Mike Bucci
Encyclopedia
Michael "Mike" Bucci is an American
semi-retired professional wrestler
. Bucci is probably best known for his appearances in Extreme Championship Wrestling
as Nova, Super Nova, and "Hollywood" Nova and World Wrestling Entertainment
as Simon Dean. Bucci failed to win a single championship during his tenures with ECW and WWE.
in Toms River, New Jersey
, he attended nearby Ocean County College
for a few semesters. There, he met a friend who informed him of a wrestling school in nearby Brick Township, New Jersey
, run by "Iron" Mike Sharpe
. Bucci trained at the school and officially went pro in 1992.
Bucci's first taste of superstar exposure came between 1992 and 1994 when WWF Chairman
Vince McMahon
used talent from various promotions as jobber
s to various up and coming superstars on WWF programming.
During his time spent in Mike Sharpe's wrestling school, Bucci wrestled as a superhero with a mullet; his attire included a star over his right eye and a sparkly blue cape. Bucci sparked the interest of Raven
as Raven was looking to put together a new stable known as The Flock
in Extreme Championship Wrestling
and asked Bucci to appear at the ECW Arena in South Philadelphia.
Upon his arrival in ECW
, Bucci was immediately paired with Raven, Stevie Richards
, and The Blue Meanie
in the Flock. His first exposure to the crowd was as a parody
of KISS
where the wrestlers came out to KISS's hit "Rock and Roll All Nite
" and did the bump and strut with air guitar
s. Although it was intended to garner heat
with the crowd, it was an immediate hit. Later a quote was stated to have been said by Bubba Ray Dudley in the Rise and Fall of ECW book, "that was great; the crowd really loved it. The only thing better than that would be ... a parody of the nWo
."
to parody the New World Order
(nWo); it was granted, and Bucci was given credit with the creation of the Blue World Order
(bWo) logo. Bucci would parody Hollywood Hogan
, after a dispute between Raven and Richards, where Richards said "if he's Hogan, fans will think he's the leader of The Flock", Raven then said, "Fuck it ... he's Hogan" (and was originally introduced by Stevie as "Hollywood" Bob Star). Richards became "Big Stevie Cool" (a takeoff on Kevin Nash
's nickname of "Big Daddy Cool"), and Meanie was "Da Blue Guy", a takeoff on Scott Hall
, "Da Bad Guy". Many other members were added and removed between 1996 and 1998 before the team split in the latter.
In 1998, he, along with many other ECW talent, competed at Jersey All Pro Wrestling
's first anniversary show.
Nova was known for having a unique and creative move set and was called by Joey Styles
"the most imitated man in wrestling" and the "innovator of offense" by Jeremy Borash
due to the fact that almost all his moves were copied by other wrestlers in the business.
In late 2000 through early 2001, he started a heated rivalry with his former tag partner Chris Chetti
, who he beat in a match where the loser was fired. His last televised appearance in ECW was at their last pay-per view, Guilty as Charged. At the second to last ECW event in Poplar Bluff, Missouri
, he was named as Danny Doring
's substitute tag team partner (filling in for Amish Roadkill
) to help defend the World Tag Team Championship
against Hot Commodity; Doring and Nova successfully defended the titles.
's Ultimate Pro Wrestling, and New Jersey
's Phoenix Championship Wrestling
, the latter of which was founded by his brother Don Bucci. During this time, he formed a successful tag team with Frankie Kazarian
known as Evolution (not to be confused with the World Wrestling Entertainment stable of the same name
). In most of the promotions they competed for, they were successful in becoming tag team champions. He has been heavily punished in several promotions for using butter. He also briefly wrestled in the short-lived Australia
-based World Wrestling All-Stars
, where he feuded with A.J. Styles
amongst other cruiserweights
for the promotion's International Cruiserweight Championship
, which he was unable to win before the company folded. In late 2001, he also worked a number of shows in England. In April 2002, Bucci received a phone call from the then-World Wrestling Federation
to partake in a developmental program at Ohio Valley Wrestling
.
(who would later wrestle in WWE as John Cena
) and became the promotion's Heavyweight Champion
. He held the title for half a year before losing the title to The Damaja. In June 2004 Bucci was named the assistant booker of OVW. It was around this time that he was called up to start competing in SmackDown! dark matches and on Velocity
. He then began to try out a Richard Simmons
–like fitness-expert type of gimmick.
(WWE), Bucci portrayed the gimmick of a physical-fitness guru, very similar to Ben Stiller
's character Tony Perkis in the movie Heavyweights
, named Simon Dean. The name was inspired by Dean Malenko
's real name, Dean Simon. Introductory promos showed him "selling" his "Simon System", a supposed program of diet, exercise, and supplementation. The promos parodied fitness infomercials, as Simon routinely insulted his supposed customers. The promos went so far as to provide an actual telephone number to call and order the Simon System; however, unlike virtually all infomercials, the number was not toll-free. People who called the number wound up hearing a WWE promo.
During this gimmick, he acted as the sponsor of Raw
, occasionally wrestling after first insulting the fitness of the crowd and the area in which they were located. After not making much of an impact on Raw, he formed a tag team with fellow heel
wrestler Maven
who supposedly was a user of the "Simon System". Again, not much of an impact was made, as Bucci was traded to SmackDown! on June 30, 2005 and Maven was released the next month.
, Bucci returned as Hollywood Nova with Da Blue Guy
and Big Stevie Cool
as the bWo. During the event, Joey Styles
made a reference to his "Simon Dean" character. After Bucci was hit with two chairs, Styles said, "That's more painful than having to be Simon Dean on national TV".
When Bucci moved to SmackDown! as part of the draft lottery, he joined the other members of the bWo and appeared as "Hollywood" Nova for his first appearance on the show. His next appearance for the brand was wrestling on its sister show, Velocity
, as Simon Dean. The general belief was that the bWo appearance was going to be a one off, meaning Bucci would keep to his "health sponsor" gimmick. It was announced, however, that the bWo would participate in a 6-man tag match at The Great American Bash
against The Mexicools
(Juventud
, Psicosis, and Super Crazy
). The announcement of this match occurred on the same edition of SmackDown! that Bucci's Simon Dean character had a match with Booker T
. At the Great American Bash, the bWo lost to the Mexicools in the six-man tag team match. The appearance of the bWo soon faded as The Blue Meanie wasn't staying with the company and Richards began returning to his previous heel gimmick while Bucci continued with the Simon Dean persona.
