The Public Enemy (professional wrestling): Difference between revisions
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== Career == |
== Career == |
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Prior to both men forming Public Enemy, they |
Prior to both men forming Public Enemy, they feuded with each other in Japan. When [[Paul Heyman]] took over the booking duties at Eastern Championship Wrestling (later known as [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]]) Heyman needed to book an unusual tag team to get his new booking regime up and running. Having seen the unique chemistry both men produced when they were enemies, Heyman decided to try to reform them into tag partners. Heyman then decided to make both men into two white guys who embraced the [[hip-hop]] culture of America as a way to make fun of said culture. Heyman stated that he got the inspiration to create The Public Enemy from a [[Time Magazine]] article about the street violence going on in [[Los Angeles]] during the early '90s, with a quote that stated "The generation of today is more afraid of living than dying". Their name was taken from [[Public Enemy|the rap group of the same name]]. The Public Enemy made their ECW debuts in [[1993]]. |
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The Public Enemy would go on to be one of ECW's most acclaimed and feared tag teams of the early days of the promotion, winning the [[ECW Tag Team Championship]] on 4 different occasions. One of their most famous |
The Public Enemy would go on to be one of ECW's most acclaimed and feared tag teams of the early days of the promotion, winning the [[ECW Tag Team Championship]] on 4 different occasions. One of their most famous feuds in ECW involved the tag team of [[The Gangstas]] ([[New Jack]] and [[Mustapha Saed]]). This bloody and violent feud could have been seen as many variations of what was going on in hip hop culture at the time. Public Enemy were two white guys from [[Philidelphia]] who represented feel good hip hop from the early '90s whereas The Gangstas represented the harsh, gritty lifestyle that was associated with the [[West Coast]] [[Gangsta Rap]] culture of the mid '90s. |
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The Public Enemy was also involved in some of ECW's most memorable moments. On one occasion, during a tag match between [[Mick Foley|Cactus Jack]] and [[Terry Funk]], Terry Funk asked the fans if he could have a chair to use. As a fan threw a chair into the ring, many other fans followed suit, eventually causing the ring to be filled with steel chairs. Because of the danger surrounding this incident, the match was called off. Another incident happened shortly after their last match in ECW. The Public Enemy asked the fans to come into the ring to dance with them one last time. Tons of fans ended up going into the ring, however, the amount of people inside the ring at the time caused the ring to collapse. |
The Public Enemy was also involved in some of ECW's most memorable moments. On one occasion, during a tag match between [[Mick Foley|Cactus Jack]] and [[Terry Funk]], Terry Funk asked the fans if he could have a chair to use. As a fan threw a chair into the ring, many other fans followed suit, eventually causing the ring to be filled with steel chairs. Because of the danger surrounding this incident, the match was called off. Another incident happened shortly after their last match in ECW. The Public Enemy asked the fans to come into the ring to dance with them one last time. Tons of fans ended up going into the ring, however, the amount of people inside the ring at the time caused the ring to collapse. |
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The Public Enemy would briefly return to WCW, with both men involved in the infamous "WCW Hardcore Junkyard Invitational" yet both men would not return to WCW programming afterwords. After this, The Public Enemy made one last appearance on [[ECW on TNN]], which would be their last exposure in mainstream television. |
The Public Enemy would briefly return to WCW, with both men involved in the infamous "WCW Hardcore Junkyard Invitational" yet both men would not return to WCW programming afterwords. After this, The Public Enemy made one last appearance on [[ECW on TNN]], which would be their last exposure in mainstream television. |
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The tag team would make brief appearances in the independent scene after both WCW and ECW folded, and were actually a part of the [[Xtreme Wrestling Federation]] under the names of "The West Philly Posse" who were managed by [[Jasmin St. Claire]]. |
The tag team would make brief appearances in the independent scene after both WCW and ECW folded, and were actually a part of the [[Xtreme Wrestling Federation]] under the names of "The West Philly Posse," who were managed by [[Jasmin St. Claire]]. |
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On [[September |
On [[September 22]], [[2002]], Ted Petty ("Flyboy" Rocco Rock) passed away after suffering a heart attack the night before, following a wrestling event. This would effectively end The Public Enemy as a unit, although Johnny Grunge had been semi-retired for a few years after the XWF failed to get a TV deal. It is said that Ted's death hurt Johnny hard, and for the rest of his life he was never the same. |
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On [[February 16]], [[2006]], |
On [[February 16]], [[2006]], four years after the death of Ted Petty, Mike Durham (Johnny Grunge) passed away in his residence after suffering from complications from [[sleep apnea]]. His friend tried to get Durham to the hospital in time, but by the time they arrived at the hospital, Durham was pronounced dead on the scene. |
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== Championships == |
== Championships == |
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Revision as of 02:11, 24 February 2006
The Public Enemy was the tag team of "Flyboy" Rocco Rock & Johnny Grunge in ECW, WCW & WWE (then WWF). Both members of this tag team are now deceased.
