Theodore James Petty (September 1, 1953 – September 21, 2002) was an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name "Flyboy" Rocco Rock. Rock is best known for his appearances in Eastern Championship Wrestling / Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) alongside Johnny Grunge as the Public Enemy. He was a four-time ECW (World) Tag Team Champion, a one-time WCW World Tag Team Champion. and a one-time NWA World Tag Team Champion. Professional wrestling career Early career (1978–1993) Ted Petty was born on September 1, 1953. He graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in nutrition. Following a brief boxing career, Petty trained as a professional wrestler under Afa Anoa'i. He debuted in 1978 under the ring name "Cheetah Kid". Petty worked as enhancement talent (a jobber) in the American Wrestling Association from 1985 to 1988. In March 1990, Petty toured Japan with New Japan Pro-Wrestling as part of its "Big Fight Series". During the tour, he teamed with Pegasus Kid and faced opponents such as Jushin Thunder Liger, Takashi Iizuka, and Kengo Kimura. Upon returning to the United States, he wrestled for the Philadelphia-based Tri-State Wrestling Alliance, winning its Brass Knuckles Championship. In June 1990, he began appearing with World Championship Wrestling, initially as "Cheetah Kid", then as "Mario Savoldi", then finally as the faux-South African "Colonel DeKlerk". As "Colonel DeKlerk", Petty teamed with Sergeant Krueger to defeat the Beast and Kaluha at Clash of the Champions XIII in November 1990, then teamed with Krueger in a loss to the Steiner Brothers at Starrcade '90: Collision Course in December 1990. In March 1991, Petty appeared with the Universal Wrestling Federation, taking part in a taping for the Fury Hour television show. In June 1992, Petty toured Japan with W*ING, competing in a tournament for the W*ING World Junior Heavyweight Championship. In January 1993, Petty wrestled two matches for the World Wrestling Federation as "Cheetah Kid". Later that month, he wrestled two matches for World Championship Wrestling as "the Executioner", including a bout against 2 Cold Scorpio that aired on WCW WorldWide. In April and June 1993, Petty toured Austria and Germany with the World Wrestlings Superstars promotion. Eastern Championship Wrestling / Extreme Championship Wrestling (1993–1996) In September 1993, Petty (as "Rocco Rock") and Johnny Grunge began wrestling regularly for the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based promotion Eastern Championship Wrestling (ECW) as the Public