Axl Rotten

image:AxlRottenApril2009Turnbuckle.png in 2009]]

Knighton was trained to wrestle by Ricky Lawless at a gym on Baltimore's North Avenue, receiving supplementary training from Joey Maggs. He debuted on the independent circuit at the age of 17, adopting the ring name "Axl Rotten", a portmanteau of the rockers Axl Rose and Johnny Rotten. Rotten won his first championship teaming with Lawless to win the tag team titles in Frank Cain's Star Cavalcade Wrestling during the summer of 1988. He also succeeded Lawless as the promotion's heavyweight champion when, shortly after reigning champion Ricky Lawless was murdered, he won the vacant title from The Psycho in Thomasville, Georgia, on November 30, 1988.

In the early 1990s, Rotten trained Ian Rotten, who formed a tag team with Axl, masquerading as his brother and taking his stage name from Cheech Marin's character in Get Out of My Room. The duo, known as The Bad Breed, wrestled primarily in the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation. Axl later opened his own professional wrestling promotion in Maryland called Universal Independent Wrestling. The promotion featured wrestlers such as the Bad Breed, Bam Bam Bigelow and Scotty The Body. It had a television series that aired on Saturday nights on the local ABC channel. The promotion closed in the mid-1990s.

From 1991 to 1993, Axl and Ian Rotten had a run with the Global Wrestling Federation (GWF) in Texas, being featured on their daily ESPN show. While in GWF, Axl succeeded in winning both the GWF Commonwealth title and the GWF Tag Team Championship, with Ian Rotten.

image:AxlRottenChair2009.png

In 1991, Rotten had a short stint with World Championship Wrestling (WCW), where he feuded with P. N. News. During his time with WCW, Rotten befriended Paul E. Dangerously, the future owner of Extreme Championship Wrestling.{{cite book|author=Scott E. Williams|title=Hardcore History: The Extremely Unauthorized Story of ECW|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4EQtAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT47|date=December 13, 2013|publisher=Skyhorse Publishing Company, Incorporated|isbn=978-1-61321-582-1|pages=47–}}

{{main|Bad Breed}}

In 1993, the Bad Breed were hired by Paul Heyman, the then-booker of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based Eastern Championship Wrestling (ECW) promotion as a fan favorite tag team, debuting for the promotion at NWA Bloodfest on October 1 by defeating Chad Austin and Todd Shaw.{{cite web|url=http://prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1993d.html#100193|title=Bloodfest Day 1 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History|access-date=2 June 2018}} They made their televised debut on the October 5 episode of Hardcore TV, losing to Badd Company.{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-hardcore-tv-1051993/|title=ECW Hardcore TV 10/5/1993|author=Bob Colling|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=July 19, 2016|access-date=28 May 2018}} They competed in ECW's tag team division, where they unsuccessfully challenged Tony Stetson and Johnny Hotbody for the Tag Team Championship at November to Remember.{{cite web|url=http://prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1993d.html#131193|title=November to Remember 1993 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History|access-date=2 June 2018}} They were initially allied with Terry Funk until the team were sent to United States Wrestling Association (USWA) in 1994. Bad Breed returned to ECW on the June 21 episode of Hardcore TV, where they challenged The Public Enemy for the Tag Team Championship, which Public Enemy retained as the match ended in a no contest.{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-hardcore-tv-6211994/|title=ECW Hardcore TV 6/21/1994|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=July 19, 2016|access-date=2 June 2018}} Bad Breed defeated Hack Myers and Rockin' Rebel at Heat Wave,{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-heatwave-7161994/|title=ECW Heatwave 7/16/1994|author=Bob Colling|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=July 5, 2010|access-date=2 June 2018}} and then unsuccessfully challenged Public Enemy for the World Tag Team Championship in a Baseball Brawl match at Hardcore Heaven.{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-hardcore-heaven-8131994/|title=ECW Hardcore Heaven 8/13/1994|author=Bob Colling|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=July 5, 2010|access-date=2 June 2018}}