In late August, the Simon Dean character began coming to the ring on the Dean Machine (a Segway PT
type machine). He would also force feed
"Simon System" products to jobbers who wouldn't accept his offer to try them after defeating them in squash matches. The Simon Dean character had his first major WWE pay-per-view appearance at No Mercy
, in a loss against Bobby Lashley. After the match, Dean ate 20 double cheeseburgers which caused him to vomit backstage. Dean had been noted on his later appearances as the "Head of SmackDown!s welcoming committee", a position in which he was used as a jobber to debuting wrestlers.
During the January 6, 2006 episode of SmackDown!, Dean came to the ring and challenged any tag team
. Paul London and Brian Kendrick
answered the challenge, only to be brutally attacked by The Gymini
(Jake and Jesse), two alleged users of The Simon System. Dean began managing the team, but the team soon faded off television after Jesse suffered an injury in May 2006 and Dean went back to jobbing to other superstars.
, and Ted DiBiase, Jr.
among others.
On Friday, August 31st, 2007 Bucci was released from WWE. Bucci's name had been implicated, along with a host of others, in a supplement/steroid scandal through Signature Pharmacy by the New York Daily News. \
Bucci claims he grew tired of the "politics" of the "business", and also hated that he had to move his wife to Cambridge, Connecticut
from their home in Kentucky
, for a while.
next year, but is now focusing on real estate and his family as heard in a November 2008 interview.
's "To The Extreme" weekend event, where he teamed with the Blue Meanie for his first in-ring performances in nearly 3 years, a match, where they unsuccessfully challenged Project Ego (Kris Travis and Martin Kirby) for the 1PW Tag Team Championship
. Bucci has since wrestled for both 1PW and International Wrestling Cartel.
On June 27th, 2009, Bucci, again as Hollywood Nova appeared with many other former ECW talent at the Francine Fournier
run benefit show entitled Legends of The Arena. The event took place at the original ECW Arena in South Philadelphia
. As a benefit for deceased members of Francine's family a portion of the ticket sales went to The American Cancer Society. He accompanied Blue Meanie
to the ring where they as the bWo
defeated the team of Little Guido and Big Sal the Full Blooded Italians.
On August 8, 2010, Bucci took part in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
's ECW reunion show, Hardcore Justice
, where he, as Hollywood Nova, accompanied Stevie Richards to the ring and later attacked Tommy Dreamer
during his match with Raven.
He is the twin brother of Phoenix Championship Wrestling promoter and founder Don "Donnie B." Bucci.
His original career choice was to be a math teacher, as confirmed in his RF Video shoot interview. He managed a Wendy's
in Toms River to make money to pay for gas for his trips to work with ECW in the mid-90s, as confirmed in his RF Video shoot interview and The Rise and Fall of ECW
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
semi-retired 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...
. Bucci is probably best known for his appearances in 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...
as Nova, Super Nova, and "Hollywood" Nova and World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
as Simon Dean. Bucci failed to win a single championship during his tenures with ECW and WWE.
Professional wrestling career
After graduating in 1990 from Toms River High School EastToms River High School East
Toms River High School East is a comprehensive four-year public high school, the third high school built in Toms River, New Jersey, as part of the Toms River Regional Schools. It was built in 1979, after the first and second high schools; Toms River High School South and Toms River High School...
in Toms River, New Jersey
Toms River, New Jersey
Toms River is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Toms River Township and is the county seat of Ocean County, New Jersey. It is part of a larger Toms River Township...
, he attended nearby Ocean County College
Ocean County College
Ocean County College is an accredited, coeducational, two-year, public, community college located in Ocean County, New Jersey. Its main campus is in Toms River...
for a few semesters. There, he met a friend who informed him of a wrestling school in nearby Brick Township, New Jersey
Brick Township, New Jersey
-Transportation:The major county routes that pass through are CR 528, and CR 549 . Two state routes pass through: Route 70 and Route 88...
, run by "Iron" Mike Sharpe
Mike Sharpe
Michael "Mike" Sharpe is a Canadian professional wrestler better known as Iron Mike Sharpe.-Career:Sharpe comes from a family legacy of wrestling, as his father and uncle were a successful tag team in the 1950s, recognized as champions from San Francisco to Japan. He grew up in California, but...
. Bucci trained at the school and officially went pro in 1992.
Bucci's first taste of superstar exposure came between 1992 and 1994 when WWF Chairman
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
Vince McMahon
Vince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon is an American professional wrestling promoter, announcer, commentator, film producer, actor and former occasional professional wrestler. McMahon is the current Chairman, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of professional wrestling promotion WWE...
used talent from various promotions as jobber
Job (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling slang, the term job describes a losing performance in a wrestling match. It is derived from the euphemism "doing one's job", which was employed to protect kayfabe. As professional wrestling is scripted, inevitably a wrestler will be required to lose to an opponent.The term...
s to various up and coming superstars on WWF programming.
During his time spent in Mike Sharpe's wrestling school, Bucci wrestled as a superhero with a mullet; his attire included a star over his right eye and a sparkly blue cape. Bucci sparked the interest of Raven
Scott Levy
Scott Anthony Levy , better known by his ring name Raven, is an American professional wrestler, wrestling producer, wrestling writer, and occasional author and actor currently working for Juggalo Championship Wrestling , where he is co-holder of the JCW Tag Team Championship, as well as other...
as Raven was looking to put together a new stable known as The Flock
Raven's Nest
Raven's Nest was a professional wrestling stable led by Raven that was present in Extreme Championship Wrestling between 1995 and 1997.Later, Raven created other incarnations of the group in World Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling .-Raven's Nest:Raven's Nest was a large...
in 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...
and asked Bucci to appear at the ECW Arena in South Philadelphia.
Extreme Championship Wrestling (1996–2001)
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...
