R.I.P. Johnny Grunge

[DblD]

Just found out some sad news today that a freind and a brother in professional wrestling Johnny Grunge has just passed away. My heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to his family.


Mike "Johnny Grunge" Durham Passes Away
Submitted by Daniel Pena on Thursday, February 16, 2006 at 12:47 PM EST


Former ECW & WCW star Mike "Johnny Grunge" Durham has passed away. He was pronounced dead upon his arrival at an Atlanta area hospital earlier today.

Apparently, Durham was at a friend's house in Peachtree, Georgia. He was gasping for air, and then immediately rushed to the hospital. The hospital's preliminary diagnosis is that he was suffering from complications of sleep apnea.

Grunge was believed to be 39 years old. When his tag team partner and friend Rocco Rock (Ted Petty) passed away in 2002, his friends say that he was never the same again.

source - Wrestling Observer

[NECW]

Johnny Grunge and Ted Petty were mainstays for Tony Rumble's NWA New England after their big runs in ECW, WCW and WWF. They were both terrific guys personally and professionally. Johnny had the reputation of being a big time partier, but he was also one of kinder and more generous guys in the business.

They did a lot for the business, not just in ECW, but wherever they went. I forget the exact date, but in 1998 or 1999, they did a one night title change for the NWA Tag Team Titles with The Brotherhood, which was a favor to Tony to build the credibility of the belts and the local guys who held them.

My condolences to Johnny's family and many, many friends.