| Johnny Grunge | |
|---|---|
 Johnny Grunge in March 2002 | |
| Birth name | Michael Lynn Durham |
| Born | (1965-07-10)July 10, 1965 Sulphur, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | February 16, 2006(2006-02-16) (aged 40) Peachtree City, Georgia, U.S.[1] |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Johnny Grunge[2][3] Johnny Rotten[2][3] |
| Billed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[3][4] |
| Billed weight | 263 lb (119 kg)[4] |
| Billed from | Compton, California[2] |
| Debut | 1987 |
Michael Lynn Durham (July 10, 1965 – February 16, 2006) was an Americanprofessional wrestler, better known by hisring name,Johnny Grunge. He is known for his appearances withEastern/Extreme Championship Wrestling,World Championship Wrestling and theWorld Wrestling Federation as one-half of thetag teamThe Public Enemy withRocco Rock. In the course of his career, Grunge heldchampionships such as theECW World Tag Team Championship andWCW World Tag Team Championship.[2]
Grunge made his professional wrestling debut in 1987. In 1993 inWoodbridge, New Jersey, Grunge formed atag team in the UWF withRocco Rock known asThe Public Enemy. This was not the first time they had met though as The Public Enemy faced one another in Austriac. 1991, with Grunge (using the name "Johnny Rotten") losing to Rock (using the name "Cheetah Kid" and was masked).[5]
In 1993, The Public Enemy joinedEastern Championship Wrestling, aPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania-basedpromotion soon to be renamed Extreme Championship Wrestling.[6] Between March 6, 1994 and October 28, 1995, The Public Enemy held theECW Tag Team Championship on four occasions.[7] While in ECW, they were involved in two infamous incidents - the first when the ECW audience hurled folding chairs into the ring until The Public Enemy (both "unconscious") were submerged, and the second when the ECW audience invaded thering to celebrate with The Public Enemy, with the ring collapsing as a result of the additional weight.[8] They were known for theirhardcore wrestling style and usage oftables, agimmick that was later adopted by theDudley Boyz.[9] The Public Enemy's wrestling style was referenced inWeezer's song "El Scorcho"; the line "watchin' Grunge legdrop New Jack through a press table" was derived from a caption for a photograph of Grunge fighting wrestlerNew Jack that was published inPro Wrestling Illustrated.[10]
In 1996, The Public Enemy joined theAtlanta, Georgia basedWorld Championship Wrestling promotion. They debuted on January 15, 1996, defeatingThe American Males.[11] On September 23, 1996 inBirmingham, Alabama, The Public Enemy defeatedHarlem Heat to win theWCW World Tag Team Championship, but Harlem Heat regained the titles on October 1, 1996 inCanton, Ohio.[12]
The Public Enemy left WCW in 1999, and briefly wrestled for ECW before joining theWorld Wrestling Federation. Both men made their debut on the February 22, 1999 episode ofRaw is War, but were released from the WWF two months later. They had previously performed in the company at Survivor Series 1995 facingThe Smoking Gunns.[13] On July 18 atBash at the Beach 1999, The Public Enemy returned to WCW and took part in the "Junkyard Invitational".[14]
They then returned to theindependent circuit, making appearances with theX Wrestling Federation as The South Philly Posse, where they weremanaged byJasmin St. Claire. In the early 2000s, Public Enemy performed for the short-livedi-Generation Superstars of Wrestling among other independent promotions. The team won various independent tag team titles. Following the death of Rocco Rock in 2002, Grunge teamed with hiskayfabe brother Joey Grunge as The New Public Enemy throughout August 2003.[1] He also made appearances withPro-Pain Pro Wrestling (3PW) until his last match in 2004. He participated in a memorial segment for deceased ECW wrestlers atHardcore Homecoming on June 10, 2005, and at the end of that year, Grunge was preparing for a comeback.[15] His cousin, Jason Ray, who wrestled forBig Japan Wrestling, helped book him for BJW's upcoming spring tour.[citation needed]
Grunge was a neighbor ofChris Benoit and helped Benoit cope withEddie Guerrero's death in November 2005.[16]
Grunge died on February 16, 2006, in his residence inPeachtree City, Georgia, as a result ofsleep apnea complications, which was most likely caused by a coronary artery blockage due to obesity.[1] He was 40 years old.[17] Other reports say he was visiting a friend at the time of his death where he was unable to breathe.[18] He was morbidly obese and had ingested a huge quantity of Soma pills that were prescribed by doctor Phil Astin.[19]
,Wrestlingdata.com,Internet Wrestling Database