Mike Awesome

[Mike Awesome GALLERY]

Title History

ECW World Heavyweight title defeating Taz (September 19, 1999);
ECW World Tag Team titles w/Raven defeating Masato Tanaka & Tommy Dreamer (March 10,2000);
ECW World Heavyweight title defeating Masato Tanaka (December 23, 2000);
FMW Brass Knuckles title;
WWF Hardcore title defeating Rhyno (June 25, 2001 on RAW);

Career Highlights

In the Beginning

Mike Awesome and Horace Hogan are cousins (Mike Awesome and Hulk Hogan are NOT related)
1989: Mike Awesome first appeared as an early WCW masked jobber named “The Pro” from San Juan, Puerto Rico..
Mike Awesome got his big break in Japan’s now defunct Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling as “The Gladiator”..
It was in Japan’s FMW where he started his long running feud with Masato Tanaka..

Extrme Championship Wrestling

December 26, 1993–ECW: Mike Awesome defeated Randy Starr
February 5, 1994–ECW: J.T. Smith defeated Mike Awesome (ECW debut)..
Mike Awesome would travel back and forth between Japan and the United States..
January 11, 1997–ECW: Mike Awesome defeated Balls Mahoney
February 1, 1997–ECW: Lou Spicolli defeated Mike Awesome
July 18, 1998–ECW: Masato Tanaka & Jerry Lynn defeated Mike Awesome & Justin Credible
July 24, 1998–ECW: Masato Tanaka & Jerry Lynn defeated Mike Awesome & Justin Credible
August 2, 1998–ECW: Masato Tanaka defeated Mike Awesome
August 7, 1998–ECW: Jerry Lynn & Masato Tanaka defeated Mike Awesome & Justin Credible
August 8, 1998–ECW: Masato Tanaka defeated Mike Awesome

Extrme Championship Wrestling – ECW World Champion

When ECW Champion Taz signed with the WWF, Paul Heyman passed the ball to Mike Awesome..
September 19, 1999 – Anarchy Rules: Taz vs Masato Tanaka (Title match) was turned into a three-way-dance!
~~~Taz was eliminated first.. Awesome then delivered an Awesome Bomb on Tanaka to become ECW Heavyweight Champion!
October 23, 1998–ECW: Mike Awesome defeated Mikey Whipwreak to retain the ECW Heavyweight Title
November 7, 1998–ECW November to Remember: Mike Awesome defeated Masato Tanaka to retain ECW Heavweight Title
December 13, 1999 – Masato Tanaka defeated Mike Awesome for the title..
December 23, 1999 – Awesome recaptured the title from Tanaka a few days later..
January 9, 2000 – Guilty as Charged: Mike Awesome demolished Spike Dudley to retain ECW Heavyweight Title..
March 2000: Mike Awesome won the ECW Tag Team title with his partner Raven defeating Tommy Dreamer & Masato Tanaka..
March 12, 2000–ECW Living Dangerously 2000: Mike Awesome defeated Kid Kash to retain ECW Heavyweight Title
~~~The Impact Players defeated Raven/Awesome and Dreamer/Tanaka in a 3-WAY to win the Tag Team titles..

World Championship Wrestling & controversy

Mike Awesome jumped to World Championship Wrestling as the reigning ECW Heavyweight Champion..
Mike Awesome joined WCW as part of the ‘New Blood’ team (Billy Kidman, Shane Douglas, Chuck Palumbo, Sean O’Haire, etc)
April 13, 2000: This led to threats of legal action from ECW; Awesome agreed to return to ECW to drop the title to ‘anyone’..
~~~So with WCW head of security Doug Dillinger by his side, Mike Awesome particpated in one of the most unique main events..
~~~Taking place at a ECW venue, Mike Awesome (a WCW wrestler) took on Tazz (a WWF wrestler) for the ECW Heavyweight Title..
~~~Mike Awesome and his entourage entered and departed the arena through the crowd, to avoid the tense ECW locker room..
~~~Tazz, on loan from the World Wrestling Federation, defeated Mike Awesome and was embraced by the ECW locker room..