Bad Breed next entered a feud with The Pitbulls, to whom they lost in a match at November to Remember.{{cite web|url=http://prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1994d.html#051194|title=November to Remember 1994 results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History|access-date=2 June 2018}} On the January 17, 1995, episode of Hardcore TV, Bad Breed lost to Pitbulls in a rematch which stipulated that the losing team would be forced to break up. Both Rotten brothers blamed one another for the loss and Ian turned on Axl by hitting him with a chair after the loss, playing off real-life ill feelings, a rivalry developed that Pro Wrestling Illustrated named Feud of the Year in 1995.{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-hardcore-tv-1171995/|title=ECW Hardcore TV 1/17/1995|author=Bob Colling|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=February 16, 2015|access-date=2 June 2018}} The former partners traded wins at Double Tables{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-double-tables-241995/|title=ECW Double Tables 2/4/1995|author=Bob Colling|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=July 7, 2010|access-date=2 June 2018}} and Return of the Funker.{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-return-of-the-funker-2251995/|title=ECW Return of the Funker 2/25/1995|author=Bob Colling|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=July 8, 2010|access-date=2 June 2018}} They faced one another in a variety of hardcore matches over the next few months, including a hair versus hair match at Three Way Dance,{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-three-way-dance-481995/|title=ECW Three Way Dance 4/8/1995|author=Bob Colling|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=July 9, 2010|access-date=2 June 2018}} a barbed wire baseball bat match at Hostile City Showdown{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-hostile-city-showdown-1995-4151995/|title=ECW Hostile City Showdown 1995 4/15/1995|author=Matt Peddycord|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=August 9, 2011|access-date=2 June 2018}} and a barbed wire baseball bat barbed wire chair match at Enter the Sandman, all of which Axl won.{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-enter-sandman-5131995/|title=ECW Enter Sandman 5/13/1995|author=Matt Peddycord|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=October 13, 2012|access-date=2 June 2018}} A reunion was teased between Bad Breed at Barbed Wire, Hoodies and Chokeslams on June 17, where they were supposed to take on Public Enemy for the World Tag Team Championship but Bill Alfonso overruled the decision due to Bad Breed being banned from competing as a team.{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-barbed-wire-hoodies-chokeslams/|title=ECW Barbed Wire, Hoodies, & Chokeslams|author=Matt Peddycord|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=October 13, 2012|access-date=2 June 2018}} Their feud finally ended at Hardcore Heaven, when Axl defeated Ian in a Taipei Deathmatch.{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-hardcore-heaven-1995-711995/|title=ECW Hardcore Heaven 1995 7/1/1995|author=Matt Peddycord|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=October 14, 2014|access-date=2 June 2018}}

Following his feud with Ian Rotten, it was announced on the July 4 episode of Hardcore TV that Axl would receive his very first opportunity for the World Heavyweight Championship against The Sandman at Heat Wave, where Rotten failed to win the title.{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-hardcore-tv-741995/|title=ECW Hardcore TV 7/4/1995|author=Bob Colling|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=May 24, 2016|access-date=2 June 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-heatwave-7151995/|title=ECW Heatwave 7/15/1995|author=Matt Peddycord|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=October 14, 2014|access-date=2 June 2018}} Rotten then floundered in the mid-card, defeating J.T. Smith at November to Remember.{{cite web|author=Dylan Diot|title=From The Network – ECW November to Remember 1995|url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/from-the-network-ecw-november-to-remember-1995/|access-date=2 June 2018|date=March 18, 2015|work=411Mania}}

