Henry Godwinn

Photo credit: World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

Real name: Mark Canterbury
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 297 lbs.
Date of birth: March 16, 1964
From: West Virginia
Pro debut: 1989
Trained by: George South
Finishing move: Slop Drop

Biography

– In 1992, Canterbury signed with WCW, adopting the persona of ‘Shanghai Pierce’ to form a tag team with Dennis ‘Tex Slazenger’ Knight
– At BattleBowl ’93, Pierce & Rick Rude defeated Marcus Alexander Bagwell & Tex Slazenger
– In November 1994, Canterbury signed for WWF and was repackaged as an Arkansan pig farmer ‘Henry O Godwinn’
– On November 29, 1994, Godwinn made his WWF debut, defeating John Paul
– At Survivor Series ’95, The Dark Side (The Undertaker, Fatu, Henry Godwinn & Savio Vega) defeated The Royals (Jerry Lawler, King Mabel, Hunter Hearst Helmsley & Isaac Yankem DDS)
– In early 1996, Canterbury reunited with Knight to form ‘The Godwinns’ tag team
– On May 19, 1996, The Godwinns (Henry & Phineas) defeated The Body Donnas (Skip & Zip) to win the WWF Tag Team Titles, but lost them a week later to The Smoking Gunns (Billy & Bart)
– At Survivor Series ’96, The Godwinns, Doug Furnas & Philip LaFon defeated Owen Hart, The British Bulldog, Marty Jannetty & Leif Cassidy
– On the Free For All show prior to In Your House 16, The Godwinns defeated The New Blackjacks (Bradshaw & Windham)
– At In Your House 18: Badd Blood, The Godwinns defeated The Headbangers (Mosh & Thrasher) to win the WWF Tag Team Titles, but lost them two days later to The Legion of Doom (Hawk & Animal)
– In late 1997, Canterbury suffered a cracked C7 vertebra. He was advised to take a minimum 4 months off, but returned after less than two
– At In Your House 20: No Way Out of Texas, The Godwinns defeated The Quebecers (Jacques & Pierre)
– In mid 1998, Canterbury and Knight dropped the Godwinn personae and became known as Southern Justice
– In June 1998, Canterbury entered the Brawl For All Tournament, but lost in the first round to Bradshaw
– In late 1998, Canterbury re-injured his neck and was forced into retirement
– In March 2006, Canterbury (under his Henry Godwinn persona) made a surprise return to action, defeating Chuckles The Clown at an OVW show
– In September 2006, Godwinn wrestled two WWE tryout matches, defeating Bull Buchanan and Eric Perez
– On September 15, 2006, Canterbury was officially signed to a WWE development deal and was assigned to Deep South Wrestling
– On May 19, 2007, it was reported that Canterbury had been released from his WWE deal
– On November 9, 2011, Canterbury suffered several serious injuries in a car accident. He recovered, but has largely stayed away from wrestling since
– Canterbury returned to the ring as ‘Henry O Godwinn’ on September 30, 2017, teaming with Tony Atlas to defeat The Rock And Bowl Express (Nick Jeremy, Stryker Lane & Biggie Bowlas) at an MCW show
– Canterbury revived the Shanghai Pierce moniker at an RWC event on November 5, 2022, losing a match to RWC Heavyweight Champion Fodder