World Championship Wrestling

Mike Awesome started working for World Championship Wrestling full time..
April 16, 2000 Spring Stampede: Mike Awesome defeated Ernest “The Cat” Miller in the quarter finals of a tournament..
~~~Scott Steiner defeated Mike Awesome by submission in the semi finals of the WCW United States Title Tournament.
April 17, 2000 Nitro: Mike Awesome defeated Diamond Dallas Page by DQ.
April 24, 2000 Nitro: Billy Kidman & Mike Awesome defeated Hulk Hogan in a handicap match..
~~~During the match, Mike Awesome made history by power-bombing Hulk Hogan through a table!
April 26, 2000 Thunder: Mike Awesome defeated Booker T.
May 1, 2000 Nitro: Mike Awesome defeated Hulk Hogan.
May 3, 2000 Thunder: Sting defeated Mike Awesome.
May 6, 2000 – Worldwide: Mike Awesome defeated 2 jobbers in a handicap match..
May 7, 2000 Slamboree: Mike Awesome vs. Chris Kanyon ended in a NO CONTEST.
~~~Mike Awesome later got involved in a three teir cage match, trying to power-bomb Diamond Dallas Page off the first teir..
~~~Chris Kanyon came out and saved DDP, but he ended up getting power-bombed off the first cage to the floor himself!

World Championship Wrestling – The Career Killer

It’s not surprise that Mike Awesome soon adopted a controversial ‘career killer’ gimmick..
May 8, 2000 Nitro: Mike Awesome defeated Diamond Dallas Page in a Stretcher Match.
May 10, 2000 Thunder: Mike Awesome vs. Sting ended in a No Contest.
May 15, 2000 Nitro: Kevin Nash defeated Mike Awesome in an Ambulance Match.
May 17, 2000 Thunder: Scott Steiner defeated Mike Awesome in an Ambulance match.
May 22, 2000 Nitro: Mike Awesome defeated The Wall in a Table vs. Ambulance Match.
May 29, 2000 Nitro: G.I. Bro defeated Mike Awesome in an Ambulance Match.
June 7, 2000 Thunder: Mike Awesome defeated Lash “Cpl. Cajun” LaRoux in an Ambulance match.
June 11, 2000 Great American Bash: Mike Awesome defeated Diamond Dallas Page in a Ambulance Match.
~~~Chris Kanyon, wearing a neck brace halo got up out of his wheelchair and turned on Diamond Dallas Page!
June 14, 2000 Thunder: Mike Awesome & Kanyon vs. Tank Abbott & Rick Steiner ended in a No Contest.
June 19, 2000 Nitro: WCW champion Jeff Jarrett defeated U.S. champion Scott Steiner (Mike Awesome was the special referee).
June 21, 2000 Thunder: Scott Steiner & Kevin Nash defeated Jeff Jarrett & Mike Awesome.
June 26, 2000 Nitro: Kevin Nash defeated Mike Awesome.
June 28, 2000 Thunder: Mike Awesome defeated WCW United States champion Scott Steiner in a non-title match.
July 5, 2000 Thunder: Mike Awesome defeated Rick Steiner.
July 9, 2000 Bash at the Beach: Mike Awesome defeated Scott Steiner by DQ.
July 10, 2000 Nitro: WCW World Heavyweight champion Booker T defeated Mike Awesome.
July 12, 2000 Thunder: Mike Awesome defeated Rick Steiner.
July 18, 2000 Nitro: Mike Awesome defeated “Positively” Kanyon to advance in the WCW United States Title Tournament..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Mike Awesome defeated The Great Muta to advance in the WCW United States Title Tournament..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Lance Storm defeated Mike Awesome in the finals to win the vacant WCW United States Title!
July 19, 2000 Thunder: Positively Kanyon & Lance Storm defeated Buff Bagwell & Mike Awesome.

World Championship Wrestling – The Fatchick Thriller

“The Fatchick Thriller” not only sucked, but was extremely offensive..
July 24, 2000 Nitro: Mike Awesome defeated “The Franchise” Shane Douglas.
August 2, 2000 Thunder: Mike Awesome defeated Positively Kanyon.
August 7, 2000 Nitro: Jeff Jarrett defeated Mike Awesome.
August 9, 2000 Thunder: Lance Storm defeated Mike Awesome in a flag match.
August 13, 2000 New Blood Rising: Lance Storm defeated Mike Awesome to retain the Canadian Title..
~~~~~~~~~~~~After the match, Team Canada member Jacques Rougeau knocked out Mike Awesome.
August 14, 2000 Nitro: Lance Storm defeated Mike Awesome.
August 21, 2000 Nitro: Lance Storm & Jeff Jarrett defeated Mike Awesome & Gen. Rection.
August 23, 2000 Thunder: WCW United States champion Lance Storm defeated Mike Awesome & Gen. Rection in a handicap match.
August 28, 2000 Nitro: Rick Steiner defeated Mike Awesome in a Bunkhouse Brawl.
August 30, 2000 Thunder: Mike Awesome defeated Reno.
WCW soon realized that the gimmick wasn’t going to work, so they tried another terrible one…

