Violent J’s Journey from Wrestling to Music and Back
Pro wrestling indeed has a unique way of connecting with people across the globe. It’s fascinating, really—just look around in the U.S., and you’ll find countless fans of the sport. Take Violent J, for example. While many might recognize him from the hip-hop group Insane Clown Posse, there’s a solid chance some folks remember his wrestling days, too.
Born in Michigan in 1983, Violent J, now 54, really dove into the wrestling scene in the 1990s. He made his mark in notable promotions such as Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), World Wrestling Federation—now the WWE—and World Championship Wrestling (WCW), eventually founding Juggalo Championship Wrestling (JCW) in 1999.
His passion for pro wrestling has deep roots, as he shared with us. “I’ve been a wrestling fan all my life. My ultimate goal was to become a wrestler. I think, honestly, what I was learning in school didn’t resonate with me. It was all about wrestling, you know? None of that mattered. There was just this certainty that I would become a wrestler, alongside Shaggy (2 Dope). But then, around 17 or 19, hip-hop started overshadowing that dream. We wrestled with the idea of letting it go; I mean, failure just wasn’t an option for us. But eventually, we embraced hip-hop without looking back. Funny enough, from ages 12 to 17, everything we did was pretty much geared toward wrestling. It just naturally fit,” he reflected.
Interestingly, he and Shaggy 2 Dope were approached by the WWF to create music for a tag team called The Oddities, which ultimately evolved into a standalone act. “At 26, after we released our first gold album, the WWF reached out to us, asking for entrance music for The Oddities. We were like, ‘Do you realize we’re also wrestlers?’ We had been performing on the indie scene. So, even though we were set on being rappers, we were still wrestling in the Midwest. It was just a fun thing to do.”
Recalling his experience, he described a memorable trip to Stamford, Connecticut, where he and Shaggy actually stepped into the ring. “We ended up having a match there—it was surreal. We were supposed to make our debut at SummerSlam, which was just incredible. It felt like all those years of dreaming were finally coming to fruition. It was this big, meaningful moment for us.”
Eventually, their passion for wrestling shifted towards creating JCW, which allowed them to be involved in the wrestling community in new ways. He reminisced about their early shows, explaining how fans were skeptical at first. “After my time with WWE and WCW, we decided it was time to do our own thing. I have this vivid memory of our first show as Violent J and Shaggy. The audience had no clue we were wrestlers; nobody knew our wrestling history. We handed out flyers promoting our match against ‘Chicken Boyz,’ two rednecks in a steel cage. The venue was packed, full of curious fans wondering if we could actually wrestle. You could feel the mix of excitement and doubt in the air. Sure enough, when we got in the ring, the crowd went wild. It turned out to be one of the best nights of my life,” he shared with a nostalgic smile.
From that point on, JCW’s popularity only continued to grow. They now run “Lunacy,” a weekly show on YouTube every Thursday night, not to mention their flagship event at the annual Juggalo Carnival called Bloodymania.
This year’s Bloodymania 19 is set for August 20th and 21st at Mother Nature’s Riverfront Retreat in Mack’s Creek, Missouri. “Honestly, we believe JCW has something for everyone. I would urge anyone to watch an episode of ‘Luna Sea’—there’s bound to be something you enjoy,” he noted. “Bloodymania is akin to our version of WrestleMania—it’s our big event at The Gathering of the Juggalos. There’s just such a wonderful atmosphere, and after 19 years, it still feels like home for Juggalo Nation.”
