← Back

John Williams

John Williams

Born: 1970-06-01 • Baltimore, Maryland, USA

John Benson Williams is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Ian Rotten. He has wrestled in the Global Wrestling Federation (GWF), Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), the United States Wrestling Association (USWA), and his own wrestling promotion IWA: Mid-South. After becoming a fan of Dusty Rhodes and "Superstar" Billy Graham while growing up in Florida and Baltimore, Maryland, John Williams, began his career under the name Johnny Lawler, the storyline illegitimate son of Jerry "The King" Lawler. After a short stint as hockey gimmick Zach Blades, Williams went to wrestle in the Global Wrestling Federation. In GWF, Williams formed The Bad Breed, a tag team with Brian Knighton as brothers Ian and Axl Rotten, respectively. They defeated the Texas Mustangs (Bobby Duncum, Jr. & Johnny Hawk) for the GWF Tag Team Championship in January 1993, losing the titles shortly thereafter. In June 1994 in Extreme Championship Wrestling, The Bad Breed started a feud with The Public Enemy over the ECW Tag Team Championship, but never won the title. The Rotten brothers briefly feuded with each other prior to Williams' termination from ECW in late 1995. He moved to Kentucky, where he started a wrestling hotline followed by the IWA Mid-South promotion in early 1996. IWA was controversial for its use of violent and bloody hardcore wrestling. In 2008, IWA and Williams were investigated by Indiana State Police over the violence in their shows. In 2011, IWA shut down and was restarted by a third party, with Williams making occasional appearances. Williams is the father of John Calvin Glenn, known also by the ring name of J.C. Rotten

Filmography
Crispy's Curse poster
Crispy's Curse
2017 • Forensic Officer / Reporter / Clown
Mr Wrestling: The Kevin Steen Story poster
Mr Wrestling: The Kevin Steen Story
2012 • Ian Rotten
WWE: Blood Sport ECW - The Most Violent Matches poster
WWE: Blood Sport ECW - The Most Violent Matches
2006 • Ian Rotten
ECW: Bloodsport  The Most Violent Matches poster
ECW: Bloodsport The Most Violent Matches
2006 • Ian Rotten
Hardcore Homecoming: November Reign poster
Hardcore Homecoming: November Reign
2005 • Ian Rotten
Hardcore Homecoming poster
Hardcore Homecoming
2005 • Ian Rotten
No Image
UXW Chris Candido Memorial Show
2005 • Ian Rotten
No Image
IWA Mid-South Ted Petty Invitational 2003 - Night 2
2004 • Ian Rotten
No Image
3PW A Funkin' Classic
2003 • Ian Rotten
IWA-MS When Hero Met Punk poster
IWA-MS When Hero Met Punk
2003 • Ian Rotten
IWA-MS House of Hardcore 2nd Anniversary poster
IWA-MS House of Hardcore 2nd Anniversary
2002 • Ian Rotten
ECW Path of Destruction poster
ECW Path of Destruction
2000 • Ian Rotten
No Image
ECW Sunshine State Slaughter
1995 • Ian Rotten
ECW Hardcore Heaven 1995 poster
ECW Hardcore Heaven 1995
1995 • Ian Rotten
ECW Mountain Top Madness poster
ECW Mountain Top Madness
1995 • Ian Rotten
ECW Barbed Wire, Hoodies and Chokeslams poster
ECW Barbed Wire, Hoodies and Chokeslams
1995 • Ian Rotten (Appearance)
No Image
ECW Fan Cam: June 9, 1995
1995 • Ian Rotten
ECW Enter the Sandman 1995 poster
ECW Enter the Sandman 1995
1995 • Ian Rotten
No Image
ECW Fan Cam: April 15, 1995
1995 • Ian Rotten
ECW Hostile City Showdown 1995 poster
ECW Hostile City Showdown 1995
1995 • Ian Rotten
ECW 3 Way Dance poster
ECW 3 Way Dance
1995 • Ian Rotten
ECW Return of the Funker 1995 poster
ECW Return of the Funker 1995
1995 • Ian Rotten
ECW Double Tables 1995 poster
ECW Double Tables 1995
1995 • Ian Rotten
ECW November to Remember 1994 poster
ECW November to Remember 1994
1994 • Ian Rotten
ECW Hardcore Heaven 1994 poster
ECW Hardcore Heaven 1994
1994 • Ian Rotten
ECW Heat Wave 1994 poster
ECW Heat Wave 1994
1994 • Ian Rotten
ECW November to Remember 1993 poster
ECW November to Remember 1993
1993 • Ian Rotten
NWA Bloodfest • Night Two poster
NWA Bloodfest • Night Two
1993 • Ian Rotten
NWA Bloodfest • Night One poster
NWA Bloodfest • Night One
1993 • Ian Rotten
ECW Ultra Clash 1993 poster
ECW Ultra Clash 1993
1993 • Ian Rotten