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Mantaur then began a small winning streak, defeating a series of jobbers. He came close to defeating then-[[WWE Intercontinental Championship|Intercontinental Champion]] [[Scott Hall (wrestler)|Razor Ramon]], but lost the match by disqualification due to interference by [[Jeff Jarrett]], who was involved in a [[Feud (professional wrestling)|feud]] with Ramon at that time. Mantaur made his first and only pay-per-view appearance at the [[Royal Rumble (1995)|1995 Royal Rumble]], where he competed in the Royal Rumble match and lasted almost 10 minutes before being eliminated by [[Lex Luger]].<ref>{{cite web|title=WWF Royal Rumble 1995|work=Hoffco, Inc.|url=http://www.hoffco-inc.com/wwe/ppv/ppv/rr95.html|accessdate=2007-09-24}}</ref>
Mantaur then began a small winning streak, defeating a series of jobbers. He came close to defeating then-[[WWE Intercontinental Championship|Intercontinental Champion]] [[Scott Hall (wrestler)|Razor Ramon]], but lost the match by disqualification due to interference by [[Jeff Jarrett]], who was involved in a [[Feud (professional wrestling)|feud]] with Ramon at that time. Mantaur made his first and only pay-per-view appearance at the [[Royal Rumble (1995)|1995 Royal Rumble]], where he competed in the Royal Rumble match and lasted almost 10 minutes before being eliminated by [[Lex Luger]].<ref>{{cite web|title=WWF Royal Rumble 1995|work=Hoffco, Inc.|url=http://www.hoffco-inc.com/wwe/ppv/ppv/rr95.html|accessdate=2007-09-24}}</ref>

Mantaur was defeated by World Champion Bret "The Hitman" Hart during a taping of Wrestling Challenge In Moline,IL in May of 1995


Mantaur entered the [[King of the Ring (1995)|1995 King of the Ring]] tournament but was pinned by [[Bob Holly|Bob "Spark Plug" Holly]] in a qualifying match.<ref>{{cite web|title=WWE King of the Ring Tournament Results |work=Wrestling Information Archive |url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/wwf/kotrtny.htm |accessdate=2007-09-24 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014010351/http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/wwf/kotrtny.htm |archivedate=2007-10-14 |df= }}</ref> In his final televised WWF match, he lost to [[Bam Bam Bigelow]] as part of a push to enhance the popularity of Bigelow as a [[Face (professional wrestling)|babyface]]. Halac made his last WWF appearance as a lumberjack in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Lumberjack match|lumberjack match]] between [[Sid Eudy|Sycho Sid]] and [[Kevin Nash|Diesel]] at [[In Your House 2: The Lumberjacks|In Your House 2]].<ref>{{cite web|title=In Your House: 1995-1996|work=WWE Millennium|url=http://www.geocities.com/wmnetwerk2/archives/iyh.html#2|accessdate=2007-09-24|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/wmnetwerk2/archives/iyh.html%232&date=2009-10-26+00:15:27|archivedate=2009-10-26}}</ref>
Mantaur entered the [[King of the Ring (1995)|1995 King of the Ring]] tournament but was pinned by [[Bob Holly|Bob "Spark Plug" Holly]] in a qualifying match.<ref>{{cite web|title=WWE King of the Ring Tournament Results |work=Wrestling Information Archive |url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/wwf/kotrtny.htm |accessdate=2007-09-24 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014010351/http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/wwf/kotrtny.htm |archivedate=2007-10-14 |df= }}</ref> In his final televised WWF match, he lost to [[Bam Bam Bigelow]] as part of a push to enhance the popularity of Bigelow as a [[Face (professional wrestling)|babyface]]. Halac made his last WWF appearance as a lumberjack in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Lumberjack match|lumberjack match]] between [[Sid Eudy|Sycho Sid]] and [[Kevin Nash|Diesel]] at [[In Your House 2: The Lumberjacks|In Your House 2]].<ref>{{cite web|title=In Your House: 1995-1996|work=WWE Millennium|url=http://www.geocities.com/wmnetwerk2/archives/iyh.html#2|accessdate=2007-09-24|archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/wmnetwerk2/archives/iyh.html%232&date=2009-10-26+00:15:27|archivedate=2009-10-26}}</ref>

Revision as of 08:00, 28 November 2017

Mantaur
Birth nameMike Halac[1]
Born (1968-05-14) May 14, 1968 (age 56)[1]
Omaha, Nebraska[2]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Bruiser Mastino[2]
Mafiosi Mastino[2]
Terminator Mastino[2]
Madd Mustafa
Mantaur
Tank
Billed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[3]
Billed weight401 lb (182 kg)[4]
Billed fromThe Island of Crete
(as Mantaur)[5]
South Africa
(as Tank)
Debut1991

Mike Halac[1] (born May 14, 1968) is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation in the mid-1990s under the ring name Mantaur, and later worked there as Tank.

Professional wrestling career

Catch Wrestling Association (1991–1994)

In 1991, under the ring name Bruiser Mastino, Halac traveled to Germany to work for the Catch Wrestling Association. He debuted on November 11, in a losing effort against Rambo for the World Heavyweight Championship.[6] He remained with the promotion until late 1994, when he returned to the United States to perform for the World Wrestling Federation.[7]

World Wrestling Federation (1994–1995)

On the January 7, 1995 episode of Superstars of Wrestling, Halac debuted in the World Wrestling Federation as Mantaur, defeating Walter Slow.[7][8] The Mantaur character was that of a Minotaur who charged, trampled and mooed at opponents.[9] Soon after debuting, he acquired Jim Cornette as his manager.[10]

