Johnny Swinger

Johnny Swinger

Swinger in 2011.
Birth name Joseph Dorgan
Born (1975-07-03) July 3, 1975[1]
Buffalo, New York, US[2]
Residence Atlanta, Georgia, US[1]
Website http://swingtimewrestling.com
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Johnny Hollywood Swinger[2]
Johnny Paradise[2]
Johnny Parisi[1]
Johnny Swinger[2]
Swinger[2]
Billed height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1]
Billed weight 250 lb (110 kg)[1]
Billed from Long Island, New York[1]
Trained by Ron Hutchinson[3]
Sweet Daddy Siki[1]
Debut 1993[2]

Joseph "Joe" Dorgan[3] (born July 3, 1975) is an American professional wrestler and personal trainer. He is best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling, Extreme Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as Johnny Swinger (or simply Swinger) and with World Wrestling Entertainment as Johnny Parisi.[1]

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1993-1996)

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.[2][3][4] In 1995, he worked for 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 in September of that year.

World Championship Wrestling (1996–1999)

Swinger began working for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in late 1996, shortening his ring name to "Johnny Swinger." 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

Extreme Championship Wrestling (2000–2001)

Main article: Simon and Swinger

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.[3][5]

Return to WCW (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.

Independent circuit (2001-2003)

Swinger wrestled on the independent circuit from 2001 to 2003.

World Wrestling All-Stars (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. Swingers 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, & Malice

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2003-2005)

On July 9, 2003, Simon 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. 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.[2]

World Wrestling Entertainment (2005-2006)

Dorgan signed a developmental deal with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 2005, and began training at Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) in May 2005. He made his WWE debut on the July 31, 2005 episode of Sunday Night Heat as "Johnny Parisi" winning his debut match for the company. He was a main stay on Heat. His ring name was derived from his great uncle Tony Parisi.

In September 2005 Parisi was sent to Deep South Wrestling wrestling there for two months while also wrestling on Sunday Night Heat, until being taken off of television in November due to an injury. He came back in December 2005 being sent back to DSW. He worked two more Heat matches for WWE in February, 2006 losing competitively to Chavo Guerrero and Kane. He was released on June 29, 2006.

Return to the independent circuit (2006-present)

After being released from the WWE he went back to wrestling on the independent circuit mainly wrestling for Great Championship Wrestling (GCW). He has great title success there winning the GCW Heavyweight title on 2 occasions and the GCW Tag Titles twice, once with Glenn Gilberti and once with Bull Buchanan. Raven came to GCW to help Swinger with his feud against Michaels Inc. in December 2006. After winning the GCW title from Chris Stevens, Swinger turned on Raven and joined Michaels Inc. In January 2007, Swinger began challenging TNA wrestlers to try to come to challenge him in GCW. In response to this, TNA Director of Authority, Jim Cornette came to a GCW show to confront Swinger. Swinger and Bull Buchanan were defeated by Raven and David Young on January 31. Afterwards, David Young challenged Swinger for the GCW title. He later lost the title to Scotty Beach in a steel cage match via submission. On September 15, he defeated Scotty Beach for the GCW title once again. On September 29 he faced Bull Buchanan in a losing effort within a steel cage at the fourth-annual Fred Ward Memorial Show.

He returned to WWE to face Ron Simmons in a match on WWE Heat, and on October 14, 2007, appeared for TNA's flagship pay-per-view, Bound for Glory, competing in a dark match with Joey Matthews against The Motor City Machineguns. Swinger recaptured the GCW Heavyweight Championship from Bull Buchanan on December 15, 2007, in a triple threat match that also included another TNA veteran, Sonny Siaki. Swinger spent most of 2008 fighting off challenges of various contenders for the GCW Championship, including Scotty 2 Hotty, Disco Inferno, and Bull Buchanan.

On July 29, 2010, it was confirmed that Swinger would take part in TNA's ECW reunion show Hardcore Justice on August 8.[6] At the event Swinger, Simon Diamond and Kid Kash were defeated by Little Guido, Tony Luke and Tracy Smothers of The Full Blooded Italians in a six-man tag team match.[7]

In 2011, Johnny Swinger continued success for Peachstate Wrestling Alliance in Georgia, feuding with Bill the Butcher, Ultimate Dragon, and others. Swinger continues to be one of the most popular babyfaces in the organization, despite spending the majority of his career as a heel. He is also currently training pro wrestlers and hopefuls with Rick Steiner at Hard Knocks Gym in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Personal life

Dorgan is the nephew of legendary wrestler Tony Parisi. Parisi died from a heart attack on August 19, 2000 at the age of 59.

Dorgan and his wife Susan have one daughter and one son.[8]

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 "Johnny Swinger". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Wojcik, A. (2003-10-29). "Interview with Simon Diamond and Johnny Swinger". AlanWojcik.Tripod.com. Retrieved 2007-08-13.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Milner, J.; Giberson, T. "Swinger looking for WWF action". Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved August 13, 2007.
  4. ↑ Sawyer, M. (May 5, 2004). "Johnny Swinger interview". WrestlingObserver. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved August 13, 2007.
  5. ↑ Kapur, B. (July 3, 2001). "Nova, Swinger, Whipwreck reflect on life on the indy circuit". Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved August 13, 2007.
  6. ↑ "New Names For HardCORE Justice". Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. 2010-07-29. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
  7. ↑ Caldwell, James (2010-08-08). "Caldwell's TNA Hardcore Justice PPV results 8/8: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of ECW-themed PPV headlined by RVD vs. Sabu". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2010-08-08.
  8. ↑ Editor's Note: Johnny Swinger wasn't there because his wife gave birth to a daughter the day before.
  9. ↑ http://apwonline.net/breaking-news-rosters--rankings-kowboys-korner-etc.html
  10. 1 2 Royal Duncan; Gary Will (2000). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  11. ↑ "B.C.W. Can-Am Tag Team Title". The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo. Wrestling-Titles.com. 2003. Retrieved 2010-05-24.
  12. ↑ "Independent Wrestling Results – September 2003". onlineworldofwrestling.com. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
  13. ↑ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=154401
  14. ↑ http://www.peachstatewrestlingalliance.com/2013-08-17---peachstate-wrestling-alliance-results.html
  15. ↑ "Independent Wrestling Results – December 2003". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-07-05.

External links

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