Anthony J. Petrucci (born 1951) is an American

professional wrestler Professional wrestling, often shortened to either pro wrestling or wrestling,The term "wrestling" is most often widely used to specifically refer to modern scripted professional wrestling, though it is also used to refer to real-life wrest ...

. He is best known for his appearances with the

World Wrestling Federation World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is an American professional wrestling promotion. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority-owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. A global integrated media and entertainment company, ...

from 1984 to 1986 as A. J. Petruzzi and for his appearances with

Eastern Championship Wrestling Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) was an American professional wrestling promotion that was based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and operated by its parent company HHG Corporation. The promotion was founded in 1992 by Tod Gordon as Nationa ...

from 1991 to 1994 as Super Destroyer #1, one half of the

tag team Tag team wrestling is a type of professional wrestling in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. Tag teams may be made up of wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of establis ...

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 Extreme Championship Wrestling, NWA Eastern Cha ...

Early life

Petrucci was born in

Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania Jim Thorpe (known as East and West Mauch Chunk until 1954) is a borough in and the county seat of Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of Northeastern Pennsylvania and is historically known as the burial site of Native Ameri ...

. He attended Jim Thorpe High School, where he competed in

amateur wrestling Amateur wrestling is a variant of wrestling practiced at Olympic Games, Olympic, Collegiate wrestling, collegiate, Scholastic wrestling, scholastic, and other levels. There are two international wrestling styles performed at the Olympic Games, fr ...

American football American football, referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada and also known as gridiron football, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular American football field, field with goalposts at e ...

, and

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...

Professional wrestling career

World Wrestling Federation (1984–1986)

In December 1983, Petrucci enrolled in the

's training camp in

Orange, Connecticut Orange is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, part of the South Central Connecticut Planning Region. The population was 14,280 at the 2020 census. The town is governed by a Board of Selectmen. History The Paugusset and Algonquian people ...

, where he was trained to wrestle by

Tony Altomare Anthony C. Altomare (July 24, 1928 – February 18, 2003) was an American professional wrestler, trainer, and marketer. He is perhaps best known as one half of the tag team "The Sicilians" with Lou Albano, from his debut in 1960 to 1970. Early l ...

. He wrestled his first match in 1984, facing B. Brian Blair in

Phillipsburg, New Jersey Phillipsburg is a town located along the Delaware River that is the most populous municipality in Warren County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metropolitan statistical area. As of the 202 ...

. In 1985, Petrucci, as The Masked Assassin, and The Spoiler lost a match against

Barry Windham Barry Clinton Windham (born July 4, 1960) is an American retired professional wrestler. The son of wrestler Blackjack Mulligan, he is best known for his appearances with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and the World Wrestling Federation (W ...

and

Mike Rotunda Lawrence Michael "Mike" Rotunda Jr. (born March 30, 1958) is an American retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling in the 1980s and 1990s under the r ...

Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as the Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh and Eighth Avenue (Manhattan), Eig ...

in New York City. Petrucci was also featured as one of the trainers along with Hulk Hogan for

Hillbilly Jim James Morris (born July 5, 1952) is an American retired Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and current radio host, better known by his ring name, Hillbilly Jim. He is best known for his appearances with the WWE, World Wrestling Federa ...

in some early 1985 vignettes when Hillbilly first arrived in the WWF.

Independent circuit (1986–1991)

In 1988, he and Ron Shaw formed the Executioners and made their way to

Jim Crockett James Allen Crockett Sr. (June 2, 1908 – April 1, 1973) was an American professional wrestling promoter and professional sports franchise owner sometimes known as Jim Crockett Sr., or to people within the business simply as "Big Jim". Early lif ...

National Wrestling Alliance The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) is an American professional wrestling professional wrestling promotion, promotion and governing body owned by Billy Corgan and operated by its parent company Lightning One, Inc. Founded in 1948, the NWA be ...

to work against the New Breed (

Chris Champion Christopher Dennis Ashford-Smith (17 February 1961 – 22 August 2018), better known by his ring name Chris Champion, was an English professional wrestler. He primarily worked for various National Wrestling Alliance member territories, includin ...

and Sean Royal).

