Jerry Blackwell Jerry Blackwell ( April 26 , 1949 – January 22 , 1995 ) was an American professional wrestler , better known by his ring name " Crusher " Jerry Blackwell . Blackwell competed in the 1979 World ' s Strongest Man contest , but withdrew early in the competition due to an injury . He was a main event star in the American Wrestling Association where he feuded with Mad Dog Vachon , Hulk Hogan , and " The Crusher " Reginald Lisowski . Career . Nicknamed the " Mountain from Stone Mountain " , " Crusher " Jerry Blackwell began his career in the 1970s . Despite his considerable bulk , Blackwell was quite nimble and a gifted worker , able to throw a standing dropkick and take bumps in the ring . In 1976 , he wrestled in Pennsylvania , where he faced such wrestlers as Dominic DeNucci and Ivan Putski ; in the latter match , he was disqualified for using brass knuckles against his opponent . He competed in the World Wide Wrestling Federation ( WWWF ) in 1978 . He defeated such wrestlers as Larry Zbyszko , Dominic DeNucci and S . D . Jones but was unsuccessful in matches against high - profile stars such as André the Giant and WWWF Champion Bob Backlund . In the 1980s , Blackwell settled in the AWA , where he became a main event star and feuded with Mad Dog Vachon , Hulk Hogan , and " The Crusher " Reginald Lisowski . Blackwell was tagged as " The Rattlesnake " , given for his quick speed and aggression , which later in the 90 ' s was bestowed upon Steve Austin . After a bloody , unsuccessful feud with The Crusher , Blackwell dropped his Crusher moniker and eventually joined forces with hated AWA manager Sheik Adnan Al - Kaissey in 1983 , wore Arab garments , and formed a successful tag team with Ken Patera known as the Sheiks . The Sheiks feuded with Verne Gagne , as well as The High Flyers ( Greg Gagne and " Jumpin " Jim Brunzell ) over the AWA Tag Team Titles . The Sheiks beat the High Flyers for the tag team titles and remained champions eleven months before being dethroned by The Crusher and Baron Von Raschke . Blackwell ' s career reached new heights after the departure of Hulk Hogan from the AWA in late 1983 . Verne Gagne tapped Blackwell to be Hogan ' s replacement as the top babyface in the AWA . Blackwell became a face immediately after winning a battle - royal , when he was attacked by Al - Kaissey and his tag team partner in Japan Bruiser Brody ( billed as " King Kong Brody " in the AWA out of respect for Dick the Bruiser ) . Blackwell began a historic feud with Brody , and established a new image as a solid fan favorite as well . Blackwell went on to receive numerous title shots against AWA champions Stan Hansen and Curt Hennig throughout 1986 and 1987 ; due to poor health caused by years of obesity and physical punishment , however , Blackwell ' s in - ring performance slowed . As a result , Blackwell stopped wrestling full - time . Blackwell made his last appearance in the AWA during a television taping in Rochester , Minnesota in October 1989 , wrestling in a singles match against Tom Stone and in a 6 - man tag team match with Bobby Fulton and Jackie Fulton against Johnny Valiant , Mike Enos , and Wayne Bloom . The AWA took the opportunity to push an angle between Blackwell and Adnan ' s new protege Kokina Maximus , but the match never took place . Blackwell considered joining the World Wrestling Federation ( WWF ) during the promotion ' s expansion in 1984 . Before being signed , wrestlers were required to record promos , but the large number of wrestlers wanting to join the WWF made for a long lineup on a day while the interviews were being recorded . Blackwell got so frustrated with standing in line that he left , claiming that he was a wrestler and did not want to feel like he was punching a time clock for a corporation . Blackwell was also known for his feats of strength . One of the most famous , which he performed during interviews was driving nails into a 2x4 with his head . While Blackwell was generally regarded as an easy wrestler to work with who was willing to sell his opponent ' s moves , he was involved in at least two matches in which his opponent was seriously injured . Maurice Vachon sustained three broken ribs and two broken vertebrae in a match with Blackwell and was unable to compete again for almost three years . The Crusher also suffered nerve damage to his arm and was forced to take about a year off after Blackwell performed a move from the top rope and landed awkwardly on him . Death . Jerry Blackwell died at the age of 45 due to complications from an automobile accident .