.<ref name=slam>{{cite web|title=S.D. Jones: An unforgotten gladiator|last=Hillhouse|first=Dave|work=SLAM! Sports|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2005/06/13/1085074.html|accessdate=2007-12-31}}</ref> While there, he began training under [[Johnny Rodz]] in the sport of professional wrestling.<ref name=slam/> Upon completion of his training, he quit his job and began working for [[National Wrestling Alliance|NWA]] Mid-Atlantic under the name "Roosevelt Jones" in a [[tag team]] with his partner and [[kayfabe]] cousin [[Carey Lloyd|Rufus R. Jones]].<ref name=oww>{{cite web|title=Wrestler Profiles: "Special Delivery" Jones|work=Online World of Wrestling|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/s/s-d-jones.html|accessdate=2007-12-31}}</ref> While there, they had a memorable [[Feud (professional wrestling)|feud]] with the [[Anderson family]] ([[Ole Anderson|Ole]] and [[Gene Anderson|Gene]]).<ref name=oww/>
Before becoming a wrestler, Efraim worked at a telephone company.<ref name=slam>{{cite web|title=S.D. Jones: An unforgotten gladiator|last=Hillhouse|first=Dave|work=SLAM! Sports|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2005/06/13/1085074.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521015523/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2005/06/13/1085074.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 21, 2015}}</ref> He also took part in boxing and lifting weights.<ref>{{Cite web|title=AN ANTIGUA SUN ARTICLE ON S. D. JONES {{!}} WrestlingFigs|url=https://wrestlingfigs.com/wrestlingnews/an-antigua-sun-article-on-s-d-jones/|access-date=2021-05-01|language=en-US}}</ref> While there, he began training under [[Johnny Rodz]] in the sport of professional wrestling.<ref name=slam/> Upon completion of his training, he quit his job and began working for [[National Wrestling Alliance|NWA]] Mid-Atlantic under the name "Roosevelt Jones" in a [[tag team]] with his partner and [[kayfabe]] cousin [[Rufus R. Jones]].<ref name=oww>{{cite web|title=Wrestler Profiles: "Special Delivery" Jones|work=Online World of Wrestling|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/s/s-d-jones.html|access-date=2007-12-31}}</ref> While there, they had a memorable [[Feud (professional wrestling)|feud]] with the [[Anderson family]] ([[Ole Anderson|Ole]] and [[Gene Anderson (wrestler)|Gene]]).<ref name=oww/>


On January 17, 1975, after leaving the Mid-Atlantic area for [[California]], Jones won his first of three tag team titles, combining with [[Porkchop Cash]] to take the [[NWA Americas Tag Team Championship]] from the [[Hollywood Blonds#Buddy Roberts and Jerry Brown|Hollywood Blonds]] ([[Dale Hey|Buddy Roberts]] and Jerry Brown).<ref name=nwaamericas>{{cite web|title=NWA Americas Tag Team Championship history|work=Wrestling
On January 17, 1975, after leaving the Mid-Atlantic area for [[California]], Jones won his first of three tag team titles, combining with [[Porkchop Cash]] to take the [[NWA Americas Tag Team Championship]] from the [[Hollywood Blonds#Buddy Roberts and Jerry Brown|Hollywood Blonds]] ([[Dale Hey|Buddy Roberts]] and Jerry Brown).<ref name=nwaamericas>{{cite web|title=NWA Americas Tag Team Championship history|work=Wrestling Titles|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ca/la/hw/ams-t.html|access-date=2007-12-27}}</ref> The following month, Jones and Cash [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Drop|dropped]] the titles back to the Blonds. Jones won the title again in 1977, teaming with Tom Jones to defeat Black Gordman and Goliath.<ref name=nwaamericas/> Gordman and Goliath regained the championship, but SD and Tom Jones won the belts back from them on November 18, 1977.<ref name=nwaamericas/>
Titles|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ca/la/hw/ams-t.html|accessdate=2007-12-27}}</ref> The following month, Jones and Cash [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Drop|dropped]] the titles back to the Blonds. Jones won the title again in 1977, teaming with Tom Jones to defeat Black Gordman and Goliath.<ref name=nwaamericas/> Gordman and Goliath regained the championship, but Jones and Jones won the belts back from them on November 18, 1977.<ref name=nwaamericas/>


