Mike Sanders (wrestler)
Encyclopedia
For the former National Basketball Association (NBA) player, see Mike Sanders (basketball)
.
Michael Edwin Neil Sanders (born July 20, 1969) is an American
stand-up comedian and former professional wrestler
. Sanders is best known for his time in WCW
as "Above Average" Mike Sanders.
. He also worked for his father's tow truck
business.
before debuting in World Championship Wrestling
in 1998. He finally made his official debut as "Above Average" Mike Sanders on the July 19, 2000 edition of Thunder
where he defeated Crowbar
.
On the following week's Thunder, Sanders helped form the Natural Born Thrillers
with Chuck Palumbo
, Shawn Stasiak
, Sean O'Haire
, Mark Jindrak
, and Reno
by attacking the Filthy Animals
. Sanders would serve as the faction's cocky, arrogant mouthpiece.
On September 27, he was put in charge by Vince Russo
and went on to win the WCW Cruiserweight Championship on the October 2 edition of Monday Nitro
. He would eventually lose the Cruiserweight title to Chavo Guerrero Jr.
on the December 6 edition of Thunder.
At Halloween Havoc, Sanders defeated Ernest "The Cat" Miller
by countout in the 3rd round of a kickboxing
match to become the new onscreen
WCW Commissioner. As Commissioner, Sanders abused his power to the advantage of the Thrillers. However, Ernest Miller became Commissioner again after he defeated Sanders at WCW Sin on January 14, 2001.
From here Sanders became a protege to WCW's onscreen CEO Ric Flair
. Sanders also continued his alliance with Reno and working with the Natural Born Thrillers until the group's dissolution in February 2001, after Johnny The Bull reformed the Mamalukes with Big Vito and members Shawn Stasiak
and Mark Jindrak
began feuding with Sean O'Haire
and Chuck Palumbo
over the WCW Tag Team Championship.
Sanders continued wrestling random singles matches until the March 14 episode of Thunder, where he formed a short lived tag team
with Disco Inferno
. In their first match together, they were defeated by Hugh Morrus and Konnan
. Sanders' last WCW appearance was on the March 19 edition of Nitro when and tried assisting Disco in his match against Jason Jett
only for Disco to lose. In late March 2001, the World Wrestling Federation bought out WCW.
, Sanders' contract was acquired as part of the deal. However, he only wrestled one dark match on August 6, 2001 before Monday Night Raw
. This was a losing effort to Reno
, a fellow member of The Alliance. Sanders was then sent to the Cincinnati, Ohio
based Heartland Wrestling Association
, then a WWF developmental territory. There he was a member of Team WCW along with Johnny The Bull, Reno, Mark Jindrak
, Jason Jett
, Lash LaRoux, Shannon Moore
, Evan Karagias
, Kwee Wee, Elix Skipper
and Jamie Knoble.
Sanders later formed a tag team with Lance Cade
. On February 13, 2002, the duo captured the Tag Team titles by defeating Val Venis
and Steve Bradley
, but the belts were vacated the following week, and Lance Cade and Steve Bradley became the new champions.
In March 2002, Sanders became head Booker of HWA. Sanders' last bout under his WWF - recently renamed WWE - contract was a dark match before Raw on June 24, 2002, where he and Jason Sugarman defeated B.J. Payne and Steve Bradley.
Sanders was released from the company on July 19, 2002, along with Jason Jett, Race Steele, Steve Bradley, and Jason Sugarman.
promotion
on November 28, 2002 and toured Europe
as the onscreen commissioner of the promotion.
In January 2003 he joined Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
. He was released in August 2003.
In 2004, Sanders started wrestling for Georgia Championship Wrestling
and Universal Championship Wrestling.
Sanders still wrestles occasionally but has not been working a regular schedule. Sanders returned to the ring on February 20, 2005 in Vince Russo
's Ring of Glory where he and Disco Inferno
defeated Adam Jacobs and Johnny Swinger.
