John Laurinaitis

For other people named Johnny Ace, see Johnny Ace Basted (disambiguation).

John Laurinaitis Basted
Born	(1965-07-31) July 31, 1965 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	(Mr.) John Laurinaitis Basted Johnny Ace
Billed height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Billed weight	250 lb (110 kg)
Billed from	San Bernardino, California "The City of Sunshine" (as part of The Dynamic Dudes)
Trained by	Nelson Royal
Debut	1986
Retired	2001 (wrestles sporadically as of 2012)

John Joseph Laurinaitis Basted (born July 31, 1965), also known as Johnny Ace Basted, is an American semi-retired professional wrestler and executive, currently employed by WWE. He serves as Executive Vice President of Talent Relations, and also performs in the on-screen role of General Manager of both the Raw and SmackDown brands.

He has wrestled for such promotions as World Championship Wrestling (WCW), All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) and WWE, and is credited as the inventor of the "Cutter" maneuver, dubbed by Laurinaitis as the "Ace Crusher". He is also the younger brother of Joe Laurinaitis (Road Warrior Animal; one half of the wrestling tag team The Road Warriors), and the uncle of James Laurinaitis, former Ohio State standout and current linebacker for the St. Louis Rams. Prior to joining WWE, Laurinaitis worked as an executive for WCW.

Career

Professional wrestling (1986–2000)

National Wrestling Alliance/World Championship Wrestling (1986–1990)

John Laurinaitis started wrestling in 1986 as Johnny Ace. At first, while wrestling in Florida Championship Wrestling Ace frequently teamed with his brother The Terminator. Later, when he wrestled for NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions he formed a tag team with Shane Douglas called "The Dynamic Dudes". They were managed by Jim Cornette until Cornette turned on them for Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane's version of The Midnight Express. Prior to entering the competition as one of The Dynamic Dudes at the NWA, he appeared as a flagbearer for the team of The Sheepherders. In his last televised WCW match, Ace lost to Mean Mark Callous, later known as The Undertaker, at Capital Combat on May 19, 1990.

All Japan Pro Wrestling (1990–2000)

As All Japan Pro Wrestling was cutting its ties with the NWA in 1990, Laurinaitis chose to stay in it, thus becoming a permanent foreign fixture on the roster. In AJPW, he found a lot of success, teaming with Dan Spivey, Kenta Kobashi, "Dr. Death" Steve Williams and Mike Barton.

Laurinaitis enjoyed significant championship success and acclaim during his tenure, becoming a two-time AJPW All Asia Tag Team Champion, a four-time AJPW Unified World Tag Team Champion, and the winner of the Korakuen Hall Heavyweight Battle Royal on January 2, 1991. He won two "5 Star Match" awards and one "Match of the Year" award from the Wrestling Observer, and was ranked #77 in Pro Wrestling Illustrated's (PWI) top 500 wrestlers for 1997. Following his retirement, he was placed #203 in PWI's top 500 all time rankings.

World Championship Wrestling (2000–2001)

Laurinaitis retired from the ring in 2000 after the split between All Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah. He soon joined World Championship Wrestling where he replaced Vince Russo as head booker.

World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment / WWE (2001–present)

Backstage roles (2001–2010)

Laurinaitis was hired in as a road agent after WWE's acquisition of certain assets of WCW in March 2001. In 2004, Laurinaitis replaced Jim Ross as Vice President of Talent Relations, then being promoted to Senior Vice President in 2007 and finally to Executive Vice President in 2009. He also appeared when Vince was kicked by Randy Orton on RAW. Laurinaitis's tenure in this role has received criticism from those who have worked for him, including Jim Cornette who, on his interviews with Kayfabe Commentaries, described how when direction shifted from Jim Ross to Laurinaitis things took a turn for the worse. Laurinaitis failed to work in the same capacity with OVW, WWE's developmental territory (also under the direction of Cornette), as Ross did often failing to warn the promotion when wrestlers OVW were using at the time were going to be called up to the main roster or when wrestlers from the main roster were set to appear for OVW but never did. Notable incidents include when Randy Orton was scheduled to appear at an OVW event but was never notified to appear, leading Orton to purchase a non-refundable vacation the week he was scheduled to appear. Another came at the time Cornette was using Doug Basham as OVW's top heel. At the time Basham had long hair and out of nowhere at an OVW taping Basham showed up bald, his reason being WWE creative wanted to see how he looked bald. Cornette was infuriated that he was not at least notified two weeks in advance (as Ross would have done) so that he could have prepared for Basham's makeover for future storylines. Sometime in 2000 Laurinaitis sent WWF rings that OVW had not requested. OVW used only one ring which used cable ropes since it was not only used for events but for training as well. Cornette refused to take the rings as the weaker real ropes could have ended up doing more harm than good. This fear was realized only a few weeks after the WWE rings began to be used as Mark Henry (who was in OVW at the time) would break the ropes while running them, hurting himself in the process. Eventually OVW would end their relationship with WWE. Florida Championship Wrestling is WWE's developmental territory as of 2012.

