Wikipedia

Taz (wrestler)

"Tazz" redirects here. For the rugby player, seeTazz Fuzani.For the rabbinical commentary, seeDavid HaLevi Segal.For the car make, seeToyota Tazz.

Peter Senerchia(born October 11, 1967),[1]better known by thering nameTaz(also spelledTazz), is an Americanradio personality,color commentator,and retiredprofessional wrestlersigned toAll Elite Wrestling(AEW) as a color commentator forAEW Dynamiteandmanager.

Taz
Taz in 2022
Birth namePeter Senerchia[1]
Born(1967-10-11)October 11, 1967(age 57)[1]
Brooklyn, New York City,U.S.
Spouse(s)Teresa Smith
ChildrenHook(son)
FamilyChris Chetti(cousin)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Kid Krush[2]
The Tasmaniac
The Tasmanian Devil[2]
The Tazmaniac[2]
Taz[2]
Tazz[2][3]
Billed height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)[4]
Billed weight240 lb (109 kg)[4]
Billed from"The Red Hook Section of Brooklyn, New York"[2][3]
Trained byJohnny Rodz[1]
DebutJune 3, 1987(1987-06-03)[1]
RetiredJune 11, 2006(2006-06-11)[5]

Beginning his career in 1987, began his rise to prominence after joiningEastern Championship Wrestling(ECW, laterExtreme Championship Wrestling) in 1993 asThe Tazmaniac.In late-1995, following a severe neck injury, he shortened his ring name to "Taz" and adopted the persona of a belligerentshoot fighterwho dismantled opponents with an array ofsuplexesbefore forcing them to submit with the "Tazmission".During his time in ECW, Taz was atwo-timeECW World Heavyweight Champion,[6]atwo-timeECW World Television Champion,[7]athree-timeECW World Tag Team Champion,[8][9]atwo-time (and the inaugural)FTW Heavyweight Champion,[10]and the fourth ECWTriple Crown Champion.

In 1999, Taz left ECW to join theWorld Wrestling Federation(WWF, later WWE) where he was renamed "Tazz". After largely retiring from the ring in 2002, he transitioned into a color commentary role. Upon leaving WWE in 2009,[3]Taz joinedTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling(TNA) as a color commentator. He left TNA in 2015. In 2019, Taz joined the upstart AEW promotion, where he once again provided color commentary as well as managingTeam Taz,a stable that included his sonTyler "Hook" Senerchia.

Professional wrestling career

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Early career (1987–1993)

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Senerchia began wrestling inWorld Wrestling Council(WWC) and made his professional wrestling debut on June 3, 1987[11][12]inSan Juan, Puerto Rico,after being trained byJohnny Rodz.He wrestled asKid Krushbefore moving on to thenameThe Tazmaniac,of which he would use variations for the rest of his career.[1]In the early 1990s as The Tazmaniac, he wrestled forInternational World Class Championship Wrestling(IWCCW) and held itsLight Heavyweight Championshipfor six months in 1991.[13]He would followTony Rumblein leaving IWCCW to join the newly establishedCentury Wrestling Alliance(CWA). He would also tour inNew Japan Pro-Wrestling(NJPW)

Senerchia had his firstWorld Wrestling Federation(WWF) match on August 19, 1991 as The Tazmaniac, when he was defeated byRay Odyssey.He then made his only appearance ever inWorld Championship Wrestling(WCW) when he defeatedJoey Maggsin a dark match at aSaturday Nighttaping inAtlanta, Georgiaon February 8, 1993.[14]He would then make his second appearance in the WWF on May 5, 1993. Wrestling in a dark match at a Wrestling Challenge taping in Portland, ME, Tazmaniac would beatScott Taylor.He would go on to make two additional appearances onhouse showsinNew Jerseyon June 29 and June 30, losing toJim Powerson each occasion.[15]

Eastern Championship Wrestling / Extreme Championship Wrestling (1993–1999)

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Early years and injury (1993–1995)

