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By ALEX MARVEZ
December 24, 2003

It should come as no shock that the sleaziest contestant in "Survivor"
history has roots in professional wrestling.

Through some of the most deceptive behavior in the show's history, Jon
Dalton - a k a Jonny Fairplay - was able to maneuver himself into
third place on the recently concluded installment of "Survivor: Pearl
Islands."

Besides regularly switching alliances with his fellow contestants,
Dalton also claimed his grandmother had died to garner sympathy and
win a reward challenge even though she was alive and, as he said,
"probably watching Jerry Springer."

Dalton said his wrestling background helped shape the devious
perspective that helped him finish as the last male contestant voted
out on "Survivor: Pearl Island."

"I absolutely saw 'Survivor' as a con," Dalton said. "It's real easy
for a carnie to sell something to a sucker. That's pro wrestling, and
that obviously nails 'Survivor.'"

Dalton broke into the wrestling business in 1998 as a manager for
independent promotions in the North Carolina area. Dalton remembers
that he was whacked with a chair by former World Championship
Wrestling announcer Chris Cruise when working his first show.

It appears Cruise wishes he would have swung the chair harder.

"I think Fairplay has some parenting or mental-health issues," said
Cruise, who is now in the real estate business in Maryland. "He is
manipulative, a pathological liar, incites people to hit him, appears
to hate himself, has a highly inflated sense of his importance and
competence, and causes dissension, pain and suffering - all qualities
which should stand him in good stead in professional wrestling."

Two years after his debut, Dalton moved to Portland, Ore. and started
a promotion called New Dimension Wrestling.

NDW made Dalton's antics on "Survivor" seem tame through the perverse
slew of characters he created. Dalton proudly admits to staging a
thumbtack match between two underage performers and giving fans
Underoos to throw at a grappler whose gimmick was that of a
child-molesting high school coach.

NDW came under heavy scrutiny by the state's athletic commission and
eventually closed in Spring 2001.

"I just wanted to have fun with it," Dalton said. "I wanted do
something like (Extreme Championship Wrestling) meets the Mr. Show
with Bob and David. I have a great video library from it and I lost
$5,000. But I'm alright on money now."

Dalton also served as a personal assistant to "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, who
lives in the Portland area. Dalton, who claims his job consisted
largely of helping Piper research potential acting roles, said he
stopped working for Piper (real name Roderick Toombs) after a serious
car accident involving the two of them. Piper's injuries were
life-threatening and required hospitalization; Dalton, who was
driving, suffered a severe concussion.

Dalton, 29, admits he became a contestant on "Survivor" hoping the
exposure would lead to a managerial or announcing role in World
Wrestling Entertainment. Dalton, whose pre-"Survivor" job was serving
as an art consultant for a Los Angeles-area gallery, peppered his
interviews with pro wrestling cliches culled from stars like Ric Flair
and "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase.

Dalton claims he has received interest from WWE and Nashville-based
National Wrestling Alliance/Total Nonstop Action since appearing on
"Survivor." But Dalton said getting a full-time job in the wrestling
business is no longer his top priority because of other opportunities
that have developed because of his Survivor notoriety.

"I might be more apt for a one-time shot (in wrestling) as opposed to
a full-time job with all the other offers I have," Dalton said. "If
Jerry Lawler's (WWE announcing) job were available, that would be a
possibility."

One thing Dalton won't be doing is battling fellow "Survivor"
contestant Rupert Boneham in a grudge match. Dalton said Boneham nixed
the thought for a bout that was pitched by a promoter because of his
real-life hatred for Jonny Fairplay. The anger stems from a Dalton
double-cross that resulted in Boneham, one of the most popular
"Survivor" participants in the show's history, getting voted out well
before the finals.

"There are a couple of ("Survivor") people who hate
me," said Dalton,
who cites Burton Roberts as his only friend from the 16-member cast.
"Lill Morris hates me and Ruppert hates me legit."

Judging from the responses of the 20 million people who watched
"Survivor" each week, they're not the only ones.

X . . . X . . .X

Q: Where is Christopher Nowinski?

- Rudy Miller, Hollywood, Fla.

A: WWE.com recently reported that Nowinski was set to begin training
again after suffering a serious concussion that had sidelined him the
previous five months. But there are no guarantees the promising
Nowinski will be able to make a comeback because of the nature of his
injury, as post-concussion syndrome forced ex-WWE superstar Bret Hart
to end his illustrious career.

More of the Jon Dalton interview can be found at
www.wrestlingobserver.com.

Questions can be sent to Alex Marvez c/o the South Florida
Sun-Sentinel, 200 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, or
e-mailed to amarvez(at)sun-sentinel.com. Please include your full name
and city of residence. Because of volume, no phone calls will be
accepted and letters will not receive a written reply.

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.shns.com)


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