Jones also continued to wrestle in the WWF as a mid-card [[Face (professional wrestling)|babyface]] who would give the [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heels]] a hard time but end up losing.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jobbers of the Eighties|work=Online World of Wrestling|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/columns/misc/derekk01.html|accessdate=2008-01-03}}</ref> He did, however, win quite a few matches on smaller cards against lower card or fellow mid carders like Ron Shaw and [[Johnny Rodz]].<ref name=oww/><ref name=wwf1981/> Jones was often featured in tag team matches partnered with [[Tony Atlas]], and the two challenged [[Harry Fujiwara|Mr. Fuji]] and [[Masa Saito|Mr. Saito]] for the [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|WWF Tag Team Championship]] several times in 1981.<ref name=wwf1981>{{cite web|title=1981|work=The History of WWE|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/81.htm|accessdate=2007-12-31 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071118020629/http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/81.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2007-11-18}}</ref> On one occasion, the two ended up as the final men in a battle royal and flipped a coin to decide the winner, as seen on the WWF [[WWE Home Video|Coliseum Video]] 'Best of the WWF Volume 4' and 'Grand Slams' video cassettes.<ref>{{cite web|title=1982|work=The History of WWE|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/82.htm|accessdate=2007-12-31 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071102224337/http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/82.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2007-11-02}}</ref>
S. D. Jones had his first match in the WWWF on April 25, 1974, facing [[Nikolai Volkoff]] in Trenton, New Jersey. Jones would continue to wrestle in the WWF (WWWF) as a mid-card [[Face (professional wrestling)|babyface]] who would give the [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heels]] a hard time but end up losing.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jobbers of the Eighties|work=Online World of Wrestling|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/columns/misc/derekk01.html|access-date=2008-01-03}}</ref> He did, however, win quite a few matches on smaller cards against lower card or fellow mid carders like Ron Shaw and [[Johnny Rodz]].<ref name=oww/><ref name=wwf1981/> Jones was often featured in tag team matches partnered with [[Tony Atlas]], and the two challenged [[Harry Fujiwara|Mr. Fuji]] and [[Masa Saito|Mr. Saito]] for the [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|WWF Tag Team Championship]] several times in 1981.<ref name=wwf1981>{{cite web|title=1981|work=The History of WWE|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/81.htm|access-date=2007-12-31 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071118020629/http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/81.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-11-18}}</ref> On one occasion, the two ended up as the final men in a battle royal and flipped a coin to decide the winner, as seen on the WWF [[WWE Home Video|Coliseum Video]] 'Best of the WWF Volume 4' and 'Grand Slams' video cassettes.<ref>{{cite web|title=1982|work=The History of WWE|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/82.htm|access-date=2007-12-31 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071102224337/http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/82.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-11-02}}</ref>


He was also the tag team partner of [[André the Giant]] on November 13, 1984 when André's hair was cut by [[Ken Patera]] and [[Big John Studd]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1984|work=The History of WWE|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/84.htm|accessdate=2007-12-31 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071204183532/http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/84.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2007-12-04}}</ref> At the inaugural [[WrestleMania (1985)|WrestleMania]] in 1985 he famously lost to [[King Kong Bundy]] in an official match time of nine seconds, although the actual time from bell to pinfall was twenty-five seconds.<ref>{{cite web|title=WrestleMania I Facts/Stats|work=WWE|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm1/factsstats/|accessdate=2007-12-31}}</ref>
S. D. helped put over [[Greg Valentine]] at a 1979 TV taping when Valentine locked in his figure-four leglock and refused to let go, leading to Jones doing a stretcher job and subsequently appearing in Madison Square Garden with his leg in a cast. He was also the tag team partner of [[André the Giant]] on November 13, 1984, when André's hair was cut by [[Ken Patera]] and [[Big John Studd]].<ref>{{cite web|title=1984|work=The History of WWE|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/84.htm|access-date=2007-12-31 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071204183532/http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/84.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-12-04}}</ref> At the inaugural [[WrestleMania (1985)|WrestleMania]] in 1985 he famously lost to [[King Kong Bundy]] in an official match time of nine seconds, although the actual time from bell to pinfall was seventeen seconds.<ref>{{cite web|title=WrestleMania I Facts/Stats|work=WWE|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm1/factsstats/|access-date=2007-12-31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Woodward |first=Hamish |date=2023-10-16 |title=SD Jones & Vince McMahon Clashed Over Racist Gimmick That Made Him A WWF Jobber - Atletifo |url=https://atletifo.com/news/sd-jones-vince-mcmahon-clashed-over-racist-gimmick-that-made-him-a-wwf-jobber/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |language=en-GB}}</ref> In any case, it would stand as the quickest match in ''[[WrestleMania]]'' history until Kane defeated Chavo Guerrero in 11 seconds to win the ECW Championship at [[WrestleMania XXIV|WrestleMania 24]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Woodward |first=Hamish |date=2023-04-24 |title=Chavo Guerrero Says Kane Match At WrestleMania 24 Was "Biggest Payday" - Atletifo |url=https://atletifo.com/news/chavo-guerrero-says-kane-match-at-wrestlemania-24-was-biggest-payday/ |access-date=2023-10-18 |language=en-GB}}</ref>