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Wrestling as "The Tazmaniac", Senerchia debuted in thePhiladelphia-based promotionEastern Championship Wrestling(ECW) in October 1993 atNWA Bloodfest.He formed atag teamwith Joe Chetti (brother ofChris Chetti) called The Tazmaniacs.[2]When that team broke up, he was put into another team withKevin Sullivan,with whom he won theTag Team Championshiptwice.[8][9]During his second reign as Tag Team Champion with Sullivan, The Tazmaniac became a double champion when he also won theTelevision Championshipfor one night in March 1994.[7]For most of the rest of the year he floated around the tag ranks, teaming with different partners. He held the title once more, this time withSabu,until Sabu waslegitimatelyfired by ECW ownerPaul Heymanforno-showingan event in favor of touring Japan forNew Japan Pro-Wrestling.[16]In August 1994, The Tazmaniac competed in aone-night eight-man tournamentfor the vacantNWA World Heavyweight Championship,losing toShane Douglasin the quarter-finals.[17][18]

The Tazmaniac was put out of action by a legit injury for much of 1995. On July 20, during a tag team match2 Cold ScorpioandDean Malenkodelivered aspike piledriverto him, and though he knew it was about to be performed, he did not have time to properly protect himself. As he explained on the DVD documentaryThe Rise and Fall of ECW,"I landed right on my forehead and just jacked my whole neck back and that was it." The neck injury was so bad that, according toTommy Dreamer,hospital staff couldn't believe he'd walked into the hospital where he sought help after the match. Though he was unable to wrestle, Paul Heyman continued to pay him per their oral agreement, forging a loyalty between the men.[16]

Rise to superstardom (1995–1996)

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Following his neck injury, Taz made appearances with theSteiner Brothers,even standing in their corner during matches withThe Eliminatorsand getting physical withJason.It was at theNovember to Rememberevent, when Taz turned heel and joined up with refereeBill Alfonso.Working as the special referee for Alfonso's match with ECW commissionerTod Gordon,Taz refused to count to three and assaulted Gordon, then making the count for Alfonso. In his post-match promo, he claimed that no one was looking after him while he was injured and that no one cared (though Heyman was still paying him, thekayfabestory was that he had been forgotten and that Alfonso was the one helping him keep food on his family's table). He was also angry that Sabu was brought back in that very night.

Taz returned to the ring on December 19, 1995 at Holiday Hell with a new look and wrestling style. The new character had him clad in a black and orangesingletand exhibiting a more physically intense in-ring style, focusing his offense on mat wrestling andsuplexes(inspired by working with The Steiner Brothers), which announcerJoey StylesdubbedTaz-Plexes,earning him the nickname "The Human Suplex Machine". He also debuted hisTazmission/Katahajime finishing maneuver, causing opponents totap outto signal their submission as inmixed martial artsinstead of nodding their head or vocally saying "yes". This quirk was soon picked up by other companies throughout the country.[19]Heading into the summer, Taz began feuding with Tommy Dreamer, joining up withBrian Leeto face Dreamer andTerry Gordyand later Dreamer and"Dr. Death" Steve Williams.Taz also developed a friendship with The Eliminators, based on mutual respect, and they occasionally involved themselves in his matches.Perry Saturnand Taz were both trainers at ECW'sHouse of Hardcorewrestling school. For a while, some of the students, including Mako andChris Chetti,would accompany Taz and Alfonso to the ring as a faction known as Team Taz.[16]

AtNovember to Remember,things seemed to come full circle, as Taz stormed to the ring and interrupted Styles and "stole Paul E.'s thunder" by announcing that there would be a "big show in the first quarter of the new year", basically telling the fans in attendance that ECW's firstpay-per-viewwas on the horizon. At that "big show", he guaranteed that Sabu would finally face him. Later that night, he came out to force Scorpio to leave the ring and went on an angry tirade, abusing Bob Artese and holding him hostage in the ring. Taz demanded Sabu come out and face him, and twice even led the crowd in a "Sabu, Sabu" chant to get him to enter the ring. Several officials and wrestlers came out and Taz eventually got his hands on Paul E. The lights went out and when they came back on, Sabu was in the ring, across from Taz. This was the first time they had been in the ring together since early 1995. Before they could lock up, the lights went out again.

