Two wrestlers had heat with The Undertaker due to disrespectful behavior, WWE legend says
The Undertaker was viewed as a locker-room leader during his WWE in-ring career between 1990 and 2020. In a recent podcast episode, WWE Hall of Famer John Bradshaw Layfield (JBL) discussed The Deadman's issue with Public Enemy.
Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock made their names in ECW and WCW before joining WWE in 1999. On the March 7, 1999, episode of Sunday Night Heat, JBL and Ron Simmons (aka Faarooq) had major issues with the tag team during a match.
On Something to Wrestle, JBL recalled how the two men turned up late to the arena for the taping. The Undertaker spotted them backstage and told Layfield and Simmons what he thought.
"Undertaker just looks at them," JBL said. "Me and Ron are sitting there, and he goes, 'I will be damned.' He said, 'There's lunch, boys.' You could tell he was hot. I mean hot. The disrespect those guys show to come to a new company and come in late like that." [1:53:04 – 1:53:18]
Public Enemy allegedly refused to go through tables moments before the match began. Layfield and Simmons took exception to their last-minute refusal and decided to fight them to a no-contest in a one-sided brawl.
Why The Undertaker felt disrespected by Public Enemy
In 1999, WWE stars usually arrived at work at 1 p.m. on the day of a television taping. However, according to John Bradshaw Layfield, Public Enemy walked in at 5:30 p.m. and acted like they did nothing wrong.
JBL added that the tag team's lack of professionalism infuriated The Undertaker:
"They walked in like they owned the place. They walked in like, 'Hey, we're above everything.' And they just walked in through everybody, and most guys when you come in late would sneak in. They walked in like they were on a parade, and 'Taker, it did not sit well with The Deadman!" [1:53:37 – 1:53:52]
Public Enemy left WWE less than two months after signing with the company. Rocco Rock and Johnny Grunge passed away in 2002 and 2006, respectively.
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Please credit Something to Wrestle and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription if you use quotes from this article.