Mean Street Posse
Encyclopedia
The Mean Street Posse was a villainous
professional wrestling faction that formerly wrestled in the World Wrestling Federation
. The faction consisted of Pete Gas
, Rodney
, and Joey Abs
. The Posse's gimmick was that they were from an upper class
background, which was emphasized by their attire of sweater vests and dress pants.
, whereas Joey Abs was already a professional wrestler who was brought in to be the 'worker' of the group. The Posse was closely allied with Shane McMahon
, often helping him defend the European Championship
throughout early 1999. They also attempted to help Shane defeat Test at SummerSlam
, but were unsuccessful. After their alliance with Shane was minimized, the Posse were relegated to being enhancement talents
, losing to teams such as the Dudley Boyz
, The Holly Cousins
and Too Cool
. Despite this, Gas would manage to briefly hold the Hardcore Championship
. At WrestleMania 2000
, all three members of the Posse would briefly win the Hardcore Title. They then began a short-lived program with Edge and Christian
, in which the Posse was hired to steal the Tag Team Championship
from the Hardy Boyz
. On the October 8, 2000 episode of Sunday Night Heat
, Gas and Rodney faced the Hardy Boyz for the title, but they were unsuccessful. Abs was then involved in a short-lived storyline with Stephanie McMahon
, where it was revealed that they were ex-lovers.
, a developmental territory
of the WWF. While in MCW, the Posse managed to win several titles before being released from their contracts in June 2001. On December 10, 2007, Raw
held its 15th-anniversary special and Gas represented the Posse in a 15th Anniversary Battle Royal
, where he was subsequently eliminated by Bart Gunn.
In 2009, WWE.com interviewed the Posse for as a part of the website's "Where are They Now?" feature. All three members have since retired from wrestling, as Gas now works for W.B. Mason, an office supply company, Rodney owns his own landscape management
company in Glen Ridge, New Jersey
and Abs works in his family's car repair shop
.
1Due to inconsistent reports from WWE, Gas' additional reign and both Abs' and Rodney's during WrestleMania 2000
are considered unofficial as they are not featured in their online history for the title, but are listed in the title's history in the "WWE Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to World Wrestling Entertainment" published in 2009.
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
professional wrestling faction that formerly wrestled in 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...
. The faction consisted of Pete Gas
Peter Gasperino
Peter Gasparino is an American former professional wrestler, better known simply as Pete Gas from his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation.-Professional wrestling career:...
, Rodney
Rodney Leinhardt
Rodney Leinhardt is an American professional wrestler, better known simply as Rodney from his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation. He is currently working on the independent circuit as RodRageous.-Career:Leinhardt trained under Tom Prichard and debuted in 1998...
, and Joey Abs
Jason Arhndt
Jason Ahrndt is a professional wrestler best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation as part of the three man team known as the Mean Street Posse, where he was known as Joey Abs...
. The Posse's gimmick was that they were from an upper class
Upper class
In social science, the "upper class" is the group of people at the top of a social hierarchy. Members of an upper class may have great power over the allocation of resources and governmental policy in their area.- Historical meaning :...
background, which was emphasized by their attire of sweater vests and dress pants.
History
Gas and Rodney were legitimate school friends of Shane McMahonShane McMahon
Shane Brandon McMahon is an American executive, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of YOU On Demand. A former executive and professional wrestler for World Wrestling Entertainment , he is the son of WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon and former US Senate candidate Linda...
, whereas Joey Abs was already a professional wrestler who was brought in to be the 'worker' of the group. The Posse was closely allied with Shane McMahon
Shane McMahon
Shane Brandon McMahon is an American executive, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of YOU On Demand. A former executive and professional wrestler for World Wrestling Entertainment , he is the son of WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon and former US Senate candidate Linda...
, often helping him defend the European Championship
WWE European Championship
The WWE European Championship was a professional wrestling championship competed for in World Wrestling Entertainment. A coveted singles title of the late 1990s and early 2000s, it was held by superstars such as Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, Owen Hart, Eddie Guerrero, and was...
throughout early 1999. They also attempted to help Shane defeat Test at SummerSlam
SummerSlam (1999)
SummerSlam was the twelfth annual SummerSlam professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on August 22, 1999 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.-Results:Tag Team Turmoil...
, but were unsuccessful. After their alliance with Shane was minimized, the Posse were relegated to being enhancement talents
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...
, losing to teams such as the Dudley Boyz
Dudley Boyz
Team 3D was a professional wrestling tag team, consisting of Brother Ray and Brother Devon, formerly sporadically joined into a stable by Brother Runt on several intervals...
, The Holly Cousins
The Holly Cousins
The Holly Cousins, also known as The Hollys, was a professional wrestling tag team and, later, stable in the World Wrestling Federation between 1999 and 2001...
and Too Cool
Too Cool
Too Cool is a professional wrestling tag team and former faction most notably active in World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment between 1998 and 2001 and for a short time in 2004.-1998–1999:...
. Despite this, Gas would manage to briefly hold the Hardcore Championship
WWE Hardcore Championship
The World Wrestling Entertainment Hardcore Championship is a hardcore wrestling championship in World Wrestling Entertainment and is contested under "hardcore" rules, meaning there is no disqualifications, no countouts, and pin falls could be counted anywhere...
