Marc Mero
Encyclopedia
Marc Mero is an American
retired amateur boxer
and professional wrestler
. He is best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation
as Marc Mero and with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
and World Championship Wrestling
under the ring name
Johnny B. Badd. In 2007 he founded the non-profit organization
Champion of Choices
. His parents divorced when he was eight years old, with his mother supporting him and his three siblings by working two jobs. At the age of 12, Mero began playing hockey
, eventually becoming his league's Most Valuable Player
. In 1973, Mero's family relocated to Liverpool, New York
, where Mero played for the Mid State Youth Hockey League. At age 15, Mero began playing for the Syracuse Stars Junior Hockey Team.
Mero began playing football
in his senior year, with his high school team winning the New York State Title under the tutelage of future University of Central Florida
coach George O'Leary
. In the same year, Mero began training as a boxer under Golden Gloves
coach Ray Rinaldi. Mero went on to win four New York State titles, including the New York Golden Gloves
tournament. Mero intended to become a professional boxer, but his career was sidelined after his nose was broken in an accident. He briefly pursued a bodybuilding
career, placing third in the Mr. New York State bodybuilding contest.
to train under the Malenkos. He debuted in 1991 in the Floridian Sun Coast Professional Wrestling promotion
. Several months later, Mero attended a World Championship Wrestling
television taping and was given a tryout, losing to Doom
in a squash match. Mero appeared with WCW as a jobber
for several months before being signed to a contract by booker Dusty Rhodes
. Rhodes repackaged Mero with the ring name
Johnny B. Badd (The Nod to the Chuck Berry
song Johnny B. Goode
) and the gimmick of a Little Richard
look-alike
. He was initially managed
by Teddy Long
. As Johnny B. Badd, Mero was known for his flamboyant mannerisms and for his "Badd Blaster", a confetti
gun
that he would fire before his matches. Mero won the WCW World Television Championship
on three occasions.
In 1996, Mero left WCW because he strongly objected to an angle where he was associated with Diamond Dallas Page
's wife (Kimberly Page
).
, wrestling as "Wildman" Marc Mero (at the time, WCW owned the right to the Johnny B. Badd gimmick). Mero was managed
by his wife, Rena "Sable" Mero
, whom in storyline he "rescued" from Hunter Hearst Helmsley
. On September 23, 1996, Mero defeated Faarooq Asad
in the finals of a tournament for the vacant Intercontinental Championship
. He held the title until October 21, 1996, when he was defeated by Helmsley.
In February 1997, Mero tore his anterior cruciate ligament
, and spent six months rehabilitating. He returned in late 1997 with the new heel persona of "Marvelous" Marc Mero, a boxer
-turned-wrestler. The WWF storyline had Mero becoming jealous of the fan following Sable had acquired in his absence and wanting her out of the WWF. This led to a temporary alliance with Goldust and his valet, Luna Vachon, in which the three humiliated Sable during matches, but it turned into a short feud when Goldust became physical with Sable. The storyline was resolved in a match between Mero and Sable at Over the Edge
, in which Mero feigned remorse, offering to lie down and allow her to pin him, before defeating Sable with an inside cradle, which resulted in her leaving the WWF for a short time. After he dropped Sable as his valet, Jacqueline
became his manager. In 1998, Mero competed in the WWF Brawl for All
. Jacqueline's interventions in matches soon ended up costing Mero several victories and he ultimately fired her also.
Mero's last appearance on WWF television in the United States was on the November 30, 1998 episode of WWF Raw. He had a shot at the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship
, then held by Duane Gill
, and promised to retire if he couldn't beat Gill. Gill won the match with the help of the J.O.B. Squad
. He wrestled one final time at the UK WWF Capital Carnage
PPV six days later, losing a tag match (with Jacqueline as a reluctant partner), to Sable and Christian. In 1999, both Mero and Sable left the WWF. At the time, Mero had three years remaining on his contract, with a guaranteed salary of $
350,000. Mero subsequently did not wrestle for 18 months due to various nagging injuries and a shoulder surgery.
and confronting Tank Abbott
. Mero opted not to return to WCW on a full-time basis due to his physical condition at the time.
along with Rena Mero. They remained with the company until its closure in 2002.
