Shreveport’s Forgotten Football Team Had a WWE Superstar on the Roster
Jon Heidenreich was a memorable part of WWE in the 2000s, remembered for notable matches with legends like the Undertaker, but before he ever stepped in the ring he stepped onto the football field in Shreveport for a team you've probably forgotten about.
A Louisiana Athlete Looking For A Home
Jon Heidenreich was born on June 28th, 1969 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Heidenreich's athletic career kicked off in 1992 when he was invited to train with the then-named Washington Redskins (now Commanders). Though his time with the team would come to an end before the year was over, another team was there waiting to pick him up.
The New Orleans Saints picked up Heidenreich in July of 1993, but by the end of training camp, he had been once again cut from the team. It's not too surprising he didn't make the final cut when you hear he got in two fights throughout training camp.
After the Saints, the Atlanta Falcons invited Heidenreich to their training camp in 1994 but once again he wouldn't make the cut.
From Tackles In Shreveport To Bodyslams At Wrestlemania
The one team that picked up Heidenreich for a full season, two in fact, was the Canadian Football League's short-lived Shreveport Pirates.
Starting in 1993 the CFL began an experiment of expanding their audience over the Canadian-American border. The easiest way the CFL found to create a foothold in America was to create teams. Starting with the Sacramento Gold Miners in 1993, the league would have 7 total American teams by 1995.
When the Captains started in 1994, Jon Heidenreich played as an offensive lineman for the team.
Sadly Heidenreich and Shreveport never got to see the Pirates shine as just after the 1995 season the CFL ended their American expansion, leaving the Pirates with only a 5th and 6th place finish in the two seasons the team had.
Heidenreich would pick up the helmets and jerseys of a few more teams before he found his way to WWE, playing for the Texas Terror in the now-defunct Arena Football League as well as for the Frankfurt Galaxy of the also now-defunct NFL Europa.
In 2001 Heidenreich started wrestling training and would be signed to a WWE (then known as WWF) developmental contract. After working a few matches for WWE Heidenreich was let go so he found his way to Japan where in 2003 WWE talent scouts saw him perform live and decided to bring him back in.