.jpg) Rocco Rock in March 2002 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Theodore James Petty September 1, 1953 |
| Died | September 21, 2002(2002-09-21) (aged 49)[2] |
| Alma mater | Rutgers University |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Antonino Rocca Jr. Cheetah Kid[1] Colonel DeKlerk The Executioner Flyboy Rocco The Leopard Mask[1] Mario Savoldi Rocco Rock The Rock |
| Billed height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)[1] |
| Billed weight | 250 lb (113 kg)[1] |
| Billed from | Compton, California South Africa (as Colonel DeKlerk) |
| Trained by | Afa Anoa'i |
| Debut | 1978 |
Theodore James Petty (September 1, 1953 – September 21, 2002) was an Americanprofessional wrestler, better known by thering name"Flyboy" Rocco Rock. Rock is best known for his appearances inEastern Championship Wrestling /Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW),World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and theWorld Wrestling Federation (WWF) alongsideJohnny Grunge asthe Public Enemy during the 1990s. He was afour-timeECW World Tag Team Champion, aone-timeWCW World Tag Team Champion, and aone-timeNWA World Tag Team Champion.
Petty was born on September 1, 1953. Raised inMiddlesex, New Jersey, he attendedMiddlesex High School, where he competed in baseball, football and wrestling.[3] He graduated fromRutgers University with a degree innutrition.[2] while attending Rutgers, he took part incollegiate wrestling.[4] He went on to have a brief boxing career.
Following his boxing career, Petty trained as a professional wrestler underAfa Anoa'i. He debuted in 1978, working on theindependent circuit in thenortheastern United States as themasked "Cheetah Kid".[4]
Petty worked in theAmerican Wrestling Association from 1985 to 1988.
In March 1990, Petty toured Japan withNew Japan Pro-Wrestling as part of its "Big Fight Series". During the tour, he teamed withPegasus Kid and faced opponents such asJushin Thunder Liger,Takashi Iizuka, andKengo Kimura.[5][6] Upon returning to the United States, he wrestled for the Philadelphia-basedTri-State Wrestling Alliance, winning its Brass Knuckles Championship. In June 1990, he began appearing withWorld Championship Wrestling (WCW), initially as "Cheetah Kid", then as "Mario Savoldi", then finally as the faux-South African "Colonel DeKlerk". As "Colonel DeKlerk", Petty teamed with Sergeant Krueger to defeat the Beast and Kaluha atClash of the Champions XIII in November 1990, then teamed with Krueger in a loss to theSteiner Brothers atStarrcade '90: Collision Course in December 1990.[5]
In March 1991, Petty appeared with theUniversal Wrestling Federation, taking part in a taping for theFury Hour television show.[7]
In June 1992, Petty toured Japan withW*ING, competing in a tournament for theW*ING World Junior Heavyweight Championship. After both he andJimmy Backlund finished the tournament with three points, they faced one another in a deciding match that was won by Backlund.[8]
In January 1993, Petty wrestled two matches for theWorld Wrestling Federation as "Cheetah Kid"; the second of them was adark match at the first everMonday Night Raw taping. Later that month, he wrestled two matches forWorld Championship Wrestling as "the Executioner", including a bout against2 Cold Scorpio that aired onWCW WorldWide. In April and June 1993, Petty toured Austria and Germany with the World Wrestlings Superstars promotion.[9]
In September 1993, Petty (as "Rocco Rock") andJohnny Grunge began wrestling regularly for thePhiladelphia, Pennsylvania-based promotionEastern Championship Wrestling (ECW) asthe Public Enemy. They made their debut atUltraClash, defeatingIan Rotten andJason Knight. AtNWA Bloodfest the following month, they defeated theBad Breed andBadd Company in atrianglecage match. Over the following months, theyfeuded with Badd Company, defeating them in a "South Philly Hood" match atNovember to Remember. AtHoliday Hell: the Body Count in December 1993,Pat Tanaka (one-half of Badd Company) defeated Rock in a "Body Count" match, marking the end of the feud.[9] AtThe Night the Line Was Crossed in February 1994, the Public Enemy defeated theBruise Brothers in a"no rules" match. On March 6, 1994, they defeatedKevin Sullivan and theTazmaniac to win theECW Tag Team Championship.[10]
