Johnny Grunge

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Johnny Grunge
Johnny Grunge in March 2002
Birth nameMichael Lynn Durham
Born(1966-07-10)July 10, 1966
Sulphur, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedFebruary 16, 2006(2006-02-16) (aged 39)[1]
Peachtree City, Georgia, U.S.[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Johnny Grunge[2][3]
Johnny Rotten[2][3]
Billed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[3][4]
Billed weight263 lb (119 kg)[4]
Billed fromCompton, California[2]
Debut1987

Michael Lynn Durham (July 10, 1966 – February 16, 2006) was an American

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1987–1993)

Grunge made his professional wrestling debut in 1987. In 1993 in

Woodbridge, New Jersey, Grunge formed a tag team in the UWF with Rocco Rock known as The Public Enemy. This was not the first time they had met though as The Public Enemy faced one another in Austria c. 1991, with Grunge (using the name "Johnny Rotten") losing to Rock (using the name "Cheetah Kid" and was masked).[5]

Eastern/Extreme Championship Wrestling (1993–1996)

chair shot

In 1993, The Public Enemy joined

gimmick that was later adopted by the Dudley Boyz.[9] The Public Enemy's wrestling style was referenced in Weezer's song "El Scorcho"; the line "watchin' Grunge legdrop New Jack through a press table" was derived from a caption for a photograph of Grunge fighting wrestler New Jack that was published in Pro Wrestling Illustrated.[10]

World Championship Wrestling (1996–1998)

In 1996, The Public Enemy joined the

The American Males.[11] On September 23, 1996 in Birmingham, Alabama, The Public Enemy defeated Harlem Heat to win the WCW World Tag Team Championship, but Harlem Heat regained the titles on October 1, 1996 in Canton, Ohio.[12]

World Wrestling Federation and return to WCW (1999)

The Public Enemy left WCW in 1999, and briefly wrestled for ECW before joining the

The Smoking Gunns.[13] On July 18 at Bash at the Beach 1999, The Public Enemy returned to WCW and took part in the "Junkyard Invitational".[14]

The Public Enemy performing a double team maneuver with a table

Independent circuit (1999–2006)

They then returned to the

Big Japan Wrestling, helped book him for BJW's upcoming spring tour.[citation needed
]

Personal life

Grunge was a neighbor of Chris Benoit and helped Benoit cope with Eddie Guerrero's death in November 2005.[16]

Grunge died on February 16, 2006, in his residence in Peachtree City, Georgia, as a result of sleep apnea complications, which was most likely caused by a coronary artery blockage due to obesity.[1] He was 39 years old. Other reports say he was visiting a friend at the time of his death where he was unable to breathe.[17] He was morbidly obese and had ingested a huge quantity of Soma pills that were prescribed by doctor Phil Astin.[18]

Championships and accomplishments

ECW Arena
  • UWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Rocco Rock[19]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Brady, Hicks. "2006: The year in wrestling". PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts. Kappa Publications. p. 18. 2007 Edition.
  2. ^ a b c d "The Public Enemy". WWE.com. WWE. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  3. ^ .
  4. ^ a b "Johnny Grunge profile". OWOW. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
  5. .
  6. ^ Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Wrestling Observer Newsletter. July 2004.
  7. ^ "ECW World Tag Team Title". www.wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  8. ^ Public Enemy and the ECW fans make the ring collapse: Extreme Warfare Vol. 1, retrieved 2021-07-02
  9. .
  10. ^ "Is This the ECW Match Weezer References in El Scorcho?". The Big Lead. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  11. ^ "Public Enemy - OWW". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  12. ^ "WCW World Tag Team Title". www.wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  13. ^ "ECW star Johnny Grunge dies". Slam Wrestling. 2006-02-16. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  14. ^ "411MANIA". Random Network Reviews: Bash at the Beach 1999. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  15. ^ Crenshaw, Holly. "**SECOND FUNERAL FOR JOHNNY GRUNGE | WrestlingFigs". Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  16. ^ "Fish: Chris Benoit's doctor prescribed for other wrestlers". ESPN.com. 2007-09-13. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
  17. ^ O'Connor, Ryan (December 8, 2015). "Johnny Grunge - Dead at 39". Wrestler Deaths. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  18. .
  19. .

External links