Mike Awesome

**Michael Lee Alfonso** (January 24, 1965 – February 17, 2007) was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment under the ring name **Mike Awesome** and for his appearances in Japan with Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling and All Japan Pro Wrestling as **The Gladiator**.

Alfonso achieved the biggest success of his career in FMW as The Gladiator, where he became a three-time world champion, with two reigns as Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Champion and one reign as Independent Heavyweight Champion. His second Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship reign from 1996–1997 was the longest reign in the title's history, lasting for 489 days. He would tour with ECW, where he became a two-time World Heavyweight Champion. He was a member of two separate stables Team Canada in both FMW and WCW.

## Professional wrestling career

Alfonso received training from Steve Keirn's training camp based out of the Pro Wrestling Federation (PWF). After wrestling for the PWF in 1989, teaming occasionally with Brett Sawyer,

Alfonso moved around independent promotions, including a brief stint in the United States Wrestling Association (USWA) under the tutelage of Nate The Rat, a manager. That same year he made his first television appearance as a masked jobber named **The Pro** and billed from San Juan in World Championship Wrestling.

Alfonso moved on to Japan, joining Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW) in late 1990 and using the name **The Gladiator**.

In 1993, Alfonso appeared in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) for a short period (as **"Awesome" Mike Awesome"**) before returning to FMW. In 1994, the Gladiator finally struck gold, teaming with Big Titan to defeat Atsushi Onita & Katsutoshi Niyama in the finals of the FMW Brass Knuckles Tag Team Championship Tournament. They lost the title that April, but Awesome won them again with new partner Mr. Pogo in October.

As the Gladiator, he faced and defeated Hayabusa for his first major singles title, the FMW Brass Knuckles Heavyweight Championship in September of 1995, but was forced to vacate it due to (legit) injury the next February.

In May of 1996 he won the title for a second time, then unified it with the FMW Independent Heavyweight Championship after defeating W\*ING Kanemura in that December. The next August, teaming with Hisakatsu Ooya & Mr. Gannosuke he won the vacated FMW World Street Fight 6-Man Tag-Team Titles, holding all three belts at once, but within a month lost all three during an epic feud with Masato Tanaka.

In the summer of 1998, Awesome began appearing for ECW again, continue his feud with Masato Tanaka in the United States. Awesome began in ECW by losing to Tanaka on an episode ECW's weekly *Hardcore TV*; but following the match 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.

After returning to Japan, Alfonso seriously injured his knee during a match with Super Leather, taking him out of wrestling for nearly a year. When he returned, still as The Gladiator, he wrestled for a brief period in All Japan Pro Wrestling before returning to ECW. Almost immediately upon arriving in ECW for his third sting he shocked the wrestling world by winning the ECW World Heavyweight Championship at Anarchy Rulz by defeating the reigning champion Taz and arch nemesis Masato Tanaka in a three-way dance, which was (kayfabe) signed on the spot.

Awesome continued to be a major factor in ECW early in 2000, including teaming with Raven to beat Tanaka & Tommy Dreamer for the ECW World Tag Team Championship. He also gained a new manager, Judge Jeff Jones.

In April of 2000, Awesome shocked the wrestling world again, this time by making a surprise appearance on *WCW Monday Nitro* aiding the New Blood by attacking Kevin Nash while still reigning as the ECW World Champion. As Awesome was not under contract to ECW at the time of this segment, he was free to negotiate and sign with any wrestling company of his choosing, and after signing with WCW, only the threat of a federal injunction prevented WCW from having Mike Awesome appear on their television shows with the ECW belt.

Eventually a compromise was reached which resulted in one of the more bizarre moments in professional wrestling history. Awesome (a WCW employee and ECW champion) appeared at an ECW event where he lost the title to Tazz (a World Wrestling Federation employee), who then promptly lost it to Tommy Dreamer (a full time ECW wrestler).

According to a shoot interview with Awesome conducted by "HighSpots" in 2003, from the night that he won the title to the day he signed a contract with WCW, Awesome was never contractually obligated to ECW.

Now with WCW, Awesome continued to be a major factor with the New Blood for the next month, teaming with Billy Kidman occasionally to aide him in his feud with Hulk Hogan. Awesome also engaged in an on-and-off feud with Kevin Nash, as well as feuding with Kanyon. During 2000, Awesome began changing his gimmick and became **That 70s Guy**, dressing in various 1970s inspired outfits, and hosting the "Lava Lamp Lounge" interview segment.

At one point he was even given a bus painted in the style of the one featured on *The Partridge Family* to drive into arenas for his entrance. From there his gimmick was tweaked further, with him becoming infatuated with heavyset women and calling himself "**The Fat Chick Thriller**" (while still dressing in his 70's fashion). During this time he had a feud with Vampiro, which created many brawls between Awesome & Vampiro's allies in the Insane Clown Posse. At one point, Awesome battled Shaggy 2 Dope & Violent J in a Handicap match, which led to Awesome Powerbombing 2 Dope on top of his van (who then slid off, injuring himself).

Going into 2001, Awesome dropped the 1970's gimmick and joined the Team Canada stable with Lance Storm and Elix Skipper. A feud with the Filthy Animals led to Awesome challenging Billy Kidman to a Hair-vs-Hair match, 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.

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 is War* during a match which saw Test defending his WWF Hardcore Title 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. Awesomes hardcore reign came to an end a few weeks later on the July 12 edition of *SmackDown!* when he was pinned by Jeff Hardy. Awesome's push slowly declined and he began appearing mostly on WWF's B-shows. He was left off the majority of the Invasion storyline pay-per-views, and was eventually sidelined with an injury in November 2001. After The Alliance ended, Awesome was not used in storylines or matches and was drafted to SmackDown! with the brand extension. As a part of the SmackDown! roster he was still rarely seen on TV, eventually being released in September of 2002.

After his release he made a few appearances in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, but mainly competed on the independent circuit in both the United States and Japan. On the independent circuit he had a short stint with Major League Wrestling, where he won the MLW World Heavyweight Championship from Satoshi Kojima, only to lose it ten minutes later to Steve Corino.

    Awesome made an appearance at the 2005 ECW One Night Stand reunion pay-per-view, again facing Masato Tanaka. Throughout the match ECW play by play announcer Joey Styles frequently made references to the way Awesome left ECW in 2000, calling him a "Judas" and making somewhat disparaging comments about him, but also handing out praise for his in-ring work. The crowd also greeted Awesome with jeers at the beginning of the match, but by the end which Awesome won after Awesome Bombing Tanaka to the outside of the ring and through a table and following that up with a slingshot splash were chanting "This match rules!" and gave both men a standing ovation.

    In February of 2006, Awesome announced his retirement from wrestling, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family and adding that he felt underpaid for his work at the One Night Stand event and that he would only return to the ring "if the money was right". In his retirement he took up selling real estate.

## Death

Awesome was found dead at around 10:30pm on February 17, 2007 at the age of 42 in the Tampa area. A group of friends who were coming to his home to pick him up and go out found him hanged in his home. It is believed he committed suicide. He is survived by his wife, Delisa Bowers, and their children Casey and Carissa. World Wrestling Entertainment recognized Awesome's death on-air by displaying an "In Memory..." graphic at the beginning of the February 20, 2007 *ECW on Sci Fi*.