Mike Sanders (wrestler)

For the former National Basketball Association (NBA) player, see Mike Sanders (basketball).

Mike Sanders
Born	(1969-07-20) July 20, 1969 Smyrna, Georgia
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Mike Sanders
Billed height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Billed weight	225 lb (102 kg)
Trained by	Paul Orndorff at the WCW Power Plant
Debut	1998
Retired	2004

Michael Edwin Neil Sanders (born July 20, 1969) is an American stand-up comedian and former professional wrestler. Sanders is best known for his time in WCW as "Above Average" Mike Sanders.

Early life

Prior to entering professional wrestling, Sanders served four years in the United States Army. He also worked for his father's tow truck business.

World Championship Wrestling (1998–2001)

Sanders trained at the WCW Power Plant before debuting in World Championship Wrestling in 1998. He finally made his official debut as "Above Average" Mike Sanders on the August 9, 2000 edition of Thunder where he was defeated by Norman Smiley in a hardcore match.

On the following week's Thunder, Sanders helped form the Natural Born Thrillers with Chuck Palumbo, Shawn Stasiak, Sean O'Haire, Mark Jindrak, and Reno by attacking the Filthy Animals. Sanders would serve as the faction's cocky, arrogant mouthpiece. On September 27, he was put in charge by Vince Russo and went on to win the WCW Cruiserweight Championship on the October 2 edition of Monday Nitro. He would eventually lose the Cruiserweight title to Chavo Guerrero Jr. on the December 6 edition of Thunder.

At Halloween Havoc, Sanders defeated Ernest "The Cat" Miller by countout in the 3rd round of a kickboxing match to become the new onscreen WCW Commissioner. As Commissioner, Sanders abused his power to the advantage of the Thrillers. However, Ernest Miller became Commissioner again after he defeated Sanders at WCW Sin on January 14, 2001.

From here Sanders became a protege to WCW's onscreen CEO Ric Flair. Sanders also continued his alliance with Reno and working with the Natural Born Thrillers until the group's dissolution in February 2001, after Johnny The Bull reformed the Mamalukes with Big Vito and members Shawn Stasiak and Mark Jindrak began feuding with Sean O'Haire and Chuck Palumbo over the WCW Tag Team Championship.

Sanders continued wrestling random singles matches until the March 14 episode of Thunder, where he formed a short lived tag team with Disco Inferno. In their first match together, they were defeated by Hugh Morrus and Konnan. Sanders' last WCW appearance was on the March 19 edition of Nitro when and tried assisting Disco in his match against Jason Jett only for Disco to lose. In late March 2001, the World Wrestling Federation bought out WCW.

World Wrestling Federation (2001–2002)

When WCW was purchased by the World Wrestling Federation, Sanders' contract was acquired as part of the deal. However, he only wrestled one dark match on August 6, 2001 before Monday Night Raw. This was a losing effort to Reno, a fellow member of The Alliance. Sanders was then sent to the Cincinnati, Ohio based Heartland Wrestling Association, then a WWF developmental territory. There he was a member of Team WCW along with Johnny The Bull, Reno, Mark Jindrak, Jason Jett, Lash LaRoux, Shannon Moore, Evan Karagias, Kwee Wee, Elix Skipper and Jamie Knoble.

Sanders later formed a tag team with Lance Cade. On February 13, 2002, the duo captured the Tag Team titles by defeating Val Venis and Steve Bradley, but the belts were vacated the following week, and Lance Cade and Steve Bradley became the new champions.

In March 2002, Sanders became head Booker of HWA. Sanders' last bout under his WWF - recently renamed WWE - contract was a dark match before Raw on June 24, 2002, where he and Jason Sugarman defeated B.J. Payne and Steve Bradley.

Sanders was released from the company on July 19, 2002, along with Jason Jett, Race Steele, Steve Bradley, and Jason Sugarman.

Independent circuit, TNA, and Ring of Glory (2002–present)

Sanders was hired by the World Wrestling All-Stars promotion on November 28, 2002 and toured Europe as the onscreen commissioner of the promotion.

In January 2003 he joined Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. He was released in August 2003.

In 2004, Sanders started wrestling for Georgia Championship Wrestling and Universal Championship Wrestling.

Sanders still wrestles occasionally but has not been working a regular schedule. Sanders returned to the ring on February 20, 2005 in Vince Russo's Ring of Glory where he and Disco Inferno defeated Adam Jacobs and Johnny Swinger.

Sanders' most recent wrestling appearances have been with the Wrestling Alliance of the Rockies (WAR) promotion based out of Salt Lake City, Utah. On January 22, 2011, he was slated to appear in WAR's Operation Outlaw featuring the New Age Outlaws.

Comedy career

After competing for WCW, WWF, and TNA among numerous independent promotions, Sanders retired from professional wrestling and did his first open mic at the Punchline Comedy Club in Sandy Springs, Georgia. After just a few months in the business, Sanders got his first paying gig at the Orlando Improv, where he is now a regular.

Sanders has performed with such comedians as Tommy Davidson, Mark Lundholm, Diana Jordan, Craig Robinson, Vinnie Coppola, and many others. He currently performs at clubs and corporate events and gives motivational speeches.

Personal life

Sanders and his ex-wife DeLana have two children, son Kenny and daughter Alexis.

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • 3.0 (Inverted headlock backbreaker)

• Signature moves
  • End Result (Hammerlock shoulder jawbreaker)
  • Kneeling inverted sharpshooter
  • Military press slam
  • Pumphandle suplex
  • Standing moonsault off of the ring apron onto a standing opponent outside of the ring

• Nicknames
  • "Above Average"

Championships and accomplishments

• Big Time Wrestling (California)
  • BTW United States Championship (1 time)

• Heartland Wrestling Association
  • HWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Lance Cade

• Southern Championship Wrestling
  • SCW Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Universal Championship Wrestling
  • UCW American Jr. Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• World Championship Wrestling
  • WCW Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)

External links

• Official website
• Official Myspace page
• 55 Minute Interview on Dropkick Radio (conducted on 19 March 2009) (Interview is the final 55 minutes of the show)