, Bucci was immediately paired with Raven, Stevie Richards
Stevie Richards
Michael Manna is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Stevie Richards. Also known by his ring names, Steven Richards and Dr...
, and The Blue Meanie
Brian Heffron
Brian Heffron is a professional wrestler and actor better known as The Blue Meanie or Da Blue Guy.-Early career:...
in the Flock. His first exposure to the crowd was as a parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
of KISS
KISS (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,...
where the wrestlers came out to KISS's hit "Rock and Roll All Nite
Rock and Roll All Nite
"Rock and Roll All Nite" is a song by Kiss, originally released on their 1975 album Dressed to Kill. It was released as the A-side of their fifth single, with the album track "Getaway." The studio version of the song peaked at No. 57 on the Billboard singles chart, besting the band's previous...
" and did the bump and strut with air guitar
Air guitar
Playing air guitar is a form of dance and movement in which the performer pretends to play rock or heavy metal-style electric guitar, including riffs, solos, etc. Playing an air guitar usually consists of exaggerated strumming and picking motions and is often coupled with loud singing or lip-synching...
s. Although it was intended to garner heat
Heat (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, heat refers to both crowd reaction and real-life animosity between those involved in the professional wrestling business. In terms of crowd reaction, heat is usually either cheers for a babyface or boos for a heel...
with the crowd, it was an immediate hit. Later a quote was stated to have been said by Bubba Ray Dudley in the Rise and Fall of ECW book, "that was great; the crowd really loved it. The only thing better than that would be ... a parody of the nWo
New World Order (professional wrestling)
The New World Order was a professional wrestling stable that originally wrestled for World Championship Wrestling . The group later appeared in the World Wrestling Federation after the purchase of WCW by the WWF...
."
blue World order
Bucci, along with Richards, asked permission from both Raven and Paul HeymanPaul Heyman
Paul Heyman is an American entertainment producer, best known for his career in professional wrestling as a promoter, manager, commentator and journalist. He is also an occasional actor in film....
to parody the New World Order
New World Order (professional wrestling)
The New World Order was a professional wrestling stable that originally wrestled for World Championship Wrestling . The group later appeared in the World Wrestling Federation after the purchase of WCW by the WWF...
(nWo); it was granted, and Bucci was given credit with the creation of the Blue World Order
Blue World Order
The Blue World Order was a stable of professional wrestlers formed at Extreme Championship Wrestling's November to Remember 1996 event at the ECW Arena...
(bWo) logo. Bucci would parody Hollywood Hogan
Hulk Hogan
Terrance Gene "Terry" Bollea , better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American Semi-retired professional wrestler, actor, television personality, and musician currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
, after a dispute between Raven and Richards, where Richards said "if he's Hogan, fans will think he's the leader of The Flock", Raven then said, "Fuck it ... he's Hogan" (and was originally introduced by Stevie as "Hollywood" Bob Star). Richards became "Big Stevie Cool" (a takeoff on Kevin Nash
Kevin Nash
Kevin Scott Nash is an American professional wrestler and actor. As of 2011, Nash is signed to a five year contract with WWE under their WWE Legends program and appears as part of their Raw brand roster...
's nickname of "Big Daddy Cool"), and Meanie was "Da Blue Guy", a takeoff on Scott Hall
Scott Hall
Scott Hall is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his tenure with the World Wrestling Federation in the early and mid 1990s under the ring name Razor Ramon, as well as for his period in the mid 1990s and early 2000s with World Championship Wrestling under his real name...
, "Da Bad Guy". Many other members were added and removed between 1996 and 1998 before the team split in the latter.
In 1998, he, along with many other ECW talent, competed at Jersey All Pro Wrestling
Jersey All Pro Wrestling
Jersey All Pro Wrestling is an independent wrestling promotion based in New Jersey.-1997:Jersey All Pro Wrestling is an independent wrestling promotion that was founded by "Fat" Frank Iadeavia on April 19, 1997. This promotion was born out of a dream of "Fat" Frank. He wanted to take the promotion...
's first anniversary show.
Nova was known for having a unique and creative move set and was called by Joey Styles
Joey Styles
Joseph Carmine Bonsignore better known by his ring name Joey Styles, is an American professional wrestling play-by-play commentator and former professional in the field of advertising sales...
"the most imitated man in wrestling" and the "innovator of offense" by Jeremy Borash
Jeremy Borash
Jeremy Borash , is an American professional wrestling play-by-play commentator, announcer, ring announcer, booker, interviewer, producer and website designer...
due to the fact that almost all his moves were copied by other wrestlers in the business.
In late 2000 through early 2001, he started a heated rivalry with his former tag partner Chris Chetti
Chris Chetti
Christopher "Chris" Chetti is an American professional wrestler. He is perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling between 1996 and 2000.-Extreme Championship Wrestling :...
, who he beat in a match where the loser was fired. His last televised appearance in ECW was at their last pay-per view, Guilty as Charged. At the second to last ECW event in Poplar Bluff, Missouri
Poplar Bluff, Missouri
Poplar Bluff is a city in Butler County located in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is the county seat of Butler County and is known as "The Gateway to the Ozarks" among other names. As of the 2000 U.S...
, he was named as Danny Doring
Danny Doring
Dan Morrison is an American wrestler better known as Danny Doring, most known for his time in Extreme Championship Wrestling, as the tag team partner of Roadkill...
's substitute tag team partner (filling in for Amish Roadkill
Michael Depoli
Michael DePoli is a retired professional wrestler best known for his work in Extreme Championship Wrestling. He worked for World Wrestling Entertainment in its Ohio Valley Wrestling developmental territory...
) to help defend the World Tag Team Championship
ECW Tag Team Championship
The Extreme Championship Wrestling World Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling world tag team championship in Extreme Championship Wrestling...
against Hot Commodity; Doring and Nova successfully defended the titles.
Independent circuit and overseas (2001–2002)
When ECW went out of business, Bucci, as Nova, became more active on the indy scene until 2003. Nova wrestled in various promotions such as CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
's Ultimate Pro Wrestling, and 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...
