Johnny Punch

Infobox Wrestler
name=Tom Demers

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img_capt=
names=Johnny Punch
Dischord
height= height|ft=6|in=1
weight= convert|225|lb|kg|abbr=on|lk=on
birth_date = birth date and age|1978|8|30|mf=y
death_date =
birth_place = Lebanon, New Hampshire, United States
death_place =
resides= Louisville, Kentucky
billed=
trainer=Mike Mondo
Rip Rogers
debut=August 2, 2006
vs. Jack Bull
retired=
website= [http://www.johnnypunch.com JohnnyPunch.com]
myspace|tmsmurai|Johnny Punch|

Tom Demers (born August 30, 1978) better known by his ring name as Johnny Punch, is an American professional wrestler, who competed in North American independent promotions including Derby City Wrestling, New England Championship Wrestling and Top Rope Promotions. He is best known however as a longtime mainstay of Ohio Valley Wrestling, a former World Wrestling Entertainment developmental territory, and one half of Gothic Mayhem with Pat Buck.

Career

Early life and career

Growing up in Lebanon, New Hampshire, Demers began watching professional wrestling at 7 or 8 years old. A fan of André the Giant and Hulk Hogan after watching "WrestleMania III", he also became a fan of The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels during the "Attitude Era" as well as Extreme Championship Wrestling. cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-radio.com/index.php?view=recap&c
title=Guests: Johnny Punch and Harley Race |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2008-08-12 |year= |month= |format= |work=The Wrestling Mic |publisher=Wrestling-Radio.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

In the summer of 2004, Demers attended "Monday Night Raw" being held in Manchester, New Hampshire and afterwards when to a local bar were he met Ric Flair. Sitting next to Flair, it was while listening to his road stories that he decided to become a professional wrestler. Considering several wrestling schools in the New England-area, he eventually decided on Ohio Valley Wrestling and moved to Louisville, Kentucky two months later. He received the majority of his training from Mike Mondo and Rip Rogers although Al Snow and Robert Gibson were also involved. Demers, who was a fan of Gibson and Ricky Morton, often suggested a match between The Rock 'n' Roll Express and Gothic Mayhem but nothing came of these plans.

Ohio Valley Wrestling (2006)

On August 2, 2006, Demers made his wrestling debut against Jack Bull in a dark match at an OVW television taping. At OVW's "Six Flags Show on August 11, he participated in an 18-man battle royal including Jack Bull, Shad Gaspard, Elijah Burke, Lennox Lightfoot, Ranger Milton, Rod Steele, Eddie Craven III, Mike Kruel, Jon Bolen,Neighborhoodie, Shawn Osborne, Seth Skyfire, Pat Buck, Los Locos and The Untouchables. [ cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/ovw/sixflags.html#081106 |title=Ohio Valley Wrestling Six Flags Show: August 11, 2006 |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2008 |month= |format= |work=Ohio Valley Wrestling Six Flags Shows |publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] Weeks later, he was introduced as the tag team partner of Pat Buck who together formed Gothic Mayhem. Portraying heavy metal-punk rockers, their entourage included valets Melody and Roni Jonah who followed the team as groupies. Initially successful, the team debuted against Los Locos defeating them at an August 16th television taping at the Davis Arena. [ cite web |url=http://www.lordsofpain.net/news/2006_/articles/1155797767.php |title=News & Results from OVW TV Taping - Boogeyman, Chris Masters, CM Punk, Beth Phoenix |accessdate= |author=Martin, Calvin |authorlink= |coauthors=Eric Hall and Chip Douglas |date=2006-08-17 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=LordsofPain.net |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] They soon hit a slump with losses against Bad Company (Eddie Craven & Mike Kruel) and High Dosage"' (Jon Bolen & Ryan Reeves). On September 27, he teamed with Rob Roy McCoy and Devin Driscoll in a 3-on-1 handicap match against Oleg Prudius. He also had single matches against Ryan Reeves and JTG.

