Mike Rotunda

Lawrence Michael Rotunda, better known as Mike Rotunda, or Mike Rotundo, is an American Professional Wrestler.

Profile

• Height: 6'3" (190.5 cm)
• Weight: 255lbs (115.7 kg)
• Birthday: March 30, 1958
• Hometown: Syracuse, New York
• Trained By: Dick Beyer
• Professional Debut: September 22, 1981
• Previous Manager(s): Captain Lou Albano, Kevin Sullivan, Miss Alexandra York, Ted DiBiase, Jimmy Hart
• Quotes: "You can pay me now or you will pay me later."

Previous Identities

• Captain Mike
• Irwin R. Schyster
• Michael Wallstreet
• Mike Drond
• Mike Rotunda
• Mike Rotundo
• Mr. Wallstreet
• V.K. Wallstreet

Finishing/Signature Moves

• Stock Market Crash (Fallaway Slam)
• Write-Off (Jumping Lariat)
• Penalty (STF)
• Airplane Spin
• Abdominal Stretch
• Butterfly Suplex

Career

Rotunda started wrestling in 1981 as a fan favorite in Florida Championship Wrestling. He often teamed with his real life brother-in-law Barry Windham.

They travelled to the WWF together as the U.S. Express in 1984 and won the Tag Team Titles twice, feuding heavily with Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff.

Mike returned alone to Florida in late 1985 and feuded with Sir Oliver Humperdink's "Shock Troops".

He went the the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions in 1987 and joined Kevin Sullivan's "Varsity Club" after lingering at mid-card level as a face. He bickered with fellow member Rick Steiner over who's alma mater was better and who the better wrestler was. He gave the Florida Title that he won in early 1987 to Steiner and won the NWA TV Title from Nikita Koloff. He began a feud with Jimmy Garvin because Sullivan wanted Garvin's wife Precious. Steiner eventually left the group and they feuded and traded the TV Title before he lost it to Koloff.

"Dr. Death" Steve Williams and Dan Spivey joined the Varsity Club and Mike teamed with Williams to win the NWA Tag Team Titles from the Road Warriors. Referee Theodore Long turned heel during the match and gave a fast count which helped him to become a manager and the Varsity Club to have a new feud.

In May 1989, they were stripped of their titles and Rotunda left the NWA briefly and returned in 1990 as "Captain Mike Rotundo". He got a "crew" together in Abdullah the Butcher and Norman the Lunatic and feuded for awhile with Sullivan's "Slaughterhouse" of Cactus Jack, Buzz Sawyer and Bam Bam Bigelow.

In mid-1990, he became Michael Wallstreet with Alexandra York and her computer as his manager. This lasted briefly as he left for a bigger role in the WWF in early 1991.

In the WWF, he became Irwin R. Shyster, AKA IRS. He harassed all of the faces about paying their taxes and went on to form "Money Inc." with Ted DiBiase and win the Tag Team Titles three times.

He was briefly part of DiBiase's "Million Dollar Corporation" before leaving for WCW. He was a heel as V.K. Wallstreet but did not have the success he had previously had. He joined the nWo briefly at DiBiase's request and wrestled in All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling (where he was a member of nWo Japan) until he retired to run a security company with his wife (Blackjack Mulligan's daughter) in 2004.

Titles and Accomplishments

World Wrestling Federation

• 5-Time World Wrestling Federation World Tag Team Champion (twice with Barry Windham and 3 times with Ted DiBiase)

National Wrestling Alliance

• 1-Time NWA World Tag Team Champion (with Steve Williams)
• 2-Time NWA World Television Champion
• 1-Time NWA Mid-Atlantic Television Champion
• 2-Time NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight Champion
• 2-Time NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion
• 4-Time NWA Florida United States Tag Team Champion (with Barry Windham 3 times & Mike Davis once)
• 1-Time NWA Canadian Television Champion

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked him # 164 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003. He was also ranked twice in the best tag teams during the "PWI Years". He was ranked # 48 with Barry Windham and # 61 with Ted DiBiase.