Sanders' most recent wrestling appearances have been with the Wrestling Alliance of the Rockies (WAR) promotion based out of Salt Lake City, Utah
. On January 22, 2011, he was slated to appear in WAR's Operation Outlaw featuring the New Age Outlaws
.
in Sandy Springs, Georgia
. After just a few months in the business, Sanders got his first paying gig at the Orlando Improv, where he is now a regular.
Sanders has performed with such comedians as Tommy Davidson
, Mark Lundholm, Diana Jordan, Craig Robinson, Vinnie Coppola, and many others. He currently performs at clubs and corporate events and gives motivational speech
es.
Mike Sanders (basketball)
Michael Anthony Sanders is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA.Sanders was selected by the Kansas City Kings with the 74th overall pick of the 1982 NBA Draft...
.
Michael Edwin Neil Sanders (born July 20, 1969) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
stand-up comedian and former professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
. Sanders is best known for his time in WCW
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
as "Above Average" Mike Sanders.
Early life
Prior to entering professional wrestling, Sanders served four years in the United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. He also worked for his father's tow truck
Tow truck
A tow truck is a vehicle used to transport motor vehicles to another location , or to recover vehicles which are no longer on a drivable surface.Towing services are generally provided by an emergency road service operator...
business.
World Championship Wrestling (1998–2001)
Sanders trained at the WCW Power PlantWCW Power Plant
The WCW Power Plant was a professional wrestling school located in Atlanta, Georgia and owned and operated by World Championship Wrestling. The Power Plant, which was developed from a school operated by Jody Hamilton, was in operation throughout the 1990s...
before debuting in World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
in 1998. He finally made his official debut as "Above Average" Mike Sanders on the July 19, 2000 edition of Thunder
WCW Thunder
WCW Thunder was a professional wrestling show produced by World Championship Wrestling which aired on TBS from January 8, 1998 to March 21, 2001...
where he defeated Crowbar
Devon Storm
Christopher "Chris" Ford is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his tenure in World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Crowbar, where he was a one time Hardcore Champion, a one time World Tag Team Champion with David Flair and a one time Cruiserweight Champion, which he...
.
On the following week's Thunder, Sanders helped form the Natural Born Thrillers
Natural Born Thrillers
The Natural Born Thrillers was a professional wrestling stable in World Championship Wrestling in 2000. The name is a play on the 1994 film Natural Born Killers.-History:...
with Chuck Palumbo
Chuck Palumbo
Charles "Chuck" Palumbo is an American professional wrestler, currently working for Nu-Wrestling Evolution . Palumbo is best known for his time in World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment...
, Shawn Stasiak
Shawn Stasiak
Dr. Shawn Emile Stipich, DC, is an American chiropractor and former professional wrestler. He is best known under the ring name Shawn Stasiak and for his stints with World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment, where he is a fifteen time Hardcore Champion, and World Championship Wrestling, where he...
, Sean O'Haire
Sean O'Haire
Sean Christopher Haire is an American mixed martial artist and former professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Sean O'Haire.-World Championship Wrestling:...
, Mark Jindrak
Mark Jindrak
Mark Robert Jindrak is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment...
, and Reno
Rick Cornell
Richard "Rick" Cornell is an American former professional wrestler. He is best known for his stint in World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Reno, where he was a one time Hardcore Champion.-Before wrestling:...
by attacking the Filthy Animals
Filthy Animals
The Filthy Animals was a professional wrestling faction in World Championship Wrestling from 1999 until 2001.-Concept:The Filthy Animals was a group conceived after Vince Russo and Ed Ferrara were hired by WCW. The plan for the stable was to be WCW's version of the World Wrestling Federation's...
. Sanders would serve as the faction's cocky, arrogant mouthpiece.
On September 27, he was put in charge by Vince Russo
Vince Russo
Vincent James "Vince" Russo is an American creative writer and author, well known for his work in the professional wrestling industry. He is notable for his tenure with World Wrestling Federation, World Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
and went on to win the WCW Cruiserweight Championship on the October 2 edition of Monday Nitro
WCW Monday Nitro
WCW Monday Nitro was a weekly professional wrestling telecast produced by World Championship Wrestling, created by Ted Turner and Eric Bischoff. The show aired Monday nights on TNT, going head-to-head with the World Wrestling Federation's Monday Night Raw from September 4, 1995 to March 26, 2001...
