John Hennigan (professional wrestler)

For the professional poker player, see John Hennigan (poker player)

John Hennigan
File:Johnny Nitro2.jpg
Born	October 3, 1979 Los Angeles, California
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	John Hennigan, Johnny Blaze, Johnny Spade, Johnny Superstar, Johnny Nitro
Billed height	6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Billed weight	219 lb (99 kg)
Trained by	Al Snow Bill DeMott Ivory Nick Dinsmore XPW Asylum
Debut	January 27, 2003

Jonathan Randall Hennigan (born October 3, 1979 in Los Angeles, California) is an American professional wrestler, currently working for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on its RAW brand. He currently wrestles under the ring name Johnny Nitro and is the reigning WWE Intercontinental Champion.

World Wrestling Entertainment

Tough Enough

Hennigan, along with Matt Cappotelli was the winner of Tough Enough III in 2003 and was granted a WWE contract as a result. After the series ended, Hennigan and Cappotelli were sent to the WWE developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) for further training. Before Tough Enough, he had trained at XPW's Asylum. He had tried out for Tough Enough II, and can be seen on the first episode, but the judges thought he wasn't serious about wrestling for a living, so he was cut from the final 13, having placed in the final 25.

RAW/OVW

In 2004, Hennigan debuted on WWE television as the assistant of RAW General Manager Eric Bischoff. Hennigan was given a variety of pseudonyms, including, briefly, "Johnny Blaze", a trademarked property of Marvel Comics (and nickname of rapper Method Man), and "Johnny Spade". He was eventually named Johnny Nitro, a reference to WCW Monday Nitro, the television series formerly produced by Bischoff. Hennigan also began using the Nitro theme music as his entrance music. This storyline was abandoned after several weeks and Hennigan was sent back to OVW, although he retained the name "Johnny Nitro".

Smackdown!

Hennigan returned to WWE television on April 14, 2005, making his SmackDown! debut as one-third of the stable MNM with Joey Mercury and manager, Melina. The following week, MNM defeated Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero for the WWE Tag Team Championship. MNM successfully defended the titles in a match with Charlie Haas and Hardcore Holly at Judgment Day 2005, but were defeated by Heidenreich and Animal on July 24, 2005. They defeated Animal and Heidenreich for the titles in a four way tag team match on October 28, 2005, and held the titles until December 16, 2005, when they lost to Batista and Rey Mysterio. They began their third reign to date on December 30, 2005, defeating Batista and Mysterio with the assistance of the returning Mark Henry.

The team of Paul London and Brian Kendrick would go on to feud with MNM, beginning by picking up a win in a non-title match against the reigning WWE Tag Team champions. London and Kendrick would continue their winning streak on the champions, including singles victories for both Kendrick and London on Nitro and Mercury respectively. The feud came to a head at Judgment Day 2006, where they defeated MNM for the titles. Later that same night, Melina and Nitro were fired, in kayfabe, from SmackDown, due to Melina slapping Smackdown General Manager Teddy Long, and Nitro for mouthing off. The WWE was forced to unwillingly break up the tag team due to Joey Mercury being sent to rehab.

RAW

On May 29, 2006, Nitro redebuted on RAW (along with Melina) in a losing effort to then-WWE Champion John Cena. The following week, Melina faked a sprained ankle allowing Nitro to roll up Charlie Haas for his first RAW win. Melina would continue to manage Nitro during his successful hunt for the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Nitro won the title in a triple threat match at the Vengeance 2006 pay-per-view against Carlito and then-defending champion Shelton Benjamin. June 26th edition of RAW, in a Women's Championship match Mickie James defeated Trish Stratus. After the match, Melina and Johnny Nitro entered the ring, allowing Melina to cut a promo on Trish, re-igniting their feud from late 2005. During this feud Trish also formed a partnership with Carlito. At Saturday Night's Main Event in a mixed tag team match Carlito and Trish Stratus defeated Johnny Nitro and Melina.

Nitro would once again have to defend his Intercontinental Championship in a Triple Threat Match involving Carlito and Shelton Benjamin on the July 31, 2006 edition of RAW. He would succesfully defend with the help of Melina. He also lost via DQ to Ric Flair when Mick Foley got involved and with help from Melina beat Flair down. On September 4th Nitro successfully retained his title against Jeff Hardy through DQ. At Unforgiven 2006, Nitro would pin Jeff Hardy after interference from Melina to retain the Intercontinental Championship.

Wrestling facts

• Finishing and signature moves

• Nitro Press (Standing shooting star press)
• Nitro Kick (Superkick)
• Nitrosault (Corkscrew moonsault)
• Capoeira Legdrop (Split-legged handstand into a one-handed handstand followed by pivoting 180° into a leg drop)
• Guillotine leg drop
• Swinging fisherman suplex
• Stretch backbreaker into a side russian legsweep
• Leg-Lace Lock
• Powerbomb
• Headscissors takedown
• Springboard dropkick

• Managers

• Melina
• Jillian Hall (Managed MNM on Smackdown)
• Eric Bischoff

Championships and accomplishments

File:IntercontinentalChampionNitro.jpg

Johnny Nitro as the Intercontinental Champion

• Ohio Valley Wrestling

• 3-Time OVW Light Heavyweight Champion (under alias Johnny Spade).
• 1-Time OVW Southern Tag Team Champion (with Joey Matthews)

• World Wrestling Entertainment

• Tough Enough III winner
• 3-Time WWE Tag Team Champion (with Joey Mercury)
• 1-Time WWE Intercontinental Champion (Current)

Personal life

Hennigan grew up in Los Angeles, California with his two younger sisters, Kelly & Elise Hennigan.

Hennigan resided in Louisville, Kentucky with his on and off screen girlfriend, Melina Perez, who is also his Valet-they recently moved to California. They are also both good friends of Mick Foley, but only off screen.

Trivia

Hennigan is generally looked upon as being the most successful story to have come out of Tough Enough. Most of the other winners or onscreen hires were either released with little screen time (Daniel Puder, Linda Miles), sidelined by a physical ailment (Christopher Nowinski, Matt Cappotelli) or mired without major storylines or titles until their release (Maven, Nidia, & Jackie Gayda). Hennigan is a three time Tag-Team Champion and one time Intercontinental Champion. Josh Matthews and Mike Mizanin continue to work for the company in onscreen capicities, though Matthews in a non-wrestling role, and Mizanin with only a few televised matches under his belt at this point.

External links

• WWE Profile
• J-Nitro.com (fansite)
• Nitroism.net