Mike Awesome on leaving ECW

[@a2ilool]

Awful shame he's no longer with us such a fantastic talent

[@michaelcowan2800]

The 1st ever 300 pound cruiser weight

[@ICHIBAN-cz8ih]

Besides Bam Bam

[@xigbar1994]

I loved Mike Awesome in ECW, his awesome bombs were a thing of beauty, and he could get air really well for a big guy too. His matches against Masato Tanaka were absolute wars. I wish he could've gone to WWE and been something but he had to go to WCW and be squashed by Kevin Nash. I absolutely agree with him, he had to do what he had to do to provide for his family. Paul should've paid him the money he was owed and he would've stayed a lot longer and he was 'the man' in ECW.

[@tehfawkinman]

Brad Meader You can't really blame him, but that decision really hurt him in the long run with his time in WWE. Vince really values loyalty, n if Mike would've stuck it out a bit longer, with Heyman's word n Vince's respect, he might've gone far.

[@xigbar1994]

True, by that time the writing was on the wall for ECW and much of the talent was already transferring to WWF or WCW. Awesome would've been an absolute hero if he stuck it out till the end with Dreamer and Sandman and debuted on WWF with the fans behind him, instead of being a WCW guy in the invasion angle. Could've been a great champ down the line.

[@Pillar5770]

Mike Awesome made the right decision to leave ECW for WCW. This business is about money, and since ECW was not paying Awesome, he was right to leave. It's stupid to work for free.

[@superlex611]

Michael Shaw II but why he came to the WWE just like that ?

[@Pillar5770]

alex kanyima Mike Awesome's contract was picked up by WWF when the company was purchased. His tenure was short-lived but initially he made an impact when he debuted in MSG on RAW.

[@erickh82082]

Michael Shaw II i was there when he showed up at MSG and won the Hardcore belt

[@mickeymouse3933]

Yeah but sadly wcw ruined him with awful gimmicks and bookings

[@mikes.4136]

It’s a damn shame that such a talented, athletic, and decent guy couldn’t catch a break with any of the promotions he worked for. I know that he did well in Japan, but eventually he wanted to come home and get a gig stateside. The real shame of it is that he couldn’t ever get the money, the push, or both, despite his talent and appeal. Genuine talent and a tragic end. Be well big guy.

[@battlestarmarc]

Mike awesome was a great talent. Big guy who could fly around the ring. He was unreal.

[@TheKMc2011]

As an ECW nerd I was mad at first at how he left. In hindsight I’m believing his story that he wasn’t getting paid properly. Also undervalued him during his ECW time but looking back he was one of the best to pass thru. Those Awesome Bonbs were things of beauty. 25 years later I’m looking for highlights of wars with Spike Dudley, Tanaka etc. he wrecked a lot of houses! R.I.P. Champ.

[@davidzuniga2810]

R.I.P

[@davidpowrie1269]

Blame Hayman. He did pay him on time fuck heyman.

[@abbatoir397]

Dude, no one didn't get paid properly at all from ECW. Paul Heyman withheld money from everyone and still owes them to this day.

[@MarkWhiley]

You just have to hear interviews with other ECW talent and see the bankruptcy paperwork to see that ECW were not paying many of their talents. Rob Van Dam stopped wrestling for ECW towards the end precisely because they didn't pay him for months.

[@roodypoochrisw]

People who called him a sellout were so stupid. Think about it, would you rather get bloodied up every single night for free, or actually have a normal wrestling match for a salary that allows you to take care of your family?

[@thejmc4074]

Exactly. How many of those internet warriors would stay at a job where they were not being paid? It is ridiculous. Man had bills to pay. ECW has its place, but the people who even considered it one of the big three are delusional. ECW was never on that level and even at it’s highest there were guys not being paid.

[@vampirascoffin870]

Y'all both sound like virgins

[@souljahrick]

@@thejmc4074More than agree but I would’ve dropped the belt before I leave

[@Salesman]

I know they think of themselves as better than every fan base, but the ECW crowd were by far some of the biggest marks in the industry at the time. People say some of the wrestlers drank the Paul Heyman Kool aid, but no one did it more than those fans.

[@spiral-vp7sp]

heyman was behind on payments Mike Awesome liked hardcore wrestling he just didnt want to live in Japan. He liked doing Hardcore style

[@TheJames-Edward]

I'm sad what happened to Mike later on, but glad he got to go to WCW and make some good money out of it.

