Heidenreich’s WWE days might be behind him, but he can still apply a mean headlock.
Former WWE Tag Team Champion Jon Heidenreich was recently spotlighted by a co-worker at an Ohio-area Walmart. The man, named Wade Stratton, shared a photo on Facebook along with a heartwarming description of his recent interaction with Heidenreich.
According to Stratton, he and Heidenreich would always greet each other in passing. However, Heidenreich finally introduced himself by sharing a bit about his WWE past. Heidenreich mentioned that he used to be a pro wrestler, naming The Undertaker, Booker T, Steven Regal and The Rock as some of his opponents.
Stratton initially thought he was joking, but realized Heidenreich was telling the truth and called him “one of the nicest [and] most humble people I’ve met in a while.”
Life comes at you fast.
— Book Pro Wrestlers (@BookProWrestler) February 11, 2026
Former WWE Tag Team Champion John Heidenreich now working at Walmart — and still putting coworkers in headlocks. pic.twitter.com/6VwRrqU55X
Straton bought one of the former WWE star’s action figures to get signed along with the photo.
“You could tell it made him happy to be able to be in the spotlight again and things like that make me happy,” he wrote. “Plus now I can say I’ve been put in a headlock by a professional wrestler lmao ?)”
Jon Heidenreich is best known for his tenure in WWE. He debuted in 2003 with a gimmick that saw him controlled by “Little Johnny.” This was eventually supposed to be revealed as a doll that represented his inner child. Heidenreich left WWE television in 2004, but eventually returned with a heel gimmick and Paul Heyman as his manager. This run was highlighted by a feud with The Undertaker.
The end of Heidenreich’s WWE career saw him join Animal in the Legion of Doom. The pair won the WWE Tag Team Championship one time before WWE released Heidenreich in 2006.
