Jerry Tuite

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox professional wrestler Michael Jerome Tuite (December 27, 1966 – December 6, 2003) was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) from 1999 to 2001 under the ring names The Wall and Sgt. A.W.O.L., as well as his appearances with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in 2002 and 2003 as Malice.

Early life

Michael Jerome Tuite was born in Newark, New Jersey on December 27, 1966, to Nancy and Jerome Tuite.<ref name="asbury">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He had a sister, Barbara Tuite-Hacht.<ref name="asbury"/> He was a fan of professional wrestling growing up, citing the Powers of Pain, Road Warriors, Bruiser Brody and Buzz Sawyer as his favorite wrestlers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Tuite attended Christian Brothers Academy, where he played basketball.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He later played basketball at Trenton State College and tried out for the Dallas Cowboys football team.<ref name="WCW">Template:Cite web</ref>

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1994–1999)

Tuite made his debut in 1994 after training at Mike Sharpe's wrestling school in New Jersey, where he befriended Bam Bam Bigelow.<ref name="Johnson"/> He adopted the gimmick of a lumberjack under the ring name Big John.<ref name="Dictionary">Template:Cite book</ref> Early in his career, he wrestled at events held in high schools for charity.<ref name="asbury"/> In 1996, he began wrestling as Hellraiser for New Jack City Wrestling (NJCW).<ref name="Hellraiser">Template:Cite web</ref> On January 19, 1997, he defeated Primo Carnera III to win the vacant NJCW United States Championship, but lost it exactly four months later to Super Nova.<ref name="NJCW"/> For the next two years, Hellraiser wrestled for several promotions including Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) and NWA New Jersey.<ref name="Hellraiser"/>

World Championship Wrestling

The Wall (1999–2000)

In 1999, Tuite was discovered by World Championship Wrestling (WCW) booker Kevin Nash while training at the WCW Power Plant.<ref name="Johnson"/> He was repackaged as The Wall (a reference to the Berlin Wall) and debuted in April as the heel bodyguard for Berlyn.<ref name="Dictionary"/><ref name="WCW"/> As The Wall, he utilized a chokeslam as his finishing move and regularly put his opponents through tables, earning him the nickname "Master of Table Matches."<ref name="WCW"/> On November 21, at the Mayhem pay-per-view, he walked out on Berlyn during his chain match against Vampiro, causing him to lose and ending their alliance.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

At Souled Out on January 16, 2000, The Wall appeared as the mystery opponent for Billy Kidman in a cage match, defeating him.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He also defeated The Demon on February 20 at SuperBrawl.<ref name="pwi217-220">Template:Cite news</ref> The Wall developed a sadistic streak and attacked younger wrestlers such as Crowbar and David Flair, which drew the ire of Bam Bam Bigelow.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> This led to a match between the two at Uncensored on March 19, which The Wall lost by disqualification after putting Bigelow through a table.<ref name="Uncensored">Template:Cite web</ref> Crowbar and Flair interfered in the match by attacking The Wall, but he chokeslammed Crowbar off a 20-foot-high platform, sending him through the stage.<ref name="Uncensored"/>

In the main event of Nitro on March 27, The Wall faced Hulk Hogan, but the match ended in a no contest after interference from Vampiro. Following the match, he chokeslammed Hogan through a table.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> At Spring Stampede on April 6, The Wall faced Scott Steiner in a tournament for the vacant WCW United States Championship, but lost his quarterfinal match by disqualification after accidentally chokeslamming the referee through a table.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He then feuded with and lost to Shane Douglas in a tables match on June 11 at The Great American Bash.<ref name="pwi217-220"/>

Misfits in Action (2000–2001)

Template:Main Following the event, The Wall turned face by joining the military-based stable Misfits in Action, led by General Hugh G. Rection, Lieutenant Loco, Corporal Cajun, Major Stash and Major Gunns. He began sporting a mohawk and was renamed Sgt. A.W.O.L. (occasionally spelled "Sgt. A-Wall").<ref name="WCW"/> The group had various stable feuds with 3 Count, the Natural Born Thrillers and Team Canada.<ref name="Dictionary"/><ref name="SLAM"/> At Halloween Havoc on October 29, he unsuccessfully challenged Reno for the WCW Hardcore Championship.<ref name="pwi217-220"/> After the Misfits in Action split in January 2001,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sgt. A.W.O.L. reverted to back to his old character, The Wall.<ref name="Johnson"/> On February 18, at SuperBrawl Revenge, The Wall lost to former stablemate Hugh Morrus in his final appearance for WCW.<ref name="pwi217-220"/>

World Wrestling Federation (2001)

After WCW was bought out by Vince McMahon in March 2001, Tuite signed a developmental contract with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). In August, he was given his release by WWF talent commissioner Jim Ross to deal with personal issues, including an addiction to painkillers.<ref name="Mooneyham" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Independent circuit (2001–2003)

