Mark LoMonaco is as familiar a face in the sport of Wrestling as you’re likely to see. He’s a well travelled veteran of several wrestling companies and is currently occupying a top spot on the TNA Impact Wrestling roster. You’ll know him more as Bully Ray, formerly one half of Team 3D and The Dudley Boyz – perhaps the most successful tag team in the history of professional wrestling.
But just who is he and what’s his story? What’s it taken to get where he is today? What Culture takes a look back at his career and traces the Bully’s path to last night’s PPV main event – perhaps the biggest night of his long career.
MONGO VYLE – Independent Circuit, 1991-1995
LaMonaco made his in ring debut back in 1991 under the somewhat amusing moniker of Mongo Vyle. Although no footage exists of his time using this name he would make an immediate impact wrestling a hardcore style against with his Nasty Boys/Road Warriors inspired gimmick. After four years as an indie heel Mongo was hired by the company that made him a star.
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2 Comments
Loving the fact that Bully Ray is now a top singles champion – the guy has worked his ass off to get to where he is now, still perfecting his art in the ring whilst losing a considerable amount of weight and hitting the weights at the gym. To do all this, towards what most people would see as the twilight of a career, speaks volumes about how much love Mark LoMonaco still has for professional wrestling. Coupled with the fact that both he and Devon still train and mentor the younger and inexperienced guys on the roster proves that he takes his work very seriously, and I totally agree with you Matt – he and CM Punk are the best (and most natural) heels in the business today.
On a side note – hope that Bray Wyatt reaches somewhere near to what Ray and Punk are currently achieving in wrestling.
I agree after being stuck as a tag team specialist he’s worked his way to an upper midcard level, but there’s no way he deserves the world championship. Not while Roode and A Double are on the card. How soon until Hulk Hogan limps back into the ring to take the title from him?