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I first met Mikey Whipwreck in 1994 when he was inside the ECW Arena helping to set up a ring and having fun testing it with some friends. Somehow, that ended up with him having his first official match that night against Mr. Hughes, getting crushed in the process and falling “victim†to the Sidewalk Slam. Curtis asking, “Hey kid, you gonna jump real high?" backstage before the bout still bounces around in my memory. Mikey jumped REAL high and did his job that night.
That job led to a lot of other amazing moments. Thanks to a lot of really creative people, a lot of dumb luck and a lot of hard work, somehow, Mikey Whipwreck ended up the ECW TV champion, teamed with Cactus Jack, feuded with The Public Enemy, won the ECW Tag Team titles, feuded with The Sandman, won the ECW World title (what?), pinned Steve Austin (WHAT?) and ended up having a career that put Mikey in the same locker rooms with everyone from Sabu to Randy Savage to Tajiri to Hulk Hogan in ECW, WCW and even a few WWE appearances. He was even in that terrible Hardcore Junkyard Battle Royal in WCW! Although he’s not too proud of that one ;)
I know, because Mikey Whipwreck was my best friend and he brought me, John Watson, along for the ride. I grew up a wrestling fan. I wasthe same guy who was standing alongside you at autograph signings and at wrestling events. If you know where to look, I was in the front row at the first Monday Night Raw.
Then, somehow, from 1994 to 2015, I crossed over and competed, appeared, performed (pick your poison, I sure did) as Mikey Whipwreck and had an amazing series of life experiences, achievements and frustrations. For every great moment in the ring or on the road, there was an equally humbling or aggravating moment in real life. That's not the wrestling business, that's life and when I look back, I've been really lucky and very blessed. My body may not agree with me most days, but I really have been.
But, it's time to say goodbye. This past weekend, Tommy Dreamer's House of Hardcore held an appreciation ceremony for me and played an amazing video not just showcasing my career in the ring but all the students I have trained over the years who have gone on to make their own individual mark in professional wrestling. I didn't know it was coming, but when it was over, the appreciation was all mine...my appreciation for everyone - the fans, other wrestlers, my heroes, my students and my wife and kids. It was due to them, not myself, that Mikey Whipwreck was even someone that will be remembered in professional wrestling.
At the end of the video, I also realized this was a really great moment to let Mikey Whipwreck finally get his well deserved rest and let him go, so I am. I'd retired once, maybe twice before, and came back, but this time, it's different. There's nothing to chase, there's nothing to achieve and the "fruits of my knowledge" that were passed on to me by Paul Heyman, Taz, Tommy Dreamer, Mick Foley and so many others, have been pretty much passed on to the next generation. Hopefully, they pass it on as well, because that's how it's supposed to work.
How it's also supposed to work is that in life, you move onto the next thing, no matter how amazing the old things were. You get older, you change, and you become content. All three of those are me.
It's time to let Mikey Whipwreck fade into the past. I'll never say you won't see me again, but the next time you do - if you do - you'll be talking to me about our old friend Mikey Whipwreck. He was a hell of a guy and I'll miss him, but as I said, I'm content. Content is good.
Thanks for everything Mikey...and most importantly, thanks to all of you in the wrestling business and those of you who love and support it, for even blessing me with the life I've had and continue to have.
John Watson
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