Tuite continued to wrestle as The Wall on the independent circuit following his WWF departure. He returned to NWA New Jersey on July 12, 2001, defeating Simon Diamond in a tournament final to win the NWA New Jersey Hardcore Championship. He is recognized as the final champion.<ref name="NJHC"/> On April 2, 2002, he lost to D-Von Dudley in a dark match taped for WWF Jakked/Metal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

He made appearances for USA Pro Wrestling and Phoenix Championship Wrestling (PCW), where he defeated Harley Lewis on May 17, 2002, in a tables, ladders and doors match to win the PCW Heavyweight Championship.<ref name="Johnson"/><ref name="PCW"/> On June 15, The Wall took part in the inaugural show for Major League Wrestling (MLW), Genesis, as a replacement for Bam Bam Bigelow, where he lost to Taiyō Kea in the MLW World Heavyweight Championship tournament.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On July 20, he appeared for Xtreme Pro Wrestling (XPW) under the name Snuff, defeating Vic Grimes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, as Malice, he lost to Grimes in a rematch on October 5, which aired on television two weeks later.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On November 2, The Wall defeated Devon Storm in an anything goes match to retain the PCW Heavyweight Championship.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On November 10, Malice took part in the All Access Wrestling (AAW) Heavyweight Championship tournament, defeating Norman Smiley, Kevin Northcutt and Joe Kane to win the title.<ref name="AAW"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Following this, he embarked on an international tour for World Wrestling All-Stars (WWA). At WWA Retribution on December 6, he teamed with Smiley in a loss to Buff Bagwell and Johnny Swinger.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On December 13, he faced Lex Luger and Sting in a triple threat match for the WWA World Heavyweight Championship, but lost after being pinned by Sting.<ref name="Johnson"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was stripped of the PCW Heavyweight Championship on March 22, 2003.<ref name="PCW"/> He then lost the AAW Heavyweight Championship to AJ Styles on April 19, after being hit with a low blow by referee Bob Armstrong.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2002–2003)

On June 19, 2002, Tuite, under the name Malice, made his debut for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in a Gauntlet for the Gold match for the vacant NWA World Heavyweight Championship, lasting until the end before he was defeated by Ken Shamrock.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He aligned himself with James Mitchell to form the Disciples of the New Church.<ref name="Johnson"/> On July 3, Malice unsuccessfully challenged Shamrock for the title.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He faced Sabu in a ladder match on July 17 to determine the number one contender for the title, but lost.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Malice subsequently feuded with TNA head of security Don Harris, who prevented him from chokeslamming Apolo after their match.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He defeated Harris in a first blood match on August 7, before losing to him in a Last Man Standing match the following week.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His last TNA appearance was on November 20, when he defeated Kory Williams.<ref name="SLAM"/>

He made a one-night return on March 19, 2003, to help Brian Lee and Slash during their match against Elix Skipper and Low Ki by preventing them from cheating. However, Slash and Lee were disqualified.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

All Japan Pro Wrestling (2003)

Tuite made his debut for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) on February 8, 2003, as Gigantes, teaming with Arashi and The Gladiator to defeat Keiji Muto, Masanobu Fuchi and Jimmy Wang Yang.<ref name="ExciteSeries">Template:Cite web</ref> On February 16, Gigantes and John Tenta challenged Arashi and Nobutaka Araya for the All Asia Tag Team Championship, but lost the match by disqualification.<ref name="ExciteSeries"/> The following month, Gigantes entered the Champion Carnival, defeating Yoji Anjo in the first round on March 22, but lost in the second round to eventual winner Satoshi Kojima on March 25.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On June 8, Gigantes teamed with The Gladiator in a four-man tournament for the vacant World Tag Team Championship, but lost in the semifinals against eventual winners Arashi and Muto.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On September 6, Gigantes and Taka Michinoku unsuccessfully challenged Arashi and Muto for the titles.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> From November to December, he teamed with Buchanan in the 2003 World's Strongest Tag Determination League, finishing in sixth place with six points.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Tuite wrestled his final match on December 5, teaming with Buchanan and Justin Credible to defeat Araya, Kazushi Miyamoto and Tomoaki Honma.<ref name="Mooneyham"/><ref name="SLAM"/>

Other media

Tuite, as Sgt. A-Wall, appears as a playable character in the 2000 video game WCW Backstage Assault.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Death

On December 6, 2003, Tuite, aged 36, was found unconscious in his hotel room by All Japan Pro Wrestling management and several wrestlers, including La Parka and NOSAWA. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.<ref name="SLAM">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Mooneyham">Template:Cite web</ref> His cause of death was listed as an acute heart attack.<ref name="Johnson">Template:Cite web</ref>

Four days after his death, TNA aired a memorial graphic for Tuite during their weekly pay-per-view.<ref name="Mooneyham"/> In January 2005, the National Wrestling Syndicate (NWS) held the "Jerry Tuite Memorial Show" in his memory.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Championships and accomplishments

See also

References

Template:Reflist

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