AS I SEE IT
Bob Magee
Pro Wrestling: Between the Sheets
PWBTS.com
I start this week's column with yet more sad news in the wrestling world.
Mike "Johnny Grunge" Durham was pronounced dead on arrival at an Atlanta area hospital on February 16.
The Wrestling Observer reported that Grunge was at a friend's house in Peachtree City, GA, was gasping for air and rushed to the hospital. The preliminary diagnosis is that it was said to have to do with complications from sleep apnea.
As most readers know, Grunge and the late Ted Petty (as Rocco Rock), made up the tag team of Public Enemy, becoming one of the foundations of ECW. They were among the first major stars created by Paul Heyman from scratch.
Public Enemy were four time ECW Tag Team Champions, first winning the ECW Tag Team Titles from Kevin Sullivan and "Tazmaniac" on March 6, 1994 at the ECW Arena. They lost the titles to Mikey Whipwreck and Cactus Jack on August 27, 1994 at the ECW Arena (the night that ECW was renamed "Extreme" Championship Wrestling) then regained the belts on November 5, also at the Arena.
They lost the belts again on February 4, 1995 at the ECW Arena to Sabu and Tazmaniac, then regained them for a third time on April 8, 1995 in a three way dance from Chris Benoit/Dean Malenko and Taz/Rick Steiner (filling in for Sabu). They lost the titles to Raven and Stevie Richards on June 30, 1995 in Jim Thorpe, PA.
Public Enemy won the belts for a final time on October 7, 1995 at the ECW Arena from Raven and Richards in a three way dance against Raven and Richards and The Gangstas. Public Enemy lost the belts for a final time in a gimmick match to the team of The Sandman and 2 Cold Scorpio in a singles match that saw Rocco Rock lose to 2 Cold Scorpio.
Public Enemy also worked programs in ECW with The Eliminators, The Pitbulls, The Bruise Brothers, Ian and Axl Rotten (Bad Blood); and Terry and Dory Funk.
The matches with The Funks were among the wildest in the early history of ECW, including the July 16, 1994 "no rope barbed wire" match in a 100 plus degree ECW Arena.
Public Enemy went to World Championship Wrestling in 1996; defeating Harlem Heat to win the WCW Tag Team Titles; then losing them back approximately three weeks later.
Grunge was clearly never the same after the 2002 death of Ted Petty, who died from a heart attack on his way to a 3PW show, after working another shot at a show in North Jersey. His emotions were obvious anytime he was called upon to talk about Petty at events in recent years, including the June 10, 2005 Hardcore Homecoming on June 10, 2005.
My favorite Johnny Grunge story wasn't one in the ring, but was from the night that Johnny played Pied Piper to an entire bar.
One night after an ECW show, the post-show "festivities" took place at the Radisson Hotel near Philadelphia International Airport, since the usual ECW post-show haunts weren't open and wrestlers and fans went down the road from the Comfort Inn. The bar was packed with ECW talent and fans, making for very happy barstaff and management when they saw the bar tabs being racked up.
Well...what actually happened to this day I don't know, but as the evening went on, one of Grunge's friends was asked to leave the bar. Grunge found out about this, and went to see what was going on. After he was told the friend wouldn't be allowed back in, Grunge played Pied Piper, told the bar his friend had been kicked out; and proceeded to tell us his friend had been treated unfairly and that we might want to let the bar know what we felt.
The entire (and I don't mean most of the people, but the ENTIRE bar) proceeded to clear out, and those assembled walked into the Radisson parking lot. The barstaff and management took one look at hundreds, if not thousands of dollars of the evening's proceeds walking out into the parking lot. After about two minutes decided whatever had happened with Grunge's friend couldn't have been that serious...and allowed him back in.
Johnny's funeral will take place this Wednesday at 7:00 pm, with viewings this Tuesday 6:00 to 8:00 pm and this Wednesday 11:00 am to 6:45 pm, all at the Ward’s Parkway Chapel, 1000 Forest Parkway, Forest Park, GA. For information, call (404) 366-3522.
He also left behind 2 young sons, Michael Jr., aged 8 and Chase, aged 3. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made to the Michel Durham Memorial Fund at: Bank of America GA7-083-01-01, 500 North Lake Drive, Peachtree City, GA 30269.
RIP, Johnny. Somewhere up above...the match Paul Heyman always wanted to do will finally take place: Eddie Guerrero and Art Barr, Los Gringos Locos, are taking on The Public Enemy as we speak. Given that this weekend saw the eleventh anniversary of Eddie Gilbert's passing, I expect Eddie's running around Heaven trying to book return matches for multiple venues over the next two months.
