Johnny Grunge

Q: When did Johnny Grunge die?

Johnny Grunge died on February 16, 2006.

Q: How old was Johnny Grunge when they died?

Johnny Grunge was 40 years old at the time of death.

Q: What was Johnny Grunge's cause of death?

The cause of death of Johnny Grunge was sleep apnea complications.

Michael Lynn Durham (July 10, 1966 – February 16, 2006) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Johnny Grunge. He is known for his appearances with Eastern/Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation as one-half of the tag team The Public Enemy with Rocco Rock. In the course of his career, Grunge held championships such as the ECW World Tag Team Championship and WCW World Tag Team Championship.

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1987–1993)

Grunge made his professional wrestling debut in 1987. In 1993 in Woodbridge, New Jersey, Grunge formed a tag team in the UWF with Rocco Rock known as The Public Enemy. This was not the first time they had met though as The Public Enemy faced one another in Austria c. 1991, with Grunge (using the name "Johnny Rotten") losing to Rock (using the name "Cheetah Kid" and was masked).

Eastern/Extreme Championship Wrestling (1993–1996)

In 1993, The Public Enemy joined Eastern Championship Wrestling, a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based promotion soon to be renamed Extreme Championship Wrestling. Between March 6, 1994 and October 28, 1995, The Public Enemy held the ECW Tag Team Championship on four occasions. 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 the ring to celebrate with The Public Enemy, with the ring collapsing as a result of the additional weight. They were known for their hardcore wrestling style and usage of tables, a gimmick that was later adopted by the Dudley Boyz. The Public Enemy's wrestling style was referenced in Weezer'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 wrestler New Jack that was published in Pro Wrestling Illustrated.

World Championship Wrestling (1996–1998)

In 1996, The Public Enemy joined the Atlanta, Georgia based World Championship Wrestling promotion. They debuted on January 15, 1996, defeating The American Males. On September 23, 1996 in Birmingham, Alabama, The Public Enemy defeated Harlem Heat to win the WCW World Tag Team Championship, but Harlem Heat regained the titles on October 1, 1996 in Canton, Ohio.

World Wrestling Federation, return to ECW and return to WCW (1999)

The Public Enemy left WCW in September 1998, and briefly made appearances for ECW before joining the World Wrestling Federation. Both men made their debut on the February 22, 1999 episode of Raw is War, but were released from the WWF two months later. They had previously performed in the company at Survivor Series 1995 facing The Smoking Gunns. On July 18 at Bash at the Beach 1999, The Public Enemy returned to WCW and took part in the "Junkyard Invitational".

Later career (1999–2006)

They then returned to the independent circuit, making appearances with the X Wrestling Federation as The South Philly Posse, where they were managed by Jasmin St. Claire. In the early 2000s, Public Enemy performed for the short-lived i-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 his kayfabe brother Joey Grunge as The New Public Enemy throughout August 2003. He also made appearances with Pro-Pain Pro Wrestling (3PW) until his last match in 2004. He participated in a memorial segment for deceased ECW wrestlers at Hardcore Homecoming on June 10, 2005, and at the end of that year, Grunge was preparing for a comeback. His cousin, Jason Ray, who wrestled for Big Japan Wrestling, helped book him for BJW's upcoming spring tour.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

Grunge was a neighbor of Chris Benoit and helped Benoit cope with Eddie Guerrero's death in November 2005.

Grunge died on February 16, 2006, in his residence in Peachtree City, Georgia, as a result of sleep apnea complications, which was most likely caused by a coronary artery blockage due to obesity. He was 39 years old.

Other reports say he was visiting a friend at the time of his death where he was unable to breathe. He was morbidly obese and had ingested a huge quantity of Soma pills that were prescribed by doctor Phil Astin.

Championships and accomplishments

Cauliflower Alley Club
- Other honoree (1995)
Eastern Championship Wrestling / Extreme Championship Wrestling
- ECW World Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Rocco Rock
Hardcore Hall of Fame
- Class of 2007
i-Generation Superstars of Wrestling
- i-Generation Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Rocco Rock
International World Class Championship Wrestling
- IWCCW Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Equalizer Zip
Main Event Championship Wrestling
- MECW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Rocco Rock
National Wrestling Alliance
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Rocco Rock
NWA New Jersey
- NWA United States Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Rocco Rock
New England Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2010
New-Wave Championship Wrestling
- NWCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Rocco Rock
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Ranked No. 465 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI Years in 2003
Superstars of Wrestling
- SOW Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Rocco Rock
Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling
- TCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Rocco Rock
Ultra Championship Wrestling
- UCW Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Jason Ray
Universal Wrestling Alliance

UWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Rocco Rock

World Championship Wrestling
- WCW World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Rocco Rock
Other Accomplishments
- IPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Rocco Rock
- MCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Rocco Rock
- Hardcore Hall of Fame (2007)

Johnny Grunge

About Johnny Grunge

How well do you know Johnny Grunge?

Full Biography

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1987–1993)

Eastern/Extreme Championship Wrestling (1993–1996)

World Championship Wrestling (1996–1998)

World Wrestling Federation, return to ECW and return to WCW (1999)

Later career (1999–2006)

Personal life

Championships and accomplishments

Test Your Knowledge – Trivia Challenge

Books & Media

Sources

1.Which wrestling promotion did Johnny Grunge join in February 1999 along with Rocco Rock?

2.Under what name did Johnny Grunge perform in the X Wrestling Federation?

3.Who managed The South Philly Posse during their time in the X Wrestling Federation?

4.Who did Johnny Grunge team with as 'The New Public Enemy' after the death of Rocco Rock?

5.Which professional wrestler did Johnny Grunge help cope with the death of Eddie Guerrero in 2005?

6.What was the cause of Johnny Grunge's death?

7.In what city did Johnny Grunge die on February 16, 2006?

8.How many times did The Public Enemy hold the ECW Tag Team Championship between 1994 and 1995?

9.According to the biography, what was the name of the cousin who helped book Johnny Grunge for a BJW tour?

10.Which band referenced Johnny Grunge and his wrestling style in their song 'El Scorcho'?

11.Against which team did The Public Enemy win the WCW World Tag Team Championship in 1996?

12.What was the birth name of the professional wrestler known as Johnny Grunge?

13.In what year did Johnny Grunge make his professional wrestling debut?

14.Which tag team partner did Johnny Grunge famously work with to form The Public Enemy?

15.Where did Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock first meet while wrestling in 1991?

16.What gimmick was The Public Enemy known for using in Extreme Championship Wrestling?

People who died on February 16

Zou Jiahua

Vladimír Válek

Óscar Valdez

Jim Silke

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