Mike Quackenbush

Michael Spillane
Born	March 18, 1976 West Lawn, Pennsylvania
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	"Lightning" Mike Quackenbush / Mike Quackenbush M. Quackenbush
Billed height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Billed weight	195 lb (88 kg)
Trained by	Ace Darling Jorge Rivera
Debut	November, 1991

This article is about the American professional wrestler, for the Irish football (soccer) player, see Michael Spillane (football).

Michael Spillane, better known by his ring name Mike Quackenbush (born March 18, 1976) is an American professional wrestler, trainer, author and the founder of both Chikara Wrestle Factory and CHIKARA. He has written four books: Fantastic Finishers (1998), Headquarters (2001), Secret Identity (2004), and CHIKARA Yearbook (2004). Additionally, he pens a regular column for The Wrestler magazine entitled 'From Bell to Bell' (now in its 8th year) as well as the 'International Report' in Pro Wrestling Illustrated (now in its fifth year). He is the host of the weekly video podcast entitled "CHIKARA's Podcast-A-Go-Go" as well.

Biography

• Quackenbush is best known as the patriarch of the CHIKARA family, and for his work on the independent (freelance) circuit, which now spans two decades. He was formerly featured in the Combat Zone Wrestling promotion and one of his biggest accomplishments has been winning CZW's 5th Best of the Best tournament, defeating Arik Cannon, Claudio Castagnoli, B-Boy, Kevin Steen, and Super Dragon. In 2004, he briefly united six championships from three different countries (USA, Mexico, Germany) into the "I-Crown".

• During his 2000 hiatus from pro-wrestling, Quackenbush wrote his memoir Headquarters, wrote and produced a direct-to-video project called "Crusaders, Ltd." and hosted an improv comedy show. He returned to the ring in April of 2000, after just two full months off. Quackenbush has toured Canada, Mexico and several European countries during his career. He has invented dozens of moves and holds, and was nicknamed "The Master of a Thousand Holds" and "The Ring Wizard" by European fans. In the United States, he is typically referred to by the nickname "Lightning," a moniker that pays tribute to his wrestling hero, Jushin "Thunder" Liger.

• He founded Chikara Wrestle Factory in January of 2002, and then opened the promotion CHIKARA, in May of the same year. Chikara Wrestle Factory assumed control of the Combat Zone Wrestling school in March of 2005. Quackenbush serves as head-trainer of the joint facility.

• Quackenbush had career-threatening back surgery in early 2006. He returned to the ring on March 18, 2006 (his birthday) in Essen, Germany and captured the wXw German Heavyweight title from Ares. He returned to his schedule of wrestling and training at CZW/Chikara Wrestle Factory thereafter.

• He has trained several independent pro-wrestlers, such as Dragonfly, Mobius, Zanre Madrox, Retail Dragon, Equinox, Dr. Cheung, Blind Rage, Mister ZERO, UltraMantis, Icarus, Hallowicked, Worker Ant, Gran Akuma, Eddie Kingston, Jigsaw, US Ape, Discount Tiger, Dragon Dragon, Melvin Snodgradd, Darkness Crabtree, Rorschach, Shane Storm, DJ Skittlez, Jolly Roger, Larry Sweeney and others. He trained referee Bryce Remsburg, and has helped train other wrestlers like Claudio Castagnoli, Crossbones, ShareCropper, Jardi Frantz, Marshal Law, Love Bug, Soldier Ant, Fire Ant, John Brooks and many others.

Finishing and signature moves

• Quackendriver (Inverted crucifix powerbomb)
• Quackendriver II / QD 2 (Cross legged belly-to-belly piledriver)
• Quackendriver III / QD 3 (Modified fisherman driver)
• Quackensmash (Double springboard corkscrew senton)
• Lightning Lock (Reverse Figure four leglock)
• Lightning Lock β (Inverted cloverleaf)
• Lightning Lock δ (Sitting stretch muffler)
• Black Tornado Slam (Tilt-a-whirl falling slam)
• Chain Lightning (Triple jump moonsault)
• Strangle Hold Ω (Over-rotated stepover toehold sleeper)
• Inazuma Suplex Special I (Suplex followed into brainbuster)
• Inazuma Suplex Special II (Suplex followed into double underhook DDT)
• Déjà Vu DDT (Headscissors into DDT)
• Alligator Clutch (Inverted facelock camel clutch)

Championships and accomplishments

• Alianza Universal Lucha Libre Middleweight / International Pro Wrestling

• 2-time Alianza Universal Lucha Libre Middleweight/IPW (Mexico) Intercontinental Lightweight Champion

• Allied Powers Wrestling Federation

• 1-time APWF Internet Champion

• Combat Zone Wrestling

• 2-time CZW Junior Heavyweight Champion
• CZW Best of the Best 5 Winner

• Eastern Wrestling Federation

• 1-time EWF Light Heavyweight Champion

• Far North Wrestling

• 1-time FNW Freeweight Champion

• Future Wrestling Alliance

• 3-time FWA Champion

• International Pro Wrestling

• 1-time IPW Hardcore Light Heavyweight Champion
• 1-time IPW Junior Heavyweight Champion

• Independent Wrestling Union

• 1-time IWU Light Heavyweight Champion

• North East Wrestling

• 1-time NEW Junior Heavyweight Champion

• Pennsylvania Championship Wrestling

• 2-time PCW Tag Team Champion (with Pat Shamrock, then Inferno Kid)
• 1-time PCW Junior Heavyweight (with Inferno Kid)
• 1-time PCW Six-Man Tag Team (with Inferno Kid) (with Inferno Kid & Boogie Woogie Brown)

• Pro Wrestling Entertainment

• 1-time PWE Tag Team Champion
• 1-time PWE Heavyweight Champion

• Steel City Wrestling

• 1-time SCW Junior Heavyweight Champion
• 1-time SCW Lord of the Dance Champion

• United States Championship Wrestling

• 1-time USCW Junior Heavyweight Champion

• westside Xtreme wrestling

• 1-time wXw World Heavyweight Champion
• 1-time wXw German Cruiserweight Champion

External links

• Mike Quackenbush's official web site
• CHIKARA Official Website
• "Lightning" Mike Quackenbush's MySpace
• Interview with "Lightning" Mike Quackenbush by Genickbruch.com
• Profile on OWW
• Interview with Mike Quackenbush by UKEvents.net

References

Quackenbush, Mike (2001) Headquarters
Quackenbush, Mike (2004) Secret Identity
Quackenbush, Mike (2004) CHIKARA Yearbook: 2002-2004