A.J. Petrucci
Encyclopedia
A. J. Petrucci is an American professional wrestler. He was one half of the Extreme Championship Wrestling
(ECW) tag team The Super Destroyers as Super Destroyer #1 with his partner Doug Stahl
, who was known as Super Destroyer #2.
under Tony Altomare. Three months into training he had his first match in Phillipsburg, New Jersey
against B. Brian Blair
. In 1985, Petrucci, as the Masked Assassin, and The Spoiler
lost a match against Barry Windham
and Mike Rotunda
at Madison Square Garden
in New York City.
In 1988, he and Ron Shaw
formed the Executioners and made their way to Jim Crockett
's National Wrestling Alliance
to work against the New Breed (Chris Champion and Sean Royal
). In 1991 he formed The Super Destroyers
tag team with partner Doug Stahl
and manager Hunter Q. Robins III in Eastern Championship Wrestling, which was later renamed to Extreme Championship Wrestling
(ECW). While in ECW, the Super Destroyers were crowned the first ECW Tag Team Champions
. Both Petrucci and Stahl left the company in 1994, after holding the title twice. Petrucci's father was diagnosed with lung cancer
, causing Petrucci to take time off and stay close to home.
In 1996, Petrucci begain to train his cousin and Gene Snitsky
and Robb Harper. At this time he also formed the tag team The Darkside Demons, alternating between Snitsky and Harper until he felt they were ready to wrestle on their own. After the passing of his father and the signing of Snitsky to World Wrestling Entertainment, Petrucci returned to wrestling in 2005 with NWL/HOPWL. Petrucci has won the Heavyweight, Television and Tag Team titles with this promotion. In 2005 he was also awarded the Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year.
with a B.S. in Criminal Justice
. When he is not wrestling, he works as a counselor for troubled and runaway clients.
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
(ECW) tag team The Super Destroyers as Super Destroyer #1 with his partner Doug Stahl
Doug Stahl
Douglas E. Stahl is an American professional wrestler who currently works in the Independent circuit as one half of the masked Tag team known as The Super Destroyers...
, who was known as Super Destroyer #2.
Professional wrestling career
Petrucci started training in 1984 at the World Wrestling Federation's wrestling school in Orange, ConnecticutOrange, Connecticut
Orange is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 13,233 at the 2000 census. A 2007 Census Bureau estimate puts the population at 13,813. The town is governed by a Board of Selectmen.-History:...
under Tony Altomare. Three months into training he had his first match in Phillipsburg, New Jersey
Phillipsburg, New Jersey
Phillipsburg, known locally as P'burg, is a town in Warren County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of 2010 United States Census, the town's population was 14,950....
against B. Brian Blair
Brian Blair
Brian Leslie Blair is a local politician in Florida, who gained fame as a professional wrestler especially as a part of the Killer Bees.-Career:...
. In 1985, Petrucci, as the Masked Assassin, and The Spoiler
Don Jardine
Don Jardine was a Canadian professional wrestler best known for his masked gimmick as "The Spoiler".-Career:Jardine began wrestling in the mid-1950s,making his wrestling debut in 1955 at the age of 15...
lost a match against Barry Windham
Barry Windham
Barry Clinton Windham is an American semi-retired professional wrestler and the son of wrestler Blackjack Mulligan. He is best known for his appearances with the National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling ....
and Mike Rotunda
Mike Rotunda
Lawrence Michael "Mike" Rotunda is a former American professional wrestler, perhaps best known under the name Irwin R. Schyster or I.R.S. for short. He is currently signed with WWE working as a road agent and making occasional appearances on WWE shows as Irwin R...
at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
in New York City.
In 1988, he and Ron Shaw
Ron Shaw
Ron Shaw was an English professional footballer who spent his entire professional career with Torquay United, making 384 appearances in the Football League.-References:...
formed the Executioners and made their way to Jim Crockett
Jim Crockett
James Allen Crockett was a professional wrestling promoter sometimes known as Jim Crockett, Sr. or to people within the business simply as "Big Jim".-Early life:...