In November 2004, Mero began wrestling for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
(TNA) under the Johnny B. Badd name. He appeared sporadically with the company throughout late 2004 and early 2005.
Mero retired from in-ring competition in 2005, opening and operating the Marc Mero Body Slam Training Institute in Altamonte Springs, Florida
.
In January 2008, WWE and Jakks Pacific
announced that Mero (as Johnny B. Badd) would be featured in their "Classic Superstars" line of action figures. This figure was eventually cancelled for unknown reasons.
, appearing on numerous cable
news programs
and criticizing both the wrestling industry and World Wrestling Entertainment
(the erstwhile employer of Benoit). In an interview with WFTV
, Mero admitted to using both anabolic steroid
s and recreational drugs
over a period of seven years and claimed that steroids had contributed to the early deaths of many wrestlers. In interviews with MSNBC
and The Sun
, Mero produced a list of 25 (later expanded to 31) wrestlers with whom he had wrestled and had since died, calling for greater regulation of the wrestling industry.
Mero's comments attracted criticism from WWE employees such as Mr. Kennedy, who labelled him a "goof" and a "silly bastard", and Dave "Fit" Finlay
, who claimed Mero had "nothing to do with this business".
On July 15, 2007, Mero attended the memorials of Nancy and Daniel Benoit in Daytona Beach, Florida
.
Following his comments, Mero began making appearances at schools in Central Florida
and lecturing on the dangers of drug abuse
and bullying; He also heavily promotes a similar-interests website with which he is affiliated: www.championofchoices.org. As of April 2, 2009, he has upcoming appearances in schools and community colleges across Florida.
, adopting her daughter from a previous marriage. The couple separated in mid-2003 and divorced in 2004.
As of July 2007, Mero required a heart valve
transplant
. Marc married for the second time on July 11, 2009.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
retired amateur boxer
Amateur boxing
Amateur boxing is practised at the collegiate level, at the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, and in many other venues sponsored by amateur boxing associations. Amateur boxing bouts are short in duration and fighters wear head protection, so this type of competition prizes point-scoring rather...
and professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
. He is best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
as Marc Mero and with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
and World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
under the ring name
Ring name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
Johnny B. Badd. In 2007 he founded the non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
Champion of Choices
Early life
Mero was born in Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. His parents divorced when he was eight years old, with his mother supporting him and his three siblings by working two jobs. At the age of 12, Mero began playing hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
, eventually becoming his league's Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
. In 1973, Mero's family relocated to Liverpool, New York
Liverpool, New York
Liverpool is a village located in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 2,505 at the 2000 census. The name was adopted from the city of Liverpool in the United Kingdom...
, where Mero played for the Mid State Youth Hockey League. At age 15, Mero began playing for the Syracuse Stars Junior Hockey Team.
Mero began playing football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
in his senior year, with his high school team winning the New York State Title under the tutelage of future University of Central Florida
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida, commonly referred to as UCF, is a metropolitan public research university located in Orlando, Florida, United States...
coach George O'Leary
George O'Leary
George Joseph O'Leary is the head football coach of the UCF Knights football team that represents the University of Central Florida located in Orlando, Florida; he previously coached the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team from 1994 to 2001, and served as an assistant coach for the Minnesota...
. In the same year, Mero began training as a boxer under Golden Gloves
Golden Gloves
The Golden Gloves is the name given to annual competitions for amateur boxing in the United States. The Golden Gloves is often the term used to refer to the National Golden Gloves competition, but it also can represent several other amateur tournaments, including regional golden gloves...
coach Ray Rinaldi. Mero went on to win four New York State titles, including the New York Golden Gloves
New York Golden Gloves
The New York Golden Gloves is a boxing tournament considered by many boxing aficionados as one of the three most elite Golden Gloves titles, along with the Chicago Golden Gloves....
tournament. Mero intended to become a professional boxer, but his career was sidelined after his nose was broken in an accident. He briefly pursued a bodybuilding
Bodybuilding
Bodybuilding is a form of body modification involving intensive muscle hypertrophy. An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. In competitive and professional bodybuilding, bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of judges, who assign points based on their...
career, placing third in the Mr. New York State bodybuilding contest.
