http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/h...t.asp?aID=18705

 

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.

This is just shocking to say the least.

 

This ranks up there with Eddie Guerrero's and Curt Hennig's deaths.

 

In a non-Goldbergish tone / manner, who's next?

I don't think it ranks up there with Eddie's death or Curt's in wrestling in response or impact but it is shocking as it was completely unexpected. Personally, i don't like to think about who is next because you hope that despite all their faults, that these guys can get it together and live a decent life.

I agree with GH on this. In terms of impact on the general wrestling fan this is no where near the level of Eddy or Hennig. Mike Awesome was no where near the star that the other two were and wasn't in any type of spotlight for years. Sadly most fans wouldn't even know who he was. He was a midcarder in WCW and a jobber in WWF.

 

It's sad that he was depressed enough to take his own life and I feel for his family's loss.