Joey Nuggs, a long-time manager and promoter in the Carolinas, has died, just a short while after having neck surgery.
On August 20, Nuggs (Joey Giuseppe Nuggs) had posted to Facebook:
The doctor told me this morning I have surgery tomorrow afternoon
I have to remove two degenerate discs in my neck. I’ve been out of work.
If anyone wants to donate to help pay my bills my cash app is joeynuggs01 I’m not the type of person to ask for help if I don’t need it
If you can’t afford to donate please pray for my recovery
May God bless you all
His death was confirmed by long-time friend Carl Thomas Singletary Jr. “CWA Wrestling lost a good one today. Joey Nuggs you will be missed brother. Rest in peace friend,” posted Singletary Jr.
Later, Sue and Jay Ratcliff, his sister and brother-in-law, said a bit more later in the day. “We are all saddened by his sudden departure last night. We have heard from His Brothers at Texas Hippie Coalition as well as many of the wrestler’s he had the pleasure of working with over the yrs. Even had a Friend as far away as the Netherlands to call us and send their condolences,” they posted to Joey’s Facebook page.
Apparently, Nuggs died in his sleep on September 1, 2024.
(Note that this Joey Nuggs is not the same as Sensei Joey Nuggs who is based on the west coast and is a frequent competitor for Hoodslam, and whose real name is Joe Applebaumer, and also wrestled as Pogo the Clown.)
Nuggs grew up in Williamsport, Pennsylvania as “a huge pro wrestling mark,” as he wrote years back. “I remember when Ted Turner would show pro wrestling every Saturday night at 7:05 Eastern on ‘The Super Station’. The announcers always talked about the huge events being held at The Omni. I always wanted go to Atlanta and see what they described as ‘The Madison Square Garden of the South East.'”
Instead of wrestling, he dove into managing. An early website, dating back to the mid-2000s, promoting his gimmick, alongside notable names like Ric Flair, Rick Steiner and Bobby Eaton:
The name Is Joey Nuggs; AKA Joey Nuggets; AKA Joey Bag-A-Donuts; AKA Joey A boot to the back of your neck!
I can’t stand you freakin bums!
I was sent to take care of my families investments. We recently got into sports entertainment. (As you rednecks call it “wrastlin”).
I am currently working with CWA Professional Wrestling. They are an outstanding promotion based out of Orangeburg, SC. “Orangeburg is great. I had the honor of meeting the mayor. He works part-time at The Waffle House!”
Joey Nuggs
He was also “Notorious” Joey Nuggs and “Nuggzilla.”
Many of the names he managed were not national names, of course. There were Timber (a lumberjack), “The Alabama Ambassador” Jacoby Boykins, Salem Sinner Sixx, “The Hawaiian Assassin” Kimo, “The Universal” Phil Shatter and Team Ego. In a Facebook post, Nuggs wrote that the American Gangstas were the best team he ever managed, adding: “This was a legit tag team that would scare the living piss out of the fans. They didn’t get the heat they got white heat. (Danger Zone they would literally try to start a riot at ringside) They would talk trash to everybody no matter their race, creed, or color nobody was safe.”
As as well managing, Nuggs was a promoter — two of his Carolinas-based promotions were Southern Underground Wrestling and Underground Pro Wrestling — and color commentator. He was also available to rent out out lighting equipment and PA systems for events.
His first YouTube channel dates back near to the start of the website, and features matches and rants. More recently, he created YouTube videos where he interviewed some wrestlers and musicians, and celebrated his love of model trains. He also was a big fan of the band Texas Hippie Coalition.
“He was a good guy in the dressing room, always friendly,” recalled GOUGE promoter Greg “Count Grog” Mosorjak. “Liked music and we would chat about music. A big guy but moved good for a manager. He was usually with Damien Wayne or Timber the Lumberjack doing his gangster gimmick. He had a big personality, if you ever met him you remembered him. He was a huge deal in SC I think it was for CWA where he managed and later did their TV commentary. I last saw him last year in Charlotte at the gathering. He was always in Charlotte for the fan fests.”
Joey Nuggs, Timber and Greg “Count Grog” Mosorjak at The Gathering in August 2024.
In October 2023, he questioned why he had stayed involved with pro wrestling for so long, and posted a thoughtful response to himself:
COUNT YOUR BLESSING DAILY! Certain days I ask myself “Why am I still in pro wrestling”? Then God reminds me by messages sent to me from people I grew up idolizing watching on television. I am not the type who just drops names to put myself over. I have become friends with ECW Original Chilly Willy, Nickla Roberts Byrd AKA “Baby Doll”, WCW’s Raven’s Flock member “The Sign Guy” Lodi, WWE’s The Boogyman and many more.
According to the family, “no services are planned as we are waiting on Coroner report as well as other options we are considering,” they wrote. “Unfortunately Joey had no medical/life insurance so any donations will be greatly appreciated and go to any service we are planning. I know he had cash app and will have to update that on a later time.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: Post-publication, further details from the family were added.
TOP PHOTO: Joey Nuggs mugs for the camera. Photo by Steven Jones