Professional Wrestling Career
In 1999, he was hired by the World Wrestling Federation along with his friend Rodney Leinhardt. Gasparino (known simply as "Pete Gas") and Leinhardt were both childhood friends of Shane McMahon, the son of WWF/WWE owner Vince McMahon. They were placed in a faction together along with independent wrestler Joey Abs. The trio debuted on WWF television in March 1999 as the "Mean Street Posse" (in reference to Shane growing up on the 'mean streets' of Greenwich), and began assisting Shane in his feud with Test and helping him retain the European Championship. Shane eventually turned into a fan favorite and briefly feuded with his erstwhile allies before leaving WWF television.
The Posse took part in a tag team battle royal for the number one contenderships to the Tag Team Championship at Armageddon. They gained an advantage by switching places with the third wrestler behind the referees' backs, thus enabling them to outnumber the other teams three to two. Despite this advantage, they failed to win.
In early 2000, the Posse repeatedly tried to defeat Crash Holly for the Hardcore Championship, attacking the champion in unlikely venues such as an airport, a circus, and his hotel room. At WrestleMania 2000 on April 2, the trio took part in a hardcore battle royal for the title. During the match, each member would briefly hold the title, although Hardcore Holly ultimately won the match and left as the official champion.
On an episode of Sunday Night Heat later that year, Edge and Christian briefly became the managers of the Mean Street Posse. They accompanied them to ringside for the duration of their WWF World Tag Team Championship title match with the Hardy Boyz, assisting the Posse with the proviso that they would receive a title shot if the Posse was to win. The Hardy Boyz thwarted the interference of Edge and Christian, however, and retained their titles. Later that year, all three members of the Posse were sent to Memphis Championship Wrestling, then a WWF developmental territory.
Gasperino and the remainder of the Posse were released by the WWF in 2001, and began working on the independent circuit. Gasperino now works for an office supply company, named WB Mason (well-known at Fenway Park, Citizens Bank Park, and Yankee Stadium with signs on the fence). On Raw XV, the 15th-anniversary WWE Raw special on December 10, 2007, Gas participated in the 15th Anniversary Battle Royal and was subsequently eliminated by Bart Gunn.
Read more about this topic: Peter Gasperino
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