Source: Associated Content
Word came out today (and confirmed by two independent sites) that former ECW World Champion Mike Awesome was found dead in his Tampa home on Saturday night. The cause of death is believed to be suicide although an autopsy is scheduled to be done soon. Awesome was 42-years old and working outside of the wrestling business recently.
Awesome was known for his amazing ability to fly off the top rope for such a big man. He made his name originally in Japan for the FMW promotion when he wrestled as The Gladiator. He had a long running feud with Masato Tanaka that was fought on both continents. Awesome was 6’6″ and nearly 300 pounds but was able to hit a big splash off the top rope and even suicide dive from the ring to the floor.
His most famous moments in wrestling were likely his stint in Extreme Championship Wrestling in 1999 and 2000. He defeated both Masato Tanaka and Taz at Anarchy Rulz 1999 to become the new ECW World Champion. It was Taz’s last night in the promotion as he went to WWE. Awesome would have the title at a time in 2000 when he went to WCW. After all the legal fallout, he ended up dropping the title in ECW to WWE Superstar Taz. It remains one of the oddest matches in pro wrestling history. A WWE Superstar defeated a WCW wrestler in an ECW ring for the ECW World Title.
Awesome was apart of WCW until it’s demise in the Fall of 2001. During his stint in WCW, he was given such monikers as “That ’70s Guy” and “The Fatchick Thriller.” He was one of the first WCW wrestlers to “invade” WWE TV after WCW was sold to Vince McMahon. On the June 25th, 2001 edition of RAW, he attacked Rhino at Madison Square Garden and captured the WWE Hardcore Title. At the famous Invasion pay per view in June 2001, he teamed with Lance Storm against Edge & Christian. He left shortly thereafter and returned for one night only in 2005 at the ECW One Night Stand pay per view. He proceeded to steal the show with Masato Tanaka, again, as they had a hard hitting contest. Awesome was said to have retired from the ring in early 2006.
Both WWE and The Wrestling Observer have confirmed Awesome’s passing. Many fans had their own opinion on Awesome as a businessman but nobody can doubt his great wrestling ability.