Rotten lost to the debuting Rob Van Dam in RVD's first ECW match at House Party on January 5, 1996.{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-house-party-1996-151996/|title=ECW House Party 1996 1/5/1996|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=September 5, 2015|access-date=2 June 2018}} Rotten would then team with El Puerto Riqueño in a loss to The Headhunters at Big Apple Blizzard Blast.{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-big-apple-blizzard-blast/|title=ECW Big Apple Blizzard Blast|author=Arnold Furious|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=December 11, 2011|access-date=2 June 2018}} His failures in singles competition continued as he would lose against the likes of J.T. Smith,{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-cyberslam-1996-2161996/|title=ECW Cyberslam 1996 2/16/1996|author=Kyle|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=September 5, 2015|access-date=2 June 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-big-ass-extreme-bash-1996-391996/|title=ECW Big Ass Extreme Bash 1996 3/9/1996|author=Scott Keith|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=September 5, 2015|access-date=2 June 2018}} The Sandman{{cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=7964|title=ECW Just Another Night 1996 results|work=Cagematch|access-date=2 June 2018}} and Shane Douglas in subsequent matches.{{cite web|title=The "OH MY GOD!" Video Review: ECW's Massacre on Queens Blvd. 4/13/96|url=http://crazymax.org/newsite/reviews/omg-massacre-on-queens-blvd-41396/|access-date=1 June 2018|date=February 20, 2014|work=Crazy Max}} Rotten began a rivalry with The Full Blooded Italians, defeating FBI member Little Guido at Hostile City Showdown.{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-hostile-city-showdown-1996-4201996/|title=ECW Hostile City Showdown 1996 4/20/1996|author=Shinobi M. from Hardcore Theater|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=October 20, 2015|access-date=2 June 2018}} At A Matter of Respect, Rotten teamed with Hack Meyers against FBI members J.T. Smith and Little Guido in a losing effort.{{cite web|author=Arnold Furious|title=The Furious Flashbacks – ECW A Matter Of Respect '96|url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/the-furious-flashbacks-ecw-a-matter-of-respect-96/|access-date=1 June 2018|date=April 26, 2005|work=411Mania}} Rotten then formed a tag team with Meyers as they took on The Samoan Gangsta Party at Hardcore Heaven, which ended in a no contest due to interference by The Gangstas and The Eliminators.{{cite web|title=ECW Hardcore Heaven 1996 6/22/1996|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-hardcore-heaven-1996-6221996/|access-date=1 June 2018|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=October 20, 2015}} At Heat Wave, Rotten competed against Tarzan Goto in a losing effort.{{cite web|author=Arnold Furious|title=ECW Heatwave 1996 7/13/1996|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-heatwave-1996-7131996/|access-date=1 June 2018|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=June 23, 2011}}

At The Doctor Is In, Rotten competed against D-Von Dudley in a match which ended in a no contest after interference by Dudley Brothers. Rotten left with D-Von after the match and formed a tag team with D-Von, thus turning into a villainous character for the first time in his ECW career.{{cite web|title=ECW The Doctor is in 1996 8/3/1996|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-the-doctor-is-in-1996-831996/|access-date=1 June 2018|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=October 20, 2015}} Beginning at Natural Born Killaz, Rotten and Dudley wrestled Dudley Brothers in a series of matches throughout the fall of 1996.{{cite web|title=ECW Natural Born Killaz 1996 8/24/1996|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-natural-born-killaz-1996-8241996/|access-date=1 June 2018|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=October 20, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1996c.html#091496|title=When Worlds Collide II results|publisher=Pro Wrestling History|access-date=2 June 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1996d.html#102696|title=High Incident|work=Pro Wrestling History|access-date=1 June 2018}} Rotten defeated his former tag team partner Hack Meyers at November to Remember.{{cite web|author=Arnold Furious|title=The Furious Flashbacks – ECW November To Remember 1996|url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/the-furious-flashbacks-ecw-november-to-remember-1996/|access-date=2 June 2018|date=June 28, 2005|work=411Mania}} Rotten and D-Von pursued the World Tag Team Championship, receiving title shots against The Gangstas on the December 10 episode of Hardcore TV{{cite web|url=http://crazymax.org/newsite/reviews/the-oh-my-god-review-ecw/|title=The "OH MY GOD!" Review: ECW TV 12/10 & 12/17/96|date=March 19, 2015|access-date=2 June 2018|publisher=Crazy Max}} and The Eliminators at House Party on January 11, 1997,{{cite web|url=http://prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1997a.html#011197|title=House Party 1997 results|work=Pro Wrestling History|access-date=1 June 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-hardcore-tv-1221997/|title=ECW Hardcore TV 1/25/1997|author=Bob Colling|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=December 27, 2010|access-date=2 June 2018}} but failed to win the titles. Rotten followed with a feud against Dudley Brothers member Spike Dudley, whom he defeated in matches at Winter Blowout{{cite web|url=http://www.profightdb.com/cards/ecw/winter-blowout-6615.html|title=ECW Winter Blowout|work=The Internet Wrestling Database|access-date=2 June 2018}} and CyberSlam.{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-cyberslam-1997-2221997/|title=ECW CyberSlam 1997 2/22/1997|author=Chris Fothergill-Brown|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=July 27, 2016|access-date=2 June 2018}}

