Marc Mero is an American retired amateur boxer and professional wrestler, as well
as a motivational speaker. He is best known for his appearances with the World
Wrestling Federation under his real name and with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
and World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Johnny B. Badd. In 2007 he
founded the non-profit organization Champion of Choices.
Early life Mero was born in Buffalo, New York. His
parents divorced when he was eight years old, with his mother supporting him and
his two siblings by working two jobs. At the age of 12, Mero began playing
hockey, eventually becoming his league's 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. Mero began playing football in his
senior year, with his high school team winning the New York State Title under
the tutelage of future University of Central Florida coach George O'Leary. 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. Professional wrestling career
= Starting out and World Championship Wrestling=
In 1990, Mero decided to become a wrestler, traveling to Tampa, Florida to
train under the Malenkos. He debuted in 1991 in the Floridian Sun Coast
Professional Wrestling promotion. Several months later, Mero attended a
World Championship Wrestling television taping and was given a tryout, losing to
Doom in a squash match. Mero appeared with WCW as a jobber for several months
before being signed to a contract by booker Dusty Rhodes. Rhodes repackaged
Mero with the ring name Johnny B. Badd and the gimmick of a flamboyant Little
Richard look-alike. He was initially a heel and managed by Teddy Long. After
turning face, he was known for his "Badd Blaster", a confetti gun that he would
fire before his matches. Mero won the WCW World Television Championship on
three occasions. In 1996, Mero left WCW because he
strongly objected to an angle where he was associated with Diamond Dallas
Page's wife. = World Wrestling Federation=
After leaving WCW, he signed a contract with the World Wrestling Federation,
wrestling as "Wildman" Marc Mero. Mero was managed by his wife, Rena "Sable"
Mero, whom in storyline he "rescued" from Hunter Hearst Helmsley. On
September 23, 1996, Mero defeated Faarooq Asad in the finals of a
tournament for the vacant Intercontinental Championship. He held
the title until October 21, 1996, when he was defeated by Helmsley.
In February 1997, Mero tore his anterior cruciate ligament, and spent six months
rehabilitating. He returned in late 1997 with the new heel persona of "Marvelous"
Marc Mero, a boxer-turned-wrestler. The WWF storyline had Mero becoming jealous
of the fan following Sable had acquired in his absence and wanting her out of
the WWF. This led to a temporary alliance with Goldust and his valet,
Luna Vachon, in which the three humiliated Sable during matches, but it
turned into a short feud when Goldust became physical with Sable. The
storyline was resolved in a match between Mero and Sable at Over the Edge,
in which Mero feigned remorse, offering to lie down and allow her to pin him,
before defeating Sable with an inside cradle, which resulted in her leaving
the WWF for a short time. After he dropped Sable as his valet, Jacqueline
became his manager. In 1998, Mero competed in the WWF Brawl for All.
Jacqueline's interventions in matches soon ended up costing Mero several
victories and he ultimately fired her also.
Mero's last appearance on WWF television in the United States was on the November
30, 1998 episode of WWF Raw. He had a shot at the WWF Light Heavyweight
Championship, then held by Duane Gill, and promised to retire if he couldn't
beat Gill. Gill won the match with the help of The J.O.B. Squad. He wrestled
one final time at the UK WWF Capital Carnage PPV six days later, losing a tag
match, to Sable and Christian. 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. Mero subsequently did not wrestle for 18 months due to various
nagging injuries and a shoulder surgery. = Return to WCW=
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.
= X Wrestling Federation= In 2001, Mero returned to wrestling in
the short-lived X Wrestling Federation along with Rena Mero. They remained with
the company until its closure in 2002. = Total Nonstop Action Wrestling=
In November 2004, Mero began wrestling for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under
the Johnny B. Badd name. He appeared sporadically with the company throughout
late 2004 and early 2005. = Retirement=
Mero retired from in-ring competition in 2006, opening and operating the Marc
Mero Body Slam Training Institute in Altamonte Springs, Florida.
In January 2008, WWE and Jakks Pacific announced that Mero would be featured in
their "Classic Superstars" line of action figures. This figure was
eventually cancelled for unknown reasons.
= Steroid usage in wrestling= In June and July 2007, Mero commented on
the Chris Benoit murder-suicide, appearing on numerous cable news
programs and criticizing both the wrestling industry and World Wrestling
Entertainment. 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. In
interviews with MSNBC and The Sun, Mero produced a list of 25 wrestlers with
whom he had wrestled and had since died, calling for greater regulation of the
wrestling industry. Mero's comments attracted criticism from
WWE employees such as Mr. Kennedy, who labelled him a "goof" and a "silly
bastard", and Dave "Fit" Finlay, who claimed Mero had "nothing to do with
this business". On July 15, 2007, Mero attended the memorials of Nancy and
Daniel Benoit in Daytona Beach, Florida. Following his comments, Mero began
making appearances at schools in Central Florida and lecturing on the dangers of
drug abuse and bullying; he also promotes a similar-interests website
with which he is affiliated. As of April 2, 2009, he has had many appearances in
schools and community colleges across Florida.
Personal life In 1992, Mero married Rena "Sable"
Greek, adopting her daughter from a previous marriage. The couple separated
in mid-2003 and divorced amicably in 2004. Marc married for the second time
on July 11, 2009 to Darlene Spezzi. Mero is a Christian.
In July 2007, Mero stated that he required a heart valve transplant. Mero
had announced that he was prepared to undergo heart surgery in November 2014,
however tests revealed that his enlarged heart had shrunk. Mero claims that
doctors believe he will still need surgery someday.
During a Mother's Day Presentation, Mero states that he has overdosed three
times. In wrestling
Finishing moves Merosault
TKO – Technical Knock Out – Innovated Wild Thing / Marvelocity /
Signature moves Boxing combination punches
Badd Day Badd Mood
Golota Kiss That Don't Miss / Tutti Frutti
Managers Theodore Long
Kimberly Sable
Jacqueline Nicknames
"The Wild Man" "Marvelous"
Championships and accomplishments = Amateur boxing=
New York State Titles Amateur Athletic Union
Empire State Games New York Golden Gloves
= Professional wrestling= Pro Wrestling Illustrated
PWI Rookie of the Year PWI ranked him # 43 of the top 500
singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1996 World Championship Wrestling
WCW World Television Championship World Wrestling Federation
WWF Intercontinental Championship WWF Intercontinental Title Tournament
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Most Improved Wrestler
Rookie of the Year References
Notes Mick Foley. Have a Nice Day: A Tale of
Blood and Sweatsocks. HarperCollins. p. 511. ISBN 0-06-103101-1.
External links Marc Mero on Twitter
MMBodyslam.com ChampionOfChoices.org
Marc Mero at the Internet Movie Database