Posted on by bdamage1
Brian Damage
Johnny Grunge and ‘Flyboy’ Rocco Rock, the Public Enemy, were one of the more popular Extreme Championship Wrestling acts back in the day. Yet the success they had their didn’t extend into World Championship Wrestling or World Wrestling Federation. Today we look back at the pair’s brief run with the WWF.
Looking back at some of Extreme Championship Wrestling’s biggest stars, Johnny Grunge and ‘Flyboy’ Rocco Rock of Public Enemy would certainly be on that list. The Public Enemy seemed like a perfect fit in South Philadelphia with their brawling style, white boy gangsta look and of course their entrance music. A big part of many ECW stars was the music they came out to. For instance, the Sandman had Metallica’s ‘Enter Sandman,’ Balls Mahoney had AC/DC’s ‘Big Balls’ and of course PE had Ini Kamoze’s ‘Here Comes the Hotstepper.’
In some cases the music was all a certain wrestler had to get themselves over with ECW’s rabid fan base. ECW promoter Paul Heyman had the talent to protect his wrestlers by showcasing their strengths while hiding their weaknesses. The Public Enemy, like many other ECW stars of the day, were like rock stars where ever ECW went. So it was no big surprise when Vince McMahon and the WWF came calling back in 1995.
The Public Enemy wrestled a dark match with the WWF and were subsequently offered a contract. While most wrestlers would have jumped at the opportunity to join the so-called big leagues of the WWF, the Public Enemy had other ideas. Grunge and Rocco Rock chose the rising WCW as their new home. It was a decision that would later come back to haunt them in their future WWF tenure.
After a couple of years with World Championship Wrestling, they became free agents again in 1999. The team briefly returned to their roots in ECW, but the WWF came calling again and this time they accepted the offer. Not before burning some bridges with Heyman and ECW.
So, Finally the Public Enemy were where they were wanted four years earlier but what a difference four years can make. According to John Layfield, the WWF roster did not welcome PE with open arms, especially the veterans. Many of them felt like the Public Enemy dissed them by refusing to join back in ’95. They felt like Public Enemy were just choosing the WWF now because there were no other options for them. They also were aware that WWF agent Terry “Red Rooster” Taylor brokered their deal and Taylor was not very well liked backstage. (Many considered him a stooge)
The Public Enemy debuted without a fancy soundtrack and were tweaked a bit as Rocco Rock had to drop the rock in his name so as not to be confused with ‘The Rock’ Dwayne Johnson. Their first program in the company was with the Brood. For the most part, the Brood got the best of PE in their mini-feud. In addition to that, WWF announcers were not too kind while speaking about the PE. They often made fun of their weight and their overall look.
On the outside as a fan and viewer, it seemed weird that the WWF was seemingly burying this team without giving them a fair shot. The rumors started floating in that both Grunge and Rocco were treating their experience in the WWF much like their days in both ECW and WCW. In those promotions, the rules were much laxer and wrestlers were, for the most part, able to come and go as they pleased. The WWF was much more “corporate” and had stricter rules, rules that PE didn’t seem to grasp.
They often showed up late and allegedly made demands that newcomers should never do. The Public Enemy experience would really culminate on a Sunday Night Heat taping between PE and the Acolytes. Now say what you want about Bradshaw and Ron Simmons, but during that time it was well known that the Acolytes were often used as “enforcers” for WWF management. Whenever a wrestler has a bad attitude and needs to be straightened out, book them with the Acolytes or Bob Holly. That’ll teach em!
So here is Public Enemy going into a situation like General Custer was, a no-win situation. According to Layfield, the Public Enemy showed up about four hours late to the arena. They tried changing the finish of the match which confused everybody including the Acolytes and the referee Jimmy Korderas. The match went on as scheduled and from the beginning, Bradshaw and Simmons went ultra stiff on them. While Layfield insists it was just a matter miscommunication, it is alleged that Bradshaw bullied several WWF stars.
Add to that, the next and final time Public Enemy were used was as jobbers to the upstart Hardy Boyz on Shotgun Saturday Night. The Public Enemy were then future endeavored from the WWF. All in all, it was an absolute failure of a time within the WWF. Was it the fault of the company or was it the fault of Public Enemy themselves? Perhaps it was just something that was just not meant to be…