D-Von Dudley went on to form a tag team with Buh Buh Ray Dudley called Dudley Boyz at Crossing the Line Again,{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-crossing-the-line-again-1997-211997/|title=ECW Crossing The Line Again 1997 2/1/1997|author=Chris Fothergill-Brown|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=July 27, 2016|access-date=1 June 2018}} which broke up Rotten's team with D-Von and Rotten moved on to singles competition. Shortly after, he formed a tag team with newcomer Balls Mahoney called The Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks, thus turning into a fan favorite again. The team began pursuing the World Tag Team Championship and feuded with teams such as Dudley Boyz, The Full Blooded Italians and The Gangstanators for the title. Rotten made his pay-per-view debut at November to Remember, where Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks competed against Gangstanators, FBI and Dudley Boyz in a four-way dance for the tag team titles, where they were the last team eliminated by defending champions Full Blooded Italians.{{cite web |author1=TJ Hawke |title=Views from the Hawke's Nest: ECW November to Remember 1997 |url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/views-from-the-hawkes-nest-ecw-november-to-remember-1997/ |access-date=1 June 2018 |date=July 29, 2014|work=411Mania}} Mahoney and Rotten often teamed with the likes of New Jack and Spike Dudley to feud with Dudley Boyz and The Full Blooded Italians.

Mahoney and Rotten were frequent contenders for the World Tag Team Championship but came up short in their bid for the titles. They received several title shots against Chris Candido and Lance Storm for the tag team titles including one at Wrestlepalooza on May 3, 1998, but came up short in their title opportunities.{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-wrestlepalooza-1998-531998/|title=ECW Wrestlepalooza 1998 5/3/1998|author=David|access-date=2 June 2018|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=May 14, 2011}} Rotten was out of action due to injury in September and returned to ECW on December 4 by attacking Buh Buh Ray Dudley with a barbed wire baseball bat after a match between Dudley Boyz and The Gangstanators.{{cite web|url=http://thehistoryofwwe.com/ecw98.htm|title=ECW Ring Results 1998|publisher=The History of WWE|access-date=2 June 2018}} Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks would then challenge Rob Van Dam and Sabu for the World Tag Team Championship on numerous occasions including the House Party event on January 16, 1999, but failed to win the title.{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-house-party-1999-1161999/|title=ECW House Party 1999 1/16/1999|author=Arnold Furious|access-date=2 June 2018|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=June 23, 2011}} They also entered a feud with Danny Doring and Roadkill after beating Doring and Roadkill and FBI in a three-way dance at Guilty as Charged,{{cite web|url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/the-smark-retro-rant-for-ecw-guilty-as-charged-99/|title=The SmarK Retro Rant For ECW Guilty As Charged '99|work=411Mania|date=April 4, 2004|author=Scott Keith|access-date=2 June 2018}} resulting in Mahoney and Rotten taking on Doring and Roadkill in a series of matches including one at Crossing the Line, which Mahoney and Rotten won.{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-crossing-the-line-1999-2121999/|title=ECW Crossing The Line 1999 2/12/1999|author=Arnold Furious|access-date=2 June 2018|work=Wrestling Recaps|date=June 23, 2011}} At CyberSlam, Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks and New Jack lost to Mr. Mustafa and the Dudley Boyz in an Ultimate Jeopardy match.{{cite web |author1=Peter Kent |title=VIOLENT PANDA Wrestling Review: ECW Cyberslam '99 |url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/violent-panda-wrestling-review-ecw-cyberslam-99/ |access-date=2 June 2018 |date=August 9, 2004|work=411Mania}}

