MARC MERO

'Marc Mero' (born July 9, 1960) is an American retired amateur boxer and professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation as 'Marc Mero' and with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling under the ring name 'Johnny B. Badd'.

Contents

Career

Wrestling facts

Championships and accomplishments

Amateur boxing

Professional wrestling

Personal life

Notes

References

External links

Career

Mero was born in Macon, Georgia, but grew up in Buffalo, New York. His parents divorced when he was eight years old, with his mother supporting him and his three siblings by working two jobs. At the age of 12, Mero began playing hockey, eventually becoming his league's Most Valuable Player. In 1973, Mero's family relocated to Liverpool, New York, where Mero played for the Mid State Youth Hockey League. At age 15, Mero began playing for the Syracuse Stars Junior Hockey Team. ^{[1] [2]}
Mero began playing football in his senior year, with his high school team winning the New York State Title under the tutelage of future University of Central Florida coach George O'Leary. ^[3] In the same year, Mero began training as a boxer under Golden Gloves coach Ray Rinaldi. Mero went on to win four New York State titles, including the New York Golden Gloves tournament. Mero intended to become a professional boxer, but his career was sidelined after his nose was broken in an accident. He briefly pursued a bodybuilding career, placing third in the Mr. New York State bodybuilding contest. ¹
In 1990, Mero decided to become a wrestler, travelling to Tampa, Florida to train under the Malenkos. He debuted in 1991 in the Floridian Sun Coast Professional Wrestling promotion. ² Several months later, Mero attended a World Championship Wrestling television taping and was given a match, losing to Doom in a squash match. Mero appeared with WCW as a jobber for several months before being signed to a contract by booker Dusty Rhodes. ¹ Rhodes repackaged Mero with the ring name 'Johnny B. Badd' and the gimmick of a Little Richard look-alike. ^{17 [4] [5]} He was initially managed by Teddy Long. ^[6] As Johnny B. Badd, Mero was known for his flamboyant mannerisms and for his "Badd Blaster", a confetti gun that he would fire before his matches. ¹¹ Mero won the WCW World Television Championship on three occasions. ¹
In 1996, Mero left WCW because he strongly objected to an angle where he was associated with another man's wife (Kimberly Page). ^[7] After leaving WCW he signed a contract with the World Wrestling Federation. Wrestling as '"Wildman" Marc Mero', Mero was managed by his wife, Rena "Sable" Mero. ¹ On September 23, 1996, Mero defeated Faarooq Asad in the finals of a tournament for the vacant WWF Intercontinental Championship. He held the title until October 21, 1996, when he was defeated by Hunter Hearst Helmsley. ^[8]
In February 1997, Mero tore his anterior cruciate ligament, and spent six months rehabilitating. ^[9] He returned in late 1997 with the new persona of '"Marvellous" Marc Mero', a boxer-turned-wrestler. ²³ The WWF storyline had Mero become jealous of Sable's fan following and want her out of the WWF. At Over the Edge, he defeated Sable with a small package, which resulted in her leaving the WWF for a short time. After he dropped Sable as his valet, Jacqueline became his manager. ^[10]
In 1999, Mero and Sable left the WWF. At the time, Mero had three years remaining on his contract, with a guaranteed salary of $350,000 USD. ³ Mero subsequently did not wrestle for 18 months due to various nagging injuries and a shoulder surgery. ^{[11] [12]}
On April 26, 2000, Mero returned to World Championship Wrestling, appearing with his trainer, Ray Rinaldi, in the audience on an episode of ''WCW Thunder'' and confronting Tank Abbott. Mero opted not to return to WCW on a full-time basis due to his physical condition at the time. ¹²
In 2001, Mero wrestled in the short-lived X Wrestling Federation. ^[13]
In November 2004, Mero began wrestling for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as 'Johnny B. Badd'. He appeared sporadically with TNA throughout late 2004 and early 2005. ¹¹
Mero retired in the mid-2000s, opening and operating the ''Marc Mero Body Slam Training Institute'' in Altamonte Springs, Florida.
In June and July 2007, Mero commented on the Chris Benoit murder-suicide, appearing on numerous cable news programs and criticizing both the wrestling industry and World Wrestling Entertainment (the erstwhile employer of Benoit). ^[14] In an interview with WFTV, Mero admitted to using anabolic steroids over a period of seven years and claimed that steroids had contributed to the early deaths of many wrestlers. ^[15] In interviews with MSNBC and The Sun, Mero produced a list of 25 wrestlers who he had wrestled with who had since died, calling for greater regulation of the wrestling industry. ^{[16] [17]} Mero's comments attracted criticism from wrestlers such as Ken Kennedy, who labelled him a "goof" and a "silly bastard", and Dave "Fit" Finlay, who claimed Mero had "nothing to do with this business". ^{17 [18] [19]} On July 15, 2007, Mero attended the memorials of Nancy and Daniel Benoit in Daytona Beach, Florida. ^[20]

