CLOSE UP: Marty Jannetty. PWI OCTOBER, 1993.
MOST HATED OPPONENT
Buddy Rose. While Jannetty isn’t exactly thrilled with Michaels, he holds a special dislike for Rose. The Rockets feuded with Rose and Doug Somers in the AWA, and Jannetty will never forget their heated encounters. He was especially irritated that Rose never gave the Rockers the respect they deserved.
TOUGHEST OPPONENT
Tully Blanchard. Jannetty long admired Blanchard from afar, and got a chance to face him firsthand when The Rockers feuded with Blanchard and Arn Anderson. The Brainbusters stood in the way of Michaels and Jannetty’s WWF World tag team title aspirations, and they never could break through for the belts.
GREATEST MATCH
May 17, 1993, vs. Shawn Michaels. Revenge was well over a year in coming for Jannetty, and he got it over his former tag team partner. Michaels’ ego was his downfall, as Jannetty took advantage of a critical error and rolled him up for the pin. It was his first WWF title of any kind and his first singles title since 1985.
FAVORITE MANEUVER
Flying dropkick. Although it was far more effective while he teamed with Michaels, Jannetty’s dropkick continues to rank among the sport’s best. The key ingredient is height, and he’s a pro at elevating from a standing start. At the point of greatest height, Jannetty pushes
Full article below (edited for readability):
THE RECENT WWF Intercontinental champion has always been an outstanding athlete... At 5'11", 230 pounds, he compensates for his lack of size with outstanding scientific skills and an exciting aerial attack... Is native of Columbus, Georgia, has one brother and three sisters... Was a standout at Hardaway High School, where he played linebacker and running back on the football team in the fall and wrestled (at) Georgia on a wrestling scholarship... Attended for two years, both times advancing to the NCAA championships at 178 pounds... Got his big break in 1984, when he was approached by Central States promoter Bob Geigel... Decided to turn pro after his second year of college... Was trained by Jerry Oates... Earned a victory in his first pro match, pinning Roger Kirby in 10 minutes... Teamed with Tommy Rogers to defeat The Grapplers for the Central States tag team title in 1984... He also held the belts two other times, with Bulldog Bob Brown and Shawn Michaels... During that time, Jannetty and Michaels formed a fateful alliance: Whomever made it to a major territory first would get in touch with the other.
Jannetty's first individual title came on September 22, 1985, when he defeated Mr. Pogo for the Central States belt. Lost the title before joining the AWA. In early 1986, shortly after arriving in the AWA, he kept his promise and called Michaels, who immediately joined him in Minneapolis, then the federation's base. They originally wanted to call themselves The American Express, but settled on The Midnight Rockers because of their late night partying habits and love for rock 'n' roll. Though they insisted they weren't copying The Rock 'n' Roll Express, Jannetty once filled in for Rick Morton and teamed with Robert Gibson at Central States. Jannetty and Michaels were an instant hit, both with the fans and on the mat.
Lost a controversial match to Buddy Rose and Doug Somers at WrestleRock '86. The Rockers appeared to have won the AWA World tag team belts on July 13, 1986, when Michaels pinned Somers, but officials ruled Rose, not Somers, was the legal man in the ring, and the decision was reversed. The Rose and Somers vs. Rockers feud intensified until January 27, 1987, when Jannetty and Michaels finally won their first team title. Jannetty covered Somers for the win after a perfect double-dropkick knocked Rose out of the ring... The Rockers, ragingly successful, issued an open challenge to any team in the world. The move backfired when they lost the belts in a shocking upset to Boris Zukhov and Soldat Ustinov on May 25 in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
After the title changed hands several times, Jannetty and Michaels feuded with the "Original" Midnight Express, Dennis Condrey and Randy Rose... The Rockers regained the belts on December 27, 1987, in Las Vegas, when AWA President Stanley Blackburn overruled the Midnights' controversial win over the Rockers. That reign ended on March 19, 1988, with a loss to Pat Tanaka and Paul Diamond... Having done all they could in the AWA and solidly established as a valuable commodity, Jannetty and Michaels jumped to the WWF in 1989 and changed their names to The Rockers.
Feuded with The Hart Foundation and The Brainbusters, proved the value of skill and speed over power when they won matches against Warlord and Barbarian... But The Rockers had to take a step back when they lost to the recently formed team of Jim Powers and Paul Roma at SummerSlam '90. They appeared on the decline, losing important matches, and Michaels underwent surgery on his right knee... But just when things looked bleakest, The Rockers defeated The Hart Foundation on October 30, 1990, in a best-of-three falls match for the WWF World tag team tide. However, WWF President Jack Tunney nullified the verdict because the top rope was knocked off its cornerpost during the second fall, causing the ropes to sag. That was the turning point in The Rockers' WWF tenure.
They defeated The Barbarian and Haku at WrestleMania VII, but couldn't overcome their disappointment with Tunney's decision. People started doubting their menial toughness, and Jannetty and Michaels started doubting each other. Dissension overcame The Rockers and they began arguing during their matches. The breakup finally happened on Brutus Beefcake's "Barber Shop": Jannetty and Michaels shook hands, apparently having reconciled their differences, when Michaels suddenly blindsided him. The Rockers were finished, Michaels' career soared, Jannetty's career sagged.
First, he was injured when Michaels threw him through a plate-glass window. Michaels went on to win the Intercontinental title. Jannetty left the WWF and, it seemed, wrestling... He returned to the federation in October 1992. Jannetty came to ringside during Michaels' match against Jim Brunzell on October 12 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and antagonized his ex partner, who was shocked to see him. The following night in Regina, Jannetty defeated Jim Powers, and the comeback was up to speed.
In late October, he stormed the ring and attacked Michaels. To avoid being hit, Michaels pulled his valet, Sensational Sherri, in front of him and Jannetty broke Sherri's mirror over her head. Days later, Michaels won the I-C title from Bret Hart. The former Rockers finally took their feud into the ring.
Sherri began showing up at ringside to support Jannetty. He was pinned by Michaels at the Royal Rumble in January, Sherri interfered and accidentally hit Jannetty with her shoe. Again, he dropped out of the picture.
On May 17 at WWF Monday Night Raw in New York, Michaels issued an open challenge and put his title on the line. Jannetty, wearing a hooded sweatshirt, answered the call; Michaels, shocked when he realized it was Jannetty, was goaded into accepting the challenge and paid the price. Curt Hennig came to ringside and hit Michaels in the face with a towel, Jannetty rolled him up for the pin... The Rockers had come full circle.
Once rising singles stars, then aspiring tag team partners, then partners and finally enemies, Michaels and Jannetty had traded the I-C title. For the first time in a long time, Jannetty had the upper hand. It lasted less than three weeks, when Michaels regained the belt on June 6 in Albany, New York... This war of former partners seems a long way from being settled.
13 notes
·
View notes