During Sabu's match, where he teamed withRob Van Damto face The Eliminators andThe Gangstasin a three-way dance, Taz attempted to attack his former partner, but Van Dam saved Sabu and was choked out in the aisle. This distraction caused Sabu to get hit withTotal Eliminationand his team lost. Taz also began a mini-feud with Rob Van Dam, dominating him in every match and was also out for a short time to get surgery on his injured shoulder. As 1996 ended and 1997 began, Taz and Sabu continued to try getting at one another, with no actual contact.

World Television Champion (1997–1998)

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On February 24, 1997, Taz defeatedMikey WhipwreckonWWF Monday Night Rawas part of the ECW Invasion.[20]

Early in 1997, the antagonism between Sabu and Taz was growing, as Taz attacked Sabu's partner, Rob Van Dam, costing the team matches with The Eliminators and other teams. In the months leading to ECW'sfirst pay-per-view,Taz would choke out low-level wrestlers with theTazmissiondue to viewing his matches as secondary to his rivalry with Sabu. He then dominated another series of matches with Van Dam before meeting Sabu atBarely Legal,where Taz defeated him with theTazmission,[21]only to have hismanagerBill Alfonsoturnon him and join Sabu and his partnerRob Van Dam.[1]In response, Taz began teaming withChris Candidoto face Sabu and Van Dam.

Two months later atWrestlepalooza,Taz lost to Sabu in the rematch, marking his first loss since 1995. However, later in the night, he won the World Television Championship fromShane Douglasto begin his second reign.[7]He defended the title against all comers, including Douglas,Lance Storm,John Kronus,Al Snow,Jerry LynnandChris Candido.Throughout late 1997, Taz began feuding with The Triple Threat in addition to Sabu and Van Dam, where he sometimes teamed up withTommy Dreamerduring the feud. AtNovember to Remember,he issued a challenge to World Heavyweight Champion Bam Bam Bigelow. The two would eventually meet, after Bigelow turned on Taz in a match against Shane Douglas and Chris Candido. Taz would ultimately lose the title toBam Bam BigelowatLiving Dangerouslyon March 1, 1998.

World Heavyweight Champion; departure (1998–1999)

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After losing the World Television Championship, Taz was elevated into the World Heavyweight Championship picture. In May 1998, with Shane Douglas injured and unable to wrestle, Taz was given an old World Television Championship belt painted orange—his trademark color—and begancutting promos,declaring himself theFTW Heavyweight ChampionatIt Ain't Seinfeld.Though the championship was unsanctionedin storyline,it was defended at ECW shows until Douglas was healthy.[22]Just before winning the World Heavyweight Championship, Taz "gave" the FTW Heavyweight Title to long-time foe Sabu in a match where he physically pulled Sabu on top of him to allow him to get the pin.[10]

Taz finally defeated Shane Douglas for the World Heavyweight Championship atGuilty as Charged,thus ending Douglas' year-long reign.[23]Taz was supposed to defend the title againstChris Candidoin his first televised title defense atHouse Partybut Douglas attacked Candido before the match and took his place, whom Taz defeated to retain the title in his first successful title defense. He would then begin a feud with Sabu over Taz's World Heavyweight Championship and Sabu's FTW Heavyweight Championship. The rivalry culminated in a title unification match at theLiving Dangerouslypay-per-view, where Taz defeated Sabu to unify the FTW Heavyweight Championship into the World Heavyweight Championship. He would begin his next rivalry with Chris Candido, whom he defeated to retain the title atCyberSlam.The two were scheduled to a rematch atHardcore Heaven,which Taz quickly won. However, he was attacked byDudley Boyzafter the match, leading to a title defense againstBuh Buh Ray Dudleyin afalls count anywhere matchin the main event later that night, which Taz won to retain the title. Taz then successfully defended the title against Candido on the June 4 episode ofHardcore TVto end the rivalry.