's Phoenix Championship Wrestling
Phoenix Championship Wrestling
Phoenix Championship Wrestling was a short-lived American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Toms River, New Jersey. It was founded by twin brothers Don and Mike Bucci in 2001 and promoted by Don Bucci until its close two years later...
, the latter of which was founded by his brother Don Bucci. During this time, he formed a successful tag team with Frankie Kazarian
Frankie Kazarian
Frank B. Gerdelman is an Armenian-American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Frankie Kazarian or simply Kazarian. He is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
known as Evolution (not to be confused with the World Wrestling Entertainment stable of the same name
Evolution (professional wrestling)
Evolution was a villainous professional wrestling stable on WWE's Raw brand between 2003 and 2005. At the height of its existence, the group consisted of Triple H, Ric Flair, Randy Orton, Batista and briefly Eugene....
). In most of the promotions they competed for, they were successful in becoming tag team champions. He has been heavily punished in several promotions for using butter. He also briefly wrestled in the short-lived Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
-based World Wrestling All-Stars
World Wrestling All-Stars
The World Wrestling All-Stars was a professional wrestling promotion founded by Australian concert promoter Andrew McManus in 2001. The promotion was operated by McManus' International Touring Company. WWA was one of several promotions to come into existence shortly after the closings of Extreme...
, where he feuded with A.J. Styles
A.J. Styles
Allen Neal Jones , better known by his ring name A.J. Styles is an American professional wrestler currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
amongst other cruiserweights
Cruiserweight (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a cruiserweight is a wrestler weighing 220 lb and less, sometimes 215. The older term junior heavyweight, which was used to describe the division, is more favored in Japan, where many titles for lighter-weight competitors are called junior heavyweight titles...
for the promotion's International Cruiserweight Championship
WWA International Cruiserweight Championship
The WWA International Cruiserweight Championship was the Cruiserweight championship for the Australian based wrestling promotion World Wrestling Allstars. The championship however was represented by a belt with "United States Light Heavyweight Champion" on the main plate.-Title history:-External...
, which he was unable to win before the company folded. In late 2001, he also worked a number of shows in England. In April 2002, Bucci received a phone call from the then-World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
to partake in a developmental program at Ohio Valley Wrestling
Ohio Valley Wrestling
Ohio Valley Wrestling is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Louisville, Kentucky. OVW is run by owner Danny Davis and was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance from 1997 until 2000...
.
Ohio Valley Wrestling
In April 2002, Nova, in his OVW debut, beat The PrototypeJohn Cena
John Felix Anthony Cena is an American professional wrestler, actor, rapper, and television personality. He is currently signed to WWE as a member of its WWE Raw brand....
(who would later wrestle in WWE as John Cena
John Cena
John Felix Anthony Cena is an American professional wrestler, actor, rapper, and television personality. He is currently signed to WWE as a member of its WWE Raw brand....
) and became the promotion's Heavyweight Champion
OVW Heavyweight Championship
The OVW Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling heavyweight championship owned by the Ohio Valley Wrestling promotion. The title was introduced on August 17, 1997 at an OVW live event, then known as the NWA-OVW Heavyweight Championship due to OVW's relationship with the National...
. He held the title for half a year before losing the title to The Damaja. In June 2004 Bucci was named the assistant booker of OVW. It was around this time that he was called up to start competing in SmackDown! dark matches and on Velocity
WWE Velocity
WWE Velocity was a professional wrestling television program produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It replaced two syndicated WWE shows, Jakked/Metal. Once a weekly Saturday night show on Spike TV and on Sky Sports 2 in the UK on Sunday mornings, Velocity became a webcast from 2005 to 2006...
. He then began to try out a Richard Simmons
Richard Simmons
Milton Teagle Simmons , known professionally as Richard Simmons, is an American fitness personality who promotes weight-loss programs, most famously through his Sweatin' to the Oldies line of aerobics videos and DVDs and is known for his eccentric, outgoing and frequently flamboyant personality...
–like fitness-expert type of gimmick.
Raw
In his debut for World Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(WWE), Bucci portrayed the gimmick of a physical-fitness guru, very similar to Ben Stiller
Ben Stiller
Benjamin Edward "Ben" Stiller is an American comedian, actor, writer, film director, and producer. He is the son of veteran comedians and actors Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara....
's character Tony Perkis in the movie Heavyweights
Heavyweights
Heavyweights is a 1995 comedy-drama film, directed by Steven Brill and co-written by Brill with Judd Apatow. Heavyweights is about a fat camp for kids that is taken over by a fitness guru named Tony Perkis .-Plot:...
, named Simon Dean. The name was inspired by Dean Malenko
Dean Malenko
Dean Simon is a retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Dean Malenko. He is currently signed to WWE working as a road agent. He is best known for his time with Extreme Championship Wrestling , New Japan Pro Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling...
's real name, Dean Simon. Introductory promos showed him "selling" his "Simon System", a supposed program of diet, exercise, and supplementation. The promos parodied fitness infomercials, as Simon routinely insulted his supposed customers. The promos went so far as to provide an actual telephone number to call and order the Simon System; however, unlike virtually all infomercials, the number was not toll-free. People who called the number wound up hearing a WWE promo.
During this gimmick, he acted as the sponsor of Raw
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
, occasionally wrestling after first insulting the fitness of the crowd and the area in which they were located. After not making much of an impact on Raw, he formed a tag team with fellow heel
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
wrestler Maven
Maven Huffman
Maven Klint Huffman is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment between October 2001 and July 5, 2005 under the name Maven. In 2008 he became a guest expert on the Home Shopping Network.-Early life:Maven was born to an African-American...
who supposedly was a user of the "Simon System". Again, not much of an impact was made, as Bucci was traded to SmackDown! on June 30, 2005 and Maven was released the next month.
SmackDown!
During a WWE produced ECW pay-per-view, One Night StandECW One Night Stand (2005)
ECW One Night Stand was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It was held on June 12, 2005 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, New York. The main event was a tag team match between The Dudley Boyz and the team of Tommy Dreamer and The Sandman...
