In this edition of AWC (Australian Wrestling Chronicles) I'm writing about arguably the most recognizable Australian wrestler right now, Nathan Jones. He's wrestled for WWE and is now on a contract with TNA, but he wasn't always a gentle giant.
From the age of 15 and for the next couple of years, Jones became involved in several armed robberies around Australia. It was in this time that he was declared one of Australia's most wanted criminals. It wasn't until over two years later that he was caught and convicted of committing a total of eight armed robberies.
Jones was sentenced to serve 16 years in Boggo Road Gaol (jail). You have to remember that he was less than 19 years old at the time of sentencing, so to him it was literally a life sentence.
In the end, Jones only served seven years in the maximum security prison and was given one year of work release to do.
It is said that the officers at Boggo Road Gaol will always remember Jones for his violent temper. The most fabled story to come out of his time in the prison was when on one occasion he dislodged a cell door from its hinges. That takes some strength!
During his time in the prison Jones was introduced to the sport of powerlifting. Jones excelled at the sport to such a degree that soon after his release from jail he became the National Powerlifting Champion of Australia.
Jones went on to compete in strongman contests and was dubbed "The Megaman" due to the impressive size of his body, standing at 208cm (6'10") tall and weighing in at 159kg (350lbs). He was soon named Australia's Strongest Man.
Jones went to Scotland in mid 1995 to compete in the World Strength Championship. He finished first, beating other strongmen such as 1993's World's Strongest Man Gary Taylor.
Jones later competed in the 1995 World's Strongest Man contest. He was matched against the several time European arm wrestling champion, Magnus Samuelsson. Jones lost the first round, and in the second round was determined not to lose.
What came next was totally unexpected. In their second arm wrestle, Jones was losing so he tried to twist his body to get more leverage. At the same time Samuelsson exerted more force and Jones' arm broke. It was revealed later that he had a spiral fraction of the humerus.
Needless to say, Jones was out of the competition. He returned the next year and placed third in a qualifying heat behind Magnus Ver Magnusson and Jorma Ojanaho and took no further part in the contest.
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