[@PavyMac]

Rest in greatness Mike you made the right choice. You will always be a legend in mine and others memory.

[@mikemurdock311]

I was a big fan after seeing his work at FMW and on into ECW. Incredible athletic ability for a man of his size. Awesome Bomb! The Tanaka fights are absolutely incredible. RIP Mike

[@HereForAStorm]

I would have loved to see him in WWF at the height of the attitute era... he would have been a star soley with his ECW gimmick tearing ass up. WCW had no clue.

[@stokedsteezy]

Dude was so wasted in WCW and WWE. He should have been World Champ everywhere he went.

[@youtubemember1115]

When Awesome left ECW that was the last big blow to the company. But him leaving was understandable and respectable, he was a huge talented star that was not being paid. Sucks that he wasn't used right later in WCW/WWF. Always hated and thought Joey Styles comments were stupid at the one night stand ppv.

[@NikkoNikkoYeet]

I disliked Joey for that. He knew damn well that ECW Wrestlers are getting Blank Checks from Paul during it's later years. To think that he even foreshadowed what happen to Awesome later on.

[@Nepthu]

Mike Awesome, you fans still love and respect you, man! RIP

[@TappTap462]

Man without knowing for sure , before today I always thought Awesome & Rhino had mutual respect for one another and thought as Awesome did regarding dropping the belt to RHINO (thanks for this video)

[@indiglo1971]

RIP Mike Awesome and Eddie Money.

[@LuchoCastle_11]

I think Mike Awesome vs Sabu for the ECW title would've been better than Mike vs Taz.

[@dariog36th]

Sabu was not in ECW anymore. He was also in talks with WCW. However Sabu did have a contract with ECW and Paul Heyman sued WCW and it kept Sabu from going to wcw. Sabu was extremely hurt because his mom was just diagnosed with cancer at that time and he missed out on a big payday from wcw. However Sabu has forgiven Paul.

[@patrickdougherty1641]

Dario Gomez I mean Taz was a Wwf wrestler then so why couldn’t Sabu just show up and take the belt from Awesome. It would have been cooler.

[@phenomenalone7134]

Or Rhino

[@cheeto4789]

WWE may never see him as Hall of Fame worthy, but I think the big man deserves at least something. Maybe put a banner up for him in the ECW Arena Hardcore Hall of Fame.

[@rjrobinson1978]

Loved Mike in ECW. I understood why he left for WCW, however WCW buried Mike in a lot of ways. He may have been a victim of backstage politics like a lot of wrestlers were. WWE didn't know what to do with him either. Hats off to Paul Heyman for making Mike a top guy in the land of extreme.

[@1223steffen]

He just was not paying him

[@TheKMc2011]

On the flip side... ECW was the only org that would give a guy like Mike Awesome a place to shine. Never in a million years could he have showcased his skills the way he could in Philly if he were a regular WwF or WCW guy. He would have been jobbed out to all of the old heads that lingered on into their 50’s! Heyman didn’t pay him but in a way he did make him...

[@uttermanbo]

ECW was a cult. The only reason guys stayed there as long as they did was because they didn't have other options. The minute they did, they bolted. Paul Heyman didn't pay his guys, he got money from WWE and even went there himself when he was lying to his talent that ECW was still going to exist. Joey Styles at the ECW show in '05 made himself look like a piece of crap. Awesome was stupidly taking so much abuse for a pittance, yet Styles said he was a sellout. Even going as far as saying he wished Awesome really would do what he ended up doing two years later. Why people give Heyman a pass is beyond me.

[@craigstrachan]

well that just basically cleared up why he left ECW for WCW because he wasn't getting paid by ECW and he had to provide for his family .At the time ECW was going down the tubes with guys not getting paid and leaving for greener pastures .Unfortunately we all what the deal was went he went to WCW and stuck with a bunch of lame ass gimmicks that never represented what he could truly do in the ring .The matches he had in FMW and ECW were some of the most violent masterpieces ever in wrestling especially against FMW rival Masato Tanaka .those matches are the stuff of legend status .

[@terrymcginnis4633]

i never held it against him people have bills to pay and mouth`s to feed in the end they must do whats best for them

[@craigstrachan]

Well with all due respect to Heyman and ECW apparently Awesome wasn't the only 1 who was owed money by Heyman and he pissed off a lot of guys by not giving them the money that was owed .New Jack and SABU were 2 of them cause I have heard both of them speak about it . Plus WWE was giving money to Heyman to keep them afloat as well .

