Rocco Rock

Theodore James Petty (September 1, 1953 – September 21, 2002) was an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name "Flyboy" Rocco Rock.

Ted Petty was born on September 1, 1953.

He graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in nutrition.

Following a brief boxing career, Petty trained as a professional wrestler under Afa Anoa'i.

He debuted in 1978 under the ring name "Cheetah Kid".

Petty worked as enhancement talent (a jobber) in the American Wrestling Association from 1985 to 1988.

Rock is best known for his appearances in Eastern Championship Wrestling / Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) alongside Johnny Grunge as the Public Enemy during the 1990s.

He was a four-time ECW World Tag Team Champion, a one-time WCW World Tag Team Champion, and a one-time NWA World Tag Team Champion.

In March 1990, Petty toured Japan with New Japan Pro-Wrestling as part of its "Big Fight Series".

During the tour, he teamed with Pegasus Kid and faced opponents such as Jushin Thunder Liger, Takashi Iizuka, and Kengo Kimura.

Upon returning to the United States, he wrestled for the Philadelphia-based Tri-State Wrestling Alliance, winning its Brass Knuckles Championship.

In June 1990, he began appearing with World Championship Wrestling, initially as "Cheetah Kid", then as "Mario Savoldi", then finally as the faux-South African "Colonel DeKlerk".

As "Colonel DeKlerk", Petty teamed with Sergeant Krueger to defeat the Beast and Kaluha at Clash of the Champions XIII in November 1990, then teamed with Krueger in a loss to the Steiner Brothers at Starrcade '90: Collision Course in December 1990.

In March 1991, Petty appeared with the Universal Wrestling Federation, taking part in a taping for the Fury Hour television show.

In June 1992, Petty toured Japan with W*ING, competing in a tournament for the W*ING World Junior Heavyweight Championship.

In January 1993, Petty wrestled two matches for the World Wrestling Federation as "Cheetah Kid".

Later that month, he wrestled two matches for World Championship Wrestling as "the Executioner", including a bout against 2 Cold Scorpio that aired on WCW WorldWide.

In April and June 1993, Petty toured Austria and Germany with the World Wrestlings Superstars promotion.

In September 1993, Petty (as "Rocco Rock") and Johnny Grunge began wrestling regularly for the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based promotion Eastern Championship Wrestling (ECW) as the Public Enemy.

They made their debut at UltraClash, defeating Ian Rotten and Jason Knight.

At NWA Bloodfest the following month, they defeated the Bad Breed and Badd Company in a triangle cage match.

Over the following months, they feuded with Badd Company, defeating them in a "South Philly Hood" match at November to Remember.

At Holiday Hell: the Body Count in December 1993, Pat Tanaka (one-half of Badd Company) defeated Rock in a "Body Count" match, marking the end of the feud.

At The Night the Line Was Crossed in February 1994, the Public Enemy defeated the Bruise Brothers in a "no rules" match.

On March 6, 1994, they defeated Kevin Sullivan and the Tazmaniac to win the ECW Tag Team Championship.

At Ultimate Jeopardy in March 1994, the Public Enemy teamed with Shane Douglas and Mr. Hughes to face Sullivan, the Tazmaniac, Road Warrior Hawk, and ECW Heavyweight Champion Terry Funk in an "Ultimate Jeopardy steel cage match".

Each participant had a stipulation which would be implemented if they were defeated; if the Public Enemy were defeated, they would be forced to stop teaming together.

Douglas won the bout for his team by pinning Funk.

At When Worlds Collide in May 1994, the Public Enemy again teamed with Douglas and Hughes, losing to J. T. Smith and the Bruise Brothers in a handicap elimination match.

At the same event, the Public Enemy attacked Terry Funk after being paid by Paul E. Dangerously (the manager of Funk's rival Sabu), causing Funk to declare he would get revenge on the Public Enemy.

At Hostile City Showdown in June 1994, the Public Enemy wrestled Terry Funk and his brother Dory Funk Jr. to a no contest.

At Heat Wave: the Battle for the Future in July 1994, the Public Enemy defeated the Funk brothers in a barbed wire match.

At Hardcore Heaven in August 1994, the Public Enemy successfully defended their titles against the Bad Breed.

Later that evening, the Public Enemy interfered in the main event bout between Terry Funk and Cactus Jack.

As the four men brawled, Funk called for a fan to toss him a steel chair.

This resulted in multiple fans hurtling chairs into the ring, with Rock and Grunge being buried under a large pile of steel chairs.

The Public Enemy's first reign as ECW Tag Team Champions ended the following month at the NWA World Title Tournament event, where Cactus Jack and Mikey Whipwreck (substituting for Terry Funk, who had temporarily departed the promotion) defeated them in an upset.

Around this time, Eastern Championship Wrestling was rebranded "Extreme Championship Wrestling".

In August 1994, Rock (as "the Cheetah Kid") wrestled two matches for the World Wrestlings Superstars promotion in Vienna, Austria.

Back in ECW, the Public Enemy continued their feud with Cactus Jack and Whipwreck, culminating in a Brawl Game match at November to Remember where they regained the titles (now known as the ECW World Tag Team Championship).