In the year 2009, a show premiered on MTV in the vein of other similar reality shows that the network had produced before and other reality shows produced globally. This was not a competition show but was instead a show where they threw together a bunch of loud personalities just to see what would happen. This show was Jersey Shore and although I never watched a single episode, I know that it was a drama factory. The show put together a cast of colorful circus clowns who fought each other and tried to exist in a house together. The show was set in Seaside Heights, New Jersey except for one season in South Beach, Florida and one in Florence, Italy.
I lived in Jersey during the first season and I was told by natives repeatedly that these people were not *from* New Jersey. They were from Long Island and were good examples of annoying New Yorkers who chose to spend summers in the Garden State. The cast was probably playing their personas up or at least I hope they were. I would love to say that I never met anybody in New Jersey like these people but my first roommate in college was at least adjacent to their behavior. Luckily, he moved out of our room after the first semester.
Regardless, the show definitely made an impact on the cultural landscape and the world of professional wrestling is often a mirror to current events and pop culture. These characters can be dated but sometimes they outlive their source material and gain a life of their own.
In 2010, a young Robert Strauss joined TNA Wrestling as Robbie E, a character clearly inspired by Jersey Shore castmembers Pauly D, He affected the same heightened accent and even adapted Pauly D’s “Gym Tan Laundry” mantra into “Gym Tan Wrestle”. Robbie E would fist pump his way to the ring and he would be loud and rude while cheating like crazy. He was accompanied to the ring by a woman named Cookie who was a clear knockoff of Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi.
The pair were always portrayed as weaselly heels with loud boasts but always shrinking from a direct confrontation. Robbie E delighted in sneak attacks that gave him a clear advantage over his opponent. The pair often cheated together with Robbie distracting the referee while Cookie sprayed hairspray into the eyes of Robbie’s opponent. Eventually, Cookie failed Robbie E enough times that his big ego could no longer stand her and he kicked her to the curb.
Around this time, Robbie E decided that he needed protection and got in the form of Rob Terry, the massive bodybuilder and former member of the British Invasion. Terry was rechristened as Robbie T and became Robbie’s bouncer and tag team partner. Now Robbie had somebody who could protect him when his mouth got him into trouble. Robbie T could also attack opponents behind the referee’s back. Of course, Robbie E’s mouth got him into trouble yet again. He constantly ordered the mostly silent Robbie T around and was definitely using and abusing Terry’s assistance. When Robbie T threatened to overshadow him, Robbie E cut him down and tried to get rid of him. This led to a series of matches where Robbie E tried to use smarts and speed to get through the stronger Rob Terry. It ended badly for Robbie E.
This eventually led to Robbie E trying to find another partner, somebody who would not overshadow him as much. Somebody he could count on. That ended up being “Mr. Pectacular” Jessie Godderz who formed a tag team with Robbie called The BroMans. The two fawned over each other and touted themselves as gods among men. They were first accompanied by Godderz’s girlfriend Tara (who was probably the toughest member of the team) but she eventually went her own way. They were eventually joined by their personal DJ, Zema Ion. The team was incredibly successful until it started to end. In the end, Robbie E turned face for the first time by protecting DJ Z from an attack by Jessie.
Robbie E would go on to feud with Jessie and bounce a round a little bit without a significant storyline. He did compete for a few titles but usually as also-ran. Robbie E and Jessie would reunite as the BroMans, putting their differences aside to once again compete for tag team gold. After being unsuccessful, the BroMans quietly broke up again and Robbie E did some comedy skits before leaving the company.
During the career of the Robbie E character, several cast members from the Jersey Shore appeared on TNA Impact and pay-per-view events. First was Jennifer “JWoww” Farley who had a catfight with Cookie before Robbie E even had a match. Angelina Pivarnick showed up later and befriended Robbie E and Cookie over their mutual dislike of JWoww. This led to a confrontation between JWoww and Angelina. Later, Ronnie Ortiz was in a tag team match against Robbie E and Robbie T. Obviously, this synergy between MTV and TNA was earning some ratings.
On a side note, the real Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi showed up on an episode of WWE’s Monday Night Raw in 2011 and started a friendship with Trish Stratus. This culminated in two matches, one on an episode of Raw and one at that year’s Wrestlemania.
Tags: Impact Wrestling, Jersey Shore, Pro-Wrestling, professional, Robbie E, TNA
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