Mike Awesome was found dead Saturday night by friends who went to his house and found him hanging, apparently having committed suicide.
Awesome was a star in Japan before coming to ECW where he won their version of the World Heavyweight Champion. He caused controversy when he left ECW to go to WCW while still ECW's champion. He returned to drop the belt to Tazz, but never found the same success he had experienced in ECW and in Japan.
He is perhaps best remembered by ECW fans for his feud with Masato Tanaka. Awesome and Tanaka renewed their feud with a match at the original ECW One Night Stand pay-per-view. Many people believe that match stole the show.
Our thoughts go out to the friends and family of Mike Awesome.
