Marc Mero

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Marc Mero
Mero in 2013
Born (1960-07-09) July 9, 1960 (age 63)
Buffalo, New York, U.S.[1]
Spouse(s)
(m. 1994; div. 2004)
Darlene Spezzi
(m. 2009; div. 2019)
Children1
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Johnny B. Badd[2]
"Wildman" Marc Mero[2]
"Marvelous" Marc Mero[2]
Billed height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)[3]
Billed weight235 lb (107 kg)[3]
Billed fromSyracuse, New York (as Marc Mero in WCW)
Macon, Georgia (as Johnny B. Badd in WCW)
Buffalo, New York/Jungles (as "Wildman"/"Marvelous" Marc Mero in WWF)
Trained byBoxing:
Ray Rinaldi[2]
Wrestling:
Boris Malenko[2]
Dean Malenko[2]
Joe Malenko[2]
Debut1990[2]
Retired2006[4]
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2008–present
Genres
  • Motivational speaker
  • Mental health
Subscribers140 thousand[5]
Total views45.1 million[5]

Last updated: May 3, 2023

Marc Mero (born July 9, 1960)

NWA Total Nonstop Action (NWA TNA) under the ring name Johnny B. Badd. Today, Marc Mero contributes much of his time to the nonprofit organization he founded in 2007, Champion of Choices.[7]

Mero was heavily pushed as a mid-carder as "Johnny B. Badd" in WCW during the early 1990s. He won the

WWF Intercontinental Championship. He would then feud with his wife Sable
before departing in 1999. Mero's last mainstream appearance was in NWA TNA, where he wrestled sporadically in the mid-2000s.

Early life

Mero was born into a

Most Valuable Player. In 1973, Mero's family relocated to Liverpool, New York, where Mero played for the Mid State Youth Hockey League. At age 15, Mero began playing for the Syracuse Stars Junior Hockey Team.[1][2]

Mero began playing football in his senior year at Liverpool High School, with his team winning the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Title under the tutelage of future University of Central Florida coach George O'Leary.[9] In the same year, Mero began training as a boxer under Golden Gloves coach Ray Rinaldi. Mero went on to win four New York State titles, including the New York Golden Gloves tournament. Mero intended to become a professional boxer, but his career was sidelined after his nose was broken in an accident. He briefly pursued a bodybuilding career, placing third in the Mr. New York State bodybuilding contest.

In his 20s Mero became a Christian.[8]

Professional wrestling career

Training (1990–1991)

In 1990, Mero decided to become a wrestler, traveling to

Professional Wrestling promotion.[1]

World Championship Wrestling (1991-1996)

Early years (1991–1993)

Several months after his FSCPW debut, Mero attended a

squash match. Mero appeared with WCW as an enhancement talent for several months. Mero competed in his first match on the May 1, 1991 episode of WorldWide, where he was defeated by Sid Vicious. He was eventually signed to a contract by booker Dusty Rhodes.[2] Rhodes repackaged Mero with the ring name Johnny B. Badd (as a nod to the Chuck Berry song "Johnny B. Goode") and he was given the character of a flamboyant Little Richard look-alike.[10][11] He was initially a villain and managed by Teddy Long.[12] He debuted at the inaugural SuperBrawl pay-per-view, on May 19, 1991, where he was introduced as Long's newest client. He made his televised in-ring debut on the June 1 episode of World Championship Wrestling against enhancement talent Kip Abee.[13] Badd made his pay-per-view debut at The Great American Bash, where he lost to The Yellow Dog by disqualification after Long tried to remove Yellow Dog's mask.[14]

Badd was heavily

On the December 22 episode of

Clash of the Champions XXI, which Flamingo won in the third round after Page filled Flamingo's boxing glove with water.[23][24]

Mero got involved in a

Clash of the Champions XXIV, to claim Payne's guitar.[31] The two ended their feud on the October 30 episode of Saturday Night, where both men shook hands and buried the hatchet after a confrontation with Paul Orndorff.[27]