Taz made his next successful title defense againstSpike Dudleyin a Falls Count Anywhere match on the June 25 episode ofHardcore TV.He would begin feuding with the members ofSteve Corino'snew rising stable,primarilyYoshihiro Tajiri.Taz successfully defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Tajiri atHostile City Showdown,theHeat Wavepay-per-view and the September 3 episode ofECW on TNN.During that time, Taz signed with theWorld Wrestling Federation,before he losing the ECW title as the first man to be eliminated in athree-way dancebyMike AwesomeandMasato TanakaatAnarchy Rulz.[24]This ended his eight-month reign at 252 days. As he walked out of the ring, a large portion of the ECW locker room joined him on the entrance ramp to give him an emotional sendoff. After being off of ECW television for most of the fall, he wrestled one final match as an ECW performer atNovember to Remember,losing toRob Van Damviapinfall.[25]Taz's final televised match in ECW aired on the November 13 episode ofHardcore TV,in which he received a rematch against Mike Awesome for the World Heavyweight Championship, which he lost. In the DVDThe Rise and Fall of ECW,Taz said that he signed with the WWE because he was in the top of the company and he lost his passion.[16]

World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment (2000–2009)

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Feud with Jerry Lawler; The Alliance (2000–2002)

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Main articles:The InvasionandThe Alliance

After being contacted by theWorld Wrestling Federation(WWF) andWorld Championship Wrestling(WCW) in 1999,[26]Senercia ultimately signed for the WWF, where he was renamed "Tazz". Beginning in December 1999, what would become Tazz's symbol would play on the Titantron during various entrances, and the arena would be shrouded in Tazz's signature orange color. Tazz made his in-ring debut in January 2000 atMadison Square Gardenat the2000 Royal Rumbleas the surprise opponent of the previously undefeatedKurt Angle,who he defeated with theTazzmission.[27]Just a few months after Tazz arrived in the WWF,Mike Awesome,the man he had lost the ECW World Heavyweight Championship to atAnarchy Rulz,secretly signed with WCW. Legal wrangling by Paul Heyman prevented Awesome from taking the championship belt with him, and in a bizarre piece of professional wrestling history, ECW and WWF officials agreed to have Tazz, a WWF wrestler, make a surprise appearance at an ECW show to defeat Awesome, a WCW wrestler, for the ECW World Heavyweight Championship.[28]Tazz held the title for ten days before losing it toTommy Dreamer,during which time he wore it on various WWF shows, and including an episode ofWWF SmackDown!where he lost toWWF ChampionTriple H.[29]However,Vince McMahonlater expressed some regret overbookingTazz to lose to Triple H.[30]

After he lost the ECW World Heavyweight Championship atCyberSlam,Tazz was placed into contention for theWWF Intercontinental Championship,but he never won the title. In the summer, after taking time off for an arm injury, he turnedheeland placed into a feud withcolor commentatorJerry Lawler.[31]The feud included matches atSummerSlam[32]andUnforgiven,which they split.[33]Tazz was only able to pick up the Unforgiven win when he received help fromRaven,who had returned to the company. Afterwards, the duo formed atag teamthat lasted until November.

