Marty Jannetty
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| Marty Jannetty | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Ring name(s) | Marty Jannetty |
| Billed height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Billed weight | 230 lb (104 kg) |
| Born | February 3, 1960 Columbus, Georgia |
| Resides | Columbus, Georgia; Pompano Beach, Florida; Tallahassee, Florida |
| Trained by | Jerry Oates |
| Debut | April 5, 1984 |
Marty Jannetty (born Fredrick Marty Jannetty on February 3, 1960 in Columbus, Georgia) is an American professional wrestler. He is best known as one-half of the tag team The Rockers with Shawn Michaels in the mid 1980s and to early 1990s.
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[edit] Early career
Jannetty began his wrestling career in 1984 wrestling in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) Central States division. He wrestled in singles and tag team competition with various partners, including Tommy Rogers as the Uptown Boys, until joining forces with fellow rookie Shawn Michaels in late 1985. The two teamed as The Midnight Rockers and quickly won the Central States Tag Team Championship. In 1986, the duo left the NWA for the American Wrestling Association (AWA).
In the AWA, Jannetty and Michaels quickly built a reputation as a talented tag team, performing many amazing acrobatic moves in tandem, and electrifying crowds with their amazing athleticism. The two held the the AWA World Tag Team Championship twice before jumping to the World Wrestling Federation in 1988.
[edit] WWF
Now called simply the Rockers, Jannetty and Michaels were quite popular in the WWF, often called "tag team specialists" by commentator Gorilla Monsoon and lauded by both fans and wrestling critics. At the time, Jannetty was widely seen as the stronger of the team and more likely to branch out into singles success, as he was the more experienced and had already had some singles success, winning the NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship in 1985 before teaming with Michaels. Furthermore, Jannetty was the one who took the lead for the team, both in promos and in the ring.
Despite their popularity and skill, however, the Rockers never officially won the WWF Tag Team Championship during their three-year run. In October 1990: The Rockers were scheduled to win the title from The Hart Foundation. Jim Neidhart, half of the championship team, was in the process of negotiating his release from the company.
The match was taped with The Rockers fairly winning the belts, but soon after, Neidhart came to a stopgap agreement with management and was rehired. The belts were returned to the Harts, while the change was never broadcast or even acknowledged on TV. When news spread, WWF explained that the original result was void due to a collapsed turnbuckle in the ring during the bout. A buckle had indeed broken, but not to a noticeable or dangerous extent during the match.
[edit] Charles Austin controversy
In a Rockers tag team match at the USF Sun Dome in December 1990, Jannetty botched the finishing "Rocker Dropper" move on jobber Charles Austin, who had been teaming with Lanny Poffo. Austin's neck was instantly broken, as a result of his tucking his head during the move, rather than "pancaking" flat on the mat, and many wrestlers watching backstage thought he had died. Austin suffered paralysis and intense nerve damage, but by a few years later was able to slightly walk again with the aid of crutches, though still unable to control his bodily functions and still suffering from frequent, stinging pain.
Austin sued Jannetty, Michaels, and Titan Sports (WWF), but a judge dismissed Michaels from the suit soon thereafter. WWF claimed in its defense that wrestlers must assume risk as part of the profession, and that Austin had assured Jannetty he knew how to take the move, but Austin countered that he had only been trained six months ago, and with only a handful of matches under his belt would have only been able to assume a level of risk comparable with his limited experience. In the end, Charles Austin was awarded $26.7M. WWF (Titan Sports) was held 90% responsible, and its insurance covered $23.5 million of the settlement. Jannetty and Austin were each decided to be 5% responsible for the injury, which resulted in Jannetty having to personally pay $1.3M in damages.
Many have speculated over the years that this incident caused the drastic difference in the way Michaels's and Jannetty's careers developed after 1990, though neither WWE nor Jannetty are known to have publicly commented on the speculation.
[edit] Jannetty & Michaels breakup
In a 1991 storyline, Michaels walked out on Jannetty during a match at Survivor Series 1991, a result of frustration he felt from their lack of title success and his wish to break out on his own. Attempting to help settle their differences, Brutus Beefcake invited both on his interview segment "The Barbershop." Michaels and Jannetty appeared to reconcile, but then Michaels hit Jannetty with a superkick and soon threw him through the set's plate glass window. Working the "injury," Jannetty sat at home for several months.