On October 28, he and Buck took on OVW Southern Tag Team Champions Cody Runnels & Shawn Spears but failed to win the titles. [ cite web |url=http://shawn-spears.org/shawn/matches_2.php |title=Match History Part 2 |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2007 |month= |format= |work=Match History |publisher=Shawn-Spears.org |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] During the next three months, Johnny Punch wrestled in single matches losing to Chris Rombola, Boris Alexiev and Steve Lewington. He also teamed with Chad Wicks against Damian Adams & Rob Roy McCoy on December 14, 2006.

Although sometimes accompanied by Buck, Melody and Roni Jonah, it was not until early the next year when he and Buck would wrestle as a tag team. On January 10, 2007, he and Buck lost to Terminal Velocity (Chet the Jet & Steve Lewington) in a four-way match with Los Locos and The Untouchables. Later that month, they became involved in a feud with Chris Rombola, a regular opponent of Johnny Punch during the previous year. Defeating Rombola and Jake Hager on January 31, they also attacked him during a mock "Battle of the Bands" segment on OVW television the following month when Pat Buck smashed an electric guitar over Rombola's head.

Although dominating their feud with Rombola, they continued losing matches against Kofi Nahaje Kingston & Harry Smith and Chet the Jet & Steve Lewington. On March 7, they also lost to Charles "The Hammer" Evans & Justin "The Ox" LaRoche in a four-way match with Chet the Jett & Steve Lewington and The Belgian Brawler & Nicholas Sinn to decide the number one contenders for the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship.

On April 25, Gothic Mayhem teamed with Tony Braddock to beat TJ Dalton & Jamin Olivencia & Mike Hutter in a 6-man tag team match. Facing Loc Locos and Terminal Velocity, they also feuded with The Major Brothers during the summer. At the June 1st OVW Six Flags Show, Johnny Punch teamed with Ramon Loco against The Daltons (Jesse & Justice Dalton). [ cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/ovw/sixflags.html#060107 |title=Ohio Valley Wrestling Six Flags Show: June 1, 2007 |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2008 |month= |format= |work=Ohio Valley Wrestling Six Flags Shows |publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] He also wrestled single matches against Steve Lewington, [ cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/ovw/sixflags.html#061507 |title=Ohio Valley Wrestling Six Flags Show: June 15, 2007 |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2008 |month= |format= |work=Ohio Valley Wrestling Six Flags Shows |publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] Chet The Jett, Colt Cabana, Atlas DaBone, [ cite web |url=http://bruisermania.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=395 |title=Lots of News |accessdate= |author=Wrestling Observer |authorlink=Wrestling Observer |coauthors= |date=2007-07-01 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Bruisermania.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] Idol Stevens and Jamin Olivencia in dark matches on OVW television. On August 10, he lost to Christian York at OVW's "Six Flags Show" [ cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/misc/ovw/sixflags.html#081007 |title=Ohio Valley Wrestling Six Flags Show: August 10, 2007 |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2008 |month= |format= |work=Ohio Valley Wrestling Six Flags Shows |publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] and, in house shows, he also lost to Ace Steele in Hillview, Kentucky and Chris Cage in Cincinnati, Ohio.

On October 10, Gothic Mayhem lost to Los Locos in a qualifying match to enter the championship tournament for the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship. He also feuded with Ted "The Trailor" McNailer and, with Melody, faced him in a mixed tag team match with Serena Deeb on October 20. He and Buck would make their last tag team appearance losing to The Major Brothers on November 7.

