Joey Mercury: Classic photos | WWE

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Joey Mercury broke into wrestling at the age of 15.

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Then known as Joey Matthews, he and Christian York rose up the independent ranks, earning contracts with WCW and ECW.

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He eventually relocated to Louisville, Ky., and began working for Ohio Valley Wrestling, then WWE's developmental territory.

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Joey Mercury debuted for WWE in 2005 as part of MNM.

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Managed by Melina, Mercury and John Morrison captured the WWE Tag Team Titles on three occasions.

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MNM regularly battled Superstars like Eddie Guerrero, Batista and Rey Mysterio.

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Joey Mercury suffered a devastating injury during a Ladder Match at Armageddon 2006.

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A ladder viciously smashed into Mercury's face, busting him open and crushing his nose.

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Mercury suffered several broken bones in his nose and a cracked orbital bone. Thirty stitches were required to close the wounds.

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He wrestled with a protective mask after the incident.

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Mercury returned to WWE in 2010 as part of The Straight Edge Society.

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At first, he concealed his identity under a mask, until it was forcibly removed by Big Show.

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