In more mundane news, in the latest example of promotions having different standards for different wrestlers, witness the case of Austin Aries and Roderick Strong.
Austin Aries and Roderick Strong were among those scheduled for Ring of Honor's show on February 11 in Lake Grove, NY. So were Alex Shelley, Homicide, and Jay Lethal.
All of them were also scheduled for the TNA Against All Odds PPV in Orlando, FL the next evening. Due to the February 11 and 12 snowstorm that hit the Northeast, setting a record snowfall for New York City, TNA management directed all the wrestlers to leave immediately for the airport and booked them on flights to get to Orlando, FL.
Alex Shelley, Homicide, and Jay Lethal left immediately. Austin Aries and Roderick Strong, the Ring of Honor Tag Team Champions, remained In New York City and worked the show. They flew to Florida the next morning, arrived in more than enough time and appeared on the PPV as scheduled in a loss to the Naturals.
Yet Roderick Strong and Austin Aries are being punished. They were used as enhancement talent at the IMPACT taping last Tuesday. The storyline where Aries, Strong, and Alex Shelley have been complaining to Jerry Lynn that they weren't being given a chance" has apparently been dropped, as Aries, Strong, Shelley and Lynn never appeared in their roles for the taping.
Now witness these examples:
1) Jeff Hardy no-showed multiple TNA PPVs...without notice. He was brought back at least twice.
2) Sean Waltman no-showed at least two TNA PPVs..and has been brought back to replace another no-show.
3) Apolo no-showed one TNA PPV...was brought back; then replaced by Ricky Vega (as Machete) when he missed a second PPV.
But the two wrestlers who MADE IT for a PPV event are being pulled from bookings. I have to wonder if TNA was planning on paying them for the booking they missed (and if they have done so for Shelley, Lethal, and Homicide).
Anyone ready for more hostility from Ring of Honor fans?
Ring of Honor fans showed their displeasure when TNA pulled its talent altogether from Ring of Honor shows, owing to the Rob Feinstein incident back in March 2004, long after it was clear that Feinstein was no longer involved with the company. One wonders if they'll show their displeasure again.
Until next time...
If you have comments/questions, or if you'd like to add the AS I SEE IT column to your website, I can be reached by e-mail at bobmagee1@hotmail.comAS I SEE IT
Bob Magee
Pro Wrestling: Between the Sheets
PWBTS.com
I start this week's column with yet more sad news in the wrestling world.
Mike "Johnny Grunge" Durham was pronounced dead on arrival at an Atlanta area hospital on February 16.
The Wrestling Observer reported that Grunge was at a friend's house in Peachtree City, GA, was gasping for air and rushed to the hospital. The preliminary diagnosis is that it was said to have to do with complications from sleep apnea.
As most readers know, Grunge and the late Ted Petty (as Rocco Rock), made up the tag team of Public Enemy, becoming one of the foundations of ECW. They were among the first major stars created by Paul Heyman from scratch.
Public Enemy were four time ECW Tag Team Champions, first winning the ECW Tag Team Titles from Kevin Sullivan and "Tazmaniac" on March 6, 1994 at the ECW Arena. They lost the titles to Mikey Whipwreck and Cactus Jack on August 27, 1994 at the ECW Arena (the night that ECW was renamed "Extreme" Championship Wrestling) then regained the belts on November 5, also at the Arena.
They lost the belts again on February 4, 1995 at the ECW Arena to Sabu and Tazmaniac, then regained them for a third time on April 8, 1995 in a three way dance from Chris Benoit/Dean Malenko and Taz/Rick Steiner (filling in for Sabu). They lost the titles to Raven and Stevie Richards on June 30, 1995 in Jim Thorpe, PA.
Public Enemy won the belts for a final time on October 7, 1995 at the ECW Arena from Raven and Richards in a three way dance against Raven and Richards and The Gangstas. Public Enemy lost the belts for a final time in a gimmick match to the team of The Sandman and 2 Cold Scorpio in a singles match that saw Rocco Rock lose to 2 Cold Scorpio.
Public Enemy also worked programs in ECW with The Eliminators, The Pitbulls, The Bruise Brothers, Ian and Axl Rotten (Bad Blood); and Terry and Dory Funk.
The matches with The Funks were among the wildest in the early history of ECW, including the July 16, 1994 "no rope barbed wire" match in a 100 plus degree ECW Arena.
Public Enemy went to World Championship Wrestling in 1996; defeating Harlem Heat to win the WCW Tag Team Titles; then losing them back approximately three weeks later.
