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The Cauliflower Alley Club announced last night that former All Japan Pro Wrestling star Jody Simon, professionally known in the ring as Joe Malenko, is currently hospitalized in intensive care. No further details are available at this time.
The son of Boris Malenko, Joe was trained by his father and began wrestling in the late 1970s. In Mexico, he competed under the moniker Karl Gotch Jr. for Mexico’s Universal Wrestling Association.
Malenko's career was most-Japan based as he debuted in 1985 for the Universal Wrestling Federation and later worked regularly for Giant Baba's All Japan Pro Wrestling from 1988 through 1992, teaming with his brother Dean. While in AJPW, Joe captured the promotion's Junior Heavyweight Championship and also teams with Kenta Kobashi. He later worked for UWFi, New Japan Pro Wrestling and Battlarts.
While Japan was his primary place to ply his trade, Joe did make appearances from time to time in prominents American companes. He and Dean teamed against Ricky Steamboat and Nikita Koloff at WCW's Clash of Champions XX as part of an NWA World Tag Team Championship tournament. He appeared in ECW as his brother Dean's "dream tag team partner" against Sabu and Taz. He also appeared ina WCW angle during Dean's feud with Chris Jericho.
Malenko returned to All Japan for their 2010 World's Strongest Tag Determination League tournament, teaming with Osamu Nishimura.
Author Jonathan Snowden is currently working on a book about the Malenko family legacy.
Everyone at PWInsider.com sends our best wishes to Joe and the entire Malenko family.
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