Marty Jannetty has had his foot amputated, according to close friend and former pro wrestler Eddy Mansfield, who broke the news on the Monte and The Pharaoh YouTube channel and called out WWE for failing to take care of a man who helped make the company millions of dollars.
“One of my dearest friends ever on the face of this earth, and was a great wrestler, had his foot amputated, and his name is the Rocker Marty Jannetty,” Mansfield said.
Mansfield, who said he has been close friends with Jannetty for over 40 years, described the news as devastating but said he had texted with Jannetty the same day and that both men had their usual exchange. “Me and him always make each other laugh,” he said. “Marty Jannetty is one of the greatest guys you’ll ever have the pleasure to meet, folks.”
Mansfield placed blame for Jannetty’s deteriorating physical condition squarely on WWE, arguing the injuries that ultimately cost him his foot originated in a WWE ring. “His ankles were screwed up in a WWE wrestling ring, and making them a lot of money, him and Shawn Michaels,” Mansfield said. “When I can remember Marty, when he couldn’t hardly walk, his ankles bothered him so bad, he was in so much pain, and the pain pills really didn’t do anything to him or for him.”
Mansfield continued, “Where in the hell was WWE to help Marty Jannetty? Hell, he made them millions of dollars, and you can’t help him when he is in the biggest need of his life, fighting for his life. These guys at WWE can get all these pay raises, but you can’t take care of the guys who make you the money.”
Mansfield also directed some of his frustration at Shawn Michaels for not doing more to ensure his former tag team partner stayed employed and taken care of throughout the years. “Shawn left him kind of hanging,” Mansfield said. “Instead of okay, you got the big break, why didn’t you make sure your partner still worked all the time with good angles? If you made it together and you go separate ways, don’t hurt your partner, help your partner. Make sure he eats well.”
He also renewed the call for Jannetty to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. “He should be in the Hall of Fame absolutely without a shadow of a doubt, and Shawn Michaels should be the guy introducing him. How come he hadn’t done that? He was one of the best baby faces in this business ever.”
A comment read on air attributed to Jim Cornette said Mansfield was surprised Jannetty had not been found “in a f–king ditch somewhere.” Mansfield responded forcefully, calling Cornette out and defending Jannetty’s legacy. “You’re talking about a true star in Marty Jannetty, and Marty Jannetty was a real star. People loved him.”
Mansfield closed by calling on fans to leave positive messages for Jannetty and reflect on his legacy. “Marty Jannetty has done more good than he’s ever done bad. Always remember that.”
The full interview is available on the Monte and The Pharaoh YouTube channel.