, Bucci returned as Hollywood Nova with Da Blue Guy
Brian Heffron
Brian Heffron is a professional wrestler and actor better known as The Blue Meanie or Da Blue Guy.-Early career:...
and Big Stevie Cool
Stevie Richards
Michael Manna is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Stevie Richards. Also known by his ring names, Steven Richards and Dr...
as the bWo. During the event, Joey Styles
Joey Styles
Joseph Carmine Bonsignore better known by his ring name Joey Styles, is an American professional wrestling play-by-play commentator and former professional in the field of advertising sales...
made a reference to his "Simon Dean" character. After Bucci was hit with two chairs, Styles said, "That's more painful than having to be Simon Dean on national TV".
When Bucci moved to SmackDown! as part of the draft lottery, he joined the other members of the bWo and appeared as "Hollywood" Nova for his first appearance on the show. His next appearance for the brand was wrestling on its sister show, Velocity
WWE Velocity
WWE Velocity was a professional wrestling television program produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It replaced two syndicated WWE shows, Jakked/Metal. Once a weekly Saturday night show on Spike TV and on Sky Sports 2 in the UK on Sunday mornings, Velocity became a webcast from 2005 to 2006...
, as Simon Dean. The general belief was that the bWo appearance was going to be a one off, meaning Bucci would keep to his "health sponsor" gimmick. It was announced, however, that the bWo would participate in a 6-man tag match at The Great American Bash
The Great American Bash (2005)
The Great American Bash was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment .It was the second annual event and took place on July 24, 2005, at the HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York...
against The Mexicools
The Mexicools
The Mexicools were a professional wrestling stable and tag team, that were signed to World Wrestling Entertainment's SmackDown! brand. The team consisted of three well-known Mexican wrestlers of the late 1990s: Super Crazy, Psicosis and Juventud...
(Juventud
Juventud Guerrera
Eduardo Aníbal González Hernández , better known as Juventud Guerrera, is a Mexican professional wrestler who is best known for his work in many wrestling promotions worldwide, including all the major American wrestling promotions, such as World Wrestling Entertainment, World Championship...
, Psicosis, and Super Crazy
Super Crazy
Francisco Islas Rueda is a Mexican professional wrestler, or Luchador, best known by his ring name Super Crazy. Islas is most known for his three year run in the original ECW...
). The announcement of this match occurred on the same edition of SmackDown! that Bucci's Simon Dean character had a match with Booker T
Booker Huffman
Robert Booker Tio Huffman , better known by his ring name Booker T, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler and currently signed to WWE, on its SmackDown brand, as part of the announcing team. Booker is best known for his time in both the World Wrestling Entertainment and World...
. At the Great American Bash, the bWo lost to the Mexicools in the six-man tag team match. The appearance of the bWo soon faded as The Blue Meanie wasn't staying with the company and Richards began returning to his previous heel gimmick while Bucci continued with the Simon Dean persona.
In late August, the Simon Dean character began coming to the ring on the Dean Machine (a Segway PT
Segway PT
The Segway PT is a two-wheeled, self-balancing transportation machine invented by Dean Kamen. It is produced by Segway Inc. of New Hampshire, USA. The name "Segway" is a homophone of "segue" while "PT" denotes personal transporter....
type machine). He would also force feed
Force-feeding
Force-feeding is the practice of feeding a person or an animal against their will. "Gavage" is supplying a nutritional substance by means of a small plastic tube passed through the nose or mouth into the stomach, not explicitly 'forcibly'....
"Simon System" products to jobbers who wouldn't accept his offer to try them after defeating them in squash matches. The Simon Dean character had his first major WWE pay-per-view appearance at No Mercy
No Mercy (2005)
No Mercy was the eighth annual No Mercy professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It took place on October 9, 2005 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas and featured wrestlers and other talent from WWE's SmackDown! brand...
, in a loss against Bobby Lashley. After the match, Dean ate 20 double cheeseburgers which caused him to vomit backstage. Dean had been noted on his later appearances as the "Head of SmackDown!s welcoming committee", a position in which he was used as a jobber to debuting wrestlers.
During the January 6, 2006 episode of SmackDown!, Dean came to the ring and challenged any tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
. Paul London and Brian Kendrick
Paul London and Brian Kendrick
Paul London and Brian Kendrick are a professional wrestling tag team best known for their time together in World Wrestling Entertainment . The team never had an official team name, but were just referred to as "the tag team of London and Kendrick." In 2006 London and Kendrick put the tag team name...
answered the challenge, only to be brutally attacked by The Gymini
Shane Twins
The Shane Twins are a professional wrestling tag team that consist of twin brothers Mike and Todd Shane. They were best known for their appearances in World Wrestling Entertainment as Gymini.-History:The Shane Twins debuted in the Florida based Independent Pro Wrestling promotion in 1998...
(Jake and Jesse), two alleged users of The Simon System. Dean began managing the team, but the team soon faded off television after Jesse suffered an injury in May 2006 and Dean went back to jobbing to other superstars.
Retirement, talent development manager, and departure
Bucci left the ring on his own accord in August 2006 and took over the running of the developmental program for WWE, thereby retiring from the ring in the process. He tried the best he could to make it work, even helping sign the likes of Santino Marella, Nattie NeidhartNattie Neidhart
Natalie "Nattie" Katherine Neidhart is a Canadian professional wrestler, currently signed to WWE on its SmackDown brand under the ring name Natalya....
, and Ted DiBiase, Jr.
Ted DiBiase, Jr.
Theodore Marvin "Ted" DiBiase Jr. is an American professional wrestler and actor signed with WWE, where he appears on its SmackDown brand...
among others.
On Friday, August 31st, 2007 Bucci was released from WWE. Bucci's name had been implicated, along with a host of others, in a supplement/steroid scandal through Signature Pharmacy by the New York Daily News. \
Bucci claims he grew tired of the "politics" of the "business", and also hated that he had to move his wife to Cambridge, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
from their home in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, for a while.
Post-wrestling
After retiring Bucci began working as a licensed mortgage broker throughout the United States. He has claimed he may and then said he will definitely do some shows on the independent circuitIndependent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...
next year, but is now focusing on real estate and his family as heard in a November 2008 interview.
