Mike Kruel

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.

Independent Circuit (1999-2006)

In early 2004, Mike Kruel joined Pro-Pain Pro Wrestling (3PW), losing his first match to Slyk Wagner Brown 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.

World Wrestling Entertainment

Ohio Valley Wrestling (2006-2008)

Mayo, still using the ring name Mike Kruel, debuted in Ohio Valley Wrestling (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

Florida Championship Wrestling (2008-2009)

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.

His father is also a professional wrestler known as Bodyguard for Hire, who wrestled in the 1990s in New York.

• Finishing moves
  • Kruel Bomb (Running crucifix powerbomb)
  • Kruel Escape (Crucifix armbar)
  • Kruel Intentions (Inverted facelock neckbreaker slam)
  • Liberty Lock (Neck crank)
• Signature moves
  • Overhead belly to belly suplex
  • Scoop brainbuster
  • Slingshot suplex
• Managers
  • Roucka
  • JC Hernandez
  • E.S. Easton
  • Prince Nana
  • Wesley Holiday
• Nicknames
  • "The Real American Hero"

• "Mike Kruel's profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-03-26. 
• ^

• Absolute Intense Wrestling
  • AIW Championship (1 time, Current)
• Chaotic Wrestling
  • Chaotic Wrestling Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• East Coast Wrestling Association
  • ECWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• National Wrestling Superstars
  • NWS Light Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
  • Chris Candido Memorial J-Cup Tournament (2005, first)
• Ohio Valley Wrestling
  • OVW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • OVW Television Championship (2 times)
• Prime Time Wrestling
  • PTW Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)
• Pro-Pain Pro Wrestling
  • 3PW Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Gary Wolfe and Simon Diamond
• United States Xtreme Wrestling
  • UXW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • UXW United States Heavyweight Championship (4 times)
  • UXW Tag Team Championship (1 time)

• "Chaotic Wrestling Title Histories". Title Histories. Retrieved 2008-07-11. 
• "East Coast Wrestling Association Heavyweight Championship". Title Histories. Retrieved 2008-08-08. 
• "Independent Wrestling Results - September 2002". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-07-06. 
• ^
• "3PW - Pro Pain Pro Wrestling". Solie's Title Histories. Retrieved 2009-03-16. 
• ^ "United States Extreme Wrestling title histories". Wrestling Information Archive. Retrieved 2010-09-15.