Taz

Peter Senerchia, better known as Taz, built a reputation as one of ECW’s most intimidating figures despite being shorter than many heavyweights. Debuting in 1987 after training with Johnny Rodz, he spent several years working in Puerto Rico, IWCCW, and other independents as Kid Krush and The Tasmanian Devil before arriving in ECW in 1993. There, he became The Tazmaniac, a wild, barefoot brawler who initially thrived in the tag division.

Following a serious neck injury, he reinvented himself in late 1995 as Taz, a no‑nonsense shooter in a singlet whose judo‑ and jiu‑jitsu‑inspired offense revolved around throws and submissions. His arsenal of “Tazplexes” and his Tazmission choke, combined with the menacing tagline “Beat me if you can. Survive if I let you”, made him the centerpiece of ECW programming.

He captured the ECW World Heavyweight, World Television, and World Tag Team Championships, as well as creating and holding the renegade FTW Heavyweight Championship, becoming a cornerstone of the promotion’s identity.

Taz debuted in the WWF at the 2000 Royal Rumble, handing Kurt Angle his first televised loss and adding multiple Hardcore and World Tag Team Championship reigns to his résumé.

Mounting injuries forced him out of the ring by 2002 (he had a brief 35-second match in 2006, defeating Jerry Lawler by submission), but he transitioned into commentary, most notably on WWE SmackDown. After leaving WWE in 2009, he joined TNA as an announcer and occasional manager, and later AEW, where he managed Team Taz before settling into a commentary role, maintaining his tough, sarcastic persona for a new generation of fans.