Starting out and World Championship Wrestling
In 1990, Mero decided to become a wrestler, traveling to Tampa, FloridaTampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
to train under the Malenkos. He debuted in 1991 in the Floridian Sun Coast Professional Wrestling promotion
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
. Several months later, Mero attended a World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
television taping and was given a tryout, losing to Doom
Doom (professional wrestling)
Doom was a professional wrestling tag team composed of Ron Simmons and Butch Reed. They competed from 1989 to 1991 in the National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling .-Before the masks:...
in a squash match. Mero appeared with WCW as a jobber
Job (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling slang, the term job describes a losing performance in a wrestling match. It is derived from the euphemism "doing one's job", which was employed to protect kayfabe. As professional wrestling is scripted, inevitably a wrestler will be required to lose to an opponent.The term...
for several months before being signed to a contract by booker Dusty Rhodes
Dusty Rhodes (wrestler)
Virgil Riley Runnels, Jr. , better known as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler currently working for WWE...
. Rhodes repackaged Mero with the ring name
Ring name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
Johnny B. Badd (The Nod to the Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
song Johnny B. Goode
Johnny B. Goode
"Johnny B. Goode" is a 1958 rock and roll song written and originally performed by American musician Chuck Berry. The song was a major hit among both black and white audiences peaking at #2 on Billboard magazine's Hot R&B Sides chart and #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.The song is one of Chuck Berry's...
) and the gimmick of a Little Richard
Little Richard
Richard Wayne Penniman , known by the stage name Little Richard, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, and actor, considered key in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the 1950s. He was also the first artist to put the funk in the rock and roll beat and...
look-alike
Look-alike
A look-alike is a person who closely resembles another person. In popular Western culture, a look-alike is a person who bears a close physical resemblance to a celebrity, politician or member of royalty. Many look-alikes earn a living by making guest appearances at public events or performing on...
. He was initially managed
Manager (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
by Teddy Long
Theodore Long
Theodore R. "Teddy" Long is an American professional wrestling manager and former referee who currently works for WWE on its SmackDown brand as its General Manager.-National Wrestling Alliance / World Championship Wrestling:...
. As Johnny B. Badd, Mero was known for his flamboyant mannerisms and for his "Badd Blaster", a confetti
Confetti
Confetti is a multitude of pieces of paper, mylar or metallic material which is usually thrown at parades and celebrations, especially weddings . Confetti is made in a variety of colors, and commercially available confetti is available in imaginative shapes...
gun
Gun
A gun is a muzzle or breech-loaded projectile-firing weapon. There are various definitions depending on the nation and branch of service. A "gun" may be distinguished from other firearms in being a crew-served weapon such as a howitzer or mortar, as opposed to a small arm like a rifle or pistol,...
that he would fire before his matches. Mero won the WCW World Television Championship
WCW World Television Championship
The World Championship Wrestling World Television Championship was a professional wrestling championship in World Championship Wrestling....
on three occasions.
In 1996, Mero left WCW because he strongly objected to an angle where he was associated with Diamond Dallas Page
Diamond Dallas Page
Dallas Page , better known by his ring name "Diamond" Dallas Page , is an American retired professional wrestler, fitness instructor and actor...
's wife (Kimberly Page
Kimberly Page
Kimberly Lynn Bacon is an American former actress and valet for ex-husband Diamond Dallas Page, during which she was known by the ring name Kimberly Page...
).
World Wrestling Federation (1996–1999)
After leaving WCW, he signed a contract with the World Wrestling FederationWorld Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
, wrestling as "Wildman" Marc Mero (at the time, WCW owned the right to the Johnny B. Badd gimmick). Mero was managed
Manager (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
by his wife, Rena "Sable" Mero
Rena Mero
Rena Marlette Mero Lesnar , better known as Sable, is an American model, actress, and former professional wrestler. She is primarily known for her stints in World Wrestling Entertainment....
, whom in storyline he "rescued" from Hunter Hearst Helmsley
Triple H
Paul Michael Levesque is an American professional wrestler, professional wrestling authority figure, WWE Executive Vice President of Talent and actor, better known by his ring name Triple H, an abbreviation of the ring name, Hunter Hearst Helmsley...
