Michael Altieri
Encyclopedia
Michael Altieri is an American
former professional wrestler
, better known by his ring name
Mikey Batts. He is currently working for World Wrestling Entertainment
as a referee
.
. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force
in 1999. Altieri was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base
in San Antonio, Texas
, where he served a two year term, during which he continued wrestling. He was discharged in 2001 and relocated to Tampa, Florida
where he became a personal trainer
. While working as a trainer, he decided to become a professional wrestler
.
Altieri trained under his cousin, Billy Kidman, in addition to learning from Roderick Strong
at the NWA Florida school. He debuted in NWA Florida on June 20, 2003 as Mikey Batts, wrestling Naphtali
. On February 26, 2005 in Brandon, Florida
he won a six way match to become the NWA Florida X Division Champion.
as a planted security guard in June 2004. He was signed to a contract that same month, and began teaming on a regular basis with fellow NWA Florida performer Jerrelle Clark
. Batts and Clark were staples on TNA Impact!
throughout 2004, but were not involved in any major angles.
In addition to competing in the tag team division, Batts wrestled in the X Division. At TNA No Surrender on July 17, 2005, Batts took part in a four way qualifying match for the TNA 2005 Super X Cup Tournament
which was won by Sonjay Dutt.
Batts teamed with Simon Diamond
on the August 19 episode of Impact!, facing Shocker
and Chris Sabin
in the first round of the Chris Candido Cup. During the match, commentators Mike Tenay
and Don West
speculated that Batts was "auditioning" for membership in the Diamonds in the Rough
, Diamond's stable of undercard wrestlers. Diamond and Batts lost the match after Sabin pinned Batts, and he did not join the Diamonds.
and had been assigned to the Deep South Wrestling developmental territory. In December 2005 it was announced that Batts had been transferred to Ohio Valley Wrestling
(OVW). On January 21, 2006, Batts lost his first match in OVW to Da Beast
with Tytus
acting as his manager
. Then on January 27, 2006, lost to Tytus this time with Da Beast
acting as manager. Batts, under his real name, wrestled, and lost to WWE Cruiserweight Champion
Gregory Helms
on the May 6, 2006 episode of Velocity
.
On June 14, 2006, Batts was released from his WWE contract.
, which did not pan out successfully. Instead, he resigned with World Wrestling Entertainment
as a referee.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
, better known by his ring name
Ring name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
Mikey Batts. He is currently working for World Wrestling Entertainment
World 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...
as a referee
Referee (professional wrestling)
A professional wrestling referee is the official figure that makes sure that wrestling matches move smoothly in an attempt to maintain kayfabe. The referee also has the ultimate power in the ring...
.
Professional wrestling career
Altieri began amateur wrestling in junior high schoolMiddle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
in 1999. Altieri was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base
Lackland Air Force Base
Lackland Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located west-southwest of San Antonio, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 802d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command ....
in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, where he served a two year term, during which he continued wrestling. He was discharged in 2001 and relocated to Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
where he became a personal trainer
Personal trainer
A personal trainer is a fitness professional involved in exercise prescription and instruction. They motivate clients by setting goals and providing feedback and accountability to clients. Trainers also measure their client's strengths and weaknesses with fitness assessments...
. While working as a trainer, he decided to become a 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...
.
Altieri trained under his cousin, Billy Kidman, in addition to learning from Roderick Strong
Roderick Strong
Chris Lindsey is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Roderick Strong. Strong currently competes in several independent promotions, most notably Ring of Honor , Full Impact Pro , and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla .He initially debuted as The Jester on the Floridian...
at the NWA Florida school. He debuted in NWA Florida on June 20, 2003 as Mikey Batts, wrestling Naphtali
Naphtali
According to the Book of Genesis, Naphtali was the second son of Jacob with Bilhah. He was the founder of the Israelite Tribe of Naphtali. However, some Biblical scholars view this as postdiction, an eponymous metaphor providing an aetiology of the connectedness of the tribe to others in the...
. On February 26, 2005 in Brandon, Florida
Brandon, Florida
Brandon is a census-designated place in Hillsborough County, Florida, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the CDP had a total population of 103,483.-Founding:...
he won a six way match to become the NWA Florida X Division Champion.
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Batts debuted in Total Nonstop Action WrestlingTotal 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...
as a planted security guard in June 2004. He was signed to a contract that same month, and began teaming on a regular basis with fellow NWA Florida performer Jerrelle Clark
Vincent Clark
Vincent Jerrelle Clark is a retired American professional wrestler. He is best known for his stints in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.-Early life:...
. Batts and Clark were staples on TNA Impact!
TNA iMPACT!
Impact Wrestling is a professional wrestling television program for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling that currently airs in the United States and Canada on Spike...
throughout 2004, but were not involved in any major angles.
In addition to competing in the tag team division, Batts wrestled in the X Division. At TNA No Surrender on July 17, 2005, Batts took part in a four way qualifying match for the TNA 2005 Super X Cup Tournament
TNA 2005 Super X Cup Tournament
The 2005 Super X Cup Tournament was a professional wrestling X Cup tournament held by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Then X Division Champion Christopher Daniels provided guest commentary for a number of the matches, where he coined the unofficial nickname for the tournament: "The Christopher...
which was won by Sonjay Dutt.
