Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including the debut of Nick Wayne, Ibushi debuting for AEW with Blood and Guts, the death of Mantaur, Adrian Adonis, full recaps of AEW and NXT and tons more. A packed show as always so check it out~!
Timestamps:
Start: Fallout from AEW Dynamite, AEW may move to 12 pay-per-views
20:34: Manutar passes away
28:08: Ratings
34:42: A huge weekend ahead, G1 Climax lineups
38:28: Dave’s Adrian Adonis Dark Side of the Ring thoughts
WWE issued the following statement on Halac’s passing:
WWE is saddened to learn that Mike Halac, better known to WWE fans as Mantaur, has passed away.
Halac’s combination of size and charisma immediately captivated fans worldwide as he took to the ring in a giant bull head to highlight his half-man, half-minotaur persona. Halac spent time in both WWE and ECW where he faced some of the biggest stars of his generation like Bam Bam Bigelow, Razor Ramon, and Bret Hart. WWE extends its condolences to Mike Halac’s family, friends and fans.
Halac is a former USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion, having defeated Jerry Lawler for the belt on March 15, 1997. He wrestled as Tank from The Truth Commission at the time. Lawler would win the belt back from him just one week later.
Starting his career in the early 90s, Halac wrestled as Bruiser Mastino until signing with WWE in 1994. He then adopted the half-man, half-bull gimmick of Mantaur. He was entered into the 1995 Royal Rumble and had televised matches with Bret Hart and Razor Ramon as the character. He left the company in the summer of 95 and briefly wrestled in ECW as Bruiser Mastino. Halac then became The Truth Commission’s Tank in USWA and WWE in 1997 before joining Germany’s CWA promotion.
In 2019, Halac was entered into the Clusterf**k battle royal at GCW Joey Janela’s Spring Break.
