Michael Majalahti
Encyclopedia
Michael Majalahti is a Canadian-Finnish professional wrestler, singer and artist, better known by the stage name
"The Canadian Rebel" StarBuck. His bands include Stoner Kings, Overnight Sensation and Crossfyre. Majalahti also works as a play-by-play commentator
for the Finnish broadcasts of WWE programming on Eurosport
.
A pioneer in Finnish professional wrestling and the head trainer of his home promotion, Fight Club Finland (FCF), Majalahti has trained talent all across the Nordic countries and has won several championships across Europe. In 2010, Majalahti became a main eventer in Japanese promotion SMASH
, leading FCF's invasion of the promotion and feuding
with the promotion's public face, TAJIRI
, for the Finnish Heavyweight Championship. Having worked several main events and scoring major victories over Japanese legends, he currently holds a win–loss record of 15–2 in the promotion. In October 2011, StarBuck defeated TAJIRI in the finals of a tournament to become the first ever SMASH Champion
.
, Canada
on April 24, 1973. Growing up as a fan of professional wrestling, Majalahti moved to Calgary
in 1992 to pursue art college, before he started working for local wrestling promotion Rocky Mountain Pro Wrestling as a ring announcer and play-by-play commentator. Majalahti became friends with future WWE wrestlers Edge, Christian, Chris Jericho
and Lance Storm
, who, after seeing the potential in him, agreed to become his trainer.
StarBuck, made his professional wrestling debut on January 7, 1994, facing his trainer Lance Storm. In 1996, Majalahti moved to Finland due to Canada's economic recession and quickly made himself a name on the Nordic professional wrestling scene, becoming a pioneer of professional wrestling in Finland, working and training talent for Pro Wrestling Finlandia, which was in 2006 replaced by Fight Club Finland (FCF). Throughout his years in the business, Majalahti has wrestled in countries such as Egypt, United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, United States, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Spain, Germany, Denmark, Poland, Italy, France, among others, and has had a hand in training wrestling talent all across Scandinavia since 2003. Wrestling on the European independent circuit
, he has won the Italian Heavyweight Championship (IWS), the Italian Intercontinental Championship (IWS), the Finnish Wrestling Championship, and the European Heavyweight Wrestling Championship (WS).
's new SMASH
promotion on May 29, 2010, at SMASH.3, appearing in a video to start an invasion storyline involving wrestlers from Fight Club Finland. After several more videos and a match, where FCF wrestler Valentine lost the Finnish Heavyweight Championship to TAJIRI, StarBuck announced that he was going come to Japan in person to reclaim his promotion's title. StarBuck made his SMASH wrestling debut on July 24 at SMASH.5, squashing Hajime Ohara
, winning the match by pinning him with one finger after a spike piledriver, finally achieving his dream of working in Japan in the process. Later that same day on SMASH.6, StarBuck defeated TAJIRI in the main event in similar manner to regain the Finnish Heavyweight Championship, his fourth time winning the title. After the match, Hajime Ohara turned on TAJIRI and joined StarBuck's group of FCF wrestlers. After successfully defending the title against AKIRA
on September 24 at SMASH.8, StarBuck lost the Finnish Heavyweight Championship back to TAJIRI on November 22 at SMASH.10, after which he was attacked by the debuting Austrian wrestler Michael Kovac, who announced his intention of taking over SMASH. On January 29, 2011, at SMASH.12, Kovac defeated StarBuck in a grudge match and used the momentum to capture the Finnish Heavyweight Championship from TAJIRI later that same day on SMASH.13. Meanwhile, StarBuck went on a win streak, scoring pinfall victories over Super Crazy
, TAJIRI on two more occasions, Takao Ōmori
, Yoshiaki Yago, Leatherface and Shinya Ishikawa.
After TAJIRI agreed to let an FCF representative participate in the tournament to determine the first ever SMASH Champion
, StarBuck won an eight man tournament in FCF in July to the second round of the SMASH Championship tournament. StarBuck returned to Japan on August 11 at SMASH.20, defeating Genichiro Tenryu
, who had upset Michael Kovac in his opening round match, to advance to the semifinals of the tournament. On September 8 at SMASH.21, StarBuck defeated the Mexican VENENO in the semifinals to set up a grudge match with TAJIRI in the finals of the tournament. On October 28 at SMASH.22, StarBuck defeated TAJIRI with his signature spike piledriver to become the first ever SMASH Champion. After the match, both competitors were attacked by the returning Michael Kovac, who had previously in the event revealed former WWE wrestler Dave Finlay
as his new associate and now revealed that he was coming to SMASH for the SMASH Championship, before he was chased out of the ring by Hajime Ohara and AKIRA. The event seemingly brought StarBuck and TAJIRI together to fight a common enemy, with StarBuck declaring war on Finlay, his first challenger for the SMASH Championship. On November 24 at Smash.23, StarBuck lost the Smash Championship to Finlay in his first defense.
