Mero was born in Macon, Georgia, but grew up in Buffalo, New York. His parents divorced when he was eight years old, with his mother supporting him and his three siblings by working two jobs. At the age of 12, Mero began playing hockey, eventually becoming his league`s Most Valuable Player. In 1973, Mero`s family relocated to Liverpool, New York, where Mero played for the Mid State Youth Hockey League. At age 15, Mero began playing for the Syracuse Stars Junior Hockey Team.

Mero began playing football in his senior year, with his high school team winning the New York State Title under the tutelage of future University of Central Florida coach George O`Leary. In the same year, Mero began training as a boxer under Golden Gloves coach Ray Rinaldi. Mero went on to win four New York State titles, including the New York Golden Gloves tournament. Mero intended to become a professional boxer, but his career was sidelined after his nose was broken in an accident. He briefly pursued a bodybuilding career, placing third in the Mr. New York State bodybuilding contest.

In 1990, Mero decided to become a wrestler, travelling to Tampa, Florida to train under the Malenkos. He debuted in 1991 in the Floridian Sun Coast Professional Wrestling promotion. Several months later, Mero attended a World Championship Wrestling television taping and was given a match, losing to Doom in a squash match. Mero appeared with WCW as a jobber for several months before being signed to a contract by booker Dusty Rhodes. Rhodes repackaged Mero with the ring name Johnny B. Badd and the gimmick of a Little Richard look-alike. He was initially managed by Teddy Long. As Johnny B. Badd, Mero was known for his flamboyant mannerisms and for his "Badd Blaster", a confetti gun that he would fire before his matches. Mero won the WCW World Television Championship on three occasions.

In 1996, Mero left WCW because he strongly objected to an angle where he was associated with another man`s wife (Kimberly Page). After leaving WCW he signed a contract with the World Wrestling Federation. Wrestling as "Wildman" Marc Mero, Mero was managed by his wife, Rena "Sable" Mero. On September 23, 1996, Mero defeated Faarooq Asad in the finals of a tournament for the vacant WWF Intercontinental Championship. He held the title until October 21, 1996, when he was defeated by Hunter Hearst Helmsley.

In February 1997, Mero tore his anterior cruciate ligament, and spent six months rehabilitating. He returned in late 1997 with the new persona of "Marvellous" Marc Mero, a boxer-turned-wrestler. The WWF storyline had Mero become jealous of Sable`s fan following and want her out of the WWF. At Over the Edge, he defeated Sable with a small package, which resulted in her leaving the WWF for a short time. After he dropped Sable as his valet, Jacqueline became his manager.

In 1999, Mero and Sable left the WWF. At the time, Mero had three years remaining on his contract, with a guaranteed salary of $350,000 USD.[5] Mero subsequently did not wrestle for 18 months due to various nagging injuries and a shoulder surgery.

On April 26, 2000, Mero returned to World Championship Wrestling, appearing with his trainer, Ray Rinaldi, in the audience on an episode of WCW Thunder and confronting Tank Abbott. Mero opted not to return to WCW on a full-time basis due to his physical condition at the time.

In 2001, Mero returned to wrestling in the short-lived X Wrestling Federation

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