Mikhail Ivanov (wrestler)

Mikhail Ivanov
Born (1982-08-14) August 14, 1982
Leningrad, Russian SFSR, USSR
Residence Fort Lauderdale, Florida[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Mikhail Ivanov
Michael Sain
Mike Osbourne
Cyco[2]
Billed height 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)[3]
Billed weight 282 lb (128 kg)[3]
Billed from St. Petersburg, Russia
Trained by "Brutal" Bob Evans
Steve Bradley
Jimmy Snuka
Soulman Alex G[1]
Debut 2001[2]

Mikhail Ivanov (Russian: Михаил Иванов, tr. Mikhail Ivanov) (pronounced 'Ee-van-ov') is a Russian professional wrestler. He wrestles on the independent circuit throughout the Southeastern United States as well as New England and Puerto Rico as one half of the Red Devil Fight Team with Aleksander Chekov.

Professional wrestling career

Independent promotions (2001–present)

Ivanov made his debut in 2001. He began training with Bob Evans in Rhode Island shortly after his professional debut. Ivanov credits Evans as his primary trainer and is a close friend of his to this day.[1]

Ivanov performed as "Michael Sain" for the majority of his career before deciding to use his given birth name and dropping the "gothic psychopath" character. He began working the character for Rampage Professional Wrestling out of Maine, where he made his debut, and continued to use the character until he relocated to Florida in 2008. Ivanov worked for several companies in the New England region, including New England Championship Wrestling, Wrestling Federation of America, PWF Northeast, Eastern Pro Wrestling, Eastern Wrestling Alliance, Top Rope Promotions, and many others. It was through Wrestling Federation of America that he met and began training with Steve Bradley.[2]

Northeast Wrestling (2006–2009)

Ivanov appeared on every event for Northeast Wrestling beginning on the December 9, 2006 event "Holiday Havoc" in Southington, Connecticut,[4] where he lost a match to Sgt. Slaughter. His last event for Northeast Wrestling was March 28, 2009 in Bristol, Connecticut, where he was in a 6-man tag team match partnering with Caleb Konley and Jake Manning vs. Kevin Nash, Reid Flair, and Charlie Dreamer. During his near 3-year tenure with the company, he wrestled many top name stars including Sgt. Slaughter, Kevin Nash, Kurt Angle, "The Monster" Abyss, Big Daddy V, Mick Foley and a long-standing feud with Jerry "The King" Lawler that culminated in a Steel Cage Match at "Wrestlefest XII" in Bristol, Connecticut on April 19, 2008.

New England Championship Wrestling (2002–2005; 2007–2010)

Ivanov was a mainstay with New England Championship Wrestling from 2002 through 2005, having held the NECW Heavyweight Championship on two occasions.[5] He captured his first Heavyweight title from Maverick Wild on April 25, 2004 in Somerville, Massachusetts, ending a near 2-year championship reign of Wild. He would lose the championship 3 months later to Frankie Arion, only to regain it a month after losing it. On December 14, 2004, he would lose the championship for good to Chris Venom. He would later go on to unsuccessfully challenge Fergal Devitt for the NWA British Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship on October 29, 2005,[6] in a very rare title defense of the championship in the United States. Shortly thereafter, he left the company when owner Sheldon Goldberg merged the company with another local company, PWF Northeast.[7]

After a 2 1/2 year hiatus, Ivanov returned to New England Championship Wrestling once again as Michael Sain, attacking Evan Siks after a match, starting a brief feud between the two.

Coastal Championship Wrestling (2008–present)

After relocating in 2008 to South Florida, Ivanov began to work regularly for Coastal Championship Wrestling, based in Coral Springs, FL. His first match with the company was at CCW's "4th Anniversary" event in Coral Springs, in which he wrestled as the Michael Sain character in a match with D'Lo Brown. Nearly 3 months later on June 14, 2008 at CCW's "Summer Showdown" event in Coral Springs, Michael Sain would wrestle and lose to Kaotic Romeo in what would be the last time Ivanov would appear as the "Michael Sain" character in Florida. One month later, Ivanov would appear as "Mikhail Koloff" in a 6-man tag team match at CCW's "Summer Heat" event, also in Coral Springs. This was the first glimpse of the Russian character he would then take on full-time. After drawing some criticism, Ivanov decided to drop the "Koloff" last name and just go with his given name.[1] Ivanov would continue to appear on nearly every event for the company, primarily in singles contests, until he would join up with longtime friend, Aleksander Chekov, and form the Red Devil Fight Team tag team.[1]

Red Devil Fight Team (2009–present)

The Red Devil Fight Team w/ manager Dr. Red Tyler

Ivanov and Chekov put together the Red Devil Fight Team after an invitation to meet with TNA Wrestling at a TV taping in Orlando, FL. in the spring of 2009.[1] They formed the idea from a storyline in TNA about an International Tag Team tournament featuring tag teams from several different countries in the world. The first appearance would be on New England Championship Wrestling's internet television program, in a commercial advertising their debut at a live event in Quincy, MA. in July 2009. The two would not make the event due to a sudden illness to Ivanov. The very first live appearance for the Red Devil Fight Team would be in Fall River, MA. for Top Rope Promotions on Sept. 18, 2009, where they would lose to the team of Matt Taven and Jimmy Preston. The following night on Sept. 19th, 2009 would be their actual in ring debut for New England Championship Wrestling in Quincy, MA. where they were a part of the Inaugural Tag Team Classic tournament event. They would make it to the finals of the tournament, which was won by the team of Don Vega and Ryan Bispal. They would continue to wrestle in South Florida for Coastal Championship Wrestling, as well as National Wrestling Council out of North Miami Beach, FL., where they would hold the Tag Team Championships on one occasion. Recently, they have begun working for Future Of Wrestling as well as Victory Wrestling Association in Tampa, FL.[1] They are the former Coastal Championship Wrestling Tag Team Champions, having defeated JT Flash and JB Cool on June 19, 2010 in Coral Springs, FL. On August 6, 2011, Ivanov & Chekov also captured their first Future Of Wrestling Tag Team Championships by defeating the team of Chris Jones & E.R.A., III in Hollywood, Florida.

Personal life

Ivanov currently lives in Fort Lauderdale, FL.[1] He has a younger sister, Melissa, who was born in the United States. He moved to the United States at a very young age. Ivanov, and his tag team partner Aleksander Chekov, have been best friends for nearly 18 years. Ivanov is also close friends with Fred Curry, Jr., the son of "Flying" Fred Curry and grandson of "Wild" Bull Curry. Ivanov is also an avid Major League Baseball fan, with his favorite team being the Baltimore Orioles.[1]

In wrestling

Ivanov with a rear chinlock on Phi Delta Slam's Bruno Sassi

Championships and accomplishments

New England Championship Wrestling

  • PWI Ranked him # 281 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 2008[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "The Do Your J.O.B. Wrestling Hour".
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Wrestler of the Month - Jan. 2005". The New England Independent. J. Jakan. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Mikhail Ivanov bio". CCW's Main Website. Coastal Championship Wrestling. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  4. ↑ "Northeast Wrestling". Northeast Wrestling.
  5. 1 2 "NECW Heavyweight Title History". Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  6. ↑ "NECW Plainfield Results, 10-29-05". The Burning Hammer Independent Wrestling Forum. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
  7. ↑ "NECW-PWF/NE Merger". Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  8. ↑ "CCW Rankings". Coastal Championship Wrestling. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  9. ↑ "PWI 500 for 2008". Retrieved 17 July 2011.
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