In Memory of Mike Awesome (January 24, 1965 - February 17, 2007)

I haven’t really read anything heartfelt or anything regarding Mike Awesome (Michael Alfonso) & the huge effect he had on the wrestling business; so I wanted put something together myself. Mike Awesome at 6’6 & over 300 lbs truly redefined what a guy his size could do. For a very long time, these big muscular monsters were regarded as slow plodding unathletic clods that could not do much & just had a good ‘marketable’ look. However, when Awesome starting hitting highspots, leaping to the ropes like a junior heavyweight & doing all kinds very unexpected from wrestlers his size. It really did a lot to open doors to inspire those bigger wrestlers who do have athletic ability to step forward.

His matches with Masato Tanaka which began in Japan ’s FMW turned heads when it made its way to the United States in ECW during 1998 & became centerstage when the two contested for the ECW World Title in 1999. When WWE signed both Awesome & Tanaka to one day commitments in 2005 for One Night Stand, they once again stole the show with their trademark extreme strong style work. It’s a huge loss of a true pioneer that exceeded his size restraints & brought a style to the United States that had not been seen before. I send my deepest condolences to the family & friends of Michael Alfonso.

Dave Goldberg
Daveg27@comcast.net

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