Michaels, meanwhile, won the Intercontinental Championship and was well on his way to becoming a major singles star. Jannetty returned in early 1993, challenging Michaels to a match at the Royal Rumble. Jannetty lost due to a botched interference from Sensational Sherri, but the two continued their feud. Jannetty won the Intercontinental Championship from Michaels in May 1993 on Monday Night Raw, but lost it less than a month later due to interference from Diesel.
Jannetty then formed a de facto tag team with the 1-2-3 Kid, with the two being the winners and survivors of their match at Survivor Series 1993. Jannetty would win the WWF Tag Team Championship with the Kid in January 1994 from the Quebecers (Jacques Rougeau and Pierre Ouellette), but lost it back a week later when the Kid blew out his knee. He quit the WWF later that year, spending his time rehabbing injuries and working for independent promotions. In 1995, he also made several appearances in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW).
Later that year, just months after Michaels made a shocking face turn that got him over, Jannetty returned to WWF. He continued to wrestle as a face, despite bad blood between he and Michaels that had carried over in the storylines. In 1996, Jannetty made a heel turn by joining Leif Cassidy (a portmanteau of the names of teen idols Leif Garrett and David Cassidy), later known as Al Snow, forming "The New Rockers". The team was portrayed as a cheesy parody of the original team, and was considered brilliant by critics, but had little success. Jannetty interfered unsuccessfully in a singles match between Michaels and Cassidy, then challenged Michaels for the latter's WWF Title. Michaels emerged victorious, and Jannetty ran out his contract, leaving the WWF after the Survivor Series that year.
[edit] Post-WWF career
He resurfaced in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1998 to little fanfare and success before being released following an injury. Save a brief return to ECW in 2000, he continued working in independent promotions. Jannetty became a born-again Christian in 2004 thanks to Shawn Michaels sharing his faith, when Marty was on the verge of suicide.
[edit] Return to the WWE
On March 14, 2005, Jannetty appeared on WWE Raw for a one-time-only reunion with his former tag team partner Shawn Michaels against La Resistance (Sylvain Grenier and Rob Conway). Jannetty got the win with his old finisher, the "Rocker Dropper".
This was preparation for Jannetty's match with Kurt Angle on that week's SmackDown!, as Angle had challenged Jannetty prior to his WrestleMania 21 match with Shawn Michaels. Angle claimed that since Jannetty had taught Michaels "everything he knows" while part of the Rockers, he could teach Michaels "how to tap out" by forcing Jannetty to submit on SmackDown! On SmackDown!, Angle made good on his promise and forced Jannetty to submit to his ankle lock submission hold, but only after a nearly twenty minute match and an impressive showing for Jannetty which saw him nearly pin the Olympic champion. Clearly, the former Intercontinental Champion could still get it done in the ring. WWE soon signed him to a new contract, but released him soon after once Jannetty's personal problems prevented him from fulfilling his duties.
Jannetty had been arrested on June 11, 2005 for driving under the influence of alcohol, and on June 29, 2005 he was placed under a supervision order. Jannetty returned to WWE as part of a storyline where Kurt Angle was bringing back people that were part of Shawn Michaels' past. Jannetty and Michaels wrestled together and Jannetty would wrestle one more time against Kurt Angle on an episode of WWE Smackdown! After a domestic incident where neighbors called the police while Jannetty and his girlfriend were arguing, he was arrested and unable to meet the commitments of his WWE contract, leading to his being released by July 6, 2005. He made a few appearances in 2006, but due to the supervision order he could not travel like WWE wrestlers do and were therefore put in a storyline where he was "fired" because he refused to join the Vince McMahon "Kiss My Ass Club".
[edit] Rockers Reunite
On the February 20, 2006 edition of WWE RAW, Shawn Michaels was pitted against four of the five members of the Spirit Squad in their in-ring debut. The match ended up going both ways and Michaels was able to counter repeated assaults by the Spirit Squad team members. After he had connected with the Sweet Chin Music, Michaels was attacked by all five members until an unknown man came storming in to the ring to defend Michaels. During the melee, it was revealed that it was Marty Jannetty coming to defend his former tag team partner. Later on RAW, Vince McMahon came out to mention that he'd offer Jannetty a full-time contract and had initially said that the deal was done. However, Mr. McMahon added a stipulation; Marty had to join Mr. McMahon's "Kiss My Ass Club" the following week on RAW.