AtUltimate Jeopardy in March 1994, the Public Enemy teamed withShane Douglas andMr. Hughes to face Sullivan, the Tazmaniac,Road Warrior Hawk, andECW Heavyweight ChampionTerry Funk in an "Ultimate Jeopardy steel cage match". Each participant had a stipulation which would be implemented if they were defeated; if the Public Enemy were defeated, they would be forced to stop teaming together. Douglas won the bout for his team by pinning Funk.[11][12][13] AtWhen Worlds Collide in May 1994, the Public Enemy again teamed with Douglas and Hughes, losing toJ. T. Smith and the Bruise Brothers in ahandicapelimination match.[10] At the same event, the Public Enemy attacked Terry Funk after being paid byPaul E. Dangerously (themanager of Funk's rivalSabu), causing Funk to declare he would get revenge on the Public Enemy.[12][14][15] AtHostile City Showdown in June 1994, the Public Enemy wrestled Terry Funk and his brotherDory Funk Jr. to a no contest. AtHeatwave '94: the Battle for the Future in July 1994, the Public Enemy defeated the Funk brothers in abarbed wire match. AtHardcore Heaven in August 1994, the Public Enemy successfully defended their titles againstthe Bad Breed.[10] Later that evening, the Public Enemy interfered in the main event bout between Terry Funk andCactus Jack. As the four men brawled, Funk called for a fan to toss him asteel chair. This resulted in multiple fans hurtling chairs into the ring, with Rock and Grunge being buried under a large pile of steel chairs.[16][17]
The Public Enemy's first reign as ECW Tag Team Champions ended the following month at theNWA World Title Tournament event, where Cactus Jack andMikey Whipwreck (substituting for Terry Funk, who had temporarily departed the promotion) defeated them in anupset.[10][17] Around this time, Eastern Championship Wrestling was rebranded "Extreme Championship Wrestling".[10] In August 1994, Rock (as "the Cheetah Kid") wrestled two matches for the World Wrestlings Superstars promotion inVienna, Austria. Back in ECW, the Public Enemy continued their feud with Cactus Jack and Whipwreck, culminating in aBrawl Game match atNovember to Remember where they regained the titles (now known as the ECW World Tag Team Championship). For the remainder of the year, they successfully defended the titles against challengers including Cactus Jack and Whipwreck; the Bad Breed; and2 Cold Scorpio andRon Simmons.[10][17]
The Public Enemy's second reign as ECW World Tag Team Champions ran until February 1995, where they lost to Sabu and the Tazmaniac atDouble Tables. In March 1995, they made a short tour of Japan withWrestling International New Generations, where they primarily facedthe Pitbulls is a series ofgimmick matches. In April 1995 atThree Way Dance, the Public Enemy won the ECW World Tag Team Championship for a third time, defeatingChris Benoit andDean Malenko andRick Steiner (substituting for Sabu) and the Tazmaniac in athree way dance. Immediately following their victory, the Public Enemy were attacked by the Pitbulls, beginning a feud between the two teams. AtHostile City Showdown later that month, the Public Enemy defeated the Pitbulls to retain their titles. Over the following months, the Public Enemy defended their titles against the Pitbulls in a series of matches, includingdog collar matches andbaseball bat matches. Their reign finally ended in July 1995 atMountain Top Madness when they lost toRaven andStevie Richards following interference fromthe Gangstas (Mustafa andNew Jack).[18][19][20]
The Public Enemy subsequently began feuding with the Gangstas, losing to them in a cage match atHeat Wave in July 1995 and in astretcher match atWrestlepalooza. AtGangstas Paradise in September 1995, the Public Enemy teamed with Mikey Whipwreck to defeat 2 Cold Scorpio (substituting for Mustafa), New Jack, andthe Sandman. In October 1995 atSouth Philly Jam, the Public Enemy defeated Raven and Stevie Richards and the Gangstas in a three way dance to win their fourth and final ECW World Tag Team Championship. Their reign ended later that month when 2 Cold Scorpio defeated Rock in a bout where Scorpio'sECW World Television Championship and the Public Enemy's ECW World Tag Team Championship were both on the line. In November 1995 atNovember to Remember, the Public Enemy unsuccessfully challenged 2 Cold Scorpio and the Sandman for the ECW World Tag Team Championship. The following day, the Public Enemy wrestled a dark match for theWorld Wrestling Federation at itsSurvivor Seriespay-per-view, unsuccessfully challengingThe Smoking Gunns for theWWF World Tag Team Championship.[18]