Badd unsuccessfully challenged

Clash of the Champions XXV.[32] He was randomly paired with Brian Knobbs in a Lethal Lottery at the Battlebowl pay-per-view, where Badd's team won to qualify for the Battlebowl battle royal. He eliminated Rip Rogers before being eliminated by Paul Orndorff.[27][33]

World Television Champion (1994–1996)

Badd received his first

Clash of the Champions XXVII, where Austin initially retained the title by pinning Badd after hitting him with a foreign object, but the referee reversed the decision, during which Badd pinned Austin. However, due to the controversial finish, Austin retained the title.[34][37]

Badd substituted for the injured

Clash of the Champions XXX,[44] February 18 episode of Saturday Night and February 19 episode of Main Event.[43][45] Badd defeated Anderson in a boxer-versus-wrestler match at Uncensored to end the rivalry.[46]

Badd competed in the mid-card throughout 1995, until he defeated Brian Pillman to become the #1 contender for the United States Heavyweight Championship at

Fall Brawl.[47] Badd received his title shot on the September 30 episode of Saturday Night against Sting, but failed to appear as he had been attacked by the Television Champion Diamond Dallas Page.[43] Badd faced and defeated Page to win his second World Television Championship at Halloween Havoc.[48] Badd defended the title against Page at the inaugural World War 3 pay-per-view, with the stipulation that if Badd won, he would gain Page's Diamond Doll as his valet. Badd defeated Page to retain the title and won the services of Kimberly, but he freed her.[43][49] She continued to be in Badd's corner and the rivalry with Page continued. Badd defeated Page to retain the title at SuperBrawl VI in 1996.[50] Badd lost the World Television Championship to Lex Luger during a house show on February 17, but defeated Luger to regain the title on February 18. He lost the title to Luger again on the March 9 episode of Saturday Night, after Page delivered a Diamond Cutter to Badd on the floor.[51] This was Badd's final appearance in WCW. He left the company because he strongly objected to the ongoing angle with Kimberly Page.[52]

World Wrestling Federation (1996-1999)

Intercontinental Champion (1996–1997)

Mero in the ring in 1996

After leaving WCW, he immediately signed a contract with the

Goldust after Goldust won a match between the pair on the July 1 episode of Raw.[54] Mero faced Goldust in a losing effort at the SummerSlam pay-per-view.[57]

On the September 6 episode of Raw, Mero participated in a

tournament for the Intercontinental Championship, which was vacated by Ahmed Johnson due to injury. Mero defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin, Owen Hart and Faarooq to win the title on September 23 episode of Raw.[54] Mero successfully defended the title against Goldust, with the assistance of Mr. Perfect at In Your House 10.[54][58] He dropped the title to rival Hunter Hearst Helmsley, the following night on Raw after Perfect goaded Mero into defending the title against Helmsley and hit him with a steel chair.[54][59] Mero led a team of Jake Roberts, The Stalker and newcomer Rocky Maivia against Helmsley, Crush, Goldust and Jerry Lawler in a four-on-four elimination tag team match at Survivor Series. Mero was eliminated by Crush but his team won the match.[60] Mero faced Helmsley for the Intercontinental Championship at In Your House 12, where Mero won by count-out.[61]

Mero participated in the 1997 Royal Rumble match as the #16 entrant. He was eliminated by the eventual winner Stone Cold Steve Austin.[62] On the February 3 episode of Raw, Mero received his last opportunity for the Intercontinental Championship against Hunter Hearst Helmsley, where he failed to win the title.[63] Later that month, he tore his anterior cruciate ligament, and spent six months rehabilitating.[64]

Feud with Sable and departure (1997–1999)

Mero returned to WWF television on the October 6 episode of

Miguel Pérez, Jr.[65] Mero began a slow turn as a villain after becoming jealous of the fan following Sable had acquired in his absence and wanting her out of the WWF.[63] During this time, he faced boxer Butterbean in a toughman contest at D-Generation X: In Your House, which he lost by disqualification.[66]

As 1998 began, Mero's obsession with Sable continued, which led to a temporary alliance with

Big Boss Man on the November 22 episode of Sunday Night Heat.[70][72]