's National Wrestling Alliance
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
to work against the New Breed (Chris Champion and Sean Royal
Sean Royal
Sean Royal was a professional wrestler from Tampa, Florida, in the United States.-Career:Sean Royal started wrestling in 1986 in Florida Championship Wrestling in a tag team with Chris Champion called The New Breed They claimed to be from the year 2002 and came to the ring to the tune of the...
). In 1991 he formed The Super Destroyers
The Super Destroyers
The Super Destroyers is a Professional wrestling Tag team consisting of Doug Stahl and A.J. Petrucci. They both currently perform on Independent circuit and they are best known for their stint in NWA Eastern Championship Wrestling where they were the first-ever and longest reigning tag team...
tag team with partner Doug Stahl
Doug Stahl
Douglas E. Stahl is an American professional wrestler who currently works in the Independent circuit as one half of the masked Tag team known as The Super Destroyers...
and manager Hunter Q. Robins III in Eastern Championship Wrestling, which was later renamed to Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
(ECW). While in ECW, the Super Destroyers were crowned the first ECW Tag Team Champions
ECW Tag Team Championship
The Extreme Championship Wrestling World Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling world tag team championship in Extreme Championship Wrestling...
. Both Petrucci and Stahl left the company in 1994, after holding the title twice. Petrucci's father was diagnosed with lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
, causing Petrucci to take time off and stay close to home.
In 1996, Petrucci begain to train his cousin and Gene Snitsky
Gene Snitsky
Eugene Alan "Gene" Snisky is a professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Snitsky, who is best known for his time spent with World Wrestling Entertainment. He had played college football at the University of Missouri and was on the pre-season roster in 1995 for the Birmingham Barracudas...
and Robb Harper. At this time he also formed the tag team The Darkside Demons, alternating between Snitsky and Harper until he felt they were ready to wrestle on their own. After the passing of his father and the signing of Snitsky to World Wrestling Entertainment, Petrucci returned to wrestling in 2005 with NWL/HOPWL. Petrucci has won the Heavyweight, Television and Tag Team titles with this promotion. In 2005 he was also awarded the Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year.
Personal life
Petrucci graduated from Kutztown University of PennsylvaniaKutztown University of Pennsylvania
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania , is an American public university located in rural Kutztown, Berks County, Pennsylvania and is one of fourteen schools that comprise the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary...
with a B.S. in Criminal Justice
Criminal justice
Criminal Justice is the system of practices and institutions of governments directed at upholding social control, deterring and mitigating crime, or sanctioning those who violate laws with criminal penalties and rehabilitation efforts...
. When he is not wrestling, he works as a counselor for troubled and runaway clients.
Championships and accomplishments
- Eastern Championship WrestlingExtreme Championship WrestlingExtreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
- ECW Tag Team ChampionshipECW Tag Team ChampionshipThe Extreme Championship Wrestling World Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling world tag team championship in Extreme Championship Wrestling...
(2 times) - with Doug StahlDoug StahlDouglas E. Stahl is an American professional wrestler who currently works in the Independent circuit as one half of the masked Tag team known as The Super Destroyers...
- ECW Tag Team Championship
- National Wrestling LeagueNational Wrestling LeagueThe National Wrestling League, headquartered out of Hagerstown, Maryland, was founded by Dick Caricofe in 1988, and has held professional wrestling events throughout the US and overseas in Guam, Saipan, Pohnpei, Hawaiian Islands, Palau, and the Marshall Islands...
/ House of Pain Wrestling Federation- NWL Heavyweight ChampionshipNWL Heavyweight ChampionshipThe NWL Heavyweight Championship is the top professional wrestling title in the National Wrestling League promotion. It was created on March 3, 1989, when John Rambo defeated "Russian" Ivan Koloff in Elk Garden, West Virginia. The title is defended primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and East Coast, most...
(1 time) - HoPWF Tag Team ChampionshipHoPWF Tag Team ChampionshipThe HoPWF Tag Team Championship is the top professional wrestling tag team title in the House of Pain Wrestling Federation promotion. It was created on January 20, 1998, when Gutterboy & Randy The Violator defeated Flex Fenom & Shorty Smalls in Hagerstown, Maryland...
(1 time) - with Doug Stahl
- NWL Heavyweight Championship
- World Wrestling Association
- WWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Doug Stahl