AtDecember to Dismember in December 1995, the Public Enemy teamed with the Pitbulls andTommy Dreamer to defeat Raven, Stevie Richards,the Eliminators, and theHeavenly Bodies in anUltimate Jeopardy steel cage match (with a stipulation that if the Public Enemy were defeated they would need to wrestle one another).[18][21] AtHoliday Hell later that month, the Public Enemy lost to the Gangstas.[18] In January 1996 atHouse Party, the Public Enemy made their final appearance with ECW before leaving to join World Championship Wrestling, defeating the Gangstas in the main event.[22]Pro Wrestling Illustrated ranked Rock #90 in the 1995PWI 500 (an index of the world's top 500 wrestlers) - his highest ever placing.[23]
By late-1995, both WCW and the WWF were courting the Public Enemy. At the outset of 1996, the Public Enemy signed with WCW.[24] They debuted on the January 15, 1996 episode ofWCW Monday Nitro, defeating theAmerican Males. Soon after arriving, they began a long-running feud withthe Nasty Boys. AtClash of the Champions XXXII, the two teams wrestled one another to a double disqualification. AtSuperBrawl VI in February 1996, the Nasty Boys defeated the Public Enemy in afalls count anywhere match. AtBash at the Beach in July 1996, the Nasty Boys defeated the Public Enemy in adog collar match.[22]
On the September 23, 1996 episode ofWCW Monday Nitro, the Public Enemy defeated Harlem Heat to win theWCW World Tag Team Championship. Their reign lasted until the October 1, 1996 episode ofWCW Saturday Night, where Harlem Heat regained the titles. The Public Enemy continued to compete in WCW's tag team division for the remainder of the year. In December 1996, they took part in WCW's "Christmas Brawl" tour of Germany.[22]
In early 1997, the Public Enemy had a series of matches against theFaces of Fear andHarlem Heat, culminating in atriangle match atSuperBrawl VII that was won by the Public Enemy. AtUncensored in March 1997, Harlem Heat defeated the Public Enemy. AtSpring Stampede in April 1997, the Public Enemy defeatedJeff Jarrett andSteve McMichael. AtSlamboree in May 1997, the Public Enemy defeated Harlem Heat in adark match. For the remainder of the year, the Public Enemy faced teams such as Harlem Heat; the Faces of Fear; theSteiner Brothers;High Voltage. AtWorld War 3 in November 1997, Rock competed in the titularthree ring battle royal which was won byScott Hall.[25]
Throughout 1998, the Public Enemy continued to wrestle onWCW WorldWide,WCW Pro,WCW Saturday Night, andWCW Monday Nitro, facing tams such asthe Outsiders; the Armstrongs (Scott Armstrong andSteve Armstrong); Disorderly Conduct (Mean Mike and Tough Tom); High Voltage; andthe Barbarian andHugh Morrus. In July 1998, they began a short feud with theDancing Fools that culminated in astreet fight atRoad Wild in August 1998 that was won by the Public Enemy.[26]
The Public Enemy left WCW in September 1998. They spent the next few months wrestling for theOhio-based Championship Wrestling promotion, facingthe Bushwhackers in a series of matches.[26]
At ECW'sHouse Party 1999 on January 16, The Public Enemy made a long-awaited and much-hyped return to the ECW Arena, in order to answer the challenge of theDudley Boyz. At the time, they were still under contract to WCW, but they successfully brawled (with assistance from New Jack) with the Dudleys. Following the showdown, Johnny Grunge grabbed the microphone and claimed that the past three years had been a "rollercoaster ride" for the team, and that "if you opened up our chest and looked at our hearts, there's only one thing stamped on it, and that's ECW!" Grunge further thanked the Dudleys for house-sitting "the house that the Public Enemy built" while they were gone, and then invited everyone in attendance to join them in the ring for a post-show celebration.[27]
Their next scheduled appearance was atCrossing the Line '99 on February 12 in Queens, New York against the Dudleys, which they cancelled due to negotiating with the WWF. The team was buried on the February 20 edition of ECWHardcore TV as being cowards who ran from a fight. Footage of the Dudleys hitting big moves on the team at an event in Detroit was shown, with a headline stating "Breaking News: The Dudleys Destroy Public Enemy." Two days later, the team would make their WWF debut.