At Anarchy Rulz, Rotten issued a challenge to Mike Awesome for the World Heavyweight Championship, right before the World Television Championship main event match but was confronted and attacked by Impact Players and Johnny Smith, who was the scheduled opponent for World Television Champion Rob Van Dam. Balls Mahoney and Spike Dudley made the rescue for Rotten by attacking Impact Players and Smith, resulting in Mahoney substituting for Smith and went on to lose.{{cite web |author1=Kevin Pantoja |title=Random Network Reviews: Anarchy Rulz 1999 |url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/random-network-reviews-anarchy-rulz-1999/ |access-date=2 June 2018 |date=November 29, 2014|work=411Mania}} Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks would feud with the likes of The New Dangerous Alliance and Da Baldies during the fall of 1999. At November to Remember, the Freaks teamed with New Jack to take on Da Baldies (Spanish Angel, Tony DeVito, P. N. News and Vito LoGrasso) in a three-on-four handicap match, which they lost to Baldies.{{cite web |author1=Scott Keith |title=The SmarK Retro Repost – November To Remember 1999 |url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/the-smark-retro-repost-november-to-remember-1999/ |access-date=2 June 2018 |date=July 30, 2002|work=411Mania}} On the December 19 episode of ECW on TNN, Hardcore Chair Swingin' Freaks defeated Baldies members P. N. News and Vito LoGrasso in a falls count anywhere match, in which the loser of the fall would be forced to leave ECW, thus forcing Vito out of ECW.{{cite web|url=https://wrestlingrecaps.com/ecw/ecw-on-tnn-11191999/|work=Wrestling Recaps|title=ECW on TNN 11/19/1999|author=Bob Colling|date=December 17, 2010|access-date=2 June 2018}} Rotten wrestled his last ECW match on December 9, 1999, in which he and New Jack defeated Tony DeVito and P.N. News.{{cite web|url=http://prowrestlinghistory.com/ecw/results/1999d.html#120999|title=ECW results - December 9, 1999|publisher=Pro Wrestling History|access-date=2 June 2018}}

File:Axel Rotton.jpg

After leaving ECW in December 1999, Rotten appeared with Xtreme Pro Wrestling and the Japanese Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling promotion. Rotten then wrestled on the independent circuit throughout the early 2000s.

Rotten performed at the ECW reunion event Hardcore Homecoming on June 10, 2005, reuniting with Ian Rotten in a loss to The Gangstanators.{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2012/04/30/pf-19695131.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141217200816/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2012/04/30/pf-19695131.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=December 17, 2014|title=Extreme Reunion wasn't all bad|date=April 30, 2012|author=Commander Cory|publisher=Québecor Média|work=Canoe.ca|access-date=December 17, 2014}} At the follow-up event, November Reign, on November 6, 2005, Rotten defeated Ian Rotten in a Taipei Death match.{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2005/11/06/pf-1295447.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141217200815/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2005/11/06/pf-1295447.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=December 17, 2014|title=Storm interrupts November Reign|date=November 6, 2005|author=Kapur, Bob|publisher=Québecor Média|work=Canoe.ca|access-date=December 17, 2014}} Rotten also wrestled at the Extreme Reunion event on April 28, 2012, defeating Balls Mahoney.{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2012/04/30/pf-19695131.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141217200816/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2012/04/30/pf-19695131.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=December 17, 2014|title=Extreme Reunion wasn't all bad|date=April 30, 2012|author=Kapur, Bob|publisher=Québecor Média|work=Canoe.ca|access-date=December 17, 2014}} His last match was teaming with partner Ian Rotten defeating Peter B. Beautiful and Simon Seez in a Taipei Deathmatch at IWA Mid-South on June 14, 2013.

