Marc Mero Reveals DDP Gave Him the TKO Finisher Without Hesitation

Marc Mero’s transition from the jaw-dropping “Wild Thing” to the safer TKO wasn’t just about preserving his body—it was also about respect.

In a recent interview with The Wrestling Classic, Mero opened up about how Diamond Dallas Page gave him full permission to use one of his signature variations of the Diamond Cutter, no questions asked.

After years of landing on his knees and shoulders night after night with the Wild Thing—a shooting star press he first perfected as a teenager off a diving board—Mero knew he needed a new finisher. That’s when he spotted something creative from DDP in WCW and made a call.

“Eventually I wanted to come up with something a little different, and that’s when we came up with the TKO — the Total Knockout. I got that from Diamond Dallas Page.”

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Mero explained that he had seen Page execute a version of the Diamond Cutter out of a fireman’s carry, and immediately saw the potential. But instead of just copying it, he did something rare in the business—he asked first.

“Dallas used to do this thing where he’d hit the Diamond Cutter out of nowhere. The guy would be going for a backdrop and boom — Diamond Cutter. I saw him do it out of a fireman’s carry into a spinning Diamond Cutter, and I called him right up.”

“I go, ‘Dallas, would you mind if I used that move in WWE?’ And he goes, ‘Bro, take it, man!’”

That moment solidified more than just a finisher for Mero—it proved the brotherhood he shared with DDP. Mero made it clear that not everyone in the industry was as generous.

“There were other guys, if you said, ‘Hey, do you mind if I do this move?’ they’d go, ‘No, no, no, that’s my move.’ I won’t mention any names, but that happened. Some guys told me straight up, ‘Please don’t ever do that again — that’s my move.’ But Dallas? He’s my brother. We always wanted to help each other.”

For Mero, the switch to the TKO wasn’t just about safety—it was about evolving with the support of someone who truly cared about the business. While others hoarded their finishers like trademarks, DDP just wanted to help a friend succeed.

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.