TNA has announced the following names for TNA Boot Camp in a press release:
ROLLERBALL ROCCO
The word ‘legend’ is overused these days, but Mark “Rollerball” Rocco is one man who truly is a legend of the wrestling business. The son of British star “Jumping” Jim Hussey, Rocco trained in secret away from his father but grew to become one of the greatest British wrestlers of all time.
Rocco held numerous titles while based in Great Britain, including the World Heavy-Middleweight Championship, but also became a star in Japan, under the mask of the original Black Tiger. Rocco’s clashes with the original Tiger Mask in Japan, and Dynamite Kid in both the UK and Japan, were a generation ahead of their time. Rocco pioneered a fast-paced daredevil style of wrestling, and if it was not for the likes of him, there may not be an X Division today.
Rocco also toured the United States, wrestling in the world famous Madison Square Garden. Among his opponents in the States was a young rookie called Terry Bollea, who later became Hulk Hogan. In the late 1980s, Rocco mentored a young Japanese wrestler called Keiichi Yamada, both in Japan and the UK. Yamada, like his mentor, later donned a mask and became a worldwide superstar as Jushin “Thunder” Liger.
Rocco was forced to suddenly retire in 1991 on doctor’s orders but has never lost his interest and passion for this sport, a passion which can still be seen to this day as he helps to develop a new generation of global stars.
ROCKSTAR SPUD
BORN IN: Birmingham, England
BIRTHDAY: January 30th
AGE: 29
The British love an underdog in any kind of sporting competition. You only have to watch the tennis at Wimbledon each summer to witness this. And British wrestling fans loved the biggest underdog of them all, Spud…..until a couple of years ago.
When he made his professional wrestling debut in 2002, a young, fresh-faced Spud was billed as the smallest wrestler in the UK, taking on all comers, including, believe it or not, TNA’s monster, Abyss! Influenced by people such as Hulk Hogan, Roddy Piper, Rollerball Rocco and the late Brian Pillman, his never-say-die attitude won over the fans.
Success soon followed, with Spud capturing lighter weight titles around the country, but this success sadly went to his head. Out went good old Spud, and in came Rockstar Spud. Donning sunglasses, leopard print accessories and basking in his own self-importance, Rockstar Spud does NOT stop talking!
Spud has also found fame on national television, appearing on BBC TV’s ‘Snog, Marry, Avoid’ show. This led to a bitter war of words on Twitter with Marty Scurll which has escalated into a violent feud spanning the entire UK, and now perhaps even further!
MARTY SCURLL
BORN IN: Cambridge, England
BIRTHDAY: July 26th
AGE: 24
Marty Scurll is a young man who’s been turning heads in more ways than one all across the UK. Establishing himself initially as half of one of Britain’s premier tag teams, Scurll’s high-impact, spectacular style easily translated into one-on-one competition. He found further fame on a national basis by appearing on a prime-time Saturday night TV show, “Take Me Out”, making him something of a celebrity in and out of the ring.
He was trained by former British star Tony Scarlo, and debuted in 2005. Scurll cites his influences as World of Sport era British greats like Jim Breaks and Mark ‘Rollerball’ Rocco, as well as modern British TNA star Magnus, and international legends like Eddie Guerrero and Yoshihiro Tajiri.
Scurll has wrestled international opposition on several occasions, including TNA stars Robbie E, Douglas Williams and Magnus, as well as Generation Me and Japanese stars CIMA and Akira Tozawa. He has wrestled in the UK, the USA and six countries in continental Europe, including Germany, Italy and Spain.
Coming from the famous university city of Cambridge, it’s almost inevitable that Scurll would have an academic string to his bow too. He’s currently studying for a marketing and advertising degree at the University of Chichester.
Scurll is a crowd-pleaser who respects the rules and traditions of this great sport. His career ambitions are to become a huge star in the USA, to become world champion, have his own action figure and be featured in a video game!
THE BLOSSOM TWINS
BORN IN: Stockport, Greater Manchester, England
BIRTHDAY: February 18th
AGE: 24
Twice as nice, or double the trouble? That’s the question that everyone in Impact Wrestling will be asking themselves when they see Hannah and Holly, The Blossom Twins.
Making their professional wrestling debuts together in 2005, the identical twins hail from Stockport and are, naturally, tag team specialists. They have an understanding of one another that beats any other tag team in the world hands down.
Hannah and Holly are no strangers to wrestling in the United States at all. The twins have made several trips Stateside since 2009, where, among others, they have faced TNA Knockout Mickie James, and Hannah has held the Ohio Valley Wrestling Women’s Championship, proving that the girls are just as effective in singles competition.
With a background in gymnastics and trampolining, a love of travel, and growing up as huge fans of Jeff Hardy, it was almost inevitable that the twins would eventually find their way into the wrestling business. Away from the ring, both girls have a BTEC National Diploma in Early Years Childcare. They both love to bake, something they credit their Italian grandparents for, with cupcakes being a Blossom Twins speciality. And just like their baking, these girls are hot, fresh and a little bit naughty!
