For my first article to be featured on OWW, I wanted to write about a wrestler who I personally felt never got his due, or the credit he deserved to become a champion. He probably is considered by most to be Shawn Michaels's whipping boy, or that guy who teamed with the Heartbreak Kid back in the eighties and nineties. For those of you still scratching your head with uncertainty, this article is about...Marty Jannety

-Why Jannety" Okay, I'll be the first to admit that Jannety was certainly not one of the best in the business when it came to actual wrestling ability, and even when he was given his chance to become a singles star, he never did more than the average superstar. What made Marty Jannety my favourite wrestler was not that he had a limited repertoire when it came to moves. (I'm looking at all you Jeff Hardy bashers) Or that he jobbed for plenty of wrestlers when he was finishing off his career in the big league. I'm willing to even overlook that he was defeated one time by Bobby "the brain" Heenan. What makes Jannety special to me was the time I was actually able to meet him. It wasn't in an arena or a promotion of any kind. It actually was at a McDonald's when I was in Georgia. Jannety was there with his wife and child, (Or so I assumed). I even remember what he ordered, (A double quarter-pounder, hold the cheese) I was in awe just being able to see him. I built up all the courage in the world to approach him and did my best to conduct myself in an orderly manner. (Well as proper as I could be for a 7 year old) I just went up to him and with my eyes all beady and starry I asked him for an autograph. To my surprise, he didn't turn me away; or pretend as if he had no idea what I was talking about. He actually talked to me in a very warm and friendly manner. Even going as far to take a picture with me and even let me sit with his family. I was in shock. The fact that this man would take the time to be with a young fan who was just learning his multiplication tables, but was able to talk about his match in full detail against the Twin Towers. The whole time, Jannety was just smiling and making me feel as if it was just him and I in the restaurant. I am sad to report that I no longer have that picture. So what's the point I forget to make" Simply that Jannety treated me like a real person, and not some dumb kid. I can't say I've met any other wrestlers like I did Jannety but I just felt that any person who could reach out to the fans when he wasn't in his wrestling attire is a consummate pro in my books.

-The good: The early years I'd like to clarify that in my humble opinion; Marty Jannety's best years were indeed when he was part of the Rockers. I'd have to say that the way Jannety and Michaels worked together in the ring was something special. Maybe it was the aerial maneuvers; maybe it was the high-risk double teaming moves. It could even be the way they just ran down to the ring and usually started the match doing a double drop kick or simply just getting the crowd into the match. They could be considered the Hardy Boyz of the 80s and 90s. One thing I had to do though was see some of Jannety's early work and I was able to do so thanks to a handy DVD; (Yes it's the Shawn Michaels: From the Vault) Aside from the blood, it was certainly a welcome change from seeing mostly flabby, heavy looking wrestlers. The rockers were buff. Well maybe not buff ala steroid use, but considering how they literally ran circles around their beefy opponents, they certainly looked like they were in excellent shape. If there was one sour note during the Rocker era, it would probably be that the Rockers and Jannety in particular, never got to taste tag team gold. Well they did, but it actually didn't go in the record book. Jannety would get the straps later in his career, but it just didn't feel the same. Then during a faithful episode of Brutus the Barber Beefcake's barber shop, in a matter of minutes the Rockers were no more. I'll get to that in a little bit though.

-The bad: The New Rockers, as a heel. I'd like to point out that some of my all time favourite wrestlers actually were heels for most of their careers. Ted Dibiase and King Kong Bundy are two that come to mind. So when Marty Jannety came back for what I think was the 3rd time. He was paired with a relative unknown called Leif Cassidy. It wasn't the fact that Jannety was starting to job every match that bothered me. It's just seeing people actually boo Jannety. He was a terrible heel in my eyes because no matter how badly he cheated, or broke the rules, I just watched these matches in disbelief and silently supported him. Although my efforts to cheer for him became less and less after every match he lost. I think it was a sad way to ruin a potentially talented wrestler. That's just me though. Then he found his way to WCW. I heard that his dismissal from WWF for the last time was because he paralyzed a fellow wrestler in the ring. If anyone can verify this for me or tell me the actual reason he was let go, please feel free to post it. Keep in mind that saying he sucked is not something I'm looking for.

-The ugly: Jannety's exit and return (for the first time) This is basically about what I mentioned earlier about the scene in which Marty Jannety was "super kicked" and then thrown through the glass of the Brutus's barber shop window. Now I was fully aware that the wrestling was not real, but considering how young I was at the time, I was practically in tears seeing my favourite wrestler attacked so viciously. The blood and the bruises looked real to me and from that moment I was almost compelled never to watch another episode of WWF programming at that point. I couldn't believe that what I witnessed was actually staged. I can't imagine going through glass in any way being pleasant. I assumed that from this point, Jannety was done with wrestling. I lost my idol.

Then a few weeks later, while Shawn Michaels was cutting a promo with his new shtick as the Sexy Boy, I was surprised to see Jannety charge the ring and make a run for Michaels with both fists flying. What happened though brought back memories of the glass shattering from their previous encounter as Sensational Sherri met the glass mirror head first. Luckily, a big censored sign appeared over the whole incident. My stomach was certainly not ready to handle seeing more violence of this sort. This time at the expense of a woman no less. The important thing was that my favourite wrestler was back and even experienced moderate success as a singles competitor when he won the intercontinental title.

In closing, he may have not left a mark in the world of wrestling. He certainly wouldn't make a likely candidate for the wrestling hall of fame, and I doubt the WWE would be smart enough to bring him back and turn him into a manager of some sort. (He has untapped microphone skills if you ask me.) So the only chance I'll get to see Jannety again is during an Indy promotion show. I don't think he's actually confirmed to just one promotion so I think he basically goes where the money takes him. One thing is certain though that I really don't care what other people thing. As great a talent and wrestler Shawn Michaels became, he really is no match for the true icon, the true show stopper, the true Heart Break Kid, Marty Jannety! ---- You know that has a nice ring to it.

by Avi Krebs..