Comedian Eric Johnston makes tour stop in Puslinch

PUSLINCH – Comedian Eric Johnston will bring his stand-up to Puslinch on Aug. 14, but his journey to the stage began in a far different arena.

The son of late professional wrestler Daniel “Bullwhip” Johnson, he grew up surrounded by the larger-than-life personalities of the wrestling world. 

Those early experiences not only shaped his love for entertaining but also influenced his own path as a performer.

Johnston will perform at The Danish Place, a restaurant available for private events on Concession 1 in Puslinch Township.

Bullwhip Johnson carved out a memorable career in professional wrestling, competing in promotions across Canada and the United States, including a brief stint with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), before finishing his career on the independent circuit in Ontario.

He died in 2003 at the age of 49 from liver cirrhosis after years of alcoholism.

In Run with the Bull: Three Generations of Sports and Entertainment, Johnston, alongside co-authors Greg Oliver and Joseph Casciaro, reflects that the year he was born, 1990, also marked a turning point in his father’s wrestling career.

At Starrcade ‘90, a major wrestling event in St. Louis featuring international teams, Bullwhip Johnson and tag team partner Troy Montour were defeated by a Russian team against the backdrop of a Cold War story line. 

The event proved both the biggest stage of Johnson’s career and, ultimately, one of his last major opportunities, as work in the industry became increasingly scarce afterward.

Growing up, Johnston’s family home remained closely connected to professional wrestling. Wrestlers regularly gathered there, including Hamilton’s Johnny K-9, a controversial figure with ties to bikers and organized crime.

“I would get beers for my dad’s friends at pool parties and do funny things to get their attention,” Johnston recalled. “Those early experiences in some ways motivated a lifelong quest to get people’s attention.”

That pursuit eventually led Johnston into comedy, but it has also become the subject of a more personal story.

Johnston was recently featured in the docuseries Run with the Bull, inspired by his book of the same name. While tracing three generations of his family’s involvement in sports entertainment, the series also explores Johnston’s own insecurities as he raises his 19-month-old son, Jett.

Losing his father at the age of 13 left a lasting impact on Johnston, who said becoming a parent himself motivated him to improve both his physical and mental health. 

He hopes the show starts a conversation about mental health among men who would often rather avoid the topic entirely.

Johnston also notes that his father’s struggles with alcohol were, in many ways, reflective of the professional wrestling industry during that era. While emphasizing his father’s addiction was specifically alcohol, he said substance use was widespread throughout wrestling.

“Guys would go into matches after having a six-pack,” Johnston recalled.

Subsequent tragedies within professional wrestling have highlighted the toll the lifestyle takes on many performers and have prompted efforts to make the industry more safe.

Despite the serious themes explored in the documentary, Johnston is quick to point out that his comedy remains light-hearted.

The Puslinch show is one stop on a tour that began in February and runs through November. For advance tickets visit eventbrite.ca/o/eric-johnston-44123033233.