Balls Mahoney

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For the Abbuda Dein who wrestled in Pacific Northwest Wrestling, see Rocky Iaukea.

Balls Mahoney
Heart attack
Spouse(s)
Gayle Schechter
​
(m. 2006)​
Children1
The South Pole (as Xanta Klaus)
Nutley, New Jersey (as Balls Mahoney)
Asbury Park, New Jersey (as Boo Radley)
Trained byLarry Sharpe
Debut1987

Jonathan Rechner (April 11, 1972 – April 12, 2016),

brand.[6]

Early life

Rechner was born in Spring Lake Heights, New Jersey.[7] A graduate of Manasquan High School where he competed on the school's wrestling team,[8] He started wrestling at the age of 15.[9]

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1987–1993)

Rechner trained at the Monster Factory and debuted in 1987, at age 15, as "Abbudah Singh".[4] He began wrestling on the independent circuit in New Jersey.

Smoky Mountain Wrestling (1994–1995)

He made a name for himself as Boo Bradley Jr. (a take-off of the character

turned on him, killing his pet cat, and turning him into a fan favorite in the process. He formed a friendship with Cactus Jack during this time. He went on to have a lengthy rivalry with Candido and Sytch. After his battles with Candido he moved on to a feud with Killer Kyle of the Gangstas. During his time in SMW Bradley won the SMW Beat the Champ Television Championship twice.[11]

World Wrestling Federation (1992–1993, 1995–1996)

From 1992 to 1993 he jobbed under his real name losing to

Papa Shango, Marty Jannetty, and Virgil
.

In 1995, he briefly appeared in the

In Your House 5: Seasons Beatings in December, while Savio Vega and "Santa Claus" were at ringside handing out presents and playing to the fans, villainous manager "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase appeared. DiBiase proclaimed that everyone had a price, even Santa. As Vega argued with DiBiase, "Santa" jumped him from behind and attacked him. DiBiase laughed his trademark laugh and introduced this warped Santa as Xanta Klaus, from the South Pole who steals presents. As Xanta, Rechner made only a couple more appearances (one on the following night's Monday Night Raw), before never being mentioned again.[4]

Mid Eastern Wrestling Federation (1996–1997)

After WWF, Rechner wrestled as Boo Bradley for

Mid Eastern Wrestling Federation
where he became the MEWF Mid-Atlantic Champion.

Extreme Championship Wrestling (1996–2001)

The Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks (1996–1999)

In 1996, Rechner signed with

The Dudley Boyz (Buh Buh Ray and D-Von
) during their tenure.

Mahoney made his pay-per-view debut at

Little Guido) retained the titles.[12] At Living Dangerously, they participated in a three-way dance, along with the Dudleyz in a losing effort to Spike Dudley and New Jack.[13] Mahoney and Rotten got another chance at the titles at Wrestlepalooza against Chris Candido and Lance Storm, but lost.[14]

Balls Mahoney before a live event at the First Arena in Elmira, New York, on August 12, 2006

After failing to win the titles with Rotten, Mahoney found a new partner in

dropped the titles to the Dudleyz in a rematch.[17] At Guilty as Charged, Mahoney and Rotten defeated the F.B.I. and Danny Doring and Roadkill in a three-way dance.[4]

Mahoney's first singles match at a pay-per-view was a victory over Steve Corino at Living Dangerously.[18] Shortly after, Mahoney formed a tag team with Spike Dudley. At Hardcore Heaven, the two faced the Dudleyz in a championship match but failed to win the title.[19] The two teams faced in a rematch at Heat Wave, and this time, Mahoney and Dudley won the match and the World Tag Team Championship, marking Mahoney's second individual reign.[4][16][20] At a show in August, the duo re-lost the title to the Dudleyz.[21]

On the edition of August 14 of ECW on TNN, Mahoney and Dudley defeated the Dudleyz in another rematch to win back the World Tag Team Championship.[4][16][22] At The Last Show at the Madhouse on August 26, they lost the titles to the Dudleyz again.[16][23] At Anarchy Rulz, ECW World Television Champion Rob Van Dam was scheduled to defend his title against Johnny Smith but before the match, Mahoney, Rotten, and Dudley attacked Smith and took him out of the match. Mahoney then challenged RVD for the title but lost the match.[24]

At November to Remember, Mahoney and Rotten lost to Da Baldies (Spanish Angel, Tony DeVito, Vito LoGrasso, and P. N. News) in a 4-on-2 handicap match.[25]

Final days of ECW (2000–2001)

During an exchange of blows, ECW fans would often chant "Balls!" when Rechner landed a punch or kick on an opponent, and "Nuts!" when his opponent retaliated. At

Kintaro Kanemura.[26] He met his former tag team partner, Masato Tanaka in the first match at Hardcore Heaven, which Tanaka won.[27]

At

Chilly Willy and the duo feuded with Da Baldies. After losing a match to Da Baldies at Anarchy Rulz,[29] Mahoney and Willy defeated them in a Flaming Tables match at November to Remember.[30] At Massacre on 34th Street, Mahoney lost to EZ Money.[31]

Mahoney's final ECW appearance was at ECW's final pay-per-view Guilty as Charged where Mahoney and Chilly Willy's match with Simon Diamond and Johnny Swinger ended in a no contest.[32]

Independent circuit (2001–2006)

After ECW folded, Rechner spent time in a number of independent federations across America, most notably USA Pro Wrestling (UXW) as well as

Ring Of Honor losing to Samoa Joe
.

