Joey Mercury Then and Now
By Cornell Scott / September 18, 2024
Joey Mercury Then
Adam Birch, better known by his ring names Joey Matthews and Joey Mercury, was born on July 18, 1979, in Fairfax, Virginia, United States.
Birch developed an early interest in professional wrestling, leading him to train under fellow wrestler Jimmy Cicero.
His passion and commitment to the sport helped him make his wrestling debut at the young age of 17, in October 1996.
Adopting the ring name Joey Matthews, Birch started his journey in the independent wrestling scene, where he would gain recognition for his work in various promotions, particularly in tag team competitions.
His early career laid the foundation for his eventual success in the world of professional wrestling.
Joey Mercury Wrestling Career
After his debut, Birch’s career took off in 1997 when he began competing for the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation (MEWF).
Teaming with Christian York, they captured the MEWF Tag Team Championship, marking the beginning of a successful partnership that would carry them through various independent circuits.
Birch and York teamed up in several promotions, including Steel City Wrestling and the Independent Professional Wrestling Alliance, where Birch would also find success in singles competition by winning championships such as the OMEGA Light Heavyweight Championship.
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By the late 1990s, Birch had gained enough attention to be signed by World Championship Wrestling (WCW), though he never made an appearance before his contract ended.
He continued to work on the independent circuit, including in organizations like Maryland Championship Wrestling (MCW) and Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW).
Birch and York competed as the Bad Street Boys, earning a reputation as a strong tag team.
In 2004, Birch’s career took a major leap when he signed with WWE and was placed in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), a developmental territory.
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There, he teamed with Johnny Nitro, and along with their manager Melina, they formed the popular faction MNM. Their success culminated in three WWE Tag Team Championship reigns.
Following his WWE tenure, which included memorable stints with MNM and CM Punk’s Straight Edge Society, Birch continued to compete in independent promotions and work behind the scenes.
He also became a trainer at the Ring of Honor (ROH) Baltimore Dojo and later served as a producer and member of the creative team before leaving ROH in 2019.
His career is noted for his contributions both in the ring and behind the scenes in various wrestling promotions.
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Joey Mercury Wrestling Competition
- Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation (MEWF)
- Southern Championship Wrestling (SCW)
- Steel City Wrestling (SCW)
- Independent Professional Wrestling Alliance (IPWA)
- Organization of Modern Extreme Grappling Arts (OMEGA)
- Maryland Championship Wrestling (MCW)
- Atlantic Terror Championship Wrestling (ATCW)
- Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW)
- National Wrestling Alliance (NWA)
- Virginia Championship Wrestling (VCW)
- Ring of Honor (ROH)
- Xtreme Pro Wrestling (XPW)
- Phoenix Championship Wrestling (PCW)
- World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)
- Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW)
- Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA)
- Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG)
- Ring Ka King
- Ring of Honor (as a trainer, producer, and creative team member)
Joey Mercury Now
As of 2024, Joey Mercury, born Adam Birch, is 45 years old and continues to make significant contributions to the world of professional wrestling.
While he is best known for his tenure in WWE, where he gained prominence as a member of the popular faction MNM, Mercury’s role in the industry has evolved over the years.
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After leaving Ring of Honor, where he served as a producer, trainer, and member of the creative team, Mercury returned to WWE.
In his current role, he works as a producer, leveraging his extensive experience to support and guide the next generation of wrestling talent.
Mercury’s influence extends beyond his production duties. He is highly regarded by many WWE Superstars, particularly The Shield—Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, and Roman Reigns.
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During their time in NXT and their early days on the main roster, Mercury was a mentor and a valuable ally to The Shield.
Their close relationship has cemented Mercury’s place in their professional journeys, with The Shield often considering him a de facto fourth member of their faction.
His mentorship and guidance have been instrumental in their development, reflecting his lasting impact on the wrestling community.
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FAQs
Joey Mercury, also known as Adam Birch, experienced significant moments in his career, including injuries and multiple tenures with different promotions. His career saw ups and downs, including a notable facial injury.
Joey Mercury broke his face during a WWE match at the Armageddon pay-per-view on December 17, 2006. He sustained a severe injury when a ladder struck him in the face during a Tag Team Ladder Match.
Yes, Joey Mercury is currently in WWE as a producer. He works behind the scenes, supporting and mentoring new talent.
MNM, consisting of Joey Mercury, Johnny Nitro, and Melina, enjoyed success in WWE, winning the Tag Team Championships three times. The team disbanded in May 2006 after Nitro and Melina turned on Mercury. They briefly reunited later in 2006 before Mercury was released in March 2007.
Joey Mercury is working as a producer for WWE, where he continues to contribute to the development of new talent and oversee production elements.
Joey Mercury left WWE in March 2007. He returned to WWE later, working as a producer and mentor until his departure from the company in 2014.