. On September 23, 1996, Mero defeated Faarooq Asad
Ron Simmons
Ronald "Ron" Simmons is an American semi-retired professional wrestler and retired American football player. He is recognised as being the first Black world heavyweight champion in professional wrestling and the first of only two African Americans to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship,...
in the finals of a tournament for the vacant Intercontinental Championship
WWE Intercontinental Championship
The WWE Intercontinental Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It is the original secondary title of the promotion. Currently, it is the secondary championship exclusive to the SmackDown brand...
. He held the title until October 21, 1996, when he was defeated by Helmsley.
In February 1997, Mero tore his anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament injury
An injury to the anterior cruciate ligament can be a debilitating musculoskeletal injury to the knee, seen most often in athletes. Non-contact tears and ruptures are the most common causes of ACL injury....
, and spent six months rehabilitating. He returned in late 1997 with the new heel persona of "Marvelous" Marc Mero, a boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
-turned-wrestler. The WWF storyline had Mero becoming jealous of the fan following Sable had acquired in his absence and wanting her out of the WWF. This led to a temporary alliance with Goldust and his valet, Luna Vachon, in which the three humiliated Sable during matches, but it turned into a short feud when Goldust became physical with Sable. The storyline was resolved in a match between Mero and Sable at Over the Edge
Over the Edge: In Your House
Over the Edge: In Your House was the first of what was to be an annual World Wrestling Federation pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It was also the 22nd pay-per-view event in the In Your House series...
, in which Mero feigned remorse, offering to lie down and allow her to pin him, before defeating Sable with an inside cradle, which resulted in her leaving the WWF for a short time. After he dropped Sable as his valet, Jacqueline
Jacqueline Moore
Jacqueline DeLois Moore is an inactive American professional wrestler, who was most recently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
became his manager. In 1998, Mero competed in the WWF Brawl for All
WWF Brawl For All
The WWF Brawl for All was a shootfighting tournament held in the World Wrestling Federation that lasted from June 29, 1998 to August 24, 1998.-Inception:...
. Jacqueline's interventions in matches soon ended up costing Mero several victories and he ultimately fired her also.
Mero's last appearance on WWF television in the United States was on the November 30, 1998 episode of WWF Raw. He had a shot at the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship
WWF Light Heavyweight Championship
The World Wrestling Federation Light Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship. The title was challenged by light heavyweights at a maximum weight of 220 lbs.- History :...
, then held by Duane Gill
Duane Gill
Duane Gill is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his stint in the World Wrestling Federation as Gillberg, a parody of then-rival promotion World Championship Wrestling's top star Goldberg. During his tenure in the WWF, Gill became a one time Light Heavyweight Champion...
, and promised to retire if he couldn't beat Gill. Gill won the match with the help of the J.O.B. Squad
J.O.B. Squad
The J.O.B. Squad was a professional wrestling faction. The theme of the group was that each member was a perennial enhancement talent, in which they lost to established or up-and-coming wrestlers....
. He wrestled one final time at the UK WWF Capital Carnage
WWF Capital Carnage
WWF Capital Carnage was a UK-only professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation that took place on December 6, 1998 at the London Arena in London, England...
PPV six days later, losing a tag match (with Jacqueline as a reluctant partner), to Sable and Christian. In 1999, both Mero and Sable left the WWF. At the time, Mero had three years remaining on his contract, with a guaranteed salary of $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
350,000. Mero subsequently did not wrestle for 18 months due to various nagging injuries and a shoulder surgery.
Return to WCW (2000)
On April 26, 2000, Mero returned to World Championship Wrestling, appearing with his trainer, Ray Rinaldi, in the audience on an episode of WCW ThunderWCW Thunder
WCW Thunder was a professional wrestling show produced by World Championship Wrestling which aired on TBS from January 8, 1998 to March 21, 2001...
and confronting Tank Abbott
Tank Abbott
David Lee Abbott is an American mixed martial arts fighter and former professional wrestler. He has described his fighting style, which he developed brawling in the bars and streets of Huntington Beach, California, as "street fighting"...
. Mero opted not to return to WCW on a full-time basis due to his physical condition at the time.
