Bay Ragni
Encyclopedia
Bay Ragni is an American
professional wrestler
and former promoter
, also known by his ring name
Chubby Dudley.
and Jimmy Jannetty. He debuted in Eastern Championship Wrestling, the forerunner to Extreme Championship Wrestling
, in the early 1990s as E.Z. Ryder, a biker
character. He went on to form a tag team known as The Hell Riders with partner H.D. Ryder. The duo could be seen regularly on early ECW TV broadcasts, usually going against The Super Destroyers
.
Ragni left ECW in 1993 and briefly toured the Mid-Atlantic independent scene before landing in the Delaware
-based East Coast Wrestling Association
. During his stint, he wrestled against Cheetah Master and Boogie Woogie Brown before once again hitting the independent circuit.
, slobbish member of the Dudley family
. Ragni rarely wrestled, but would accompany his storyline half-brothers to ringside, normally while holding a cake
, Crunchberries
or other snack. If the other members of the Dudley family were incapacitated, Ragni would flee from ringside. He remained in ECW for two years before he was driven out by D-Von Dudley, who had declared war on his half-brothers for not being serious enough, and took a dim view of the comedic antics of Dudleys such as Chubby and Dances With Dudley
.
in 1994, opening Liberty All-Star Wrestling (LAW) along with "Lucky" Larry Reed and Frank "Super Cody" Cody. LAW was based in Chester Heights
, with a training academy, Liberty All-Star Wrestling Academy, in Lansdowne
. Ragni acted as the commissioner of the promotion, occasionally refereed, and wrestled matches. The promotion closed in May 2002. Following the closure of LAW, Ragni began working backstage with the American Wrestling Federation
in New Jersey
.
on tour.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
and former promoter
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
, also known by his ring name
Ring name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
Chubby Dudley.
Independent circuit
Ragni trained in Philadelphia under the Tri-State Wrestling Alliance's Larry WintersLarry Winters
"The Living Legend" Larry Winters is a semi-retired American professional wrestler and trainer who competed in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and East Coast independent circuit during the 1980s and 90s...
and Jimmy Jannetty. He debuted in Eastern Championship Wrestling, the forerunner 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...
, in the early 1990s as E.Z. Ryder, a biker
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
character. He went on to form a tag team known as The Hell Riders with partner H.D. Ryder. The duo could be seen regularly on early ECW TV broadcasts, usually going against 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...
.
Ragni left ECW in 1993 and briefly toured the Mid-Atlantic independent scene before landing in the Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
-based East Coast Wrestling Association
East Coast Wrestling Association
East Coast Wrestling Association is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded by promoter Jim Kettner in 1967. It is home to the annual Super 8 Tournament, one of the longest-running independent wrestling tournaments in the country...
. During his stint, he wrestled against Cheetah Master and Boogie Woogie Brown before once again hitting the independent circuit.
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Ragni returned to Eastern Championship Wrestling, which had been renamed Extreme Championship Wrestling in 1994. In early 1995 he began appearing as Chubby Dudley, an obeseObesity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
, slobbish member of the Dudley family
Dudley family
The Dudley Family was a large professional wrestling stable of storyline half-brothers in Extreme Championship Wrestling.-Gimmick:The gimmick of the group was that, despite their obvious differences in physical appearance and race, the members were all said to be the sons of the fictional Willy...
. Ragni rarely wrestled, but would accompany his storyline half-brothers to ringside, normally while holding a cake
Cake
Cake is a form of bread or bread-like food. In its modern forms, it is typically a sweet and enriched baked dessert. In its oldest forms, cakes were normally fried breads or cheesecakes, and normally had a disk shape...
, Crunchberries
Cap'n Crunch
Cap'n Crunch is a product line of sweetened corn and oat breakfast cereals introduced in 1963 and manufactured by Quaker Oats Company. Quaker Oats has been a division of PepsiCo since 2001. The product line is heralded by a cartoon mascot named Cap'n Crunch, a sea captain .-Development:Pamela Low,...
or other snack. If the other members of the Dudley family were incapacitated, Ragni would flee from ringside. He remained in ECW for two years before he was driven out by D-Von Dudley, who had declared war on his half-brothers for not being serious enough, and took a dim view of the comedic antics of Dudleys such as Chubby and Dances With Dudley
Adolfo Bermudez
Adolfo Bermudez is an American professional wrestler, known by his ring name Dances with Dudley, who competed in North American independent promotions including the American Wrestling Federation, International World Class Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling, most notably as an...
.
Liberty All-Star Wrestling
Ragni began promotingProfessional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
in 1994, opening Liberty All-Star Wrestling (LAW) along with "Lucky" Larry Reed and Frank "Super Cody" Cody. LAW was based in Chester Heights
Chester Heights, Pennsylvania
Chester Heights is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,481 at the 2000 census. Most of the borough lies south of U.S...
, with a training academy, Liberty All-Star Wrestling Academy, in Lansdowne
Lansdowne, Pennsylvania
Lansdowne is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States located southwest of downtown Philadelphia. It was named for the Marquess of Lansdowne. The borough grew quickly in the early part of the twentieth century when a railroad stop was established near the intersection of...
. Ragni acted as the commissioner of the promotion, occasionally refereed, and wrestled matches. The promotion closed in May 2002. Following the closure of LAW, Ragni began working backstage with the American Wrestling Federation
American Wrestling Federation
The American Wrestling Federation was a national professional wrestling federation founded by Paul Alperstein.-History:Alperstein, a promoter from Chicago, founded the AWF in 1994 and was on-air president of the company....
in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
.
Personal life
Ragni is married to Jess, with three children. In 2010, his punk rock band The Dead Gerber Babies were part of a contest to open for KISSKISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
on tour.