Joseph Janela was born and raised inHazlet, New Jersey. Janela grew up a fan ofdeathmatches and the extreme wrestling style that was popularized byExtreme Championship Wrestling (ECW),Combat Zone Wrestling, and the multiple other promotions that sprung up once ECW closed. According to anESPN interview, a young Janela became enthralled with the "high-risk, high-reward style of matches" presented inhardcore wrestling.[3] Starting at age 15, Janela began lying to professional wrestling promoters in order to start wrestling, telling them that he was of legal wrestling age and fully formally trained, which he would later admit in interviews that he was not.[3]
Janela made his professional wrestling debut at a 2006 National Wrestling Superstars (NWS) show where he lost in aTriple Threat match against JD Smooth and Corey Havoc.[4] He would continue to work primarily for NWS until 2012 when he started to expand into other promotions. On March 17, 2012,World Xtreme Wrestling, a promotion ran by theWild Samoans, booked him in a match against Brandon Scott, which Janela lost.[5] Also in 2012, Janela started portraying the masked Starman character for Pro Wrestling Syndicate.
In September 2018, Janela suffered an injury during a match againstPsicosis at aGame Changer Wrestling (GCW) event. Janela stated that MRI results showed that he suffered a complete or near complete PCL tear, a complete tear of the MCL distally, and a ACL sprain, among numerous other injuries.[10] While recovering from his injuries, in December, Janela joined the commentary team for Mike Busey’s Sausage Castle Wrestling alongsideNFL playerA. J. Francis.
On March 4, 2019, Janela released a video announcing that he would be returning from his injuries atSpring Break 3.[11]Spring Break is an annual event held by Janela, in conjunction with GCW, duringWrestleMania weekend. Janela was defeated in his return match byMarko Stunt. Even prior to Spring Break 3 being held, Janela confirmed thatSpring Break 4 would occur duringWrestleMania 36 weekend in 2020.[12] On May 17, 2019, Janela revealed that Spring Break 4 would be held outdoors, with a max capacity of 4,500 spectators. However, due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, the event was delayed. By the time it was held in October 2020, the event was moved indoors with much more limited seating.[13]
On June 10, 2023, Janela produced the Joey Janela's European Vacations event for the Belgian promotion BodyZoï Wrestling.[14] In the main event, he defeated Aigle Blanc to win the BodyZoï Championship.[15] Janela successfully defended the title against MBM on October 29 at BZW 9 in an Extreme match. Janela lost the title to Senza Volto on February 3 2024 at BZW X.
Janela made hisCombat Zone Wrestling (CZW) debut as a participant in the 2014 Dojo Wars Tournament of Valor. He was defeated in the first round by Dave McCall. He would continue to wrestle on the promotion's Dojo Wars events, which were hosted at theCZW/WSU Dojo training academy and featured CZW's trainees. At Sixteen: An Ultraviolent Anniversary, Janela defeated CZW main roster wrestler Sozio to qualify for theBest of the Best 14 tournament. At Best of the Best 14, he participated in a first roundTriple Threat match withCJP andJoe Gacy, which CJP won. At Proving Grounds 2015, he wrestled in another Triple Threat match, this time facingPepper Parks andCaleb Konley. Parks won the match. At New Heights 2015, Janela faced Pepper Parks andRich Swann in a Triple Threat match, with Parks scoring another victory over Janela. At Down with the Sickness 2015, Janela defeated Caleb Konley,Lio Rush, andTrevor Lee in afour-way match.[16]
At Tangled Web 8, Janela defeatedTim Donst to win theCZW Wired TV Championship. As CZW Wired TV Champion, Janela successfully defended the title against Joe Gacy and Lio Rush. AtCage of Death XVII, Rush defeated Janela in a rematch to win the title.[17] At Down with the Sickness 2016, Janela defeated Rush in aladder match to regain the title.[18] At Eighteen, he defeated Stockade to retain the Wired TV Championship,[19] later successfully defending the title againstMaxwell Jacob Friedman at The Wolf of Wrestling.[20] AtCage of Death 19, Janela lost the championship to Friedman.[21] AtBest of the Best 17, Janela lost in the first round to Joe Gacy in a four-way match that also involved Brandon Kirk and Rich Swann. This would be Janela's last CZW match as he announced later in 2018 that he had quit the promotion.[22]
In January 2019, it was revealed that Janela would be one of the first signees toAll Elite Wrestling (AEW), a new wrestling promotion started by sports executiveTony Khan and wrestlersCody andThe Young Bucks.[27][28][29] It was later revealed that Janela had signed a three-year deal with the promotion.[30] His deal allowed him to still workindependent wrestling dates.[31]
He would then start a feud withShawn Spears, after Janela had disrespected Spears' managerTully Blanchard.[38] AtFull Gear on November 9, Janela faced Spears in a losing effort.[39] On the December 4 episode ofDynamite, Janela faced Jon Moxley in a rematch from Fyter Fest, which he also lost.[40] AtDouble or Nothing on May 23, 2020, Janela competed in theCasino Ladder Match, which was won by the debutingBrian Cage.[41] Janela’s AEW contract expired on May 1, 2022.
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