Wrestling facts

★ 'Finishing and signature moves'

★
★ '''Marvelocity / Wild Thing''' (Shooting star press)

★
★ '''Merosault''' (Moonsault)

★
★ '''T.K.O. - Technical Knock Out''' (Fireman's carry cutter) ^[21]

★
★ ''Badd Day'' (Frankensteiner)

★
★ ''Golota Shot'' (Low blow)

★
★ ''Kiss That Don't Miss / Tutti Frutti'' (Left-handed hook) ^[22]

★
★ 'Slingshot leg drop'

★ 'Managers'

★
★ Jacqueline

★
★ Kimberly

★
★ Theodore Long ⁶

★
★ Sable ²³

★ 'Nicknames'

★
★ Marvellous ²³

★
★ Wildman ¹

Championships and accomplishments

Amateur boxing

★ 'Four New York State Titles, including:'

★
★ Amateur Athletic Union

★
★ Empire State Games

★
★ New York Golden Gloves

Professional wrestling

★ 'Pro Wrestling Illustrated'
:
★ PWI Rookie of the Year (1991) ^{2 11}
:
★ PWI ranked him # '264' of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003

★ 'World Championship Wrestling'
:
★ WCW World Television Championship (3 times) ^{11 23}

★ 'World Wrestling Federation'
:
★ WWF Intercontinental Championship (1 time) ^{11 8 23}

★ 'Wrestling Observer Newsletter'
:
★ Most Improved (1995) ¹⁷
:
★ Rookie of the Year (1991) ¹⁷

Personal life

In 1992, Mero married Rena "Sable" Greek, adopting her daughter from a previous marriage. ^{1 [23]} The couple separated in mid-2003 and divorced in 2004. ^{1 [24]}
As of July 2007, Mero required a heart valve transplant. ^[25]

Notes

1. About Marc
2. Marc Mero Benaka, L.
3. Wrestling's reality hits hard Kerasotis, P.
4. TNA Turning Point a success Kapur, B.
5. Foley, M. (2000) (p.202)
6. Teddy Long Milner, J.
7. Power Slam
8. History of the Intercontinental Championship
9. WWF, WCW battling for share of Ottawa Mr X.
10. Stone Cold beats the odds Powell, J.
11. Johnny B. Badd
12. WCW beckons for Mark Mero Oliver, G.
13. XWF working without a deal Waldman, J.
14. Ex-wrestler boils about WWE pressure-cooker Maxwell, S.
15. Former Pro Wrestler Admits Steroids, Discusses Benoit Artz, E.
16. 'Scarborough Country' for June 28
17. 'I'm sick of my friends dying' Rothstein, S.
18. Message from Ken Kennedy Kennedy, K.
19. Separate Funerals Set for Wrestler Benoit and Family
20. Wrestling with tragedy Mosconi, A. and Red, C.
21. Rookies ready to shine Abreu, D.
22. WCW Wrestling Classics TV report Lyon, S.
23. Mero enjoys carrying Sable's bags Oliver, G.
24. J.R.: Goldberg back on track Baines, T.
25. Saturday news update: Benoit funeral, Reaction to media coverage from yesterday and editorial on how bad the industry looks... Meltzer, D.

References

★ , Mick Foley, , , HarperCollins, ,

External links

★ MMBodyslam.com

★