[@RealDaveTalk]

Going to WCW was a big mistake because at that time the WCW was losing money. He should’ve went to the WWE at that time because he had the muscular body by that Vince likes and he can fly like a cruiser weight. Imagine he would feel with undertaker the rock and stone cold and would been WWF Champion. So leaving a company that was about to go under to another company that was soon to be comment under

[@iDeathMaximuMII]

David Fuller He would’ve gotten lost in WWF just like he was in WCW

[@spiral-vp7sp]

Rest In Peace Mike Awesome I ❤u

[@nileharding3137]

One of the biggest heel moves in pro wrestling the heat on mike at that point was unparalleled

[@johnconway7484]

That was an awesome era in pro wrestling.

[@pmtheone2009]

R.I.P. Mike Awesome.

[@RudyHarlanPhantomBoom]

God, I miss Mike.

[@AndrewsOpinion15]

MIKE AWESOME R.I.P WAS SMART GUY IN WRESTLING BUSINESS !!!

[@pawaaofnegativaty9803]

on my top ten list Kenta Kobashie vs Mike awesome

[@craigstrachan]

Have a copy of that match from RF Video's Best Of Mike Awesome VHS .wicked match .

[@deonfarmer3382]

The only thing Mike awesome get over and make a legit fear wrestler was doing the variations of the awesome bomb and putting people through a table,being an incredible ecw heavyweight champion and renewing his rivalry with masato tanaka. So Mike awesome admitted he want to put the ecw heavyweight championship on rhino because the man beast one of his favorite that he can trust in the ring.

[@ravenstrahd5234]

Technically, even if he was under contract, Paul not paying salary on time would have been a breach of contract anyway. ECW's legal eagles had to be close friends of Paul Heyman or the only ones paid on a regular schedule.

[@amiriskandarani3608]

Mike has a nice voice :)

[@wwewrestlingandgaming4136]

He looks like a long-haired Tony Chimel

[@NoelComiX]

He did some great stuff with Hulk when he jumped.

[@21stCenturyNabokov]

Such a shame that a man talented like Mike who can Powerbomb people from the top rope,clean dives and could take dangerous bumps had a tragic life.Especially how he ended his life.I wasn't lucky enough to enjoy ECW while it was alive but I still felt guilty for a long time after knowing what happened to Mike

[@zin22hashtagBABALU]

Joey Styles left the building.. Rip mike awesome

[@michaelgraham9066]

Mike awesome was a beast I don’t blame him one bit for doing what he did it’s such a shame wcw did nothing with him he could of been a huge Star if it wasn’t for the politics back stage

[@deonfarmer3382]

Michael Graham Mike awesome went from being the career killer to the 70th guy and finally the Canada killer of team canada.

[@kokotheclown2588]

A world title it’s worthless if the company ain’t paying u what you worth or at all ECW in 2000 was a dying company and I would have done the same I rather get paid then work for free

[@meztizo_americano86]

Horace was Mike Alfonso's first cousin through his mother Martha Alfonso. Hogan wasn't related to Mike. Hulk even said that his bother Alan (Horace's dad) was always asking him for money because he had a bad drug addiction. Horace and Mike were like brothers and he was devastated when Mike passed way. Horace seems to have had a hard life. Both his parents passed away and his cousin Mike also.

[@anomaly_1417]

Awesome made a good decision his family has to eat, he has to eat, it would’ve been stupid for him to work on his trade for years just to not get paid in the best years of his career

[@dogman-fx9ub]

Interesting that he notes Rhino at the end of the interview. Rhino was a pretty solid heel at the time. His matches with Spike Dudley and Sandman were so brutal. Rhinl came off as a legit psychopath back then..

[@tysean0816]

How do you not pay this man!? Hes fucking Awesome!

[@TheJustin905]

can't blame him for leaving he had a family to provide for and paul was known to miss paying talent

[@robkearsy2995]

Can't blame for leaving he needed to eat needed to eat Paul Heyman couldn't pay him.

[@ogdannyg1]

RIP CHAMP

[@christophermallory3400]

Always thought Mike Awesome was 1 of the best performers ever. Big agile guy with a lot of moves. Awesome vs Tanaka, in my top 5 best wrestling matches ever.

[@LALakersNornIron]

Rhino v Mike Awesome should have been the match. Rhino was ready and he could have looked a million dollars as he and Mike tore the house down.