World Championship Wrestling – That 70’s Guy

Soon Awesome’s push ran thin and WCW decided to sadle him with one of the worst gimmick’s of all time..
September 6, 2000–Thunder: Mike Awesome became “That 70’s Guy” – in reference to the hit TV show “That 70’s Show”..
Mike Awesome began dressing in retro clothing and called himself “That 70’s Guy” and drove a patridge family bus..
~~~”The 70’s Guy” Mike Awesome began hosting weekly “Lava Lamp Lounge” interview segments on Thunder & Nitro..
September 17, 2000 Fall Brawl: Mike Awesome defeated Jeff Jarrett in a Bunkhouse Brawl Match.
September 18, 2000 Nitro: Mike Awesome defeated Vampiro in a hardcore match.
September 25, 2000 Nitro: Mike Awesome defeated Insane Clown Posse in a handicap hardcore match..
~~~the match was changed to a one on one match after Insane Clown Posse’s partner no showed..

World Championship Wrestling – Mike Awesome

October 2, 2000 Nitro: Shane Douglas defeated Mike Awesome.
October 4, 2000 Thunder: WCW Tag Team champions Mark Jindark & Shawn O’Haire defeated Mike Awesome & Crowbar.
October 7, 2000 – Worldwide: Mike Awesome defeated Steven Sharpe..
October 9, 2000 Nitro: Mike Awesome defeated David Flair in a hardcore match.
October 11, 2000 Thunder: Mike Awesome & Crowbar defeated The Harris Twins.
October 16, 2000 Nitro: Mike Awesome & Crowbar defeated Chuck Palumbo & Sean Stasiak.
October 18, 2000 Thunder: Mike Awesome won a “Countdown to Armageddon Battle Royal”.
October 23, 2000 Nitro: Scott Steiner defeated Mike Awesome.
October 28, 2000 – Worldwide: Mike Awesome defeated Kevin Northcutt..
October 29, 2000 Halloween Havoc: Mike Awesome defeated Vampiro (a WCW fan tried to DDT Mike Awesome but failed).
~~~An overzealous fan tried to DDT Mike Awesome as he and Vampiro brawled throughout the crowd during the match..
~~~Vampiro and Awesome turn their attention to the fan and pummelled the crap out of him to teach him a lesson…
October 30, 2000 Nitro: WCW World champion Booker T defeated Scott Steiner and Mike Awesome in a 3-WAY.
November 1, 2000 Thunder: Sting & Mike Awesome defeated Jeff Jarrett & Vampiro.
November 8, 2000 Thunder: WCW World Heavyweight Champion Booker T defeated Mike Awesome.
November 13, 2000 Nitro: Scott Steiner & Sting defeated Mike Awesome & Bam Bam Bigelow.
November 22, 2000 Thunder: Reno & Bam Bam Bigelow defeated Mike Awesome & Crowbar in a hardcore match.
December 17, 2000 Starrcade: Mike Awesome defeated Bam Bam Bigelow in a Ambulance Match.
December 18, 2000 Nitro: Jeff Jarrett defeated Mike Awesome in a Contender’s Tournament Match.