Despite mainly being used as a preliminary talent in the 1980s WWF, Jones garnered further recognition when [[LJN]] created an action figure of him for their [[Wrestling Superstars]] toy line.<ref name=slam/> He also appeared in the WWF's [[music video]] for [[Land of a Thousand Dances]].<ref name=slam/> In 2006, SD Jones appeared for the WWE inducting [[Tony Atlas]] into the [[WWE Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Oliver|first=Greg|title=Hall of Fame inductions sincere and entertaining|work=SLAM! Sports|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2006/04/02/1515996.html|accessdate=2007-12-31}}</ref> After retiring from wrestling, Jones lost a considerable amount of weight and took a job at the ''[[Daily News (New York)|New York Daily News]]''.<ref name=slam/>
Jones was a workhorse for the WWF as he wrestled 240 matches per year during his career and twice wrestled over 300 matches in a single year with (302) in 1978 and (305) in 1984. Despite mainly being used as a [[Job (professional wrestling)|preliminary talent]] in the 1980s WWF, Jones garnered further recognition when [[LJN]] created two action figures of him for their [[Wrestling Superstars]] toy line.<ref name=slam/> One was yellow with blue palm trees and the other was a red shirt. He also appeared in the WWF's [[music video]] for [[Land of a Thousand Dances]].<ref name=slam/> Jones last match was in New York City at Madison Square Garden on October 19, 1990, losing by pinfall against [[Iron Mike Sharpe]].


After WWF, he wrestled for [[Herb Abrams]]'s [[Universal Wrestling Federation (Herb Abrams)|Universal Wrestling Federation]] and Universal Wrestling Superstars in New York City. He retired from the sport in 1995. In 2006, S. D. Jones appeared for the WWE inducting [[Tony Atlas]] into the [[WWE Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Oliver|first=Greg|title=Hall of Fame inductions sincere and entertaining|work=SLAM! Sports|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2006/04/02/1515996.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707013812/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2006/04/02/1515996.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 7, 2015|access-date=2007-12-31}}</ref> S. D. Jones was added to the [[WWE Hall Of Fame]] on April 7, 2019, as a legacy inductee.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bruiser Brody, SD Jones Among Names Reportedly Set For Hall of Fame Legacy Wing|work=411 Mania|url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/wwe-hall-of-fame-legacy-inductees-bruiser-body-luna-vachon/ |date=2019-04-04}}</ref>
⚫
Efraim died in Antigua on October 26, 2008, following a stroke suffered two days earlier.<ref name="death">{{cite news|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2008/10/26/7213751.html|title=S.D. Jones dies in Antigua|date=2008-10-27|accessdate=2008-10-27|publisher=Slam Wrestling}}</ref>


==Championships and accomplishments==
==Personal life and death==
⚫
After retiring from wrestling, Jones lost a considerable amount of weight and took a job at the ''[[Daily News (New York)|New York Daily News]]''.<ref name=slam/> He died in Antigua on October 26, 2008, following a stroke suffered two days earlier.<ref name="death">{{cite news|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2008/10/26/7213751.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124094837/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2008/10/26/7213751.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 24, 2015|title=S.D. Jones dies in Antigua|date=2008-10-27|access-date=2008-10-27|publisher=Slam Wrestling}}</ref>
⚫
*'''[[National Wrestling Alliance]]'''
⚫
**[[NWA Americas Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Americas Tag Team Championship#Title history|3 times]]) – with Porkchop Cash (1) and Tom Jones


Following his death, his wife recalled "On Wednesday, he was laughing and singing and all of that… He went to feed the dogs, and when he came back, he called my name. He said, ‘Kay.’ He showed me his fingers, and the next thing I know, his body went limp. We went to the doctor's, and he had three-quarters of his brain bleeding, covered with blood."<ref>{{Cite web|title=S.D. Jones dies in Antigua|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2008/10/27/s-d-jones-dies-in-antigua/}}</ref>
⚫
==External links==