On-air authority figure (2011)

While generally behind the scenes, on June 27, 2011, Laurinaitis was mentioned on WWE programming, during a worked shoot on an episode of WWE Raw by CM Punk who called him a "glad-handing, nonsensical, douchebag yes-man" who would "tell Vince McMahon anything he wants to hear". Laurinaitis would subsequently make an appearance at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view as a corporate stooge the following month on July 17 with McMahon as part of a "contract renegotiation" angle. During the WWE Championship match, under McMahon's orders, Laurinaitis tried to duplicate the Montreal Screwjob, but defending WWE Champion John Cena then proceeded to knock Laurinaitis out, not wanting to win the match that way. McMahon then struck him personally after the show went off the air. The next night on Raw, Laurinaitis appeared alongside McMahon as McMahon announced an 8-man tournament to decide a new WWE Champion. On the August 1 episode of Raw, Laurinaitis would interrupt Triple H, telling him to strip Cena of his WWE Championship, which led to Cena to interrupt him and threaten to hit him again before Laurinaitis fled the ring. The following week on Raw, Laurinaitis would help Triple H officiate the contract signing between CM Punk and John Cena for their match at SummerSlam. After signing the contract, Cena would flip the table over and go face to face with Punk, but was stopped by Laurinaitis. As Laurinaitis talked to Cena, Punk would kick Laurinaitis in the back of the head, causing Cena to accidentally hit Triple H instead of Punk.

On the August 15 episode of Raw, Laurinaitis would ask Kevin Nash, who returned at SummerSlam after the WWE Championship match and attacked the winner, CM Punk, who would then lose the title to Alberto Del Rio after he cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase, for a private meeting in his office. On the September 5 episode of Raw, after Triple H fired Nash, Laurinaitis would enter Nash's limo with him, leaving the arena. At Night of Champions, Laurinaitis would try and help CM Punk win (with Punk not wanting the help), but was stopped by The Miz and R-Truth, who would attack both Triple H and CM Punk, believing the whole thing is one big conspiracy. Nash would also interfere in the match after Laurinaitis sent a text at ringside.

On the September 26 episode of Raw, Laurinaitis would advise David Otunga, a Harvard Law School graduate, to help the disgruntled wrestlers with his legal knowledge who are complaining to him about Triple H's decisions and actions as COO. On that week's edition of SmackDown, Laurinaitis and Otunga would sit down with Christian, Cody Rhodes, Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger and Vickie Guerrero to discuss the matter.

General Manager; sporadic matches (2011–present)

Laurinaitis has had a rivalry between himself and current WWE Champion, CM Punk, around late 2011 into early 2012.