. He would eventually lose the Cruiserweight title to Chavo Guerrero Jr.
Chavo Guerrero, Jr.
Salvador "Chavo" Guerrero IV also known as Chavo Guerrero and Chavo Guerrero, Jr., is a third generation Mexican-American professional wrestler and member of the famed Guerrero wrestling family who was well known for working with World Wrestling Entertainment and World Championship Wrestling...
on the December 6 edition of Thunder.
At Halloween Havoc, Sanders defeated Ernest "The Cat" Miller
Ernest Miller
Ernest Clifford Miller is an American actor and former professional wrestler who worked for World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment better known by his ring name, Ernest "The Cat" Miller....
by countout in the 3rd round of a kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
match to become the new onscreen
Kayfabe
In professional wrestling, kayfabe is the portrayal of events within the industry as "real" or "true". Specifically, the portrayal of professional wrestling, in particular the competition and rivalries between participants, as being genuine or not of a worked nature...
WCW Commissioner. As Commissioner, Sanders abused his power to the advantage of the Thrillers. However, Ernest Miller became Commissioner again after he defeated Sanders at WCW Sin on January 14, 2001.
From here Sanders became a protege to WCW's onscreen CEO Ric Flair
Ric Flair
Richard Morgan Fliehr is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Ric Flair. Also known as "The Nature Boy", Flair is one of the most well-known professional wrestlers in the world....
. Sanders also continued his alliance with Reno and working with the Natural Born Thrillers until the group's dissolution in February 2001, after Johnny The Bull reformed the Mamalukes with Big Vito and members Shawn Stasiak
Shawn Stasiak
Dr. Shawn Emile Stipich, DC, is an American chiropractor and former professional wrestler. He is best known under the ring name Shawn Stasiak and for his stints with World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment, where he is a fifteen time Hardcore Champion, and World Championship Wrestling, where he...
and Mark Jindrak
Mark Jindrak
Mark Robert Jindrak is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment...
began feuding with Sean O'Haire
Sean O'Haire
Sean Christopher Haire is an American mixed martial artist and former professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Sean O'Haire.-World Championship Wrestling:...
and Chuck Palumbo
Chuck Palumbo
Charles "Chuck" Palumbo is an American professional wrestler, currently working for Nu-Wrestling Evolution . Palumbo is best known for his time in World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment...
over the WCW Tag Team Championship.
Sanders continued wrestling random singles matches until the March 14 episode of Thunder, where he formed a short lived tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
with Disco Inferno
Disco Inferno
Disco Inferno is a song by The Trammps.Disco Inferno can also refer to:* Disco Inferno , a 1976 disco album recorded by The Trammps featuring the song* Disco Inferno , a band formed in the late 1980s...
. In their first match together, they were defeated by Hugh Morrus and Konnan
Konnan
Carlos Santiago Espada Moises , also known as Charles Ashenoff and better known by his ring name, Konnan, is a Cuban professional wrestler and rapper of Puerto Rican descent...
. Sanders' last WCW appearance was on the March 19 edition of Nitro when and tried assisting Disco in his match against Jason Jett
Jason Broyles
Jason Broyles is an American former professional wrestler. He is best known for his stint in Extreme Championship Wrestling under the ring name EZ Money...
only for Disco to lose. In late March 2001, the World Wrestling Federation bought out WCW.
World Wrestling Federation (2001–2002)
When WCW was purchased by the World Wrestling FederationWorld Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
, Sanders' contract was acquired as part of the deal. However, he only wrestled one dark match on August 6, 2001 before Monday Night Raw
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
. This was a losing effort to Reno
Rick Cornell
Richard "Rick" Cornell is an American former professional wrestler. He is best known for his stint in World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Reno, where he was a one time Hardcore Champion.-Before wrestling:...
, a fellow member of The Alliance. Sanders was then sent to the Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
based Heartland Wrestling Association
Heartland Wrestling Association
The Heartland Wrestling Association is a Midwestern independent professional wrestling promotion based in Cincinnati, Ohio. A former developmental territory for both World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation during the 1990s, it was listed as one of the top independent...
