Mike Awesome

In 1993, Awesome appeared in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) for a short period. On February 5, 1994 at ECW's event, *The Night the Line was Crossed*, Awesome nearly injured J.T. Smith when he performed a high-risk dive to the outside of the ring. Smith's back was folded backwards against the guard rail during the impact.

In early 1997, he made a one night appearance in ECW with The Triple Threat, addressing The Masked Man (Rick Rude).

In January 1998, Awesome began appearing for ECW again and began a feud with Masato Tanaka. Awesome began in ECW by losing to Tanaka on an episode ECW's weekly *Hardcore TV*. However, following the match, he delivered an *Awesome Bomb* to Tanaka over the top rope through a table set up on the outside. In his final appearance of his second ECW stint, Awesome lost to Tanaka again at the August Heat Wave pay-per-view event.

Almost immediately upon arriving in ECW for his third stint in September 1999, he shocked the wrestling world by winning the ECW World Heavyweight Championship at Anarchy Rulz by defeating the reigning champion Taz and nemesis Masato Tanaka in a three-way dance, which was signed on the spot. Awesome continued to be a major factor in ECW early in 2000, including teaming with Raven to beat Tanaka and Tommy Dreamer for the ECW World Tag Team Championship. He gained a new manager, Judge Jeff Jones, who managed Awesome to the top of winning the ECW World Heavyweight Championship twice in 1999.

On April 10, 2000, Awesome made a surprise appearance on *WCW Monday Nitro*, aiding The New Blood by attacking Kevin Nash—while still reigning as ECW World Champion. Due to concerns over legal issues, WCW refrained from having Awesome appear on their television shows with the ECW belt. Eventually, a compromise was reached. Awesome (a WCW employee and ECW champion) appeared a few days later at an ECW event in Indianapolis, Indiana, accompanied by WCW's head of security, where he lost the title to Tazz (a World Wrestling Federation employee), who lost it a week later to Tommy Dreamer (a full-time ECW wrestler).

Now with WCW, Awesome continued to be a major factor with the New Blood for the next month, teaming with Billy Kidman occasionally to aid him in his feud with Hulk Hogan. Awesome also engaged in an on-and-off feud with Kevin Nash, as well as feuding with Diamond Dallas Page and Kanyon. In May 2000, Awesome threw Kanyon off the top of the first level of a triple cage onto the entrance ramp, which started his "Career Killer" gimmick.

During mid-2000, his gimmick was tweaked, with him becoming infatuated with heavyset women and calling himself "The Fat Chick Thrilla" Mike Awesome, and feuded with Scott Steiner and Lance Storm for the WCW United States Championship.

On the September 6, 2000 edition of *Thunder*, Awesome changed his gimmick and became "That '70s Guy" Mike Awesome, dressing in various 1970's inspired outfits and hosting the *Lava Lamp Lounge* interview segment. During this time, he had a feud with Vampiro, which created many brawls between Awesome and Vampiro's allies, the Insane Clown Posse. At one point, Awesome battled Shaggy 2 Dope and Violent J in a handicap match. At the conclusion of the match, Mike *Awesome Bombed* Shaggy 2 Dope onto the roof of the bus. However, the slippery metal surface gave yield to Dope's lithe, supple frame and he fell tragically to the concrete below.

On the January 3, 2001 edition of *Thunder*, Awesome dropped the 1970's gimmick in favor of a "Canadian Career Killer" gimmick and joined WCW's Team Canada stable with Lance Storm and Elix Skipper. A feud with The Filthy Animals led to Awesome challenging Billy Kidman to a hair versus hair match on January 15, however before the bout could take place, Team Canada attacked Kidman backstage leaving him unable to compete. Konnan (who had no hair) took his place and got the win, giving the Animals the right to cut off Awesome's long-time mullet. Awesome then faded into the background, mostly helping Storm in his battles against Ernest "The Cat" Miller. On the final *Nitro* on March 26, 2001, Awesome and Storm were defeated by Chuck Palumbo and Sean O'Haire in a WCW World Tag Team Championship match.

After the March 2001 purchase of WCW by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), Awesome became part of The Invasion storyline in the WWF. His WWF debut came on the June 25, 2001 episode of *Raw* during a match which saw Test defending his Hardcore Championship against Rhyno. After Rhyno *Gored* Test against a wall and pinned him, he stood celebrating his new title only to be attacked by Awesome wielding a metal pipe. He then powerbombed Rhyno onto a ladder and pinned him, becoming champion himself due to the 24/7 rule. Awesome was the first "Invader" to gain gold in the WWF, stealing away with the Hardcore belt before any WWF wrestlers could catch him. Awesome's hardcore reign came to an end a few weeks later on the July 12 edition of *SmackDown!*, when he was pinned by Jeff Hardy, thanks to distraction from Edge. Awesome defeated Edge on the July 16 episode of *Raw*.

The feud continued when Edge introduced his tag team partner Christian into the rivalry. Awesome and Lance Storm were defeated by Edge and Christian at Invasion on July 22, Awesome's first WWF pay-per-view match. From here, Awesome's push diminished and he began appearing mostly on WWF's b-shows, before being sidelined with an injury in November 2001. Awesome returned to the *SmackDown!* brand on the July 27, 2002 edition of *Velocity*, where he was defeated by Tajiri. Awesome was a mainstay on *Velocity*, *SmackDown!*'s tertiary show, for the next few months. jobbing to wrestlers such as Faarooq, Bull Buchanan, Mark Henry and Funaki. Awesome was released from the WWE on September 27, 2002 along with Shawn Stasiak and Horace Hogan.

Awesome made an appearance at WWE's ECW One Night Stand reunion pay-per-view on June 13, 2005, defeating Masato Tanaka.

Awesome passed away on February 17, 2007.