John Laurinaitis

Born in Philadelphia, Johnny Ace broke into the business in 1986 working NWA territories alongside brother Marcus before forming the Dynamic Dudes with Shane Douglas under Jim Cornette’s management in Jim Crockett Promotions. He found his true calling at All Japan Pro Wrestling from 1990–2000, racking up multiple World Tag Team and All Asia Tag Team Championship reigns, earning two Dave Meltzer five-star matches, and claiming Wrestling Observer’s Match of the Year. Off the mat, Laurinaitis is credited as the originator of the cutter — the Ace Crusher — developed while training with Barry Windham in 1987, a move later rebranded as DDP’s Diamond Cutter and Randy Orton’s RKO.

Re-hired as Head of Talent Relations in 2021, Laurinaitis was released by WWE on August 8, 2022 amid a misconduct investigation. In May 2025, Laurinaitis was dropped as a defendant in the Janel Grant lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE, agreeing to cooperate and provide evidence in her ongoing case. In February 2026, Laurinaitis resurfaced on social media and made a public appearance for Big Time Wrestling’s March Mayhem event in Chillicothe, Ohio.