Return
On April 18, 2009, Bucci, as Hollywood Nova, along with many other ECW alumni appeared at One Pro WrestlingOne Pro Wrestling
One Pro Wrestling was a British professional wrestling promotion. 1PW was founded in 2005 by Steven Gauntley until the promotion went into liquidation in 2007; it was restarted within the same year..It ended in August 2011....
's "To The Extreme" weekend event, where he teamed with the Blue Meanie for his first in-ring performances in nearly 3 years, a match, where they unsuccessfully challenged Project Ego (Kris Travis and Martin Kirby) for the 1PW Tag Team Championship
1PW Tag Team Championship
The One Pro Wrestling Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling tag team championship in One Pro Wrestling. The title was established in 2006. Title reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches with different wrestlers, involved in pre-existing scripted feuds, plots and...
. Bucci has since wrestled for both 1PW and International Wrestling Cartel.
On June 27th, 2009, Bucci, again as Hollywood Nova appeared with many other former ECW talent at the Francine Fournier
Francine Fournier
Francine Fournier , known simply as Francine, is an American former professional wrestling valet most known for her work in Extreme Championship Wrestling.-Extreme Championship Wrestling:...
run benefit show entitled Legends of The Arena. The event took place at the original ECW Arena in South Philadelphia
South Philadelphia
South Philadelphia, nicknamed South Philly, is the section of Philadelphia bounded by South Street to the north, the Delaware River to the east and south, and the Schuylkill River to the west.-History:...
. As a benefit for deceased members of Francine's family a portion of the ticket sales went to The American Cancer Society. He accompanied Blue Meanie
Blue Meanie
-In fiction:* Blue Meanies , fictional music-hating creatures in the films Yellow Submarine and Across the Universe* Blue Meanies, fictional cat-like creatures in Katherine Applegate's book series Remnants...
to the ring where they as the bWo
BWO
BWO can refer to:*BWO, a Swedish pop group formerly known as Bodies Without Organs*Body without organs, a sociological concept developed by Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari*Backward wave oscillator*Blue World Order, a parody of the nWo...
defeated the team of Little Guido and Big Sal the Full Blooded Italians.
On August 8, 2010, Bucci took part in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
's ECW reunion show, Hardcore Justice
Hardcore Justice (2010)
Hardcore Justice was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , which took place on August 8, 2010 at the TNA Impact! Zone in Orlando, Florida...
, where he, as Hollywood Nova, accompanied Stevie Richards to the ring and later attacked Tommy Dreamer
Tommy Dreamer
Thomas James "Tom" Laughlin is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Tommy Dreamer. He is currently working for various promotions on the independent circuit. He is best known for his time spent with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment...
during his match with Raven.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- As Nova / Super Nova
- Kryptonite Krunch, sometimes from the top rope
- Rolling moonsault side slam
- Novacaine (Reverse STO)
- As Simon Dean
- Simonizer (Swinging leg hook fireman's carry slam)
- As Hollywood Nova
- Nova Leg Drop (Running jumping leg drop) – parodied from Hulk HoganHulk HoganTerrance Gene "Terry" Bollea , better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American Semi-retired professional wrestler, actor, television personality, and musician currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
- Nova Leg Drop (Running jumping leg drop) – parodied from Hulk Hogan
- As Nova / Super Nova
- Signature moves
- As Nova / Super Nova
- DDT ² (Falling reverse DDT followed by a reverse DDT)
- Deep Impact (Sitout lifting double underhook facebuster)
- Diving somersault stunner
- Hellevator (Backbreaker rack dropped into a powerbomb)
- Nova Blast (Diving somersault neckbreaker)
- Nova Missile (Spear to a cornered opponent)
- One Arm Bandit (Arm trap swinging neckbreaker)
- Scream Machine (Electric chair facebuster)
- Sledge–O–Matic (Release powerbomb followed by an elbow drop to the opponent's groin)
- Smash Mouth (Powerbomb lifted and dropped into a stunnerStunner (professional wrestling)A stunner is a common term in professional wrestling referring to the seated three-quarter facelock jawbreaker maneuver, predominantly used by Stone Cold Steve Austin and named for his Stone Cold Stunner finisher...
) - High-angle Senton bomb
- Spin Doctor (Rolling cutter)
- Third Degree (Two piledrivers followed by a spinning powerbomb)
- Triple Threat (Simultaneous stunnerStunner (professional wrestling)A stunner is a common term in professional wrestling referring to the seated three-quarter facelock jawbreaker maneuver, predominantly used by Stone Cold Steve Austin and named for his Stone Cold Stunner finisher...
, DDTDDT (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling a DDT is any move in which the wrestler has the opponent in a front facelock, and falls down or backwards to drive the opponent's head into the mat...
and leg dropLeg dropA leg drop or legdrop refers to an attack used in professional wrestling in which an attacking wrestler will jump and land his leg across a fallen opponent's chest, throat, face or head or in some cases, the groin/lower-abdominal area...
performed to three opponents) - Twisted Sister (Single leg Boston crab)
- As Simon Dean
- Carb Stomp (Standing reverse Indian deathlock surfboard followed into a head stomp)
- Push up facebuster, often done repeatedly in succession
- As Nova / Super Nova
- With Chris ChettiChris ChettiChristopher "Chris" Chetti is an American professional wrestler. He is perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling between 1996 and 2000.-Extreme Championship Wrestling :...
- Tidal Wave (Simultaneous diving leg drop / diving splash combination)
- With The Blue MeanieBrian HeffronBrian Heffron is a professional wrestler and actor better known as The Blue Meanie or Da Blue Guy.-Early career:...
- Blue Light Special (Simultaneous Wheelbarrow facebuster (Meanie) /Implant DDT (Bucci) combination)
- Wrestlers managedManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
- The GyminiShane TwinsThe Shane Twins are a professional wrestling tag team that consist of twin brothers Mike and Todd Shane. They were best known for their appearances in World Wrestling Entertainment as Gymini.-History:The Shane Twins debuted in the Florida based Independent Pro Wrestling promotion in 1998...