The Public Enemy signed with theWorld Wrestling Federation[2] in early 1999. They were not accepted "backstage" by veteran WWF wrestlers and backstage personnel due to animosity over the fact that the Public Enemy chose WCW over the WWF when the two companies were pursuing the tag team in late 1995.[24] Rocco Rock was also forced to change his name and go by the shortened name "Flyboy Rocco", in order not to "cause confusion" withThe Rock. They made their WWF debut on the February 22, 1999, episode ofRaw is War, defeatingThe Brood by disqualification.
On the March 2, 1999, episode ofSunday Night Heat inPittsburgh, the Public Enemy lost to theAcolytes in asquash match. In 2013,John "Bradshaw" Layfield elaborated that much of the animosity was due to them being brought into the company byTerry Taylor, who had his own backstage issues with much of the wrestlers, including the Acolytes. They had also desired to change the planned finish of the squash match, which involved them being driven through tables by the Acolytes. The Acolytes were instructed only to ensure that they go through with the planned finish of the match, leading to the match to be turned into a legitimateshoot, with The Acolytes dominating Public Enemy for the entirety of the four-minute match.[28][29] Following the Public Enemy's subsequent release, the APA claimed that they "ran The Public Enemy out" of the WWF. They said they could do the same to another famous ECW tag team (the Dudley Boyz); after the Dudley Boyz succeeded in the feud, it was commonly referred to as "Passing the Acolyte Test" since the Dudley Boyz did getover after a feud with the APA while The Public Enemy failed.
The Public Enemy wrestled their final match for the WWF on March 30, 1999, in a match taped forShotgun Saturday Night, losing to theHardy Boyz via disqualification.[30] The match was aired on television on April 10, 1999. Shortly after airing, both members of Public Enemy were released in mid-April 1999.
After leaving the WWF, the Public Enemy returned to WCW in July 1999 at theBash at the Beach pay-per-view, taking part in the "Junkyard Hardcore Invitational" that was won byFit Finlay. Over the following weeks, the Public Enemy wrestled in the tag team division, facing teams such as theInsane Clown Posse;Chris Benoit andPerry Saturn; andBarry Windham andCurt Hennig. On the August 5, 1999 episode ofWCW Thunder, Rock lost toGoldberg. They made their final appearance with WCW on the August 19, 1999 episode ofWCW Thunder, losing toSid Vicious in ahandicap match.[22]
After leaving WCW in late-1999, the Public Enemy began wrestling on theindependent circuit. In June 1999, they briefly held theNWA World Tag Team Championship. From December 1999 to May 2000, they appeared withXtreme Pro Wrestling. In July and August 2000, they wrestled inPerth andSydney for the Australiani-Generation Superstars of Wrestling promotion, briefly holding thei-Generation Tag Team Championship on two occasions.[31][32]
In November 2001, Rock and Grunge (as the "South Philly Posse") took part in television tapings for theX Wrestling Federation inOrlando, Florida.[33]
In May 2002, Rock and Grunge began appearing with the Philadelphia-basedPro-Pain Pro-Wrestling promotion.[34]
Petty died of aheart attack on September 21, 2002, while en route to aPro-Pain Pro Wrestling show where he was scheduled to wrestle againstGary Wolfe in a match for the promotion's heavyweight title.[2] His family maintained that Petty never used drugs but that his death was caused by a congenital heart defect that runs in his family.[35]
Every year, theIWA-Mid Southprofessional wrestling promotion memorializes him by holding theTed Petty Invitational tournament. Previous winners includeAJ Styles,Matt Sydal,Low Ki, andMike Quackenbush.
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