When theInvasionangle began, Tazz acted as "the voice ofThe Alliance",sticking up for them and speaking on their behalf whenever possible. Over the next few weeks, he'd be beaten up byStone Cold Steve Austin,made out as the weak link and "the example" needed to be made to the other Alliance members. Despite this mistreatment, Tazz would still speak positively about Austin and The Alliance as a whole while on commentary. He eventually left thestableafter he finally stood up to Austin and attacked Paul Heyman in the weeks leading up to Survivor Series, where The Alliance lost to Team WWF.[34]

Color commentator; departure (2002–2009)

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Taz signing autographs in 2006

With injuries mounting,[35]Tazz began performing part-time commentary onSunday Night Heatin October 2000. His firstpay-per-viewannouncement appearance was duringRebellionin December 2000, announcing alongsideJim Ross.He joined theSmackDown!team in February 2001 after Jerry Lawler quit the company, as well as becoming one of the trainers for the joint WWF/MTVproduced reality seriesTough Enough.[31]Lawler returned to the company on November 19, 2001 and resumed his place as commentator, with Tazz becoming both a wrestler and a commentator.[36]In January 2002, he andSpike Dudleywon theWWF Tag Team Championship,[37]holding it for over a month before losing it toBilly and Chuck.[38]

When World Wrestling Entertainmentsplit into two brands,Tazz was put on theWWF SmackDown!brand, where he resumed his color commentator duties.[39]Not long after he retired from the ring in June 2002, and he became a full-time broadcaster.[5]He co-hostedSmackDown!for World Wrestling Entertainment until a third brand,ECW,was introduced in 2006, at which point he became the color commentator for that show.[3]He was also the co-host, with Joey Styles, ofHistory ofExtreme Championship WrestlingonWWE 24/7 Classics,a show that re-aired archived episodes of the original ECW's weekly television programs. Before and during episodes he and Styles provide insight into the storylines, inner workings, and general ambiance of ECW at the time—as they remember it.

In February 2006, Tazz and hisSmackDown!broadcasting partner,Michael Cole,hosted a week-long trial run of a show onHoward 101onSirius Satellite Radio,but the show was not picked up. He also hosted a talk show on92.3 Free FMat sporadic intervals between late summer 2006 and early 2007, but it was not picked up and the station changed formats, replacing all post morning programming with music. On June 11, 2006, Taz returned to the ring to squash former rival Jerry Lawler atECW One Night Stand.[40]

During the recording of the April 29, 2008 episode ofECW,Tazz's broadcast partnerMike Adamleabruptly walked off set prior to the main event. Moments later, after reading the promo for the upcoming pay-per-view, Tazz walked out as well, leaving the main event with no commentators.[41]On December 13, 2010, Tazz joined Right After Wrestling and said that it "pisses him off" when companies try to re-create the original ECW. He stated that the original ECW worked because "It was that era, that group of people, that leader in Paul Heyman. We were that little engine that could."[42]

In August 2008, Tazz filled in forMick Foleyas a color commentator on the SmackDown brand afterEdgeattacked Foley in the previous week, while Raw wrestlerMatt Strikerfilled in for Tazz on the ECW brand. When Foley left the company, Tazz became the permanent color commentator for the SmackDown brand once again. On April 3, 2009, WWE announced that Tazz had left WWE when his contract had expired beforeWrestleMania 25.[43]Two days later after his departure from WWE, his WWE profile was moved from the active SmackDown roster list to the alumni list for a short time before being completely removed, and confirming his departure from the company.

In October 2018, Senercia talked about what led to his WWE departure stating "I left on my own terms. My contract was up the week going into WrestleMania, I wasn't there. That was it. I was done at the Dallas TV before that...They offered me a new deal, which was a great deal...I had to get out of there....I saw Vince in Dallas and I officially gave word, shook his hand, said I was leaving in Dallas. He and I were crying and hugging, 'I'm gonna miss you.' I thanked him for everything. It was great. I remember talking to Stephanie [McMahon] and Triple H……Stephanie was just looking at me, 'I'm really surprised. Why are you doing this?' She couldn't understand why I would leave. She wasn't mean. She wasn't disrespectful. 'I need to do this. I appreciate everything you've done for me. There's no ill will.' She was the same way with me. So was Hunter. They were extremely awesome to me; but, like an adult to an adult she was just wondering why and I was, 'I just need a break'".[44]In April 2020, Senercia further reflected his other reasons for his WWE departure stating "I didn't want to be around anybody named McMahon at that time, They were annoying, and it was the pompous, the arrogance. But the arrogance, not politics, the arrogance. That's what I keep saying. That's the adjective that keeps jumping out at me. Just the disposition of that elitist attitude, it got to the point where I was like, 'you know what?..I'm out.'"[45]

