Career
John Nord started wrestling in late 1984 for Mid-South Wrestling as The Barbarian, managed by Skandor Akbar. In 1986, he became Nord the Barbarian and wrestled in singles and tag team matches (under manager Adnan El Kassey) in the American Wrestling Association. Here, he frequently teamed with Bruiser Brody. The two faced Greg Gagne and Jimmy Snuka as part of a triple main event at WrestleRock '86.
Nord then went to World Class Championship Wrestling (managed by Gary Hart), where he feuded with Kevin Von Erich over the WCWA World Heavyweight Championship. He challenged Von Erich for the title at the fourth annual David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions at Texas Stadium in 1987.
In 1989, he returned to the AWA under the name Yukon John (a lumberjack gimmick where he would come to the ring with an ax, dressed in blue jeans, flannel shirt, animal skin hat and boots). He mainly competed in singles matches, until forming a tag team in 1990 with Scott Norton, called The Yukon Lumberjacks. They briefly feuded with The Texas Hangmen. When the AWA folded, Nord moved to Pacific Northwest Wrestling.
In 1991, Nord joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) as The Viking. He soon became The Berzerker (managed by Mr. Fuji) and feuded with Davey Boy Smith and Jimmy Snuka. His preferred method of winning matches was by throwing his opponents over the top rope for a countout, all the while holding his wrist, licking his hand, shouting "Huss! Huss!"(similarly to Bruiser Brody), and falling flat on his back. He wrestled as part of a 4-man team in an elimination match at the 1991 Survivor Series pay-per-view event. He was the last man eliminated for his team. He then feuded with The Undertaker, at one point attempting to stab him with his sword. In July 1992, he won a 40-man Battle Royal on WWF Prime Time Wrestling, and challenged Bret Hart for the WWF Championship that November. He left the WWF the following year.
He joined All Japan Pro Wrestling in 1994 and stayed until 1997, when he showed up in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) with bleached blond hair, under his real name, John Nord. He wrestled mainly on WCW Saturday Night and had a long winning streak that ended with a loss to another streak holder, Bill Goldberg, on July 4, 1998. Nord then formed a short-lived team with Barry Darsow, and was soon gone from WCW.
He retired from wrestling and went to work at his brother's auto dealership, Nord East Motors, in Hilltop, Minnesota.
He has a son named Joe.
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