*[http://www.wwe.com/superstars/wwealumni/sdjones/ WWE Alumni Profile of S.D. Jones]
==Championships and accomplishments==
*'''East Coast Pro Wrestling'''
**ECPW Hall of Fame (Class of 2019)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ecpw1.com/roster/hall-of-fame/|title=Hall of Fame}}</ref>
⚫
*'''[[NWA Hollywood Wrestling]]'''
⚫
**[[NWA Americas Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Americas Tag Team Championship#Title history|3 times]]) – with [[Porkchop Cash]] (1 time) and Tom Jones (2 times)
*'''Universal Superstars of America'''
**USA Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with [[Tony Atlas]]<ref name="Titles">{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | year=2000|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 }}</ref>
*'''[[WWE]]'''
**[[WWE Hall of Fame]] ([[WWE Hall of Fame (2019)|Class of 2019]])


==References==
==References==
⚫
{{Portal|Professional wrestling}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


⚫
==External links==
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
* {{wwe superstar}}
| NAME = Efraim, Conrad
* {{professional wrestling profiles}}
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =

| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
{{WWE Hall of Fame Legacy Wing}}
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1945-03-30

| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Antigua]], [[West Indies]]
⚫
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, S. D.}}
| DATE OF DEATH = 2008-10-26
| PLACE OF DEATH = [[Antigua]], [[Antigua and Barbuda]]
}}
⚫
{{DEFAULTSORT:Efraim, Conrad}}
[[Category:1945 births]]
[[Category:1945 births]]
[[Category:2008 deaths]]
[[Category:2008 deaths]]
[[Category:American professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American people]]
[[Category:African American professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:Deaths from stroke]]
[[Category:African-American professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:American male professional wrestlers]]

[[Category:Antigua and Barbuda expatriate sportspeople in the United States]]
⚫
[[nl:Conrad Efraim]]
[[Category:Antigua and Barbuda professional wrestlers]]
[[ja:スペシャル・デリバリー・ジョーンズ]]
[[Category:WWE Hall of Fame Legacy inductees]]
[[Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:20th-century American professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:NWA Americas Tag Team Champions]]

Latest revision as of 03:59, 13 November 2024

For the football player named Edgar "Special Delivery" Jones, see Edgar Jones (running back).

S. D. Jones
Birth nameConrad Efraim
Born(1945-03-30)March 30, 1945[1]
Antigua, British Leeward Islands[2]
DiedOctober 26, 2008(2008-10-26) (aged 63)[1]
Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda[2]
Cause of deathStroke
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Roosevelt Jones
S. D. Jones[3]
Special Delivery Jones[3]
Billed height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)[3]
Billed weight260 lb (118 kg)[3]
Billed from"Antigua in the West Indies"
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Trained byJohnny Rodz
Debut1971
Retired1995

Conrad Efraim (March 30, 1945 – October 26, 2008) was an Antiguan professional wrestler best known by his ring name, Special Delivery Jones or S. D. Jones (sometimes referred to as S. D. "Special Delivery" Jones) from his time (1974–1990) in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). He also wrestled in Jim Crockett Promotions and the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), and he won the NWA Americas Tag Team Championship three times.[4]

Professional wrestling career

[edit]

Before becoming a wrestler, Efraim worked at a telephone company.[4] He also took part in boxing and lifting weights.[5] While there, he began training under Johnny Rodz in the sport of professional wrestling.[4] Upon completion of his training, he quit his job and began working for NWA Mid-Atlantic under the name "Roosevelt Jones" in a tag team with his partner and kayfabe cousin Rufus R. Jones.[2] While there, they had a memorable feud with the Anderson family (Ole and Gene).[2]

On January 17, 1975, after leaving the Mid-Atlantic area for California, Jones won his first of three tag team titles, combining with Porkchop Cash to take the NWA Americas Tag Team Championship from the Hollywood Blonds (Buddy Roberts and Jerry Brown).[6] The following month, Jones and Cash dropped the titles back to the Blonds. Jones won the title again in 1977, teaming with Tom Jones to defeat Black Gordman and Goliath.[6] Gordman and Goliath regained the championship, but SD and Tom Jones won the belts back from them on November 18, 1977.[6]

S. D. Jones had his first match in the WWWF on April 25, 1974, facing Nikolai Volkoff in Trenton, New Jersey. Jones would continue to wrestle in the WWF (WWWF) as a mid-card babyface who would give the heels a hard time but end up losing.[7] He did, however, win quite a few matches on smaller cards against lower card or fellow mid carders like Ron Shaw and Johnny Rodz.[2][8] Jones was often featured in tag team matches partnered with Tony Atlas, and the two challenged Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito for the WWF Tag Team Championship several times in 1981.[8] On one occasion, the two ended up as the final men in a battle royal and flipped a coin to decide the winner, as seen on the WWF Coliseum Video 'Best of the WWF Volume 4' and 'Grand Slams' video cassettes.[9]