Batts teamed with Simon Diamond
Pat Kenney
Patrick Joseph Michael "Pat" Kenney , known also by his ring name, Simon Diamond, is a retired American professional wrestler, currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as a road agent...
on the August 19 episode of Impact!, facing Shocker
José Luis Jair Soria
José Luis Jair Soria is a Mexican professional wrestler, who wrestles under the name Shocker. He has in the past branched out into the United States, working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.-Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre :...
and Chris Sabin
Chris Sabin
Joshua Harter is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Chris Sabin. He is currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , where he currently teams with Alex Shelley as The Motor City Machine Guns.After being trained by Scott D'Amore, Sabin debuted in 2000 for...
in the first round of the Chris Candido Cup. During the match, commentators Mike Tenay
Mike Tenay
Michael William "Mike" Tenay is a professional wrestling play-by-play announcer currently employed by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling . Prior to signing with TNA in 2002, he had a notable tenure with World Championship Wrestling from 1994-2001...
and Don West
Don West (sportscaster)
Donald "Don" West is an American pitchman, television personality and wrestling broadcaster currently working as an on-screen talent for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, and also as a pitchman for WildWestDeals.com, an internet marketing website...
speculated that Batts was "auditioning" for membership in the Diamonds in the Rough
The Diamonds in the Rough
The Diamonds in the Rough was a professional wrestling stable in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, led by the eponymous Simon Diamond and consisting primarily of lower- to mid-card wrestlers...
, Diamond's stable of undercard wrestlers. Diamond and Batts lost the match after Sabin pinned Batts, and he did not join the Diamonds.
World Wrestling Entertainment
On October 30, 2005, it was announced that Batts had signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling EntertainmentWorld 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...
and had been assigned to the Deep South Wrestling developmental territory. In December 2005 it was announced that Batts had been transferred to Ohio Valley Wrestling
Ohio Valley Wrestling
Ohio Valley Wrestling is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Louisville, Kentucky. OVW is run by owner Danny Davis and was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance from 1997 until 2000...
(OVW). On January 21, 2006, Batts lost his first match in OVW to Da Beast
Shad Gaspard
Shad Chad Javier Romane Chittick Gaspard is an American professional wrestler of Haitian and Curaçaon descent, currently signed with Inoki Genome Federation...
with Tytus
Ryan Wilson
Ryan Wilson is an American professional wrestler who formerly worked for World Wrestling Entertainment in the Ohio Valley Wrestling developmental promotion as Jacob Duncan where he was a former OVW Heavyweight Champion...
acting as his manager
Manager (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
. Then on January 27, 2006, lost to Tytus this time with Da Beast
Shad Gaspard
Shad Chad Javier Romane Chittick Gaspard is an American professional wrestler of Haitian and Curaçaon descent, currently signed with Inoki Genome Federation...
acting as manager. Batts, under his real name, wrestled, and lost to WWE Cruiserweight Champion
WWE Cruiserweight Championship
The 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...
Gregory Helms
Gregory Helms
Gregory Shane Helms is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment where he wrestled as The Hurricane and Gregory Helms. He is also known for his time with World Championship Wrestling where he wrestled as "Sugar" Shane Helms...
on the May 6, 2006 episode of Velocity
WWE Velocity
WWE Velocity was a professional wrestling television program produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It replaced two syndicated WWE shows, Jakked/Metal. Once a weekly Saturday night show on Spike TV and on Sky Sports 2 in the UK on Sunday mornings, Velocity became a webcast from 2005 to 2006...
.
On June 14, 2006, Batts was released from his WWE contract.
Retirement and return to WWE
After his release, Batts retired from wrestling to pursue a career in mixed martial artsMixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
, which did not pan out successfully. Instead, he resigned with World Wrestling Entertainment
World 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...
as a referee.
Mixed martial arts
In July 2009, Batts announced that he would be training to become a mixed martial artist.In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Batts Beater (Kip-upKip-upKip-up is one of several names for an acrobatic move in which a person transitions from a supine, and less commonly, a prone position, directly to a squatting position by propelling the legs, and consequently the entire body, away from the floor. The move often incorporates the use of the arms and...
frankensteiner) - Napoleon Complex (Running sunset flip powerbomb)
- Phoenix splash
- Batts Beater (Kip-up
- Signature moves
- Hurricanrana
- Plancha
- Springboard frog splash
- 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- "Straight Up"
Championships and accomplishments
- Defiant Pro Wrestling
- DPW Crusierweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA FloridaFlorida Championship WrestlingChampionship Wrestling from Florida was the corporate and brand name of the Tampa, Florida wrestling office existing from 1961, when Eddie Graham first bought into the promotion, until 1987, when it closed down. It is also referred to as Florida Championship Wrestling...
- NWA Florida X Division ChampionshipNWA Florida X Division ChampionshipThe NWA Florida X Division Championship is a title defended in the Florida territory of the National Wrestling Alliance.-Title history:-References:**-See also:*Florida Championship Wrestling*National Wrestling Alliance...
(1 time)