Jannetty refused to kiss Mr. McMahon's ass, and McMahon instead offered Jannetty the possibility of breaking Chris Masters' signature submission hold, the Master Lock. Jannetty appeared to almost break the hold, but Mr. McMahon (who was officiating) delivered a low blow, and Jannetty was never able to break it, only being released when Shawn Michaels ran in to save him. Shortly after Michaels had saved Jannetty, Shane McMahon ran in the ring with a steel chair and knocked Michaels out. Shane proceeded to pick up Michaels and then forced him to kiss Mr. McMahon's ass.
[edit] Status with the WWE
On March 3, 2006, WWE announced that it had severed all professional ties with Jannetty. WWE.com even reported it with the short statement "World Wrestling Entertainment has broken all professional ties with Marty Jannetty." This statement is most likely kayfabe, as Jannetty was unable to attend the Monday Night RAW event in Birmingham, Alabama, due to travel difficulties caused by Jannetty's probation status. This prompted a major rewrite in the storyline while Jannetty and WWE try to work out travel arrangements with Jannetty's probation officer. There was also a rumor that Jannetty himself was going to wrestle at Wrestlemania before he was released. Jannetty himself issued a statement on MySpace to this effect, criticizing wrestling writer Dave Meltzer for slandering his name.
On September 15, 2006, it was announced wwe.com that Jannetty had signed a new contract and would be returning as a veteran along with Rodney Mack and Brad Armstrong to work with younger talent. WWE.com also stated that Jannetty, along with the 2 other veterans, could also be granted a full-time contract pending the success of this initial venture.
However according to Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Marty was rumored to have been released yet again on September 29th. Jannetty himself countered this rumor on his MySpace page, stating it was untrue, and he also bashed internet rumor sites, which he has done in the past. However, in the January 2007 issue of WWE Magazine, it had been confirmed that Jannetty had indeed been fired.
On December 22, 2006, Jannetty replied through his MySpace website, stating that it was The Boogeyman who had been fired and not returned WWE's phone calls. Jannetty insisted that the article in WWE Magazine was false. On December 24, 2006 in a blog on his website, Jim Ross stated that Marty Jannetty was no longer with WWE. PWInsider.com also reported the same information. In late December 2006, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that WWE was once again interested in bringing back Jannetty as an instructor or coach to OVW.
[edit] Finishing and signature moves
- Rocker Dropper (Wrist lock leg drop bulldog)
- Superkick
- Superbomb
- Diving elbow drop
- Missile dropkick
- Dropkick
- Flying crossbody
- Diving fist drop
[edit] Championships and accomplishments
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- AWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Shawn Michaels
- AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Shawn Michaels
- Michigan Wrestling Alliance
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- MWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Midwest Territorial Wrestling
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- MTW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- New Breed Pro Wrestling
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- NBPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- National Wrestling Alliance
- Regional
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- NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- NWA Central States Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Tommy Rogers (2), Bob Brown (1), and Shawn Michaels (1)
- NWA Central States Television Championship (1 time)
-
- 1993 PWI Match of the Year – vs. Shawn Michaels, May 17
- PWI ranked him # 194 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.
- He was also ranked # 33 of the best tag teams of the "PWI Years" with Shawn Michaels.
- Jannetty's peak PWI 500 ranking was #13 in 1993.
- Southern Wrestling Alliance
-
- SWA Television Championship (1 time)
- Universal Championship Wrestling
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- UCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Purple Hooter
- World Wide Wrestling Alliance
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- WWWA Intercontinental Championship (1 time)
- 1 Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels defeated the Hart Foundation in a title match in October of 1990. However, the win and title reign resulting from the match are not officially recognized by the WWE.
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- 1989 Tag Team of the Year – with Shawn Michaels
[edit] External links
Categories: 1962 births | Living people | American professional wrestlers | American Wrestling Association alumni | People from Georgia (U.S. state) | People from Columbus, Georgia | Extreme Championship Wrestling alumni | World Wrestling Entertainment alumni | American Christians | World Championship Wrestling alumni