- The Gymini
- Managers
- Looney Lane
- Linda MilesLinda MilesLinda M. Miles is an American former professional wrestler and manager. She worked under the ring name Shaniqua for World Wrestling Entertainment's SmackDown! brand between 2002 and 2004. Miles was one of two female winners from WWE Tough Enough season two.-Basketball:Miles was a member of the...
- Theme musicMusic in professional wrestlingMusic in professional wrestling serves a variety of purposes. The most common uses of music in professional wrestling is that of the entrance theme, a song or piece of instrumental music which plays as a performer approaches the ring...
- "Superman Theme" by John WilliamsJohn WilliamsJohn Towner Williams is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. In a career spanning almost six decades, he has composed some of the most recognizable film scores in the history of motion pictures, including the Star Wars saga, Jaws, Superman, the Indiana Jones films, E.T...
(Independent circuitIndependent circuitIn professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...
; 1992–1994) - "FlashdanceFlashdanceAnother song used in the film, "Maniac", was also nominated for an Academy Award. It was written by Michael Sembello and Dennis Matkosky, and was inspired by the 1980 horror film Maniac. The lyrics about a killer on the loose were rewritten so that it could be used in Flashdance...
" by Irene CaraIrene CaraIrene Cara is an American singer and actress. Cara won an Academy Award in 1984 in the category of Best Original Song for co-writing "Flashdance... What a Feeling." She is also known for her recording of the song "Fame", and she also starred in the 1980 film Fame.She married Hollywood stuntman...
(Independent circuit; 1994–1995)http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/ecw/ecwmusc.htm - "Wake Me Up Before You Go GoWake Me Up Before You Go Go"Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" is a song by English pop duo Wham! which was released in 1984 and became their first UK number one hit. It was written and produced by George Michael, one half of the duo...
" by Wham!WHAM!Wham! were a short-lived British musical duo formed by George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley in the early 1980s. They were briefly known in the United States as Wham! UK due to a naming conflict with an American band....
(Independent circuit; 1995–1996)http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/ecw/ecwmusc.htm - "bWoBlue World OrderThe Blue World Order was a stable of professional wrestlers formed at Extreme Championship Wrestling's November to Remember 1996 event at the ECW Arena...
Theme http://content.music.myspace.com/music.ashx?bandid=2559842&songid=15130349&name=BWOTheme" by Swamp Candles (ECWExtreme 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...
; 1996–1999) - "Hit Me with Your Best ShotHit Me with Your Best Shot"Hit Me with Your Best Shot" is a song written by Canadian singer/songwriter Eddie Schwartz and recorded by American singer Pat Benatar in 1979. It was released as the second single from her second album Crimes of Passion, and reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her first top 10 hit...
" by Pat BenatarPat BenatarPat Benatar is an American singer and four-time Grammy winner. She had considerable commercial success particularly in the United States...
(ECW / JAPWJersey All Pro WrestlingJersey All Pro Wrestling is an independent wrestling promotion based in New Jersey.-1997:Jersey All Pro Wrestling is an independent wrestling promotion that was founded by "Fat" Frank Iadeavia on April 19, 1997. This promotion was born out of a dream of "Fat" Frank. He wanted to take the promotion...
; 1998) - "Let Me Clear My ThroatLet Me Clear My Throat"Let Me Clear My Throat" is a 1996 song by hip-hop artist DJ Kool from his album of the same name Let Me Clear My Throat. It was recorded live at the Bahama Bay club in Philadelphia.-Track listing:...
" by DJ KoolDJ KoolJohn W. Bowman, Jr., better known by his stage name DJ Kool is a rapper who, in the late 1990s, produced several popular rap singles. Born in 1959 in Washington, D.C., his influence from his years of working the go-go and rap circuits became apparent in his music...
(ECW; 1998) - Used while teaming with The Blue Meanie - "Y.M.C.A." by The Village PeopleVillage PeopleVillage People is a concept disco group that formed in the United States in 1977, well known for their on-stage costumes depicting American cultural stereotypes, as well as their catchy tunes and suggestive lyrics....
(ECW; 1998–1999) - "IntergalacticIntergalactic (song)"Intergalactic" is a Grammy-winning song by American hip-hop group the Beastie Boys, released as the first single from their fifth studio album Hello Nasty on May 12, 1998....
" by The Beastie BoysBeastie BoysBeastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar....
(ECW / Independent circuit; 1999–2000, 2001–2003) http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/ecw/ecwmusc.htm - "One Step CloserOne Step Closer (Linkin Park song)"One Step Closer" is a song by the American rock band Linkin Park. It was released as the first single and second track of their debut album, Hybrid Theory. This song is also featured in the game Rock Band 2....
" by Linkin ParkLinkin ParkLinkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries...
(ECW; 2000)http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/ecw/ecwmusc.htm - "Metal HealthMetal Health (song)"Metal Health", sometimes listed as "Metal Health "; "Bang Your Head"; or, as it was listed on the Billboard Hot 100, "Bang Your Head ," is a song by American heavy metal band Quiet Riot on their breakthrough album of the same name. The song is one of their best known hits and received constant MTV...
" by Quiet RiotQuiet RiotQuiet Riot is an American Heavy Metal band. They are best known for their hit singles "Metal Health" and "Cum On Feel the Noize". They were founded in 1973 by guitarist Randy Rhoads and bassist Kelly Garni, under the original name Mach 1, before changing the name to Little Women and finally Quiet...
(ECW; 2000–2001) - "Click Click BoomClick Click Boom"Click Click Boom" is a song by American rock band Saliva. It was released in 2001 on their second album Every Six Seconds as the lead single. The song was put on the 2001 Clear Channel memorandum, resulting in speculation that the song was re-recored and retitled "Click Click Pull". However, no...
" by SalivaSalivaSaliva , referred to in various contexts as spit, spittle, drivel, drool, or slobber, is the watery substance produced in the mouths of humans and most other animals. Saliva is a component of oral fluid. In mammals, saliva is produced in and secreted from the three pairs of major salivary glands,...