XWF (2001-2002), TNA (2004-2005), and retirement
In 2001, Mero returned to wrestling in the short-lived X Wrestling FederationX Wrestling Federation
Xtreme Wrestling Federation was an American professional wrestling promotion. The organization's heyday was from early November of 2001 to late February of 2002. Its birth coincided with the World Wrestling Federation's acquisition of AOL Time Warner's World Championship Wrestling. XWF's slogan...
along with Rena Mero. They remained with the company until its closure in 2002.
In November 2004, Mero began wrestling for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
(TNA) under the Johnny B. Badd name. He appeared sporadically with the company throughout late 2004 and early 2005.
Mero retired from in-ring competition in 2005, opening and operating the Marc Mero Body Slam Training Institute in Altamonte Springs, Florida
Altamonte Springs, Florida
Altamonte Springs is a city in Seminole county in the U.S. state of Florida, which had a population of 41,496 at the 2010 census. Located primarily in Seminole County, the city is in the northern suburbs of the Orlando–Kissimmee-Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the United States...
.
In January 2008, WWE and Jakks Pacific
Jakks Pacific
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. is a designer and marketer of toys and consumer products, with a range of products that feature numerous children's toy licenses...
announced that Mero (as Johnny B. Badd) would be featured in their "Classic Superstars" line of action figures. This figure was eventually cancelled for unknown reasons.
Comments on steroid usage in wrestling
In June and July 2007, Mero commented on the Chris Benoit murder-suicideChris Benoit double murder and suicide
The Chris Benoit double murder suicide occurred over a three-day period ending on June 24, 2007. World Wrestling Entertainment professional wrestler Chris Benoit killed his wife, Nancy Benoit, strangled his seven-year-old son, Daniel, and subsequently committed suicide by hanging. Autopsy results...
, appearing on numerous cable
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
news programs
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
and criticizing both the wrestling industry and World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(the erstwhile employer of Benoit). In an interview with WFTV
WFTV
WFTV, channel 9, is the ABC-affiliated television station for Central Florida that is licensed to Orlando. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 39 from a transmitter between Bithlo and Christmas. Owned by Cox Enterprises, WFTV is sister to Independent WRDQ. The two stations...
, Mero admitted to using both anabolic steroid
Anabolic steroid
Anabolic steroids, technically known as anabolic-androgen steroids or colloquially simply as "steroids", are drugs that mimic the effects of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in the body. They increase protein synthesis within cells, which results in the buildup of cellular tissue ,...
s and recreational drugs
Recreational drug use
Recreational drug use is the use of a drug, usually psychoactive, with the intention of creating or enhancing recreational experience. Such use is controversial, however, often being considered to be also drug abuse, and it is often illegal...
over a period of seven years and claimed that steroids had contributed to the early deaths of many wrestlers. In interviews with MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
and The Sun
The Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
, Mero produced a list of 25 (later expanded to 31) wrestlers with whom he had wrestled and had since died, calling for greater regulation of the wrestling industry.
Mero's comments attracted criticism from WWE employees such as Mr. Kennedy, who labelled him a "goof" and a "silly bastard", and Dave "Fit" Finlay
Dave Finlay
David John "Fit" Finlay Jr. is a Northern Irish professional wrestler and road agent. He is perhaps best known for his time in World Championship Wrestling and WWE as an active wrestler and later as a road agent...
, who claimed Mero had "nothing to do with this business".
On July 15, 2007, Mero attended the memorials of Nancy and Daniel Benoit in Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, USA. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 64,211. Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Deltona – Daytona Beach – Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the census bureau estimated had...
.
Following his comments, Mero began making appearances at schools in Central Florida
Central Florida
Central Florida is a regional designation for the area surrounding Orlando in east central Florida, United States. The area represents the third largest population concentration in Florida, after the South Florida and Tampa Bay regions, respectively....
and lecturing on the dangers of drug abuse
Drug abuse
Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, refers to a maladaptive pattern of use of a substance that is not considered dependent. The term "drug abuse" does not exclude dependency, but is otherwise used in a similar manner in nonmedical contexts...
and bullying; He also heavily promotes a similar-interests website with which he is affiliated: www.championofchoices.org. As of April 2, 2009, he has upcoming appearances in schools and community colleges across Florida.