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2009–2015)

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See also:Aces & Eights
Taz (left) with his commentary partner,Mike Tenayin July 2010

AtVictory Road,Senercia, under his Taz ring name, made his officialTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling(TNA) debut duringSamoa Joe's match againstSting,revealing himself to be Joe'son-screenadviser and consequently aheelas well as an ally of theMain Event Mafia.The match ending was booked as Taz's presence enabling Joe to recover from Sting'sScorpion Deathlockand win the match via submission after applying theCoquina Clutch.[46]

On the August 20, 2009 episode ofImpact!,Taz replacedDon Westas the promotion's color commentator and also became afaceupon stating that he was only loosely associated with the Mafia and that he had taught Joe everything he knew and that it was now up to Joe to use his newfound skills.[47][48]In May 2012, Taz began appearing as a judge in the monthlyTNA Gut Checksegment onImpact Wrestling.[49]

On the January 17, 2013 episode ofImpact Wrestling,Taz was agroomsmanat the wedding betweenBully RayandBrooke Hogan.As Ray and Brooke exchanged their vows, Taz interrupted the ceremony and proclaimed himself to be a member ofAces & Eightsafter revealing akutteunderneath his coat, turning heel again in the process. Following his revelation, Aces & Eights ambushed the ceremony and attacked Ray, his groomsmenTommy DreamerandBrother Runtand Brooke's fatherHulk Hogan.[50]The following week onImpact Wrestling,Taz revealed that he joined Aces & Eights because of his desire to be a member of a group that adheres to a higher power.[51]On the November 21 episode ofImpact Wrestling,Aces & Eights was forced to disband after Bully Ray lost toMr. Anderson,which also saw Anderson retain his career in TNA.[52]

On April 15, 2015, it was officially announced that Taz had departed TNA.[53][54]

Three days later on April 18, 2015, Taz stated that what led to his TNA departure was that he was asked for his release and he got it and said that it was all professional and he left the proper way. He revealed that his deal was due to expire in the summer anyway and was already looking into alternatives and the way he said it was that he was not going to renew his deal anyway even though TNA wanted him to stay. He confirmed the reports that payments were not coming in and his checks came late and had to do what he had to do. "I did a service, I wasn't paid for that service," Taz said, adding that TNA understood his situation. Once the checks were not coming, he gave TNA his notice and that was it. He said that he would have liked to make a little bit more money but then again everyone felt like that and despite not making the most he was happy from the financial side of things ".[55][56]

WWE (2016)

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In November 2016, Taz made an appearance on theWWE Networkspecial,The Authentic Untold Story of ECW,alongside former ECW management Paul Heyman and wrestlers Bubba Ray Dudley, D-Von Dudley, and Tommy Dreamer. In the one-hour special hosted byCorey Graves,the guests talked about their experiences in ECW and the promotion's legacy on professional wrestling.

All Elite Wrestling (2019–present)

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Main article:Team Taz

On October 12, 2019, Taz made a guest appearance forAll Elite Wrestling(AEW), where he appeared on the October 22 edition ofAEW Darkas a guest commentator.[57]On November 9, 2019, Taz made his guest appearance duringFull Gearas the pre-show commentator. On the January 1, 2020 episode ofAEW Dynamite,Taz made hisDynamitedebut on commentary filling in forTony Schiavone.On January 16, 2020, it was announced that Taz had officially signed a multi-year deal with AEW, and he was made a member of the AEW broadcast team.[58]