(OVWOhio Valley WrestlingOhio Valley Wrestling is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Louisville, Kentucky. OVW is run by owner Danny Davis and was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance from 1997 until 2000...
; 2002–2003) - "Voices" by Disturbed (OVW; 2003–2004)
- "Simon System" by Jim JohnstonJim Johnston (composer)James Alan "Jim" Johnston is an American music composer who has been working for WWE since 1985. His work is often accredited to the names Jim Johnston, James A...
(WWEWorld Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
/ OVW; 2004–2006)
- "Superman Theme" by John Williams
Championships and accomplishments
- American Wrestling Council
- AWC Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Border City WrestlingBorder City WrestlingBorder City Wrestling was an independent professional wrestling promotion once based in Windsor, Ontario. It was the base promotion for several Total Nonstop Action Wrestling wrestlers, including all of the former Team Canada, Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley. Many BCW employees were trained by Scott...
- BCW Can-Am Tag Team ChampionshipBCW Can-Am Tag Team ChampionshipThe BCW Can-Am Tag Team Championship is the tag team title contested for in the Ontario-based professional wrestling promotion Border City Wrestling.-Title history:...
(1 time) – with Tommy DreamerTommy DreamerThomas James "Tom" Laughlin is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Tommy Dreamer. He is currently working for various promotions on the independent circuit. He is best known for his time spent with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment...
- BCW Can-Am Tag Team Championship
- Carolina Wrestling Syndicate
- CWS Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with The Blue MeanieBrian HeffronBrian Heffron is a professional wrestler and actor better known as The Blue Meanie or Da Blue Guy.-Early career:...
- CWS Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with The Blue Meanie
- East Coast Wrestling Alliance
- ECWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Frankie KazarianFrankie KazarianFrank B. Gerdelman is an Armenian-American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Frankie Kazarian or simply Kazarian. He is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
- ECWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Frankie Kazarian
- Garden State Wrestling Alliance
- GSWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Great Lakes Wrestling
- GLW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA Northeast WrestlingNational Wrestling AllianceThe 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...
- NWA Northeast Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- New England Wrestling
- NEW Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- New Jack City Wrestling
- NJCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NJCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Rico Casanova
- Ohio Valley WrestlingOhio Valley WrestlingOhio Valley Wrestling is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Louisville, Kentucky. OVW is run by owner Danny Davis and was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance from 1997 until 2000...
- OVW Heavyweight ChampionshipOVW Heavyweight ChampionshipThe OVW Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling heavyweight championship owned by the Ohio Valley Wrestling promotion. The title was introduced on August 17, 1997 at an OVW live event, then known as the NWA-OVW Heavyweight Championship due to OVW's relationship with the National...
(1 time) - OVW Southern Tag Team ChampionshipOVW Southern Tag Team ChampionshipThe OVW Southern Tag Team Championship is the tag team titles of Ohio Valley Wrestling. Created in 1997, the first champions were Nick Dinsmore and Flash Flanagan. As of 2011, the current champions are Ted McNaler and Adam Revolver, known as The Elite in their fourth reign...
(1 time) – with Aaron StevensAaron Stevens (wrestler)Aaron Haddad is an American professional wrestler. He is contracted to WWE, and appears in Florida Championship Wrestling , a WWE developmental territory, as Damien Sandow. He is the current FCW 15 Champion...
- OVW Heavyweight Championship
- Phoenix Championship WrestlingPhoenix Championship WrestlingPhoenix Championship Wrestling was a short-lived American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Toms River, New Jersey. It was founded by twin brothers Don and Mike Bucci in 2001 and promoted by Don Bucci until its close two years later...
- PCW Tag Team ChampionshipPCW Tag Team ChampionshipThe PCW Tag Team Championship was the primary tag team title for Phoenix Championship Wrestling. It was the second championship introduced by the promotion and first won by The Backseat Boyz from Combat Zone Wrestling's Ric Blade & Nicky Benz in Stanhope, New Jersey on March 3, 2001...
(1 time) – with Frankie Kazarian - Russ HaasRuss HaasThomas Russell "Russ" Haas was a professional wrestler. He is best known for his work alongside his brother Charlie in Memphis Championship Wrestling and Jersey All Pro Wrestling....
Memorial Tag Team Tournament (2002) – with R.C. HaasCharlie HaasCharles "Charlie" Doyle Haas II is an American professional wrestler and former collegiate amateur wrestler. He competes on the independent circuit, and is signed to Ring of Honor , where he is one-half of the reigning ROH World Tag Team Champions with Shelton Benjamin...
- PCW Tag Team Championship
- Premier Wrestling Federation / Pennsylvania Wrestling Federation
- PWF Universal Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Pro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling Illustrated is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.-History:The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979...
- PWI ranked him #88 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2005
- Steel City Wrestling
- SCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with The Blue Meanie
- Ultimate Pro Wrestling
- UPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Frankie Kazarian
- UPW Tag Team Championship Tournament (2001) – with Frankie Kazarian
- World Wide Wrestling AllianceWorld Wide Wrestling AllianceThe World Wide Wrestling Alliance , formerly known as NWA Ohio, is a defunct American professional wrestling promotion. However, NWA Ohio Owner & Promoter Dave Nelson's claim of owership of the WWWA name is disputed.-History:...
- WWWA Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
Personal life
Bucci is married to his wife Melissa.He is the twin brother of Phoenix Championship Wrestling promoter and founder Don "Donnie B." Bucci.
His original career choice was to be a math teacher, as confirmed in his RF Video shoot interview. He managed a Wendy's
Wendy's
Wendy's is an international fast food chain restaurant founded by Dave Thomas on November 15, 1969, in Columbus, Ohio, United States. The company decided to move its headquarters to Dublin, Ohio, on January 29, 2006. It has been owned by Triarc since 2008...
in Toms River to make money to pay for gas for his trips to work with ECW in the mid-90s, as confirmed in his RF Video shoot interview and The Rise and Fall of ECW
The Rise and Fall of ECW
The Rise and Fall of ECW is a documentary DVD produced by World Wrestling Entertainment, now known as WWE. It chronicles the history of Philadelphia-based professional wrestling promotion Extreme Championship Wrestling...
.