• On This Day In Pro Wrestling History (February 16, 2006) – Old School Wrestling Veteran Passed Away
On this day in 2006, we lost Old School Tag Team Wrestling Veteran Johnny Grunge (Real name: Michael Durham) at the young age of 39 due to sleep apnea complications.
Grunge was one half of the famous 90s Tag Team ‘Public Enemy’ with “Flyboy” Rocco Rock, and together they wrestled for all 3 big promotions, the World Wrestling Federation (1999), Extreme Championship Wrestling (1993-1996 & 1999) & World Championship Wrestling (1996-1998 & 1999).
At the 2005 ECW reunion show ‘Hardcore Homecoming’, he participated in a memorial segment for deceased ECW wrestlers, including his late tag team partner, who passed away in 2002.
† REST IN PEACE JOHNNY GRUNGE!
July 10, 1966 – February 16, 2006
• WWF Veteran Takes A Shot At Disco Inferno For Criticising Women’s Wrestling
During a recent Impact Wrestling Media Call, Old School WCW Veteran Disco Inferno was asked about his opinion on Women’s Wrestling.
Below is what Disco said:
“I am not a big fan of women’s wrestling. To me women’s wrestling is kind of like the WNBA. They’re the best female basketball players in the world, but they’re not as good as the guys.
I’m not saying that there’s not a lot of talented women’s wrestlers. But the formula has shown in the past that regardless of your in-ring work, the more attractive you are determines how over you are.
I am a fan of the women’s wrestlers that can combine good looks with good work. If there’s a girl out there whose work isn’t as good but she’s hotter and has $ex appeal, I’m a fan of that.
You’re not gonna find a lot of people in this business that have a lot of negative things to say about me. Maybe they’ll say bad stuff about things I’ve said, but not me on a personal level.
When I say this stuff, I’m speaking from a standpoint of a person who’s been in the business for 26 years, been on booking committees and been an agent. So, I’m talking from an educated opinion. The criticism I give on my podcast and like what I’m saying now are the same things I would say to these people. I’m not telling people stuff that I wouldn’t say right to their faces.
In this PC culture, people want to pigeon-hole you as being $exist. Not really…is it $exist to not be a fan of the WNBA and be a fan of the NBA? That’s just a personal preference.
We’re not allowed to be critical of the work of women because we come across as $exist. But if you’re a professional wrestler, male or female, and you’re doing something I don’t like or I think is good…I’m gonna tell you how I feel. You can either agree it or not, but that’s how I feel.”
Below is what Old School WWF Veteran Lance Storm tweeted regarding this:
I don’t want to bother reading. Is his reason, because he’s upset most are having better matches and accomplishing more than he did during his run?
— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) February 16, 2019
