From Wrestling Wildman to Motivational Speaker: The Evolution of Marc Mero
- Ben Veal
- Apr 10
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 12
Some stories have to be told. The life of former WWE Intercontinental Champion and WCW Television Champion Marc Mero his life has been a true rollercoaster, and now, for the first time, it’s all laid bare in Badd To Good: The Inspiring Story of a Wrestling Wildman. It’s been an absolute privilege to help bring Marc’s powerful story of resilience and redemption to life and to journey with Marc in its telling.
Chronicling a Comeback
I knew within ten minutes of my first conversation with Marc that I wanted to collaborate with him on writing the story of his life. As a long-time admirer of Marc's groundbreaking in-ring performances and his unforgettable wrestling personas, I was certain that revisiting some of the major highlights from his WCW and WWE days would be fascinating. However, it was Marc's life after wrestling that intrigued me the most.
Marc had joined me for an interview for a piece I was writing for Inside The Ropes Magazine in the UK. The feature was focused on the real lives of squared circle greats who were no longer in the spotlight. I knew about, and admired, Marc’s work inspiring young people worldwide through his Champion of Choices talks that have now inspired millions to dream big and live a life of passion ans purpose. I wanted to find out more.
Collaborating with Marc Mero: Bringing His Life Story to the Page
Marc's clear passion for what he did resonated with me on two levels: firstly, professionally, as someone who writes for, and about, purpose-driven individuals, and secondly as a father to two boys. I am painfully aware of the many challenges that the current generation face when it comes to mental health and finding their place in this world, and I appreciate anyone who goes out of their way to help the youth of today to build a brighter tomorrow for themselves.
Yet what sealed the deal for me — and why I knew that I had to write this book with Marc — was how he spoke to me during that interview about his personal comeback story. How he had reached the lowest of lows in his life, what he called “rock bottom’s basement”, and had managed to claw his way out of the other side to emerge even stronger after facing adversity head on, truly struck a chord with me on a personal level.
Overcoming Adversity: Personal Struggles and Triumphs
Marc talked candidly with me about the death of his mom and dad and how that affected him, and having just experienced the sudden loss of a parent myself, I could relate exactly to how he felt. After that first interview wrapped, I was overcome with emotion. The brief glimpse that I got that day back in late 2023 into Marc’s life story touched me deeply — and it is my hope now, with his journey being told in full in our new book, it was leave a lasting impact on readers.
Like Marc Mero himself, Badd To Good pulls no punches and holds nothing back. Marc is as open about his failures as he is about his successes. He appreciates that every setback can pave the way for future success if lessons are learned along the journey. And what a wild journey Marc Mero has traveled!
Embracing the Johnny B. Badd Persona in WCW
From humble beginnings, the transformation of a tough boxing champion from Buffalo, New York into the rouge-wearing, feather-bow-donning charismatic Johnny B. Badd in World Championship Wrestling was nothing short of incredible. In Badd To Good, Marc dives deep into his relationship with the man who came up with the persona, Dusty Rhodes, and how embracing the Little Richard-influenced gimmick would change the trajectory of his life. And whether a ‘Wildman’ or ‘Marvelous’ in the World Wrestling Federation, Marc Mero’s profile would be boosted even further alongside then-wife Rena ‘Sable’ Mero, as the two made history during the WWF’s hugely hot Attitude Era.
A WILD Story, A True Transformation
No story is off limits in Badd To Good: Marc made that very clear to me from day one. From his battles with drug addiction, to his high-profile marriage breakdown to speaking out publicly against the wrestling business, throughout the writing process Marc was more than willing to relive some very painful memories in order to give readers the full picture.
With contributions from WWE Hall of Famers Diamond Dallas Page, Lex Luger, Mick Foley and Eric Bischoff, as well as insight from Erik Watts, Vince Russo, AEW's Justin Roberts and others who journeyed with Marc Mero on the ups and downs of his life, the book offers the full picture of what it's like to experience global superstardom only to lose everything and begin again.
Before I wrote Badd To Good, I admired Marc Mero as a larger-than-life character I watched on TV from across the ocean.
Now, after collaborating with Marc as his tag team partner to share his inspiring story, I still consider myself a fan, but even more significantly, I am incredibly proud to call him my friend.
Badd To Good: The Inspiring Story of a Wrestling Wildman by Marc Mero with Ben Veal (published by Titan Insider Press) is available now from Amazon and InsideTheRopesMagazine.com