. At WrestleMania 2000
WrestleMania 2000
WrestleMania 2000 was the sixteenth annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on April 2, 2000 at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California...
, all three members of the Posse would briefly win the Hardcore Title. They then began a short-lived program with Edge and Christian
Edge and Christian
Edge and Christian was a tag team made of real life best friends Edge and Christian , who performed in WWE and the Canadian independent circuit. They won the WWF Tag Team Championship on seven occasions...
, in which the Posse was hired to steal the Tag Team Championship
World Tag Team Championship
The World Tag Team Championship was the original professional wrestling world tag team championship contested for in World Wrestling Entertainment . It served as the premier title for tag teams in WWE from 1971 until 2002 when a second WWE Tag Team Championship was established...
from the Hardy Boyz
Hardy Boyz
The Hardy Boyz are a professional wrestling tag team, consisting of real-life brothers Matt and Jeff Hardy...
. On the October 8, 2000 episode of Sunday Night Heat
WWE HEAT
WWE Heat was a professional wrestling television program produced by World Wrestling Entertainment...
, Gas and Rodney faced the Hardy Boyz for the title, but they were unsuccessful. Abs was then involved in a short-lived storyline with Stephanie McMahon
Stephanie McMahon-Levesque
Stephanie Marie McMahon-Levesque better known by her maiden name Stephanie McMahon, is WWE's Executive Vice President, Creative., former professional wrestling valet and occasional wrestler...
, where it was revealed that they were ex-lovers.
Split and aftermath
In 2000, the entire Posse was moved to Memphis Championship WrestlingMemphis Championship Wrestling
Memphis Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion run by Terry Golden, based in Memphis, Tennessee. The promotion's first event was on February 20, 2000, and it remained active up until mid-2001...
, a developmental territory
Farm team
In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team or nursery club, is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher level at a given point...
of the WWF. While in MCW, the Posse managed to win several titles before being released from their contracts in June 2001. On December 10, 2007, Raw
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
held its 15th-anniversary special and Gas represented the Posse in a 15th Anniversary Battle Royal
Battle royal (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a battle royal is a multi-competitor match type in which wrestlers are eliminated until one is left and declared winner...
, where he was subsequently eliminated by Bart Gunn.
In 2009, WWE.com interviewed the Posse for as a part of the website's "Where are They Now?" feature. All three members have since retired from wrestling, as Gas now works for W.B. Mason, an office supply company, Rodney owns his own landscape management
Landscape manager
Landscape managers are professionally trained and qualified experts in landscaping management for conservation and recreation stewardship of designed and natural landscapes.-Scope of work:...
company in Glen Ridge, New Jersey
Glen Ridge, New Jersey
Glen Ridge is a borough in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,527. In 2010, Glen Ridge was ranked as the 38th Best Place to live by New Jersey Monthly magazine....
and Abs works in his family's car repair shop
Automobile repair shop
An automobile repair shop is a place where automobiles are repaired by auto mechanics and electricians.- Types :The automotive garage can be divided in so many category....
.
Note
at Wrestlemania 15, there were two other members of The Mean Street Posse "Billy Pearo/Piro? a/k/a Billy P and Willie Green" that didn't become WWE superstars, they were in the crowd with Rodney and Pete, they also helped Rodney, Pete, and Shane jump X-Pac in the parking lot on a Raw event before WrestleMania 15, also before WrestleMania 15, The Posse talk about Shane in interviews, Willie Green does his promo in the dark where we can't see his faceChampionships and accomplishments
- Memphis Championship WrestlingMemphis Championship WrestlingMemphis Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion run by Terry Golden, based in Memphis, Tennessee. The promotion's first event was on February 20, 2000, and it remained active up until mid-2001...
- MCW Hardcore ChampionshipMCW Hardcore ChampionshipThe Memphis Championship Wrestling Hardcore Title first champion was Bitty Little, because Little forced MCW Commissioner Al Kee Holic to award him the championship, even though a tournament had been scheduled to determine the first champion. Joey Abs gave the belt to MCW Commissioner Shooter...
(1 time) – Abs - MCW Southern Heavyweight Championship (2 times) – Abs
- MCW Southern Tag Team ChampionshipMCW Southern Tag Team ChampionshipThe MCW Southern Tag Team Championship was the tag team title in Memphis Championship Wrestling from 2000 until the promotion closed in 2002.-Title history:...
(2 times) – Abs and Rodney
- MCW Hardcore 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 Hardcore ChampionshipWWE Hardcore ChampionshipThe World Wrestling Entertainment Hardcore Championship is a hardcore wrestling championship in World Wrestling Entertainment and is contested under "hardcore" rules, meaning there is no disqualifications, no countouts, and pin falls could be counted anywhere...
(4 times)1 – Gas (2), Rodney (1) and Abs (1)
- WWF Hardcore Championship
1Due to inconsistent reports from WWE, Gas' additional reign and both Abs' and Rodney's during WrestleMania 2000
WrestleMania 2000
WrestleMania 2000 was the sixteenth annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on April 2, 2000 at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California...
are considered unofficial as they are not featured in their online history for the title, but are listed in the title's history in the "WWE Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to World Wrestling Entertainment" published in 2009.