Personal life
In 1992, Mero married Rena "Sable" GreekRena Mero
Rena Marlette Mero Lesnar , better known as Sable, is an American model, actress, and former professional wrestler. She is primarily known for her stints in World Wrestling Entertainment....
, adopting her daughter from a previous marriage. The couple separated in mid-2003 and divorced in 2004.
As of July 2007, Mero required a heart valve
Heart valve
A heart valve normally allows blood flow in only one direction through the heart. The four valves commonly represented in a mammalian heart determine the pathway of blood flow through the heart...
transplant
Organ transplant
Organ transplantation is the moving of an organ from one body to another or from a donor site on the patient's own body, for the purpose of replacing the recipient's damaged or absent organ. The emerging field of regenerative medicine is allowing scientists and engineers to create organs to be...
. Marc married for the second time on July 11, 2009.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Marvelocity / Wild Thing (Shooting star press)
- Merosault (MoonsaultMoonsaultA moonsault, moonsault press, or back flip splash is a professional wrestling aerial technique. Much of its popularity in American wrestling is attributed to The Great Muta, despite it being used in North America by "Leaping" Lanny Poffo years before Muta came from Japan.In a standard moonsault,...
) - TKO – Total Knock Out – innovated
- Signature moves
- Badd Day (Super frankensteiner)
- Golota Shot (Low blow)
- Kiss That Don't Miss (WWFWorld Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
) / Tutti Frutti (WCWWorld Championship WrestlingWorld Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
) (Left-handed knockout hookHook (boxing)A hook is a punch in boxing. It is performed by turning the core muscles and back, thereby swinging the arm, which is bent at an angle near or at 90 degrees, in a horizontal arc into the opponent...
) - Slingshot leg dropLeg dropA leg drop or legdrop refers to an attack used in professional wrestling in which an attacking wrestler will jump and land his leg across a fallen opponent's chest, throat, face or head or in some cases, the groin/lower-abdominal area...
- Top Rope Sunset flip
- ManagersManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
- Theodore LongTheodore LongTheodore R. "Teddy" Long is an American professional wrestling manager and former referee who currently works for WWE on its SmackDown brand as its General Manager.-National Wrestling Alliance / World Championship Wrestling:...
- KimberlyKimberly PageKimberly Lynn Bacon is an American former actress and valet for ex-husband Diamond Dallas Page, during which she was known by the ring name Kimberly Page...
- SableRena MeroRena Marlette Mero Lesnar , better known as Sable, is an American model, actress, and former professional wrestler. She is primarily known for her stints in World Wrestling Entertainment....
- JacquelineJacqueline MooreJacqueline DeLois Moore is an inactive American professional wrestler, who was most recently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
- Theodore Long
- NicknameNicknameA nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
s- Wildman
- Marvellous
Amateur boxing
- New York State Titles
- Amateur Athletic UnionAmateur Athletic UnionThe Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
- Empire State GamesEmpire State GamesThe Empire State Games are a set of annual Olympic-style competitions for amateur athletes from the state of New York, encompassing several divisions and allowing athletes of all ages to compete. It was a member of the National Congress of State Games...
- New York Golden GlovesNew York Golden GlovesThe New York Golden Gloves is a boxing tournament considered by many boxing aficionados as one of the three most elite Golden Gloves titles, along with the Chicago Golden Gloves....
- Amateur Athletic Union
Professional wrestling
- Pro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling Illustrated is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.-History:The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979...
- PWI Rookie of the Year (1991)
- PWI ranked him # 43 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1996
- World Championship WrestlingWorld Championship WrestlingWorld Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
- WCW World Television ChampionshipWCW World Television ChampionshipThe World Championship Wrestling World Television Championship was a professional wrestling championship in World Championship Wrestling....
(3 times)
- WCW World Television Championship
- World Wrestling FederationWorld Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
- WWF Intercontinental ChampionshipWWE Intercontinental ChampionshipThe WWE Intercontinental Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It is the original secondary title of the promotion. Currently, it is the secondary championship exclusive to the SmackDown brand...
(1 time)
- WWF Intercontinental Championship
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Most Improved Wrestler (1995)
- Rookie of the Year (1991)