Grunge was clearly never the same after the 2002 death of Ted Petty, who died from a heart attack on his way to a 3PW show, after working another shot at a show in North Jersey. His emotions were obvious anytime he was called upon to talk about Petty at events in recent years, including the June 10, 2005 Hardcore Homecoming on June 10, 2005.
My favorite Johnny Grunge story wasn't one in the ring, but was from the night that Johnny played Pied Piper to an entire bar.
One night after an ECW show, the post-show "festivities" took place at the Radisson Hotel near Philadelphia International Airport, since the usual ECW post-show haunts weren't open and wrestlers and fans went down the road from the Comfort Inn. The bar was packed with ECW talent and fans, making for very happy barstaff and management when they saw the bar tabs being racked up.
Well...what actually happened to this day I don't know, but as the evening went on, one of Grunge's friends was asked to leave the bar. Grunge found out about this, and went to see what was going on. After he was told the friend wouldn't be allowed back in, Grunge played Pied Piper, told the bar his friend had been kicked out; and proceeded to tell us his friend had been treated unfairly and that we might want to let the bar know what we felt.
The entire (and I don't mean most of the people, but the ENTIRE bar) proceeded to clear out, and those assembled walked into the Radisson parking lot. The barstaff and management took one look at hundreds, if not thousands of dollars of the evening's proceeds walking out into the parking lot. After about two minutes decided whatever had happened with Grunge's friend couldn't have been that serious...and allowed him back in.
Johnny's funeral will take place this Wednesday at 7:00 pm, with viewings this Tuesday 6:00 to 8:00 pm and this Wednesday 11:00 am to 6:45 pm, all at the Ward’s Parkway Chapel, 1000 Forest Parkway, Forest Park, GA. For information, call (404) 366-3522.
He also left behind 2 young sons, Michael Jr., aged 8 and Chase, aged 3. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made to the Michel Durham Memorial Fund at: Bank of America GA7-083-01-01, 500 North Lake Drive, Peachtree City, GA 30269.
RIP, Johnny. Somewhere up above...the match Paul Heyman always wanted to do will finally take place: Eddie Guerrero and Art Barr, Los Gringos Locos, are taking on The Public Enemy as we speak. Given that this weekend saw the eleventh anniversary of Eddie Gilbert's passing, I expect Eddie's running around Heaven trying to book return matches for multiple venues over the next two months.
In more mundane news, in the latest example of promotions having different standards for different wrestlers, witness the case of Austin Aries and Roderick Strong.
Austin Aries and Roderick Strong were among those scheduled for Ring of Honor's show on February 11 in Lake Grove, NY. So were Alex Shelley, Homicide, and Jay Lethal.
All of them were also scheduled for the TNA Against All Odds PPV in Orlando, FL the next evening. Due to the February 11 and 12 snowstorm that hit the Northeast, setting a record snowfall for New York City, TNA management directed all the wrestlers to leave immediately for the airport and booked them on flights to get to Orlando, FL.
Alex Shelley, Homicide, and Jay Lethal left immediately. Austin Aries and Roderick Strong, the Ring of Honor Tag Team Champions, remained In New York City and worked the show. They flew to Florida the next morning, arrived in more than enough time and appeared on the PPV as scheduled in a loss to the Naturals.
Yet Roderick Strong and Austin Aries are being punished. They were used as enhancement talent at the IMPACT taping last Tuesday. The storyline where Aries, Strong, and Alex Shelley have been complaining to Jerry Lynn that they weren't being given a chance" has apparently been dropped, as Aries, Strong, Shelley and Lynn never appeared in their roles for the taping.
Now witness these examples:
1) Jeff Hardy no-showed multiple TNA PPVs...without notice. He was brought back at least twice.
2) Sean Waltman no-showed at least two TNA PPVs..and has been brought back to replace another no-show.
3) Apolo no-showed one TNA PPV...was brought back; then replaced by Ricky Vega (as Machete) when he missed a second PPV.
But the two wrestlers who MADE IT for a PPV event are being pulled from bookings. I have to wonder if TNA was planning on paying them for the booking they missed (and if they have done so for Shelley, Lethal, and Homicide).
Anyone ready for more hostility from Ring of Honor fans?
Ring of Honor fans showed their displeasure when TNA pulled its talent altogether from Ring of Honor shows, owing to the Rob Feinstein incident back in March 2004, long after it was clear that Feinstein was no longer involved with the company. One wonders if they'll show their displeasure again.
Until next time...
_________________________________________________________
If you have comments/questions, or if you'd like to add the AS I SEE IT
column to your website, I can be reached by e-mail at bobmagee1@hotmail.com)