Johnny Swinger Biography

Joseph "Joe" Dorgan (born July 3, 1975) is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as Johnny Swinger and with World Wrestling Entertainment as Johnny Parisi.. Swinger is a one-time world champion, having held the UCW World Championship once.

Career

Early career

After training in Toronto, Ontario, Dorgan started wrestling on the independent circuit in 1993 as "Johnny Paradise". After he discovered that another wrestler was already using that name, he renamed himself "Johnny Hollywood Swinger" and began to make a name for himself as a villain in Scott D'Amore's "Syndicate" faction in Border City Wrestling. In 1995, he worked for World Wrestling Federation going by his real name, Joe Dorgan, following in the footsteps of his uncle, Tony Parisi, who worked for the WWWF under Vince McMahon, Sr. Johnny Swinger appeared on WWFs flagship program, "WWF RAW", facing Shane Douglas in a nationally televised broadcast in September of that year.

World Championship Wrestling (1996"1999)

Swinger began working for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in late 1996, shortening his ring name to "Johnny Swinger." He was utilized primarily on syndication & TBS programs, appearing on WCW Saturday Night and WCW World Wide. Swinger also made appearances on both of the company's flagship programs Monday Nitro (on TNT) and THUNDER (on TBS). His broadcast appearances include the highest rated Monday Nitro in July 1998, losing to Chavo Guerrero, Jr. in front of a sold-out Georgia Dome; this same night, Goldberg defeated Hollywood Hogan for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Swinger remained in WCW for three years and was considered under utilized until joining Extreme Championship Wrestling

Extreme Championship Wrestling (2000"2001)

Swinger joined ECW in 2000. He was placed in a tag team with Simon Diamond by booker Paul Heyman in May 2000, and shortened his name to "Swinger." He remained with ECW until it folded in April 2001.

World Championship Wrestling (2001)

Swinger returned to WCW for one week for the Cruiserweight Tag Team Tournament. On the February 26, 2001 edition of Nitro where he and Jason Lee were defeated by Billy Kidman and Rey Mysterio, Jr.. He also wrestled on the February 28, 2001 edition of WCW Thunder where Swinger (accompanied by Jason Lee) lost to Shane Helms. Shortly after, WCW was purchased by the WWF and its programming ceased.

Independent circuit (2002-Present)

He had a brief stint in the earlier part of 2003 in the World Wrestling All-Stars promotion. The promotion featured primarily talents known from other wrestling promotions, boasting talents such as Bret Hart, Sting, Lex Luger, Jeff Jarrett, and others. Swingers highest profile match in the promotion came on May 23rd, 2003, when he faced Chris Sabin, Frankie Kazarian, and Jerry Lynn in an inter-promotional match for TNA Wrestlings X-Division Championship. Swinger also appeared and was victorious on World Wrestling All Stars International card "Retribution" in Glasgow Scotland, teaming with Buff "The Stuff" Bagwell to defeat Norman Smiley, & Malice

On July 9, 2003, Diamond and Swinger debuted as a team in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). They feuded with America's Most Wanted (Chris Harris and James Storm) for some time before winning the NWA World Tag Team Championships. The team split on February 18, 2004 when Swinger turned into a villain by pledging allegiance to Jeff Jarrett, and feuded with one another. Swinger eventually formed a stable known as "The New York Connection" with Glenn Gilbertti, Vito and Trinity.

Dorgan signed a developmental deal with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in 2005, and began training at Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) in May 2005. He made his WWE debut on the July 31, 2005 episode of Sunday Night Heat as "Johnny Parisi" winning his debut match for the company. He was a main stay on Heat. His ring name was derived from his great uncle Tony Parisi.

In September 2005 Parisi was sent to Deep South Wrestling wrestling there for 2 months while also wrestling on Sunday Night Heat, until being taken off of television in November due to an injury. He came back in December 2005 being sent back to DSW. He worked two more Heat matches for WWE in February, 2006 losing competitively to Chavo Guerrero and Kane. He was released on June 29, 2006.

Johnny Swinger has resurfaced as a TNA agent, at least on trial basis. After being released from the WWE he went back to wrestling on the independent circuit mainly wrestling for Great Championship Wrestling (GCW). He has great title success there winning the GCW Heavyweight title on 2 occasions and the GCW Tag Titles twice, once with Glenn Gilberti and once with Bull Buchanan. Raven came to GCW to help Swinger with his feud against Michaels Inc. in December 2006. After winning the GCW title from Chris Stevens, Swinger turned on Raven and joined Michaels Inc. In January 2007, Swinger began challenging TNA wrestlers to try to come to challenge him in GCW. In response to this, TNA Director of Authority, Jim Cornette came to a GCW show to confront Swinger. Swinger and Bull Buchanan were defeated by Raven and David Young on January 31. Afterwards, David Young challenged Swinger for the GCW title. He later lost the title to Scotty Beach in a steel cage match via submission. On September 15, he defeated Scotty Beach for the GCW title once again. On September 29 he faced Bull Buchanan in a losing effort within a steel cage at the fourth-annual Fred Ward Memorial Show.

He returned to WWE to face Ron Simmons in a match on WWE Heat, and on October 14, 2007, appeared for TNA's flagship pay-per-view, Bound for Glory, competing in a dark match with Joey Matthews against The Motor City Machineguns. Swinger recaptured the GCW Heavyweight Championship from Bull Buchanan on December 15, 2007, in a triple threat match that also included another TNA veteran, Sonny Siaki. Swinger spent most of 2008 fighting off challenges of various contenders for the GCW Championship, including Scotty 2 Hotty, The Disco Inferno, and Bull Buchanan.

On July 29, 2010, it was confirmed that Swinger would take part in TNA's ECW reunion show Hardcore Justice on August 8. At the event Swinger, Simon Diamond and Kid Kash were defeated by Little Guido, Tony Luke and Tracy Smothers of the Full Blooded Italians in a six man tag team match.

In 2011, Johnny Swinger continued success for Peachstate Wrestling Alliance in Georgia, feuding with Bill the Butcher, Ultimate Dragon, and others. Swinger continues to be one of the most popular babyfaces in the organization, despite spending the majority of his career as a heel. Johnny Swinger continues to work the independent circuit in the Southeast and has launched his own website He is also currently training pro wrestlers and hopefuls with Rick Steiner at Hard Knocks Gym in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Personal life

Dorgan and his wife Susan have one daughter and one son.

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • Long Island Legsweep (Half nelson legsweep)
  • Swing Thing (Cobra clutch legsweep)

• Signature moves
  • The Shaft (DDT)
  • Swinger Stinger (Shoulder jawbreaker)
  • Swinging neckbreaker

• Managers
  • Glenn Gilbertti (TNA)
  • Dawn Marie (ECW)
  • Trinity (TNA)
  • Angel Williams (DSW)

Championships and accomplishments

• Border City Wrestling
  • BCW Can-Am Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
  • BCW Can-Am Tag Team Championship (2 times) " with Scotty Summers and Otis Apollo

• Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling
  • CAPW North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Elite Wrestling Federation
  • EWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) " with Scott D'Amore

• Georgia Championship Wrestling / Great Championship Wrestling
  • GCW Heavyweight Championship (5 times)
  • GCW Tag Team Championship (2 times) " with Glenn Gilberti (1) and Bull Buchanan (1)

• Maximum Pro Wrestling
  • MXPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) " with Simon Diamond

• Motor City Wrestling

• MCW Tag Team Championship (2 times) " with Johnny Paradise

• NWA Main Event
  • NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
  • NWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) " with Simon Diamond

• Universal Championship Wrestling
  • UCW World Championship (1 time)