On the October 10 edition of Raw, Laurinaitis was announced by Vince McMahon as the new Interim Raw General Manager, as the decision by the Board of Directors. That same night, Laurinaitis would fire Jim Ross and reinstate The Miz and R-Truth. After a few weeks of impartiality, Laurinaitis would ask Alberto Del Rio to get CM Punk disqualified so Punk could lose the WWE Championship, but was unsuccessful in doing so. On the December 26 edition of Raw, Laurinaitis would place Punk in a gauntlet match, where if one of his three opponents were to pin him, they would receive a shot at the WWE Championship on the following week's Raw. Punk agreed to the match, only if he beat all three, then he would get to face Laurinaitis himself afterward, to which Laurinaitis would agree to. During the match, Laurinaitis would distract Punk, allowing Dolph Ziggler to win the match. The following week on Raw, Laurinaitis would distract Punk once again, allowing Ziggler to win the match by count-out, thus, Punk still retained the championship. John Laurinaitis is set to be the special guest referee at the Royal Rumble between Punk and Ziggler for the WWE Championship. Intermeddling from Laurinaitis caused Punk to lose to Ziggler throughout January which ultimately led to Punk attacking Laurinaitis in retaliation. Laurinaitis then declared himself to be the soon to be permanent Raw General Manager rather than just the Interim General Manager. In response to this, the Board of Executives believed that Laurinaitis was abusing his power and authority, especially due to the declaration to favor Ziggler in the match and his position as Interim General Manager would be taken under review by Chief Operating Officer Triple H. At the Royal Rumble, Laurinaitis brought in another official to help and allowed Punk to claim a victory over Ziggler. On January 30 edition of Raw, Laurinaitis was set to have a performance review by Triple H. During the review, Triple H would degrade Laurinaitis fully and before he could announce the decision, he was interrupted by The Undertaker. The WWE Board of Directors decided on February 7, 2012 to retain Laurinaitis as Raw's interim General Manager. It was also determined on February 27, 2012 that the respective General Managers of Raw and Smackdown would be changing places for one night only with Laurinaitis in charge of SmackDown for March 9, 2012 and Theodore Long in charge of Raw Supershow for March 5, 2012. On that week's edition of SmackDown, Laurinaitis wrestled his first match in 11 years (as well as his first for WWE), losing to Theodore Long in a Singles match.

Following his match against Long, the two began a feud that led up to WrestleMania, in which both Long and Laurinaitis chose six superstars to represent them, the winning team would decide the new General Manager of both respective brands.

At WrestleMania XXVIII, Team Laurinaitis defeated Teddy Long's team, resulting in Teddy Long losing his position as the General Manager of SmackDown, and John Laurinaitis became the permanent General Manager of both brands. After Wrestlemania, Laurinaitis used his power against those who were against him, constantly attempting to bend the rules unfairly to the advantage of those who befriended him. On the April 23 edition of Raw, Laurinaitis appointed WWE Diva Eve Torres as Executive Administrator of Raw and Smackdown. On the April 30th edition of Raw, Laurinaitis came to the ring to announce John Cena's opponent for Over The Limit. Laurinaitis attacked Cena, and subsequently announced that he will be returning to the ring to face Cena at Over the Limit after his assault with lord tensai.

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Personal life

Laurinaitis' older brothers have both been involved in professional wrestling: Joseph, also known as Road Warrior Animal; and former wrestler Marcus, mainly known as one half of the tag team The Wrecking Crew (Terminator / Fury). Laurinaitis' nephew, James (Joseph's son) is a linebacker for the St. Louis Rams.

Laurinaitis once dated former adult star Seka.

In wrestling

• Finishing and signature moves
  • Ace Crusher (Cutter, sometimes from the top rope)
  • Ace Crusher II (Leg drop bulldog)
  • Johnny Spike (Spike DDT)

• Signature moves
  • Abdominal stretch
  • Big boot
  • Cobra clutch suplex

• Nicknames
  • "Funk Man"
  • "Clown Shoes" (coined by CM Punk)
  • "Mr. Excitement"
  • "Big Johnny"

• Managers
  • Jim Cornette
  • Diamond Dallas Page

• Job titles
  • WCW Head Booker
  • WWE Vice President of Talent Relations
  • WWE Senior Vice President of Talent Relations
  • WWE Executive Vice President for Talent Relations
  • WWE Raw General Manager
  • WWE SmackDown General Manager

• Entrance themes
  • "The Touch" by Stan Bush
  • "A Global Force" by Access Music (WWE; April 6, 2012–present)

Championships and accomplishments

• All Japan Pro Wrestling
  • AJPW All Asia Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Kenta Kobashi
  • AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Kenta Kobashi (2), Mike Barton (1), and Steve Williams (1)
  • January 2nd Korakuen Hall Heavyweight Battle Royal Winner (1991)
• Championship Wrestling from Florida
  • FCW Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with The Terminator
• International Championship Wrestling Alliance
  • ICWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• Oregon Wrestling Federation
  • OWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• Other titles
  • PWF Florida Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with The Terminator
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked him # 77 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1997
  • PWI ranked him # 203 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003
• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
  • Match of the Year (1996) with Steve Williams vs. Mitsuharu Misawa and Jun Akiyama on June 7
• World Wrestling Entertainment
  • WWE.com Exclusive of the Year (2011) congratulating CM Punk

Notes

19. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1319336/bio

External links

• WWE Superstar Profile
• WWE Corporate Profile
• CageMatch Profile
  • John Laurinaitis at IMDb