Mike Kruel
Encyclopedia
Michael "Mike" Mayo, Jr. (born October 22, 1982) is an American
professional wrestler
, better known under his ring name
Mike Kruel. He began his career in the independent circuit
, wrestling in Pro-Pain Pro Wrestling, Ring of Honor
, East Coast Wrestling Association
and USA Pro Wrestling, while occasionally making appearances for World Wrestling Entertainment
(WWE). In July 2006, he joined WWE's developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling
, where he held both the OVW Heavyweight Championship
and the OVW Television Championship
. He also worked in WWE's other developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling
, before being released by the promotion on January 2009.
on February 21, 2004. In October, he won the 3PW Tag Team Championship with Gary Wolfe. In February 2005, Wolfe was replaced in the team by Simon Diamond
. Although in early 2004 into early 2005, he worked primarily in 3PW, he also worked in other promotions such as the East Coast Wrestling Association
and USA Pro Wrestling.
In addition, while working in 3PW, Kruel, using the name Mike Mayo, had several matches with World Wrestling Entertainment
(WWE), including a loss in a tag team
match against Travis Tomko
and Kevin Fertig
on Raw
on March 8, 2004. He also wrestled two matches on SmackDown!. On July 24, he lost to John "Bradshaw" Layfield
, and in February 2005, he lost a tag team match to Hardcore Holly
and Charlie Haas
. He made other minor appearances as a security guard.
On April 16, 2005 in Ring of Honor
, Kruel, accompanied by Prince Nana
, was defeated by CM Punk
. Two weeks later, Kruel won the National Wrestling Superstars' first ever Chris Candido Memorial J-Cup Tournament. On May 21, 2005, in another Candido Memorial show
, Kruel won the UXW United States Heavyweight Championship. On June 3, he won another title, this time Chaotic Wrestling
's CW Heavyweight Championship. On July 5, he returned to Ring of Honor, but was defeated by Matt Stryker. On February 20, 2006, he lost a dark match to Gene Snitsky
on WWE's Raw.
(OVW) in 2006. In July and August, he lost a series of matches to wrestlers such as Shawn Spears
, CM Punk
, and Cody Runnels. He won his first match in OVW on August 30, 2006 against Elijah Burke
.
He then formed an alliance known as Badd Company with Eddie Craven III and Shawn Osborne
. In November, Kruel and Osborne challenged Cody Runnels and Shawn Spears for the OVW Tag Team Championship, but failed to with the title. As a part of Badd Company, he defended the OVW Television Championship
for his alliance. Kruel, however, was later defeated by Boris Alexiev for the TV title. On February 7, 2007, accompanied by Milena Roucka, Kruel won the TV title to begin his second reign as the TV Championship (although the first reign was in conjunction with Badd Company). Alexiev regained the title in March. Roucka, however, continued to act as a manager for Kruel.
He then aligned with Vladimir Koslov
and Mr. Strongko
. On July 28, 2007, however, after Koslov won the OVW Heavyweight Championship
, Kruel defeated him to win the title.
During this time he adopted a heel All-American gimmick, calling himself Michael W Kruel. He formed Team America, using non-American wrestlers such as Los Locos and The Insurgency. He retained the championship in matches until December 5, 2007, when he lost it to Matt Sydal.
After OVW ended their relationship with WWE as a developmental territory, Kruel moved to WWE's new developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling
. He, however, was released from his WWE contract on January 9, 2009.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 under 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:...
Mike Kruel. He began his career in the independent circuit
Independent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...
, wrestling in Pro-Pain Pro Wrestling, Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor ' is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2002 by Rob Feinstein and Gabe Sapolsky. From 2004 to 2011, the promotion was under the ownership of Cary Silkin before being sold to the Sinclair Broadcast Group in May 2011...
, East Coast Wrestling Association
East Coast Wrestling Association
East Coast Wrestling Association is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded by promoter Jim Kettner in 1967. It is home to the annual Super 8 Tournament, one of the longest-running independent wrestling tournaments in the country...
and USA Pro Wrestling, while occasionally making appearances 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...
(WWE). In July 2006, he joined WWE's developmental territory 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...
, where he held both the OVW Heavyweight Championship
OVW Heavyweight Championship
The OVW Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling heavyweight championship owned by the Ohio Valley Wrestling promotion. The title was introduced on August 17, 1997 at an OVW live event, then known as the NWA-OVW Heavyweight Championship due to OVW's relationship with the National...
and the OVW Television Championship
OVW Television Championship
The OVW Television Championship is the secondary championship of Ohio Valley Wrestling started on January 5, 2005. When the title was originally conceived, the champion defended against randomly selected opponents, with the winner receiving a check for $1000...
. He also worked in WWE's other developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling
Florida Championship Wrestling
Championship 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...
, before being released by the promotion on January 2009.
Independents
In early 2004, Mike Kruel joined Pro-Pain Pro Wrestling (3PW), losing his first match to Slyk Wagner BrownWagner Brown
Wagner Brown is a professional wrestler better known by his ring name of Slyck Wagner Brown. He currently wrestles in the independent circuit in the Northeastern United States....
on February 21, 2004. In October, he won the 3PW Tag Team Championship with Gary Wolfe. In February 2005, Wolfe was replaced in the team by 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...
