Mike Awesome

Mike passed away on February 07, 2007. He was 42 years old. In Japan, he was known as the Gladiator. Mike toured Japan for the majority of his career. He was very popular in the Japan wrestling promotion FMW. In 1998, Mike returned to the States and joined ECW. He is remembered for his hardcore matches with Masato Tanaka.

In the highlight of his ECW career, Mike Awesome beat Taz to win the ECW world title. At the time, ECW was pushing Mike as an equal to WWE and WCW World Champions. However, ECW was in financial trouble. A short time later, WCW offered Mike a contract, while he was employed by ECW and still their champion. Mike was owed money by ECW and the offer by WCW was very good financially. WCW wanted Mike to throw the ECW belt in the trash in his debut. However, ECW sued WCW and Mike Awesome for breach of contract. The judge ruled with ECW. The court made Mike go to an ECW house show and drop the belt. Mike was still allowed to join WCW. At this time, WCW was in chaos and had some very bad bookers. Mike Awesome was giving two of the dumbest gimmicks ever with a "That 70s Guy" and "The Fat Chick Thriller" characters. He would go on to join WWE for a short period. Soon after being released from the WWE, Mike Awesome retired from wrestling. He will be remembered for being a big man, who was agile and had some incredible and hardcore matches in ECW.