By BEN VEAL – For SlamWrestling.net
There are some stories that just have to be told. The incredible rollercoaster ride that has been Marc Mero’s life is now shared in full for the first time in Badd To Good — and it has been my pleasure to journey with Marc in its telling.
It was less than ten minutes into my first conversation with Marc that I realized I wanted to work with him on the writing of the story of his life. Having been a long-time fan of Marc’s innovative in- ring work and enjoyed his memorable wrestling personas, I had no doubt that there was plenty of mileage to be had in reliving some of the biggest moments from his WCW and WWE runs. But it was Marc’s life after wrestling that I cared most about exploring.
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.
His 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.
Marc Mero’s book Badd to Good.
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!
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.
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. Before writing Badd To Good, I was a fan of Marc Mero as a larger-than-life character that I watched on my TV screen from the other side of the pond.
Now, having been Marc’s tag team partner in the telling of his inspiring story, I remain a fan but, much more importantly, I am deeply 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
TOP PHOTO: “Wrestling Wildman” Marc Mero with a title belt and author Ben Veal. Photo courtesy of Ben Veal.
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