Dave@...

Mike Alfonso, better known as Mike Awesome, was found dead on
Saturday evening in the Tampa area according to those close to the
family. He was 42.

Friends were coming to his home in Tampa to pick him up and go out
Saturday night at about 10:30 p.m. and he never answered the door
and found him hanging in the home. It is believed the death was due
to suicide pending results of the autopsy.

Mike Awesome was one of the top foreign stars in FMW in Japan, who
as a high-flying big man was made ECW champion on two occasions in
1999 and 2000. As champion, he signed with WCW, creating a situation
that many feel ended up killing the title as Tazz from WWF was
brought back to ECW to win the title, yet at the same time the title
was jobbed in WWF.

He worked for a few months with WWF after the collapse of WCW, as
well as with All Japan, but had not wrestled in some time. He was
working as a realtor at Coldwell Banker at the time of his death.

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This news really sucks, especially coming so soon after both Doug
Gentry and Bam Bam Bigelow. I really hate how fast wrestlers are
dying right now, it makes me feel somewhat guilty to be a fan.