On October 30, 2014 Rotten's back gave away, and was left agony on the floor. He was hospitalized making him retire form the sport.

In June 2005, Rotten was temporarily hired by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) for its ECW tribute pay-per-view, One Night Stand. He debuted in WWE on the June 6, 2005, episode of Raw, storming the ring with several other ECW alumni.{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Torch_Flashbacks_19/article_49554.shtml|title=WWE Draft flashback - 2005 edition (06-06-05)|author=Keller, Wade|date=June 13, 2005|access-date=December 14, 2014|work=PWTorch.com|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch|author-link=Wade Keller}} At One Night Stand on June 12, 2005, Rotten, Balls Mahoney and Kid Kash brawled with The Blue World Order prior to the main event.{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2005/06/13/1084767.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120723041850/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2005/06/13/1084767.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 23, 2012|title=One great Night of hardcore nostalgia|author=Gramlich, Chris|date=June 13, 2005|access-date=December 14, 2014|work=Canoe.ca|publisher=Québecor Média}} Rotten went to wrestle several dark matches for WWE in July 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/archive/ballsaxl|title=Balls & Axl receive WWE tryout|date=July 13, 2005|publisher=WWE|work=WWE.com|access-date=December 14, 2014}}

Rotten made a one-night appearance with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling on August 8, 2010, at the ECW tribute show Hardcore Justice. Rotten teamed with Kahoneys (Balls Mahoney), losing to Team 3D in a "South Philadelphia Street Fight".{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2010/08/08/14963106.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130424120109/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2010/08/08/14963106.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=April 24, 2013|title=TNA's Hardcore Justice full of ECW memories|author=Mackinder, Matt|date=August 8, 2010|access-date=December 14, 2014|work=Canoe.ca|publisher=Québecor Média}}

Rotten appeared in an uncredited, non-speaking role on the first episode of the show Homicide: Life on the Street, entitled "Gone for Goode", seen being questioned in "The Box" while Lieutenant Al Giardello gives Det. Tim Bayliss his introductory tour of the Homicide Unit.

Knighton was born in the Fell's Point neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland. He attended Southern High School, leaving in eleventh grade to pursue his ambition of becoming a professional wrestler.

Knighton experienced a spine injury in his final years that forced him out of the ring and required the use of a wheelchair. He was living in Anchorage Rehab Center in Salisbury, Maryland. {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NU1AvNUNbr4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/NU1AvNUNbr4 |archive-date=2021-12-13 |url-status=live|title=Extreme Injuries, Hardcore Recovery - Pro Wrestling Documentary|author=Title Match Wrestling|date=June 14, 2015|access-date=July 10, 2015|publisher=Title Match Wrestling}}{{cbignore}}

Knighton was found dead by police in a McDonald's bathroom next to the hotel he was staying at in Linthicum, Maryland, on February 4, 2016. An autopsy showed that Knighton's cause of death was a heroin overdose.{{cite web|url=http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=99542 |title=Axl Rotten Passes Away [Updated |website=PWInsider.com |access-date=February 5, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/pro-wrestling/ring-posts-blog/bal-axl-rotten-wrestling-accidental-overdose-20160216-story.html|title=Professional wrestler Axl Rotten died from overdose in Linthicum, according to police report|first=Jonas|last=Shaffer}}