AtDouble or Nothingon May 20, 2020, Taz accompanied newcomerBrian Cageto the ring during the Casino Ladder Match and in what appeared to be the role of a manager, establishing himself as aheelin the process.[59]Cage would win the match, which also made him the number one contender for theAEW World Championship,[60]and Taz celebrated the victory with him afterwards.[60]On Night 2 ofFyter Fest,Taz rewarded Cage with theFTW Championshiphe held during his later years in ECW.[61]AtFight for the Fallen,Cage lost toJon Moxleyafter Taz threw in the towel.[62]Soon after, Taz would recruitRicky Starksto create a group known asTeam Tazalong with Cage as they began feuding withDarby Allin.[63]On the November 18, 2020 episode ofDynamite,Will Hobbsjoined Team Taz after hittingCody Rhodeswith Cage's FTW championship belt and then helping Taz, Cage and Starks when they attacked Rhodes and Allin.[64]

On August 4, 2021, it was announced that Taz would permanently join the commentary team onAEW Rampagebeginning August 13, 2021.[65]In June 2022, Taz switched to full-time commentary onAEW Dynamite,in a commentary team rotation swap withJim Ross.[66]

In October 2024, Taz was attacked by an unknown wrestler, later revealed to beChristian CageofThe Patriarchy.This was done to write Taz off of television to allow him to getknee replacement surgery.[67][68]

Professional wrestling style, persona and legacy

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Taz's character was influenced byThe Missing Link,The Steiner BrothersandThe Wild Samoans.[69]Taz is nicknamed the "Human Suplex Machine" due to his wide array of suplex variations he would utilise in matches. His finishing move, theTazmission,is aKatahajimejudo chokehold. He also sometimes combined this submission with a suplex, creating a half nelson choke suplex, called theTazmission-Plex.[2][70]He has also claimed to have named the T-Bone Suplex.[71]When Taz was signed by WWF, other wrestlers complained to Vince McMahon about his style, calling him dangerous and didn't want to work with him. However, Kurt Angle defended Taz, saying that "Taz was never dangerous with his suplexes".[72]

Personal life

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Taz with his son Tyler, who is currently wrestling asHookinAll Elite Wrestling(AEW)

Senerchia is ofItalian descent.He is the cousin of fellow retired professional wrestlerChris Chetti.Senerchia is married to Teresa Smith, and together they have one son,Tyler Cole(born May 4, 1999), who is also a professional wrestler better known under the ring name Hook.[73]Tyler has trained withCody Rhodesand made several appearances in AEW as part of his father's stableTeam Taz,debuting in action on December 10, 2021.[74][75]

Senerchia has atattooof theLooney TunescharacterTasmanian Devilon his upper right biceps, which he states he got after being inspired by an identical tattoo sported byRoad Warrior Animal.[76][better source needed]He also has a self-designed tattoo on his left lower bicep.[citation needed]

Senerchia playedhigh school football,as well as in college, playing for theLIU Post Pioneers.[73]He also studiedjudoprior to entering the professional wrestling circuit, reaching a second-degree black belt.[77]He is a supporter of theNew York Mets,New York Knicks,Philadelphia 76ers,New York Islanders,and theBuffalo Bills.[citation needed]

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In September 1998, Senerchia was arrested on charges of indecent exposure and contributing to the delinquency of a child after allegedly exposing himself to a 15 year-old salon worker during a massage.[78][79]The charges were dropped in October 1999.[80]

Other media

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Beginning in 2018, Senerchia was a nationally syndicated morning radio personality, co-hostingTaz and The Moosewith Marc "The Moose" Malusis onCBS Sports Radioweekdays from 6-9 a.m. Eastern.[81]In December 2019, Senerchia announced he was leaving the show.[82]

Senerchia also had his own podcast, calledThe Taz Show(formerly known asThe Human Podcast Machine),where he discusses the latest in the professional wrestling world. The show has since discontinued.[83]

Senerchia (as Taz) appears as a playable character inECW Hardcore Revolution,WWF No Mercy,WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role,WWE WrestleMania X8 (video game),WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It,WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth,WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007andWWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009.

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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