Career
Prior to both men forming Public Enemy, they feuded with each other in Japan. When Paul Heyman took over the booking duties at Eastern Championship Wrestling (later known as Extreme Championship Wrestling) Heyman needed to book an unusual tag team to get his new booking regime up and running. Having seen the unique chemistry both men produced when they were enemies, Heyman decided to try to reform them into tag partners. Heyman then decided to make both men into two white guys who embraced the hip-hop culture of America as a way to make fun of said culture. Heyman stated that he got the inspiration to create The Public Enemy from a Time Magazine article about the street violence going on in Los Angeles during the early '90s, with a quote that stated "The generation of today is more afraid of living than dying". Their name was taken from the rap group of the same name. The Public Enemy made their ECW debuts in 1993.
The Public Enemy would go on to be one of ECW's most acclaimed and feared tag teams of the early days of the promotion, winning the ECW Tag Team Championship on 4 different occasions. One of their most famous feuds in ECW involved the tag team of The Gangstas (New Jack and Mustapha Saed). This bloody and violent feud could have been seen as many variations of what was going on in hip hop culture at the time. Public Enemy were two white guys from Philidelphia who represented feel good hip hop from the early '90s whereas The Gangstas represented the harsh, gritty lifestyle that was associated with the West Coast Gangsta Rap culture of the mid '90s.
The Public Enemy was also involved in some of ECW's most memorable moments. On one occasion, during a tag match between Cactus Jack and Terry Funk, Terry Funk asked the fans if he could have a chair to use. As a fan threw a chair into the ring, many other fans followed suit, eventually causing the ring to be filled with steel chairs. Because of the danger surrounding this incident, the match was called off. Another incident happened shortly after their last match in ECW. The Public Enemy asked the fans to come into the ring to dance with them one last time. Tons of fans ended up going into the ring, however, the amount of people inside the ring at the time caused the ring to collapse.
After their success in ECW, The Public Enemy went on to work for World Championship Wrestling in 1996. When The Public Enemy arrived in WCW, they no longer acted like two white guys trying to be tough gang bangers, but rather, two goofy white guys who just so happened to love rap music. This radical change of how the characters acted would affect how many fans who first saw them in ECW reacted to them as well as fans who first saw them in WCW think of them as a joke tag team in similar vein to The Bushwackers (Who ironically, went through a similar change, as earlier in their careers, The Bushwackers fought in brutal bloodbaths themselves as The Sheepherders in the early 1980s). The Public Enemy would stay in WCW for three years and had won the WCW World Tag Team Championship only once in a fluke victory against Harlem Heat.
The Public Enemy would then go on to work for The World Wrestling Federation {now known as World Wrestling Entertainment). However, they were not liked at all by veteran WWE wrestlers and backstage personnel due to animosity that resulted in the fact that The Public Enemy chose WCW over the WWE when they had the chance as well as attitude problems between both men. The Public Enemy only lasted in the WWE for 2 months before both men were fired.
The Public Enemy would briefly return to WCW, with both men involved in the infamous "WCW Hardcore Junkyard Invitational" yet both men would not return to WCW programming afterwords. After this, The Public Enemy made one last appearance on ECW on TNN, which would be their last exposure in mainstream television.
The tag team would make brief appearances in the independent scene after both WCW and ECW folded, and were actually a part of the Xtreme Wrestling Federation under the names of "The West Philly Posse," who were managed by Jasmin St. Claire.
On September 22, 2002, Ted Petty ("Flyboy" Rocco Rock) passed away after suffering a heart attack the night before, following a wrestling event. This would effectively end The Public Enemy as a unit, although Johnny Grunge had been semi-retired for a few years after the XWF failed to get a TV deal. It is said that Ted's death hurt Johnny hard, and for the rest of his life he was never the same.
On February 16, 2006, four years after the death of Ted Petty, Mike Durham (Johnny Grunge) passed away in his residence after suffering from complications from sleep apnea. His friend tried to get Durham to the hospital in time, but by the time they arrived at the hospital, Durham was pronounced dead on the scene.
Championships
- 1-Time WCW World Tag Team Champions
- 4-Time ECW World Tag Team Champions
- 1-Time NWA Tag Team Champions
- 1-Time NWA United States Tag Team Champions
- 2-Time Superstars of Wrestling Tag Team Champions
- 1-Time TCW Tag Team Champions
- 1-Time MECW Tag Team Champions
- 1-Time NWCW Tag Team Champions
Profile
- Debut: 1993
- Previous identities: Rocco was known as the "Cheetah Kid" before "Flyboy"
- Finishing move(s): Drive By (assisted somerault senton, with Rocco Rock being thrown by Johnny Grunge often through a table)
Trivia
- Although The Dudley Boyz is often credited with popularizing the tables match in mainstream professional wrestling, it was The Public Enemy who were actually the first tag team in ECW history to use the tables on a regular basis in their matches.
- The Public Enemy's only feud in the WWE after they jumped from WCW was against The APA before both men were fired. After this feud, The APA claimed they ran The Public Enemy out of the WWE before another famous ECW tag team, The Dudley Boyz, feuded with them. It was commonly referred to after the Dudley Boyz succeeded in the feud as "Passing the Acolyte Test" since The Public Enemy failed to get over whereas The Dudley Boyz did get over after a feud with the APA.