Eastern Championship Wrestling (1992–1994)

In 1991 he formed

tag team with partner

Doug Stahl Douglas E. Stahl (born February 25, 1963) is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler who currently works in the Independent circuit as one half of the masked Tag team known as The Super Destroyers. The two are best known for the ...

and manager Hunter Q. Robins III in Eastern Championship Wrestling, which was later renamed to

Extreme Championship Wrestling Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) was an American professional wrestling promotion that was based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and operated by its parent company HHG Corporation. The promotion was founded in 1992 by Tod Gordon as Nationa ...

(ECW). While in ECW, the Super Destroyers were crowned the first

ECW Tag Team Champions The ECW World Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling world tag team championship in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). It was introduced in National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) affiliate and ECW precursor, Eastern Championship Wrestlin ...

. Both Petrucci and Stahl left the company in 1994, after holding the title twice.

Independent circuit (1994–2005)

In 1996, Petrucci began to train his cousin and

Gene Snitsky Eugene Alan Snisky (born January 14, 1970) is an American professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name Gene Snitsky, who is best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment. He played college football at the Universit ...

and Robb Harper. At this time he also formed the tag team The Darkside Demons, alternating between Snitsky and Harper until he felt they were ready to wrestle on their own. After the passing of his father and the signing of Snitsky to World Wrestling Entertainment, Petrucci returned to wrestling in 2005 with NWL/HOPWL. Petrucci has won the Heavyweight, Television and Tag Team titles with this promotion. In 2005 he was also awarded the Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year. July 2012 the Super Destroyers, A J Petrucci and Doug Stahl, were inducted in the IPWA hall of fame. Returned to the DWF/LOCO wrestling promotion in New Jersey and Pa. to win the tag team championship titles, which they defended in March. August 3 the Super Destroyers won the tag team titles at Super Star wrestling in Dillsburg Pa. making them the unifyed Pa. tag team champions.

Personal life

Petrucci is married to Marjorie Petrucci (née Gasker). The couple have two children, Jason and Suzanne. Petrucci graduated from

Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (Kutztown University or KU) is a public university in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. It is part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher ...

with a B.S. in

Criminal Justice Criminal justice is the delivery of justice to those who have been accused of committing crimes. The criminal justice system is a series of government agencies and institutions. Goals include the rehabilitation of offenders, preventing other ...

. When he is not wrestling, he works as a counselor for troubled and runaway clients. He was recognized for 10 years of service at Valley Youth House as a counselor. Petrucci is the cousin of fellow professional wrestler

, who he trained.

Championships and accomplishments

*DWF/LOCO wrestling **DWF/LOCO wrestling Tag Team championship (1 time) *

ECW Tag Team Championship The ECW World Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling world tag team championship in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). It was introduced in National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) affiliate and ECW precursor, Eastern Championship Wrestli ...

(

2 times "2 Times" is the debut single of English singer Ann Lee. It was released in Italy in December 1998 by X-Energy as the lead single from her debut album, ''Dreams'' (1999), and was issued worldwide the following year. The single peaked at number tw ...

) – with Super Destroyer #2 ** ECW Tag Team Championship Tournament (1992) – with Super Destroyer #2 *

National Wrestling League National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, ce ...

/ House of Pain Wrestling Federation **NWL Heavyweight Championship (1 time) **

HoPWF Tag Team Championship The HoPWF Tag Team Championship is the top professional wrestling tag team title in the House of Pain Wrestling Federation promotion. It was created on January 20, 1998, when Gutterboy and Randy The Violator defeated Flex Fenom and Shorty Smalls ...

(1 time) – with Doug Stahl *World Wrestling Association **WWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Doug Stahl

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Petrucci, A. J. American male professional wrestlers Kutztown University of Pennsylvania alumni American professional wrestlers of Italian descent Living people People from Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania Professional wrestlers from Pennsylvania 1951 births ECW World Tag Team Champions