World Championship Wrestling – The Canadian Career Killer

Mike Awesome finally got a serious gimmick, joining Team Canada (even though he isn’t Canadian)..
January 3, 2001 Thunder: Mike Awesome defeated “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan.
January 14, 2001 Sin: Team Canada defeated The Filthy Animals (“Hacksaw” Jim Duggan was the special referee).
~~~Team Canada = Lance Storm & Elix Skipper & Mike Awesome
~~~~The Filthy Animals = Konnan & Rey Mysterio Jr. & Billy Kidman
January 15, 2001 Nitro: Konnan defeated Mike Awesome in a “hair vs. hair” match.
January 17, 2001 Thunder: Mike Awesome defeated Billy Kidman.
January 24, 2001 Thunder: Mike Awesome defeated Norman Smiley.
February 5, 2001 Nitro: WCW Tag Team champions Sean O’Haire & Chuck Palumbo defeated Lance Storm & Mike Awesome.
February 14, 2001 Thunder: Mike Awesome defeated The Cat.
February 19, 2001 Nitro: Bryan Clark defeated Mike Awesome by DQ.
February 26, 2001 Nitro: Lance Storm & Mike Awesome defeated Sean O’Haire & Chuck Palumbo (c) in a Non-title match.
February 28, 2001 Thunder: Mike Awesome defeated Konnan.
March 5, 2001 Nitro: Hugh Morrus defeated Mike Awesome.
March 12, 2001 Nitro: Lance Storm & Mike Awesome defeated Big Vito & Johnny The Bull.
March 18, 2001 Greed: Lance Storm & Mike Awesome defeated Hugh Morrus & Konnan.
March 19, 2001 Nitro: Lance Storm & Mike Awesome defeated Sean O’Haire & Chuck Palumbo (c) in a Non-title match.
March 21, 2001 Final Thunder: Chuck Palumbo defeated Mike Awesome.
March 26, 2001 Final Nitro: WCW Tag Team champions Sean O’Haire & Chuck Palumbo defeated Mike Awesome & Lance Storm.
World Championship Wrestling was purchased by Vince McMahon and the World Wrestling Federation..

