Check This Out...

2.16.2006

Another wrestling "O"-bit

Mike Durham better known to the wrestling world as "Johnny Grunge" of the tag team Public Enemy, was pronounced dead in Atlanta, GA on the morning of February 16th. For once, it appears a wrestler dying young was not caused by drug abuse.

Apparently Durham was gasping for air at a friend's house and rushed to the hospital where he died upon arrival. The likely cause of death is sleep apnea.

Durham's long time tag partner was Ted Petty, aka Rocco Rock. The two of them were innovators in ECW and helped launch it's Extreme identity. Petty died several years ago due to drug abuse.

I met an interviewed the Public Enemy once - in Buffalo NY in 1998. I really liked both of those guys. We chatted casually before and after the interview. So many guys would give their 5 minutes worth of cliches and move on. I actually found them to both be personable and really down to earth.

You'd be hard pressed to find anyone in the business with someone bad to say about either one. That in itself id an accomplishment. To work for the WWE(F), WCW and ECW and not generate any real lockeroom heat??? These guys MUST have been saints.

I guess now Johnny and Rocco will be doin the "Drive-By" on Brian Pillman or Gary Wolfe.


0 comments: on "Another wrestling "O"-bit"