Mero's last appearance on WWF television in the United States was on the November 30 episode of Raw is War, where he faced

Christian in a losing effort.[74] In 1999, both Mero and Sable left the WWF. At the time, Mero had three years remaining on his contract, with a guaranteed salary of $350,000.[9] Mero subsequently did not wrestle for 18 months due to various nagging injuries and a shoulder surgery.[20][75]

Return to WCW (2000)

On April 26, 2000, Mero returned to World Championship Wrestling, appearing with his trainer, Ray Rinaldi, in the audience on an episode of WCW Thunder and confronting Tank Abbott. Mero opted not to return to WCW on a full-time basis due to his physical condition at the time.[75]

X Wrestling Federation (2001–2002)

In 2001, Mero returned to wrestling in the short-lived

X Wrestling Federation (XWF) along with Rena Mero.[76]
They remained with the company until its closure in 2002.

NWA Total Nonstop Action (2004–2005)

In 2004, Mero began wrestling for

Vito Thomaselli.[78] He appeared with the company sporadically throughout late 2004 and early 2005.[20] He competed at the company's first monthly pay-per-view Victory Road, where he participated in an eight-man tag team match, which his team won.[79] Badd's most notable moment during his TNA career took place on the November 19 episode of Impact!, when he defeated Raven, with the help of Diamond Dallas Page.[80] Badd then appeared at the Turning Point pay-per-view in December, where he teamed with Pat Kenney against Glen Gilberti and Johnny Swinger in a tag team match, which Mero's team won.[81] His last televised match in TNA was a six-man tag team match on the December 31 episode of Impact!, where his team was victorious.[82] He made his last appearance in TNA at the pre-show of the Final Resolution pay-per-view on January 16, 2005, where he was paired with Sonny Siaki in a tag team match against The Naturals, which Naturals won.[83]

Retirement (2006)

Mero retired from in-ring competition in 2006, opening and operating the Marc Mero Body Slam Training Institute in Altamonte Springs, Florida.[84][85]

Personal life

In 1994, Mero married Rena "Sable" Greek, adopting her daughter from a previous marriage.[2][65] The couple separated in mid-2003 and divorced amicably in 2004.[2][86] Marc married for the second time in 2009, to Darlene Spezzi; the couple divorced in 2019.[citation needed] Mero is a Christian.[87]

In July 2007, Mero stated that he required a

transplant.[88] Mero had announced that he was prepared to undergo heart surgery in November 2014,[87] however tests revealed that his enlarged heart had shrunk. Mero claims that doctors believe he will still need surgery someday.[89]

During a Mother's Day Presentation, Mero states that he has overdosed three times and nearly died.[90]

Marc Mero's book, How To Be the Happiest Person on the Planet, was released on December 6, 2010.

Steroid usage in wrestling

In June and July 2007, Mero commented on the

World Wrestling Entertainment.[91] In an interview with WFTV, Mero admitted to using both anabolic steroids and recreational drugs over a period of seven years and claimed that steroids had contributed to the early deaths of many wrestlers.[9][92] In interviews, Mero produced a list of 25 (later expanded to 31) wrestlers with whom he had wrestled and who had since died, calling for greater regulation of the wrestling industry.[9][93]

Mero's comments attracted criticism from WWE employees such as

drug abuse and bullying; he also promotes a similar-interests website with which he is affiliated.[97] As of April 2, 2009, he has had many appearances in schools and community colleges across The United States.[98]

Brawl For All record

Professional record breakdown
2 matches 0 wins 2 losses
By knockout 0 0
By submission 0 0
By decision 0 2
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 0–2 Bradshaw Decision WWF Raw is War #272 August 10, 1998 3 1:00 Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. WWF Brawl for All second round.
Loss 0–1 Steve Blackman Decision WWF Raw is War #266 June 28, 1998 3 1:00
Cleveland, Ohio
, U.S.
WWF Brawl for All first round. Blackman withdrew after the first round due to injuries, and Mero advanced as his replacement.

Championships and accomplishments

and is seen here with replicas of both belts

Amateur boxing

Professional wrestling

References

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Further reading

External links