S. D. helped put over Greg Valentine at a 1979 TV taping when Valentine locked in his figure-four leglock and refused to let go, leading to Jones doing a stretcher job and subsequently appearing in Madison Square Garden with his leg in a cast. He was also the tag team partner of André the Giant on November 13, 1984, when André's hair was cut by Ken Patera and Big John Studd.[10] At the inaugural WrestleMania in 1985 he famously lost to King Kong Bundy in an official match time of nine seconds, although the actual time from bell to pinfall was seventeen seconds.[11][12] In any case, it would stand as the quickest match in WrestleMania history until Kane defeated Chavo Guerrero in 11 seconds to win the ECW Championship at WrestleMania 24.[13]

Jones was a workhorse for the WWF as he wrestled 240 matches per year during his career and twice wrestled over 300 matches in a single year with (302) in 1978 and (305) in 1984. Despite mainly being used as a preliminary talent in the 1980s WWF, Jones garnered further recognition when LJN created two action figures of him for their Wrestling Superstars toy line.[4] One was yellow with blue palm trees and the other was a red shirt. He also appeared in the WWF's music video for Land of a Thousand Dances.[4] Jones last match was in New York City at Madison Square Garden on October 19, 1990, losing by pinfall against Iron Mike Sharpe.

After WWF, he wrestled for Herb Abrams's Universal Wrestling Federation and Universal Wrestling Superstars in New York City. He retired from the sport in 1995. In 2006, S. D. Jones appeared for the WWE inducting Tony Atlas into the WWE Hall of Fame.[14] S. D. Jones was added to the WWE Hall Of Fame on April 7, 2019, as a legacy inductee.[15]

Personal life and death

[edit]

After retiring from wrestling, Jones lost a considerable amount of weight and took a job at the New York Daily News.[4] He died in Antigua on October 26, 2008, following a stroke suffered two days earlier.[1]

Following his death, his wife recalled "On Wednesday, he was laughing and singing and all of that… He went to feed the dogs, and when he came back, he called my name. He said, ‘Kay.’ He showed me his fingers, and the next thing I know, his body went limp. We went to the doctor's, and he had three-quarters of his brain bleeding, covered with blood."[16]

Championships and accomplishments

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "S.D. Jones dies in Antigua". Slam Wrestling. October 27, 2008. Archived from the original on November 24, 2015. Retrieved October 27, 2008.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Wrestler Profiles: "Special Delivery" Jones". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved December 31, 2007.
  3. ^ a b c d "S.D. Jones's WWE Alumni Profile". WWE. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Hillhouse, Dave. "S.D. Jones: An unforgotten gladiator". SLAM! Sports. Archived from the original on May 21, 2015.
  5. ^ "AN ANTIGUA SUN ARTICLE ON S. D. JONES | WrestlingFigs". Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "NWA Americas Tag Team Championship history". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved December 27, 2007.
  7. ^ "Jobbers of the Eighties". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved January 3, 2008.
  8. ^ a b "1981". The History of WWE. Archived from the original on November 18, 2007. Retrieved December 31, 2007.
  9. ^ "1982". The History of WWE. Archived from the original on November 2, 2007. Retrieved December 31, 2007.
  10. ^ "1984". The History of WWE. Archived from the original on December 4, 2007. Retrieved December 31, 2007.
  11. ^ "WrestleMania I Facts/Stats". WWE. Retrieved December 31, 2007.
  12. ^ Woodward, Hamish (October 16, 2023). "SD Jones & Vince McMahon Clashed Over Racist Gimmick That Made Him A WWF Jobber - Atletifo". Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  13. ^ Woodward, Hamish (April 24, 2023). "Chavo Guerrero Says Kane Match At WrestleMania 24 Was "Biggest Payday" - Atletifo". Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  14. ^ Oliver, Greg. "Hall of Fame inductions sincere and entertaining". SLAM! Sports. Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2007.
  15. ^ "Bruiser Brody, SD Jones Among Names Reportedly Set For Hall of Fame Legacy Wing". 411 Mania. April 4, 2019.
  16. ^ "S.D. Jones dies in Antigua".
  17. ^ "Hall of Fame".
  18. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
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