World Wrestling Federation

Mike Awesome quickly accepted a buyout from his WCW contract and signed with the World Wrestling Federation..
Mike Awesome was one of the first wrestlers to “invade” the WWF as part of the WCW Invasion storyline..
June 25th 2001 – RAW: Mike Awesome snuck into the building and defeated Rhyno for the WWF Hardcore Title!
July 7, 2001 – WWF Live Event: The Undertaker & Kane defeated Diamond Dallas Page & Mike Awesome..
July 9, 2001–RAW: Kane & Chris Jericho vs Mike Awesome & Lance Storm ended in a No Contest..
~~~Tommy Dreamer & Rob Van Dam interfered at the end and Paul Heyman announced the rebirth of ECW..
July 12, 2001–SmackDown!: Jeff Hardy defeated Mike Awesome to win the WWF Hardcore Title..
July 16, 2001–RAW: Mike Awesome defeated Edge with the help from Lance Storm.
July 22, 2001–InVasion: Edge & Christian defeated Mike Awesome & Lance Storm.
Mike Awesome’s push slowly deflated, perhaps due to former boss Paul Heyman’s WWF TV writing influences..
July 28, 2001 – WWF Live Event: Tazz & Rhyno & Mike Awesome & Rob Van Dam defeated William Regal & Tajiri & Kane & Chris Jericho..
July 29, 2001 – HEAT: Hardcore Holly defeated Mike Awesome..
July 29, 2001 – WWF Live Event: Chris Jericho & William Regal & Tajiri defeated Rob Van Dam & Tazz & Mike AWesome..
August 4, 2001 – Jakked: The Big Show & Billy Gunn defeated Mike Awesome & Rhyno..
August 5, 2001 – WWF Live Event: The Dudley Boyz defeated Edge & Christian and Mike Awesome & Shawn Stasiak in a 3-WAY match..
August 11, 2001 – Jakked: Albert defeated Mike Awesome..
August 12, 2001 – HEAT: Crash Holly & Hardcore Holly defeated Mike Awesome & Shawn Stasiak..
August 17, 2001 – WWF Live Event: The Big Show & Billy Gunn & Hardcore & Crash Holly & Albert & Scotty 2 Hotty defeated Sean OHaire & Chuck Palumbo & Tommy Dreamer & Mike Awesome & Shawn Stasiak & Hugh Morris..
August 18, 2001 – Jakked: Mike Awesome defeated K-Kwik..
August 24, 2001 – WWF Live Event: The Acolytes defeated Tommy Dreamer & Mike Awesome..
September 1, 2001 – Jakked: Billy Gunn defeated Mike Awesome..
September 15, 2001 – Jakked: Albert & X-Pac defeated Mike Awesome & Justin Credible..
September 22, 2001 – Jakked: The Acolytes defeated Mike Awesome & Hugh Morris..
September 23, 2001 – HEAT: Mike Awesome defeated Crash Holly..
September 29, 2001 – Jakked: Albert defeated Mike Awesome..
September 29, 2001 – WWF Live Event: Bradshaw defeated Mike Awesome..
September 30, 2001 – HEAT: Spike Dudley defeated Mike Awesome..
October 6, 2001 – WWF Live Event: The Acolytes defeated Chuck Palumbo & Mike Awesome..
October 13, 2001 – Jakked: The Acolytes defeated Chuck Palumbo & Mike Awesome..
October 14, 2001 – WWF Live Event: The Big Show & Spike Dudley defeated Mike Awesome & Hugh Morris..
October 20, 2001 – Jakked: Mike Awesome defeated Scotty 2 Hotty..
October 27, 2001 – Jakked: Albert & X-Pac defeated Mike AWesome & Tommy Dreamer..
August 1, 2002 – Smackdown!: Mike Awesome made his return on Velocity getting defeated by Farooq..
September 27, 2002: Mike Awesome was given his release by World Wrestling Entertainment..

Japan

Mike Awesome rejuvinated his career wrestling in Japan, teaming briefly with Bryan Clarke..
November 23, 2002 – AJPW: Mike Awesome & PJ Friedman & Jimmy Yang defeated Tomaki Honma & Kaz Hayashi & Ryuji Hijikata..
November 26, 2002 – AJPW: Mike Awesome & PJ Friedman defeated Arashi & Nobutaka Araya..
November 28, 2002 – AJPW: Satoshi Kojima & Taiyo Kea defeated Mike Awesome & PJ Friedman..
December 3, 2002 – AJPW: Genichiro Tenryu & Big John Tenta defeated Mike Awesome & PJ Friedman..
December 20, 2002 – Major League Wrestling: Mike Awesome defeated Jerry Lynn in a #1 contenders match..
May 9, 2003 – Major League Wrestling: Mike Awesome defeated Masato Tanaka in a #1 contenders match..
March 7, 2004 – Z1 Hustle-2: Masato Tanaka & Kintaro Kanemura & Tetsuhiro Kuroda defeated Gladiator & Sabu & Justin Credible..
April 16, 2003 – NWA^TNA: Mike Awesome (debut) defeats Perry Saturn by DQ when Sandman and New Jack interfered..
