Johnny Swinger

Joseph Dorgan (born July 3, 1975) is an American professional wrestler currently under contract to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), using the ring name Johnny Swinger.

Dorgan is also known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling under the Johnny Swinger name (sometimes shortened to simply Swinger) and with World Wrestling Entertainment as Johnny Parisi.

After training in Toronto, Ontario, Dorgan started wrestling on the independent circuit in 1993 as "Johnny Paradise".

After he discovered that another wrestler was already using that name, he renamed himself "Johnny Hollywood Swinger" and began to make a name for himself as a villain in Scott D'Amore's "Syndicate" faction in Border City Wrestling.

Dorgan received his first national exposure when he appeared on World Championship Wrestling (WCW)'s show WCW Pro.

Shortening his name to "Johnny Swinger", he lost to Chris Jericho on June 11 and Johnny B. Badd on the July 29 episode of Pro.

On August 8 at a WCW Pro taping in Gainesville, Georgia, Swinger faced Dave Sullivan.

Later that month he made an appearance on WCW's then-flagship program, WCW Saturday Night.

Teaming with Terry Richards (later known as Rhyno), the young wrestler lost to the Nasty Boys in an episode that aired on September 16.

Eleven days later, Dorgan would work for the World Wrestling Federation going by his real name, Joe Dorgan, following in the footsteps of his uncle, Tony Parisi, who worked for the WWWF under Vince McMahon, Sr. Johnny Swinger appeared on WWFs flagship program, WWF RAW, facing Shane Douglas in a nationally televised broadcast on September 25, 1995.

A day later, Dorgan would wrestle Hunter Hearst Helmsley at a WWF Superstars taping in Valparaiso, Indiana.

On the October 30 edition of Raw, Dorgan would also get an opportunity to face Marty Jannetty.

In April 1996, Dorgan joined Cleveland All Pro Wrestling, an independent promotion run by JT Lightning.

He made his debut on April 13, 1996 at the CAPW Spring Slam, winning a battle royal and later challenging unsuccessfully for the vacated CAPW Junior Heavyweight Championship against Steve Nixon.

On June 16 he defeated Bobby Blayze to win the CAPW North American Heavyweight Championship.

Swinger returned to World Championship Wrestling on May 26,1997 losing to the Giant in a three versus one match.

Also on December 12, he wrestled Alex Wright on WCW Pro.

He was utilized primarily on syndication & TBS programs, appearing on WCW Saturday Night and WCW World Wide.

Swinger also made appearances on both of the company's flagship programs Monday Nitro (on TNT) and Thunder (on TBS).

His broadcast appearances include the highest rated Monday Nitro in July 1998, losing to Chavo Guerrero Jr.. in front of a sold-out Georgia Dome; this same night, Goldberg defeated Hollywood Hogan for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship.

Swinger remained in WCW for three years until joining Extreme Championship Wrestling.

Swinger joined ECW in 2000.

He was placed in a tag team with Simon Diamond by booker Paul Heyman in May 2000 and shortened his name to "Swinger."

He remained with ECW until it folded in April 2001.

Swinger returned to WCW for one week for the Cruiserweight Tag Team Tournament.

On the February 26, 2001 edition of Nitro where he and Jason Lee were defeated by Billy Kidman and Rey Mysterio Jr. He also wrestled on the February 28, 2001 edition of WCW Thunder where Swinger (accompanied by Jason Lee) lost to Shane Helms.

Shortly after, WCW was purchased by the WWF and its programming ceased.

Following the closure of WCW, Swinger moved to Border City Wrestling.

He made his debut on March 7, 2001 at an event in Oldcastle, Ontario, Canada and teamed with Otis Apollo to win the BCW Tag-Team Championship from Dyson Price and Geza Kalman Jr. They would lose the belts three months later to Nova and Tommy Dreamer.

In the fall of 2001 he formed a new tag-team with Simon Diamond, and on November 27, 2001 in Oldcastle he would win an eight man gauntlet match against CW Anderson, Larry Destiny, Little Guido, Otis Apollo, Scott D'Amore, Simon Diamond, and Steve Corino and captured the BCW Can-Am Heavyweight Championship.

Swinger remained champion for the remainder of 2001 and through all of 2002, defending the title against Jerry Lawler, Bobby Rude, Chris Sabin, Gangrel, and Jerry Lynn.

On July 24, 2002, Simon Diamond and Swinger debuted as a team in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).

They feuded with America's Most Wanted (Chris Harris and James Storm) for some time before winning the NWA World Tag Team Championships.

After a 464-day reign, he would finally lose the title to D-Lo Brown in Oldcastle on March 6, 2003.

Swinger had a brief stint in the earlier part of 2003 in the World Wrestling All-Stars promotion.

The promotion featured primarily talents known from other wrestling promotions, boasting talents such as Bret Hart, Sting, Lex Luger, Jeff Jarrett, and others.

Swinger's highest profile match in the promotion came on May 23, 2003, when he faced Chris Sabin, Frankie Kazarian, and Jerry Lynn in an inter-promotional match for the WWA International Cruiserweight and NWA-TNA X-Division Championships.

Swinger also appeared and was victorious on World Wrestling All Stars International card "Retribution" in Glasgow Scotland, teaming with Buff "The Stuff" Bagwell to defeat Norman Smiley and Malice.

The team split on February 18, 2004 when Swinger turned into a villain by pledging allegiance to Jeff Jarrett, and feuded with one another.

Swinger eventually formed a stable known as "The New York Connection" with Glenn Gilbertti, Vito and Trinity.