In July 2016, his estate was named part of a class action lawsuit filed against WWE which alleged that wrestlers incurred traumatic brain injuries during their tenure and that the company concealed the risks of injury. The suit was litigated by attorney Konstantine Kyros, who has been involved in a number of other lawsuits against WWE.{{cite web|title=WWE sued in wrestler class action lawsuit featuring Jimmy 'Superfly' Snuka, Paul 'Mr Wonderful' Orndorff|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/what-the-fox/wwe-sued-in-wrestler-class-action-lawsuit-featuring-jimmy-superfly-snuka-paul-mr-wonderful-orndorff/news-story/079fbd7db16f9cd71b7b569672baa4a5|work=FoxSports.com|date=July 18, 2015|access-date=July 20, 2016|publisher=Fox Entertainment Group (21st Century Fox)}} On October 21, 2016, it was revealed Knighton experienced CTE.{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2016/10/20/first-case-cte-diagnosed-mma-fighter/SfUZnoh3Z1dT9xruTm95RO/story.html|title=First case of CTE diagnosed in MMA fighter - The Boston Globe|website=The Boston Globe }} US District Judge Vanessa Lynne Bryant dismissed the lawsuit in September 2018.{{cite web|title=Piledriver: WWE uses 'Hell in a Cell' as springboard to future shows|url=https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/sports/2018/09/22/wwe-uses-hell-cell-springboard-future-shows/1394073002/|work=Montgomery Advertiser|last=Robinson|first=Byron|date=September 22, 2018|access-date=May 17, 2019}}

• Ian Rotten
• James Ellsworth{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=5268|access-date=October 21, 2016|title=James Ellsworth profile|publisher=Cagematch}}

• AAWA
• AAWA cut up Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• Allied Powers Wrestling Federation
• APWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• Eastern Wrestling Alliance
• EWA Hardcore Championship (1 time)
• Global Wrestling Federation
• GWF Commonwealth Championship (1 time)
• GWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Ian Rotten
• Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South
• IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship (2 times){{cite web|url= http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ky/iwams/iwams-h.html|access-date=April 26, 2009|title=Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South Heavyweight Title|publisher=wrestling-titles.com}}
• IWA Mid-South Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Ian Rotten
• Maryland Championship Wrestling
• MCW Hall of Fame (Class of 2009){{cite web |url=http://www.marylandwrestling.com/mcw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=621:axl-rotten&catid=102:hall-of-fame&Itemid=67 |title=Axl Rotten |author=Maryland Championship Wrestling |author-link=Maryland Championship Wrestling |year=2009 |access-date=October 5, 2011 |work=2009 Inductee |publisher=MarylandWrestling.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502185931/http://www.marylandwrestling.com/mcw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=621:axl-rotten&catid=102:hall-of-fame&Itemid=67 |archive-date=May 2, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}
• Mid-America Wrestling
• MAW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation
• MEWF Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
• MEWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Corporal Punishment
• Match of the Year Achievement Award (1996) - with Corporal Punishment{{Cite web|url=https://groups.google.com/d/topic/rec.sport.pro-wrestling.info/nSj03Ge5w8U/discussion|title = [MEWF] MEWF Arena, Dundalk, MD - Feb. 2 [LONG]}}
• National Wrestling League
• NWL Hardcore Championship (1 time)
• NWL Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Morgus the Maniac
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
• PWI ranked him #132 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1996{{cite web|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi50096.htm |access-date=August 3, 2009 |title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 - 1996 |publisher=Wrestling Information Archive |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522012052/http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi50096.htm |archive-date=May 22, 2011 }}
• PWI ranked him # 437 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI Years in 2003
• PWI Feud of the Year (1995) vs. Ian Rotten
• Star Cavalcade Wrestling
• SCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time){{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | year=2000|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 }}
• SCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Ricky Lawless
• Universal Independent Wrestling
• UIW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• The Bad Breed
• List of premature professional wrestling deaths

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Axl Rotten}}

• {{IMDb name|id=0461142|name=Brian Knighton}}
• {{professional wrestling profiles}}

{{GWF Tag Team Championship}}

{{IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rotten, Axl}}

Category:1971 births

Category:2016 deaths

Category:American male professional wrestlers

Category:Drug-related deaths in Maryland

Category:Deaths by heroin overdose in Maryland

Category:Professional wrestlers with chronic traumatic encephalopathy

Category:Professional wrestlers from Baltimore

Category:American disabled sportspeople

Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers

Category:20th-century American professional wrestlers

Category:21st-century male professional wrestlers

Category:21st-century American professional wrestlers

Category:GWF Tag Team Champions