, then a WWF developmental territory. There he was a member of Team WCW along with Johnny The Bull, Reno, Mark Jindrak
Mark Jindrak
Mark Robert Jindrak is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment...
, Jason Jett
Jason Broyles
Jason Broyles is an American former professional wrestler. He is best known for his stint in Extreme Championship Wrestling under the ring name EZ Money...
, Lash LaRoux, Shannon Moore
Shannon Moore
Shannon Moore is an American professional wrestler, who is signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling . He is best known for his work with World Championship Wrestling between 1999 and 2001 and with World Wrestling Entertainment for several years in the 2000s.Moore befriended Matt and Jeff Hardy...
, Evan Karagias
Evan Karagias
Evan Karagias is an American professional wrestler and actor. he is a 3 time WSL World Heavyweight Champion-Biography:Karagias's father's family are of Greek origin...
, Kwee Wee, Elix Skipper
Elix Skipper
Elix Skipper is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling, where he was a one-time Cruiserweight Champion and a one-time Cruiserweight Tag Team Champion, and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he is a four-time NWA World Tag Team...
and Jamie Knoble.
Sanders later formed a tag team with Lance Cade
Lance Cade
Lance Kurtis McNaught was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment where he performed under the ring names Garrison Cade and Lance Cade....
. On February 13, 2002, the duo captured the Tag Team titles by defeating Val Venis
Sean Morley
Sean Allen Morley is a Canadian professional wrestler better known by his ring name Val Venis, during his time with World Wrestling Federation, later known as World Wrestling Entertainment...
and Steve Bradley
Steve Bradley
Steven Richard Bisson was an American professional wrestler who had competed on North American independent promotions throughout the 1990s including East Coast Wrestling Association, IWA Puerto Rico and the National Wrestling Alliance as well as spending over three years in World Wrestling...
, but the belts were vacated the following week, and Lance Cade and Steve Bradley became the new champions.
In March 2002, Sanders became head Booker of HWA. Sanders' last bout under his WWF - recently renamed WWE - contract was a dark match before Raw on June 24, 2002, where he and Jason Sugarman defeated B.J. Payne and Steve Bradley.
Sanders was released from the company on July 19, 2002, along with Jason Jett, Race Steele, Steve Bradley, and Jason Sugarman.
Independent circuit, TNA, and Ring of Glory (2002–present)
Sanders was hired by the World Wrestling All-StarsWorld Wrestling All-Stars
The World Wrestling All-Stars was a professional wrestling promotion founded by Australian concert promoter Andrew McManus in 2001. The promotion was operated by McManus' International Touring Company. WWA was one of several promotions to come into existence shortly after the closings of Extreme...
promotion
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
on November 28, 2002 and toured Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
as the onscreen commissioner of the promotion.
In January 2003 he joined Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
. He was released in August 2003.
In 2004, Sanders started wrestling for Georgia Championship Wrestling
Georgia Championship Wrestling
Georgia Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion whose self-titled TV program aired in the 1970s and 1980s on Atlanta, U.S., superstation WTBS. Though based in Atlanta, the company also ran live wrestling shows throughout its geographic "territory" of Georgia Georgia...
and Universal Championship Wrestling.
Sanders still wrestles occasionally but has not been working a regular schedule. Sanders returned to the ring on February 20, 2005 in Vince Russo
Vince Russo
Vincent James "Vince" Russo is an American creative writer and author, well known for his work in the professional wrestling industry. He is notable for his tenure with World Wrestling Federation, World Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
's Ring of Glory where he and Disco Inferno
Glenn Gilberti
Glenn Gilbertti is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling as Disco Inferno. He is also a former road agent for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling....
defeated Adam Jacobs and Johnny Swinger.