Return to WWE (2005, 2006–2008)

Balls in an ECW ring

In 2005, Mahoney made a non-wrestling appearance at the

The Blue World Order (bWo) before the main event. After the main event, Mahoney and Rotten returned to the ring to brawl with the "invading" Raw and SmackDown! wrestlers.[34]

In 2006, when WWE relaunched ECW as their own

brand, one of the first announcements was the signing of Balls Mahoney. His signing was announced with that of Axl Rotten, but when Rotten missed some WWE dates and was released, Balls was left to start a singles career. During the "cross promotion" hype, Balls appeared on the June 5 edition of Raw with other ECW wrestlers who proceeded to attack WWE Champion John Cena.[35] He appeared again as a part of the ECW team in the "WWE vs. ECW team battle royal" at the WWE vs. ECW Head to Head event on June 7.[36] At ECW One Night Stand, Balls defeated Masato Tanaka in a match following a chair shot (denting the chair) to Tanaka's head.[37]

December to Dismember
in December 2006

When

René Duprée.[38][39]

The following week, he brought

Francine to ringside with him, marking her first televised appearance at the revived ECW ring, where she proceeded to get into a catfight with Ariel.[40]
That pairing, however, was short lived as Francine was released shortly after.

At December to Dismember, Mahoney defeated Matt Striker in a Striker's Rules match.[41]

On the edition of January 2, 2007 of ECW on Sci Fi, Mahoney had one of his front teeth

ECW World Championship, in which they were defeated.[43]

On the August 7, 2007 episode of ECW, Balls went against

Brooke, and Layla before Kelly could get a word in. Regardless, Kelly still showed interest in him each week, wishing him good luck before his match and cheering him on during his match.[4] He asked if she would go out with him to which she could not respond due to The Miz taking her backstage.[4] Weeks later, however, Kelly asked him out, starting an on-screen relationship.[45]

On February 29, 2008, Balls made his return to television on

SmackDown, taking on Big Daddy V. The match went to a no contest after The Undertaker chokeslammed Mahoney.[46] Mahoney was released from his WWE contract on April 28, 2008.[47]

Return to independent circuit (2008–2016)

Mahoney and Homicide at FTW Rise Against on March 5, 2011

On December 13, 2008, he returned to wrestling in

The Embassy.[48] On July 29, 2010, it was confirmed that Mahoney would take part in TNA's ECW reunion show Hardcore Justice on August 8.[49] However, his name was later pulled from the event's official website.[50] At the event Rechner, using the ring name Kahoneys, teamed with Axl Rotten in a South Philadelphia Street Fight, where they were defeated by Team 3D.[2] After the match Rechner vented his frustrations on Axl Rotten, proclaiming that he would never again team with him.[51]

On September 11, 2010, Rechner returned to Ring of Honor at

Monsta Mack and Havok for the JAPW Tag Team Championship, in a three-way match, which was won by Sami Callihan and Chris Dickinson.[53] On October 18, 2014, Mahoney was defeated by Sabu to crown the first WWL Extreme Champion at Insurrection.[54] Mahoney's last match before his death took place at the DFC A Very Deathproof Christmas event on December 6, 2015, defeating Shaunymo in a Flaming Tables Match in Toronto, Ontario.[55][56]

Personal life

Rechner's son, Christopher, was born on November 15, 2007.[57]

Rechner had numerous tattoos, including two tribal pieces, a dragon and inverted pentagram on his arm (he was a member of the Church of Satan),[58] and a tattoo dedicated to deceased wrestler and the namesake of his late friend, Chris Candido.[59] Rechner and Candido were childhood friends who got their start in the wrestling business setting up rings for local shows during their teenage years and eventually trained together at the Monster Factory.[60]

On August 21, 2010, Rechner was charged with disorderly conduct after brandishing a knife during a staged fight with fellow wrestler "Calypso" Jim Zaccone in South Brunswick, New Jersey.[61] The fight was meant to drum up publicity for an upcoming match in Perth Amboy, New Jersey.

Death

On April 12, 2016, a day after his 44th birthday, Rechner died suddenly at his home in

CPR, but he was dead before medics arrived.[62] His death was first reported via Twitter by Johnny Candido.[63]

His autopsy was released in August 2016, where it ruled he had died of a heart attack.[64] On October 21, 2016, it was revealed Rechner had experienced CTE.[65] As a result of the CTE diagnosis, the Rechner family became part of a class-action lawsuit against the WWE over these reports and was represented by attorney Konstantine Kyros. U.S. district judge Vanessa Lynne Bryant dismissed the lawsuit in September 2018.[66]

Championships and accomplishments

See also

References

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External links

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