Recent years

Punch continued to loose matches throughout late-2007. He began to gain a small following by this time in matches against Matt Sydal, Dre Blitz, Totally Awesome, Antoni Polaski, [ cite web |url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/news/64691/OVW-TV-Taping-Results-for-12.05.07.htm |title=OVW TV Taping Results for 12.05.07 |accessdate= |author=Rodriguez, Armando |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2007-12-06 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=411mania.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] Ace Steel, Big Sal and, in an intergender match, against his former valet Melody. On December 19, 2007, he lost to OVW announcer Timmy Baltimore in his 100th consecutive loss. cite web |url=http://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2008/229/raw_317551.shtml |title=A Nasty Boy To MMA?, RVD/Pot, RAW Notes, & More News |accessdate= |author=Clark, Ryan |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2008-02-29 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=WrestlingInc.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

In January 2008, he lost to Kassidy James, Jay Bradley, Matt Classic, [ cite web |url=http://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2008/111/jeff_hardy_313231.shtml |title=News On Jeff Hardy, Hulk Hogan, WSX Star To WWE, More News |accessdate= |author=Clark, Ryan |authorlink= |coauthors=Lipinski, Keith |date=2008-01-11 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=WrestlingInc.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] Justin La Roche, Charles Evans and Lupe Viscara. By the time had had scored his first major singles victory against Drew McIntyre on February 28, ending his 123rd match losing streak, he had become an established "babyface". His match took place at the final WWE-affiliated OVW television show. On April 19, he and Damien Adams lost to The Insurgency (Ali and Omar Akbar). [ cite web |url=http://www.piledriver-online.co.uk/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1211292902&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1& |title=Indy Info Zone (Updated May 20th 2008) |accessdate= |author=Ashfield, Stephen |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2008-05-20 |year= |month= |format= |work=Piledriver Online News |publisher=Piledriver-Online.co.uk |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

During the summer of 2008, he returned to New England as part of Eastern Pro Wrestling's "United We Slam" tour. On July 12, He pinned Ray Kejimura in a special challenge match on NECW's "Red, White & Bruised" supercard held at the National Guard Armory in Quincy, Massachusetts. [ cite web |url=http://wrestlinggazette.com/2008/07/16/results-from-necws-red-white-bruised-from-saturday-july-12-in-quincy-ma/ |title=Results from NECW's Red, White and Bruised from Saturday, July 12 in Quincy, MA |accessdate= |author=Saliba, Dean |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2008-07-16 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=WrestlingGazette.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] [ cite web |url=http://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Other_News_4/article_26304.shtml |title=Torch Indy Weekend Report: Bagwell, Murdock, Dave Taylor, Mahoney, Vito |accessdate= |author=Vetter, Chris |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2008-07-22 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=PWTorch.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] This match would later air on NECW TV in early August. [ cite web |url=http://www.necw.tv/episodes/NECW_TV_EPISODE_135.wmv |title=Previously On NECW TV: Monday, August 11, 2008 |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2008-08-11 |year= |month= |format= |work=NECW TV, See and Believe! |publisher=NECW.tv |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] A week later, he and Owen Graichen wrestled EPW Tag Team Champions "Egomaniac" Jonny Idol & "Nightmare" Nick Steel at the American Legion Hall in White River Junction, Vermont. The event was a fundraiser for the American Legion. [ cite web |url=http://www.epwwrestling.com/uws_7192008.html |title=Eastern Pro Wrestling presents the United We Slam Tour 2008 |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2008 |month= |format= |work=EPW News |publisher=EPWwrestling.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] [ cite web |url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news2008/1211664997.shtml |title=Georgia Wrestling News, Notes and Nostalgia: 05/24/2008 |accessdate= |author=Martin, Adam |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2008-05-24 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=WrestleView.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] He also teamed with Alex Arion in several tag team matches including against Doink the Clown & The Turtle at the Bank Street Armory in Fall River, Massachusetts on August 1. [ cite web |url=http://www.dantanaka.com/matchlists/history20.html |title=Match History, Part 20 |accessdate= |author=Tanaka, Dan |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2008 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=DanTanaka.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves
**"Rock and Roll Slam" (Tilt-a-whirl powerslam)
**Hangman's neckbreaker
**European uppercut
**Diving double knee drop
**Spinning back elbow

*Managers :*Roni Jonah :*Pat Buck :*Melody

References

External links

* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/j/johnny-punch.html Profile at Online World of Wrestling]
* [http://www.cagematch.de/?id=2&nr=4332&gimmick=Johnny+Punch CageMatch.de - Johnny Punch] ger