[1] John Callahan was born in Milford, Massachusetts and as early as the age of 10, he was taken with the exploits of such colorful and established professional wrestlers as George "The Animal" Steele and Manuel Soto.
[2] He noted that his friends joined him in the construction of a makeshift wrestling ring, or "squared circle", and imitated the mannerisms and techniques of their heroes, holding their own matches.
[3] As time passed and his friends went on with their lives, Callahan came to a decision which would change his life - he decided to pursue his passion and join the world of professional wrestling.
In 1979, he packed his bags and left home to study the sport under the guidance of a man recognized as a true master, the legendary Edward Władysław Spulnik, better known as "Killer Kowalski", in Salem, Massachusetts.
[5] Callahan fulfilled his lifelong dream and officially signed a contract with the World Wrestling Federation just as the sport which was on the verge of achieving unprecedented popularity.
He had come a long way from "figure four leg-locks" and "sleeper holds" he had administered and sent his friends home sore with as a boy back in Baltimore.
Callahan's first major match took place in April 1981 against another young wrestler who perhaps more than anyone helped elevate the popularity of the sport of wrestling and the WWF, Hulk Hogan.
[6] In addition to Hulk Hogan, Callahan wrestled such notable personalities as the Junkyard Dog, Tony Atlas and Rowdy Roddy Piper.
A personal favorite was his epic Allentown, Pennsylvania, battle against the Iron Shiek, which resulted in another Callahan defeat, this time within three minutes.
This persona was quickly dropped when a promoter asked why he had inexplicably decided to play an Irish wrestler from a world populated entirely by French-Canadiens, "rather than Southie".
Efforts for coverage by CNN and hopes of an appearance by comedic actor Chris Elliot were unsuccessful, but Carrier Day is still seen as a highpoint in Milford Daily News history.