. Although in early 2004 into early 2005, he worked primarily in 3PW, he also worked in other promotions such as the East Coast Wrestling Association
East Coast Wrestling Association
East Coast Wrestling Association is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded by promoter Jim Kettner in 1967. It is home to the annual Super 8 Tournament, one of the longest-running independent wrestling tournaments in the country...
and USA Pro Wrestling.
In addition, while working in 3PW, Kruel, using the name Mike Mayo, had several matches 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...
(WWE), including a loss in a tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
match against Travis Tomko
Travis Tomko
Travis David Tomko is an American professional wrestler, known by his ring name Tomko, who most recently worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he previously was a member of Christian's Coalition and the Angle Alliance and often worked alongside A.J. Styles. He was also notable for his...
and Kevin Fertig
Kevin Fertig
Kevin Matthew Fertig is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for working with World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring names Mordecai and Kevin Thorn....
on Raw
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
on March 8, 2004. He also wrestled two matches on SmackDown!. On July 24, he lost to John "Bradshaw" Layfield
John Layfield
John Charles Layfield is a former American professional wrestler, a former commentator/host for mixed martial arts promotion Vyper Fight League and financial analyst for Fox News...
, and in February 2005, he lost a tag team match to Hardcore Holly
Bob Holly
Robert "Bob" Howard better known by his ring name Bob "Hardcore" Holly, is a American professional wrestler. He is best known for his 15-year stint with World Wrestling Entertainment ....
and Charlie Haas
Charlie Haas
Charles "Charlie" Doyle Haas II is an American professional wrestler and former collegiate amateur wrestler. He competes on the independent circuit, and is signed to Ring of Honor , where he is one-half of the reigning ROH World Tag Team Champions with Shelton Benjamin...
. He made other minor appearances as a security guard.
On April 16, 2005 in Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor ' is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2002 by Rob Feinstein and Gabe Sapolsky. From 2004 to 2011, the promotion was under the ownership of Cary Silkin before being sold to the Sinclair Broadcast Group in May 2011...
, Kruel, accompanied by Prince Nana
Prince Nana
Prince Nana Osei Bandoh is an American professional wrestler of Ghanaian extraction, better known by his ring name, Prince Nana. He has stated that he is an Ashanti prince.-Professional wrestling career:...
, was defeated by CM Punk
CM Punk
Phillip Jack "Phil" Brooks , better known by his ring name CM Punk, is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE and working on its Raw brand currently serving his second title reign as WWE Champion....
. Two weeks later, Kruel won the National Wrestling Superstars' first ever Chris Candido Memorial J-Cup Tournament. On May 21, 2005, in another Candido Memorial show
Chris Candido Memorial Show
The Chris Candido Memorial Show was an annual professional wrestling memorial event produced by the USA Xtreme Wrestling promotion and held between 2005 and 2006...
, Kruel won the UXW United States Heavyweight Championship. On June 3, he won another title, this time Chaotic Wrestling
Chaotic Wrestling
Chaotic Wrestling is an American independent wrestling promotion based in North Andover, Massachusetts owned by Jamie Jamitowski and formerly Killer Kowalski prior to his death in August 2008. In addition to the promotion is the Chaotic Training Center, a professional wrestling school where...
's CW Heavyweight Championship. On July 5, he returned to Ring of Honor, but was defeated by Matt Stryker. On February 20, 2006, he lost a dark match to Gene Snitsky
Gene Snitsky
Eugene Alan "Gene" Snisky is a professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Snitsky, who is best known for his time spent with World Wrestling Entertainment. He had played college football at the University of Missouri and was on the pre-season roster in 1995 for the Birmingham Barracudas...
on WWE's Raw.
Ohio Valley Wrestling
Mayo, still using the ring name Mike Kruel, debuted in Ohio Valley WrestlingOhio 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) in 2006. In July and August, he lost a series of matches to wrestlers such as Shawn Spears
Ronnie Arniell
Ronnie William Arneill is a Canadian professional wrestler, better known by his ring name as Shawn Spears. He is perhaps best known for his stint with World Wrestling Entertainment on its ECW brand, where he briefly performed under the ring name Gavin Spears.-Early life:Born and raised in St...
, CM Punk
CM Punk
Phillip Jack "Phil" Brooks , better known by his ring name CM Punk, is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE and working on its Raw brand currently serving his second title reign as WWE Champion....
, and Cody Runnels. He won his first match in OVW on August 30, 2006 against Elijah Burke
Elijah Burke
Elijah Samuel Burke is an American professional wrestler, currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the name of "The Pope" D'Angelo Dinero; a gimmick in which he portrays a Harlem street preacher...
.
He then formed an alliance known as Badd Company with Eddie Craven III and Shawn Osborne
Shawn McGrath
Shawn McGrath was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Shawn Osborne. He is best known for his stint with World Wrestling Entertainment as a developmental talent, most recently wrestling for its developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling.-Early career:On...
