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Man Mountain Mike
Man Mountain Mike
Birth name	Gary Michael Fletcher
Born	September 15, 1940; Columbia, New Hampshire, U.S.
Died	April 30, 1988 (aged 47); South Berwick, Maine, U.S.
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Man Mountain Mike
Billed height	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Billed weight	600 lb (272 kg)
Trained by	The Great Bolo
Debut	1967
Retired	1977

Gary Michael Fletcher (September 15, 1940 – April 30, 1988), best known by his ring name Man Mountain Mike, was an American professional wrestler.

Professional wrestling career

Fletcher was a baseball player and played two years of college baseball at Washington State Teachers College in Maine.^[1] He was discovered at a buffet by Al Lovelock, who wrestled as The Great Bolo, and trained Fletcher as a wrestler.^[1] Fletcher made his wrestling debut in 1967 for the American Wrestling Association. He wrestled as a tag team with Haystacks Calhoun, who also weighed over 600 pounds; their combined weight was over 1200 pounds in the ring.^[3]

Mike was wrestling with Iron Mike DiBiase on July 2, 1969 in Lubbock, Texas, when DiBiase suffered a fatal heart attack in the ring during the match. DiBiase was pronounced dead at the hospital.^[4] DiBiase's death was not directly related to professional wrestling; rather, he died as a result of high cholesterol.^[5]

Mike later wrestled in British Columbia, where he had a series of matches against Don Leo Jonathan in 1970 and 1971.^[6]^[7] Mike wrestled for Championship Wrestling from Florida in the early 1970s. He participated in many battles royal, and because of his size, it was difficult for opponents to eliminate him over the top rope. As a result, the promotion billed him as "the acknowledged king of battles royal" and promoted many of these matches as "featuring Man Mountain Mike".^[8] On one occasion in 1972, his participation led to a feud with Buddy Colt,^[2] as Colt caused Mike to be eliminated from a battle royal.^[9] He would also offer $100 to any wrestler who was able to lift him up.^[10]

While competing for NWA Hollywood Wrestling, Mike won the NWA Americas Tag Team Championship with tag team partner Butcher Brannigan on August 31, 1974 at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.^[11] They dropped the belts on September 14 to Porkchop Cash and Victor Rivera.^[11] He also held the NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Championship twice.^[12]

Man Mountain Mike toured Japan as a wrestler in 1975. He had a series of matches against Antonio Inoki, but was unable to defeat Inoki in singles matches or in tag team competitions.^[13] He later wrestled for the World Wide Wrestling Federation. He competed in both singles and tag team matches, which included teaming with Crusher Blackwell on February 20, 1976 in a loss to WWWF Tag Team Champions Louis Cerdan and Tony Parisi.^[14]

Retirement, death and legacy

After retiring from the ring in 1977, Mike opened a dry cleaning business, as well as a taxi service; he also drove a school bus.^[2] He was married to Mary Lee Quinn,^[2] and together they had a son, Shawn.^[10]

While adjusting his bus seat backwards in 1988, he accidentally cut the back of his leg on the seat track. The cut developed a staph infection, causing blood clots, which were exacerbated by his diabetes. He died on April 30, 1988, aged 47.^[2]

The ring name Man Mountain Mike was later used in the Canadian Maritimes by Mike Shaw, who also appeared with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling as Bastion Booger and Norman the Lunatic, respectively.^[15]

Championships and accomplishments

NWA Hollywood Wrestling
- NWA Americas Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Butcher Brannigan^[11]
- NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Championship (2 times)^[12]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Mann, Jimmy (August 7, 1969). "Man Mountain Mike Makes Molehills Of Opponents". St. Petersburg Times. p. 18. Archived from the original on June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Man Mountain Mike profile". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on March 4, 2008. Retrieved April 17, 2009.
^ Davies, Ross (2001). Haystacks Calhoun. Rosen Publishing Group. p. 87. ISBN 0-8239-3435-7.
^ DiBiase, Ted (1997). Every Man Has His Price: The True Story of Wrestling's Million-Dollar Man. Multnomah Publishers. p. 57. ISBN 1-57673-175-8.
^ Truitt, Brandon. "Shoot Interviews: Ted DiBiase". KayfabeMemories.com. Archived from the original on November 20, 2011. Retrieved April 16, 2009.
^ "MAN SLIDE TRAPS DON". The Sun. June 30, 1970. p. 20. Archived from the original on June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
^ "Big Man Loser in Mat Feature". Spokane Daily Chronicle. February 19, 1971. Archived from the original on June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
^ "$9001 Up in Big Battle Royal!". Championship Wrestling from Florida. March 27, 1973. Archived from the original on September 6, 2005. Retrieved April 16, 2009.
^ "Brisco, Jones Meet in Tonight's Main Event". Championship Wrestling from Florida. October 24, 1972. Archived from the original on February 18, 2005. Retrieved April 16, 2009.
^ ^a ^b "Wrestler, wife win weight tussle". The Telegraph. January 13, 1982. p. 19. Archived from the original on June 14, 2023. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c "NWA Americas Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2009.
^ ^a ^b "Beat the Champ Television Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Archived from the original on March 11, 2015. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
^ "Antonio Inoki - Match Results: 1975". Puroresu Dojo. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2009.
^ "Ring Results: 1976". The History of WWE. Archived from the original on November 2, 2007. Retrieved April 18, 2009.
^ Oliver, Greg (April 5, 2001). "SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Makhan Singh". SLAM! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2009.