[@joseaguilera6355]

Good idea leaving ecw for a big contract in wcw bad idea getting you contact bought out by wwe

[@RealDaveTalk]

Jose Aguilera going from a company that was about to go under to another company how soon to be going under. He would’ve choose either to go to WWF or go back to Japan

[@Ausbrahdave]

Should have jobbed out the title though

[@LALakersNornIron]

Mike Awesome should have been used so much better by WCW. The Career Killer gimmick was a promising start but if built properly as that killer heel going on a dominant winning streak think of the feuds and matches on PPV he could have had with Goldberg, Sting, Hulk Hogan.

[@jolemays3218]

I have a lot of friends I'll take the money -scott hall

[@PRiMETiMEFELiNE]

Paul didn’t want him in the locker room because he didn’t want Awesome letting the boys know he hasn’t been being paid either, that’s why he’s leaving.

[@quarantinebored1427]

We know how Joey styles feels about Mike awesome leaving ecw

[@kidz4p509]

Paul Heyman and Joey Styles have no one but themselves to blame for Mike killing himself.

[@DaHandDatFeeds]

The shoot punch in the Taz/Awesome match was a scumbag thing for Taz to do.

[@IcemenMike45]

Yeah, especially since Taz wasn't even an ECW guy anymore. He left for the same reason Mike Awesome left...the same reason the Dudleys left, Heyman wasn't paying them, and what he was paying just wasn't enough for them to live on and risk their lives on.

[@696969640]

was a great great athelete and should have been wcw and wwf champ had the talent as with most wrestlers drugs got best of him

[@yetanotheruser1989]

No contract, not getting paid what he rightfully deserved, I do not blame him at all for leaving. He should have dropped the belt first, yes, but.. in a regular job scenario, are you too concerned with leaving all company property at the door before you leave, after they've been screwing you? Or do you get out, send it back later? That belt is a prop at the end of the day.

[@billblaski9523]

Heyman screwed over alot of people in ECW. Chris Candido and Tammy Sytch used to use their own money to help ECW marketing and Heyman used to reimburse them but then Heyman missed 1 week, then 2 weeks, then when they left ECW eventually, Heyman owed them like $100K, that they never got

[@billblaski9523]

And the famous Bubba Ray story where Bubba wad in New York and wad supposed to pick up some promotional materials at the post office and something and of course it wasn't there so Bubba called Paul and was like 'wtf where is this stuff' and Heyman 'oh I gave u the wrong confirmation code, here it is, it's A123B-whatever' then Bubba tells him 'Paul this code has 2 extra numbers and Heyman goes 'oh just take off the last 2 numbers then' 😂

[@campbelltrigg1109]

Can't really say I blame him for leaving considering they literally weren't paying him accordingly at all.

[@adamsifford6228]

Mike Awesome is dead I always thought he would be an awesome wwe candidate but they ruined his persona.

[@pepsiguy52883]

He got his money in wcw and Paul’s checks were bouncing

[@SouthofHeaven818]

Yeah and he got turned into a joke in WCW, he was the best in Japan & even ECW(without the money issues)

[@pepsiguy52883]

@ those clown at WCW were morons. They coulda turned this guy into something special

[@SouthofHeaven818]

@@pepsiguy52883 same with Vince and WWE, but Vince wastes talent anyways, if Paul had someone handle the money part of ECW I’m sure everything would been ok, Paul is a great booker and all but a horrible businessman

[@MetalMe55iah]

It was a shitty thing to do but I get why he had to do it

[@johnburke5248]

Bit misleading by Mike he was still under contract with Ecw. If he wasn't he wouldn't have been legally obligated to go back for one more show to drop the belt. Also wcw had to buy him out of the remainder of his contract which was worth about $250k per year. Yes Heyman was paying guys late but their contracts all stipulated he had 30 days to fix any payroll errors. I dont blame awesome for taking the big money but he should have been straight up with Paul instead of ghosting him. I'm still bummed we didn't get awesome vs rvd in their prime.

[@mikenayers5981]

Bischoff also said Time Warner lawyers would throw money at any problem to make it go away. Whether or not there was a contract, Heyman made a big enough stink to where the lawyers probably listened to his demands, and figured a fat check and one more match would make it go away.

[@johnburke5248]

@Miken Ayers that makes perfect sense. They could have fought Heyman in court but doing that may have cost them even more money than just buying him out and having him go back to ecw once to drop the belt.

[@phillysfinest215]

With his nasty boys haircut😂