. In November, Kruel and Osborne challenged Cody Runnels and Shawn Spears for the OVW Tag Team Championship, but failed to with the title. As a part of Badd Company, he defended the OVW Television Championship
OVW Television Championship
The OVW Television Championship is the secondary championship of Ohio Valley Wrestling started on January 5, 2005. When the title was originally conceived, the champion defended against randomly selected opponents, with the winner receiving a check for $1000...
for his alliance. Kruel, however, was later defeated by Boris Alexiev for the TV title. On February 7, 2007, accompanied by Milena Roucka, Kruel won the TV title to begin his second reign as the TV Championship (although the first reign was in conjunction with Badd Company). Alexiev regained the title in March. Roucka, however, continued to act as a manager for Kruel.
He then aligned with Vladimir Koslov
Oleg Prudius
Oleg Aleksandrovich Prudius is a Ukrainian American professional wrestler, also known by his ring name Vladimir Kozlov . Since competing for WWE, he won the WWE Tag Team Championships with Santino Marella on one occasion...
and Mr. Strongko
Bryan Wenzel
Bryan Wenzel is an American professional wrestler. He is perhaps best known for his stint in Ohio Valley Wrestling under the ring name Mr. Strongko.-Before wrestling:...
. On July 28, 2007, however, after Koslov won the OVW Heavyweight Championship
OVW Heavyweight Championship
The OVW Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling heavyweight championship owned by the Ohio Valley Wrestling promotion. The title was introduced on August 17, 1997 at an OVW live event, then known as the NWA-OVW Heavyweight Championship due to OVW's relationship with the National...
, Kruel defeated him to win the title.
During this time he adopted a heel All-American gimmick, calling himself Michael W Kruel. He formed Team America, using non-American wrestlers such as Los Locos and The Insurgency. He retained the championship in matches until December 5, 2007, when he lost it to Matt Sydal.
After OVW ended their relationship with WWE as a developmental territory, Kruel moved to WWE's new developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling
Florida Championship Wrestling
Championship 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...
. He, however, was released from his WWE contract on January 9, 2009.
Personal life
His father Michael "Mike" Mayo, Sr. is also a professional wrestler known as Bodyguard for Hire.In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Kruel Bomb (Running crucifix powerbomb)
- Kruel Escape (Cross armbar)
- Kruel Intentions (Inverted facelock neckbreaker slam)
- Liberty Lock (Arm trap headlock)
- Signature moves
- Overhead belly to belly suplex
- Scoop brainbuster
- Slingshot suplex
- ManagersManager (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...
- Roucka
- JC Hernandez
- E.S. Easton
- Prince NanaPrince NanaPrince Nana Osei Bandoh is an American professional wrestler of Ghanaian extraction, better known by his ring name, Prince Nana. He has stated that he is an Ashanti prince.-Professional wrestling career:...
- Wesley Holiday
- 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- "The Real American Hero"
Championships and accomplishments
- Chaotic WrestlingChaotic WrestlingChaotic Wrestling is an American independent wrestling promotion based in North Andover, Massachusetts owned by Jamie Jamitowski and formerly Killer Kowalski prior to his death in August 2008. In addition to the promotion is the Chaotic Training Center, a professional wrestling school where...
- Chaotic Wrestling Heavyweight ChampionshipChaotic Wrestling Heavyweight ChampionshipThe Chaotic Wrestling Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling championship in Chaotic Wrestling. It is the primary championship in the promotion.The current champion is Handsome Johnny, who is in his third reign as champion...
(1 time)
- Chaotic Wrestling Heavyweight Championship
- East Coast Wrestling AssociationEast Coast Wrestling AssociationEast Coast Wrestling Association is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded by promoter Jim Kettner in 1967. It is home to the annual Super 8 Tournament, one of the longest-running independent wrestling tournaments in the country...
- ECWA Heavyweight ChampionshipECWA Heavyweight ChampionshipECWA Heavyweight Championship is the top title contested in the independent professional wrestling promotion East Coast Wrestling Association.-References:...
(1 time)
- ECWA Heavyweight Championship
- National Wrestling Superstars
- NWS Light Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- Chris Candido Memorial J-Cup Tournament (2005, first)
- Ohio Valley WrestlingOhio Valley WrestlingOhio 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 Heavyweight ChampionshipOVW Heavyweight ChampionshipThe OVW Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling heavyweight championship owned by the Ohio Valley Wrestling promotion. The title was introduced on August 17, 1997 at an OVW live event, then known as the NWA-OVW Heavyweight Championship due to OVW's relationship with the National...
(1 time) - OVW Television ChampionshipOVW Television ChampionshipThe OVW Television Championship is the secondary championship of Ohio Valley Wrestling started on January 5, 2005. When the title was originally conceived, the champion defended against randomly selected opponents, with the winner receiving a check for $1000...
(2 times)
- OVW Heavyweight Championship
- Prime Time Wrestling
- PTW Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)
- Pro-Pain Pro Wrestling
- 3PW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Gary Wolfe
- United States Xtreme Wrestling
- UXW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- UXW United States Heavyweight Championship (4 times)
- UXW Tag Team Championship (1 time)