Mantaur then began a small winning streak, defeating a series of jobbers. He came close to defeating then-Intercontinental Champion Razor Ramon, but lost the match by disqualification due to interference by Jeff Jarrett, who was involved in a feud with Ramon at that time. Mantaur made his first and only pay-per-view appearance at the 1995 Royal Rumble, where he competed in the Royal Rumble match and lasted almost 10 minutes before being eliminated by Lex Luger.[11]

Mantaur was defeated by World Champion Bret "The Hitman" Hart during a taping of Wrestling Challenge In Moline,IL in May of 1995

Mantaur entered the 1995 King of the Ring tournament but was pinned by Bob "Spark Plug" Holly in a qualifying match.[12] In his final televised WWF match, he lost to Bam Bam Bigelow as part of a push to enhance the popularity of Bigelow as a babyface. Halac made his last WWF appearance as a lumberjack in a lumberjack match between Sycho Sid and Diesel at In Your House 2.[13]

Extreme Championship Wrestling and return to CWA (1995–1996)

After leaving the WWF, Halac returned to his Bruiser Mastino ring name and joined Extreme Championship Wrestling. He debuted there on December 1, 1995 with a victory over The Dark Ninja.[14] Eight days later, he lost to Hack Meyers at December to Dismember.[14] A few weeks after that, he lost to 911.[14] At Holiday Hell, Mastino defeated El Puerto Ricano in his final match for the promotion, in which he was jeered with "Mantaur" chants from the always-vocal ECW audience.[14] Halac then briefly returned to the Catch Wrestling Association as Terminator Mastino.[2][14]

Return to WWF (1996)

In April 1996, Halac returned to the WWF playing the role of Goldust's unnamed bodyguard.[2] He appeared with Goldust at In Your House 7 in his corner for his match against the Ultimate Warrior. After Goldust lost, the bodyguard attacked Warrior but was overpowered and body slammed.[15]

United States Wrestling Association and third return to WWF (1997)

Halac then worked in the United States Wrestling Association as Tank, a member of The Truth Commission where he wore a mask.[2] He won the Unified World Heavyweight Championship, his first and only wrestling title, on March 15, 1997 after defeating then-champion Jerry Lawler.[16] He lost the belt back to Lawler in a rematch seven days later.[16] Later that spring, Tank was involved in a controversy surrounding the World Tag Team Championship. While The Interrogator and Recon (Tank's teammates in The Truth Commission) held the title, Tank substituted for The Interrogator in one match and his team lost the title to Nick Dinsmore and Flash Flanagan.[17] The title change was declared invalid, however, as Tank was not one of the official holders of the World Tag Team Title.[17] He returned to the WWF in June 1997 with the Truth Commission as he fought as Tank. He was on two Shotgun Saturday Night episodes until his release later that summer.

Second return to CWA and the independent circuit (1998, 2000–2001)

Halac returned to the CWA in September 1998, again as Bruiser Mastino.He wrestled three matches for NWA Germany later that year, winning the first against Franz Schumann on September 22, losing the second to Ulf Herman September 23, and losing the third to Shumann on December 2.[18] He also competed in the European Wrestling Promotion (EWP), defeating Christian Eckstein on November 25.[18] Halac returned to the EWP on May 18, 2001, winning a triple threat match against Eric Schwarz and Martin Nolte. The next day, he defeated Big Tiger Steele.After many many years of being out of wrestling, Halac decided to get back in the ring for one last time . So In May 2015, as "The Turkish Terror" Madd Mustafa, he won the inaugural American Heritage Wrestling Heavyweight Championship in Adel, Iowa.[19]

Personal life

In July 2016, Halac was named part of a class action lawsuit filed against WWE which alleged that wrestlers incurred traumatic brain injuries during their tenure and that the company concealed the risks of injury. The suit is litigated by attorney Konstantine Kyros, who has been involved in a number of other lawsuits against WWE.[20]

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ^ a b c "Mike Halac". Facebook. Retrieved 2013-07-08.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "OWOW profile".
  3. ^ a b "Cagematch profile".
  4. ^ Mantaur's profile at WrestlingData.com
  5. ^ Melok, Bobby, Murphy, Ryan and Powers, Kevin. "WWE's 25 most absurd Superstars: #3 Mantaur". WWE.com. WWE. Retrieved 2013-07-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Cagematch match listings, final page".
  7. ^ a b "Cagematch match listings, page 3".
  8. ^ Halac at Internet Wrestling Database
  9. ^ Baer, Randy; R.D. Reynolds (2003). Wrestlecrap: The Very Worst of Pro Wrestling. ECW Press. pp. 171–172. ISBN 1-55022-584-7.
  10. ^ a b "Ring Results: 1995". The History of WWE. 2008-02-05. Archived from the original on 2008-05-04. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "WWF Royal Rumble 1995". Hoffco, Inc. Retrieved 2007-09-24.
  12. ^ "WWE King of the Ring Tournament Results". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on 2007-10-14. Retrieved 2007-09-24. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ "In Your House: 1995-1996". WWE Millennium. Archived from the original on 2009-10-26. Retrieved 2007-09-24.
  14. ^ a b c d e "Cagematch match listings, page 2".
  15. ^ "Ring Results: 1996". The History of WWE. Archived from the original on 2007-12-04. Retrieved 2008-02-05. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ a b c "USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship history".
  17. ^ a b "USWA World Tag Team Championship history". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  18. ^ a b "Cagematch match listings".
  19. ^ American Heritage Wrestling Facebook update, May 3, 2015
  20. ^ "WWE sued in wrestler class action lawsuit featuring Jimmy 'Superfly' Snuka, Paul 'Mr Wonderful' Orndorff". FoxSports.com. Fox Entertainment Group (21st Century Fox). July 18, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  21. ^ "Jim Cornette's OWOW profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
  22. ^ "Entrance themes".
  23. ^ http://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=771&page=16
  24. ^ "Awards".
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