April 23, 2003 – NWA^TNA: Perry Saturn & New Jack & Sandman beat Brian Lee & Slash & Mike Awesome..
~~~This was a barbed wire match with tables and a ladder and a stapler and a baseball bat at the top of the ladder!
May 14, 2003 – NWA^TNA: Mike Sanders defeats Mike Awesome in a TABLES match with help from Glen Gilbertti..
June 20, 2003 – Major League Wrestling: Mike Awesome defeated Satochi Kojima to win the MLW title. Steve Corino defeated Mike Awesome later that night to win the MLW title..
July 27, 2003 – Major League Wrestling: Steve Corino defeated Mike Awesome featuring interference by CW Anderson & Simon Diamond and a save by Terry Funk (who ended up being destroyed)..
September 6, 2003: Toshiaki Kawada won the Triple Crown at Budokan Hall, beating Shinjiro Otani in the four-man tournament finals..
~~~Shinjiro Otani beat Satoshi Kojima and Toshiaki Kawada beat The Gladiator (Mike Awesome) in first round matches..
September 19, 2003 – MLW War Games: Mike Awesome beat Joe Seanoa (Samoa Joe of ROH)..
October 22, 2003: Mike Awesome suffered a broken orbital bone earlier this week in a match in Japan..
April 24, 2004 – Jersey All Pro: Dan Maff defeated Mike Awesome to retain the JAPW title..
May 8, 2004 – Z1 Hustle-3: Sabu/Kintaro Kanemura/Gladiator beat Masato Tanaka/Tetsuhiro Kuroda/Tomoaki Honma (Death Match)..
June 5, 2004–Jersey All Pro Wrestling: Vader & Mike Awesome defeated Dan Maff & Samoa Joe..
October 2004: Mike Awesome (The Gladiator) debuts for the Pro Wrestling NOAH group in Japan..
June 12, 2005 – ECW One Night Stand: Mike Awesome defeated Masato Tanaka in the clear-cut match of the night!
Early 2006: Mike Awesome confirmed that he had retired from wrestling to spend time with family and sell real estate..
February 17, 2007: Mike Awesome (42) was found dead at his home in Tampa as a result of an apparent suicide by hanging..

Dylan Bowker wrote: Mike Awesome has been a proven commodity over the years.Showing us his amazing in-ring ability that showcased dazzling high flying,explosive power moves, and out of control hardcore brawling.Leading promotions such as FMW and ECW to new heights of popularity and notiriety holding the ECW world heavyweight and world tag team titles and the highly prestigious FMW doubles titles.In his classic matches with Spike Dudley,Mikey Whipwreck,Hayabusa,and especially Masato Tanaka in the most famous matches of his career.utilising moves like the high flying Awesome Splash to his finisher the ever devastating Awesome Bomb(A.K.A the lyger bomb).But his career has also been clouded by many a dark situation.From leaving ECW with the world championship jumping to arch-rival WCW,to being turned into the dread-ful That 70’s Guy and the highly offensive Fat Chick Thriller in WCW,and being horribly misused in the WWF.Mike has taken many a twist and turn in his career a living example of peaks and valleys and as I recently found out on OWW Mike Alphonso(Awesome) has retired from the sport of pro wrestling after a 17 year career to spend time with his fam,ily and sell real estate.From being a 24 year old nobody known as The Pro from Puerto Rico to being one of the top wrestlers in the world going through MLW,TNA,ECW,FMW,WWF,Z-1 Hustle,and WCW.Awesome has done it all in wrestling won championships, wrestled all over the world,had unforgettable matches and made a lasting impression on everyone who watched this 6’6,300 pound man mountain in the ring.So as we say gooday to Mr.Awesome and this article I for one would just like to say goodbye one last time to this master of the tables and chairs(with all apologies to Sabu and the Dudley Boyz).

Updated: February 4, 2024 @ 3:23 pm

Active Promotion Inactive

Trained By

Steve Keirn

Debut

1989

Birthday

January 24, 1965

Hometown

Tampa, Florida

Gender

Male

Height

6'6"

Weight

292 lbs

Finishing Move(s)

The Awesome Bomb

Favorite Move(s)

The Awesome Splash

Notable Feuds

Masato Tanaka
Scott Steiner
Diamond Dallas Page
Lance Storm
Steve Corino

Status

Deceased