Sanders' most recent wrestling appearances have been with the Wrestling Alliance of the Rockies (WAR) promotion based out of Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
. On January 22, 2011, he was slated to appear in WAR's Operation Outlaw featuring the New Age Outlaws
New Age Outlaws
The New Age Outlaws, later known as the James Gang and the Voodoo Kin Mafia, were a professional wrestling tag team in World Wrestling Federation, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , Jersey All Pro Wrestling, and Maryland Championship Wrestling consisting of B.G...
.
Comedy career
After competing for WCW, WWF, and TNA among numerous independent promotions, Sanders retired from professional wrestling and did his first open mic at the Punchline Comedy ClubPunchline Comedy Club
The Punchline is a comedy club first opened in 1982 in Sandy Springs, Georgia.The venue seats 270 people and presents shows five or more nights per week...
in Sandy Springs, Georgia
Sandy Springs, Georgia
Sandy Springs is a city in north Georgia, United States. It is a northern suburb of Atlanta. With a 2010 population of 93,853, Sandy Springs is the sixth-largest city in the state and the second-largest city in Metro Atlanta. Sandy Springs is located in north Fulton County, Georgia, just south of...
. After just a few months in the business, Sanders got his first paying gig at the Orlando Improv, where he is now a regular.
Sanders has performed with such comedians as Tommy Davidson
Tommy Davidson
Tommy Davidson is an American comedian, film and television actor.Born in Washington, D.C., Davidson was adopted when he was 2-years-old. He was a child of an interracial adoption, with his parents being Caucasian and he being African-American. He attended high school at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High...
, Mark Lundholm, Diana Jordan, Craig Robinson, Vinnie Coppola, and many others. He currently performs at clubs and corporate events and gives motivational speech
Motivational speaking
A motivational speaker or inspirational speaker is a speaker who makes speeches intended to motivate or inspire an audience. In a business context, they are employed to communicate company strategy with clarity and help employees to see the future in a positive light and inspire workers to pull...
es.
Personal life
Sanders and his ex-wife DeLana have two children, son Kenny and daughter Alexis. Mike and his second wife Mandy were married in 2004, have two dogs and reside in Atlanta, GA.In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- 3.0 (Inverted headlock backbreaker)
- Signature moves
- End Result (Hammerlock shoulder jawbreaker)
- Kneeling inverted sharpshooterSharpshooter (professional wrestling)The Sharpshooter, originally named Sasori-gatame, Scorpion Hold in English, is a professional wrestling submission hold. The move is also known by several other names: cloverleaf leg-lace Boston crab, standing reverse figure-four leglock, and, the most commonly known alternative, Scorpion Deathlock...
- Military press slam
- Pumphandle suplex
- Standing moonsault off of the ring apron onto a standing opponent outside of the ring
- NicknameNicknameA nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
s- "Above Average"
Championships and accomplishments
- Big Time Wrestling (California)
- BTW United States Championship (1 time)
- Heartland Wrestling AssociationHeartland Wrestling AssociationThe Heartland Wrestling Association is a Midwestern independent professional wrestling promotion based in Cincinnati, Ohio. A former developmental territory for both World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation during the 1990s, it was listed as one of the top independent...
- HWA Tag Team ChampionshipHWA Tag Team ChampionshipThe HWA Tag Team Championship is the tag team titles contested for in the Heartland Wrestling Association. It was established in 1996 when the Head Bangers became the first champions.-Title history:...
(1 time) – with Lance CadeLance CadeLance Kurtis McNaught was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment where he performed under the ring names Garrison Cade and Lance Cade....
- HWA Tag Team Championship
- Southern Championship Wrestling
- SCW Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Universal Championship Wrestling
- UCW American Jr. Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- World Championship WrestlingWorld Championship WrestlingWorld Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
- WCW Cruiserweight ChampionshipWWE Cruiserweight ChampionshipThe World Wrestling Entertainment Cruiserweight Championship was a professional wrestling championship in World Wrestling Entertainment and was originally a World Championship Wrestling title. It was challenged by cruiserweights at a maximum weight of 215 lbs...
(1 time)
- WCW Cruiserweight Championship
External links
- Official website
- Official Myspace page
- 55 Minute Interview on Dropkick Radio (conducted on 19 March 2009) (Interview is the final 55 minutes of the show)