(Unia album), Stratovarius
(Stratovarius album), Lordi
(The Arockalypse and The Monsterican Dream albums), Celesty
(Vendetta album), The Souls (The Grand Confusion), Widescreen Mode
(The Hanging Man album), Godsplague (Evilution and Triumph albums), Thunderstone
(Tools of Destruction album), Timo Kotipelto
(Coldness and Serenity albums), in addition to others. Majalahti has also created the characters of children's heavy metal band Hevisaurus
, and has illustrated the band's album covers.
Majalahti is a licensed FAF gym instructor, serving as a freelance personal trainer and coach in Finland. He also works as a freelance graphic artist and illustrator, and has been known to do perform translation work from Finnish to English for several companies.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
"The Canadian Rebel" StarBuck. His bands include Stoner Kings, Overnight Sensation and Crossfyre. Majalahti also works as a play-by-play commentator
Sports commentator
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
for the Finnish broadcasts of WWE programming on Eurosport
Eurosport
Eurosport is a pan-European television sport network operated by French broadcaster TF1 Group. The network of channels are available in 59 countries, in 20 different languages providing viewers with European and international sporting events...
.
A pioneer in Finnish professional wrestling and the head trainer of his home promotion, Fight Club Finland (FCF), Majalahti has trained talent all across the Nordic countries and has won several championships across Europe. In 2010, Majalahti became a main eventer in Japanese promotion SMASH
Smash (professional wrestling)
Smash is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in December 2009 following the folding of Hustle. In the fall of 2009 Hustle ran into financial problems that led to several show cancellations. After a planned restructuring and restarting of the promotion failed, a number of officials...
, leading FCF's invasion of the promotion and feuding
Feud (professional wrestling)
A professional wrestling feud is a staged rivalry between multiple wrestlers or alliances of wrestlers. They are integrated into ongoing storylines, particularly in events which are televised...
with the promotion's public face, TAJIRI
Yoshihiro Tajiri
, is a Japanese professional wrestler, perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment. He is currently competing in SMASH as TAJIRI.-Early years :...
, for the Finnish Heavyweight Championship. Having worked several main events and scoring major victories over Japanese legends, he currently holds a win–loss record of 15–2 in the promotion. In October 2011, StarBuck defeated TAJIRI in the finals of a tournament to become the first ever SMASH Champion
Smash Championship
The Smash Championship is a professional wrestling championship, owned and promoted by the Japanese promotion in Smash. Championship reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in which competitors are involved in scripted rivalries. These narratives create feuds between the various...
.
Early life
Majalahti was born to Finnish parents in Timmins, OntarioTimmins, Ontario
Timmins is a city in northeastern Ontario, Canada on the Mattagami River. At the time of the Canada 2006 Census, Timmins' population was 42,997...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
on April 24, 1973. Growing up as a fan of professional wrestling, Majalahti moved to Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
in 1992 to pursue art college, before he started working for local wrestling promotion Rocky Mountain Pro Wrestling as a ring announcer and play-by-play commentator. Majalahti became friends with future WWE wrestlers Edge, Christian, Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho
Christopher Keith Irvine , better known by his ring name Chris Jericho, is an inactive Canadian-American professional wrestler, musician, songwriter, radio personality, television host, actor, author, and dancer...
and Lance Storm
Lance Storm
Lance Timothy Evers known professionally by his ring name Lance Storm, is a semi-retired Canadian professional wrestler. He is best known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and World Championship Wrestling...
, who, after seeing the potential in him, agreed to become his trainer.
Europe
Majalahti, adopting the ring nameRing name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
StarBuck, made his professional wrestling debut on January 7, 1994, facing his trainer Lance Storm. In 1996, Majalahti moved to Finland due to Canada's economic recession and quickly made himself a name on the Nordic professional wrestling scene, becoming a pioneer of professional wrestling in Finland, working and training talent for Pro Wrestling Finlandia, which was in 2006 replaced by Fight Club Finland (FCF). Throughout his years in the business, Majalahti has wrestled in countries such as Egypt, United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, United States, Estonia, Norway, Sweden, Spain, Germany, Denmark, Poland, Italy, France, among others, and has had a hand in training wrestling talent all across Scandinavia since 2003. Wrestling on the European independent circuit
Independent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...
, he has won the Italian Heavyweight Championship (IWS), the Italian Intercontinental Championship (IWS), the Finnish Wrestling Championship, and the European Heavyweight Wrestling Championship (WS).
Smash
StarBuck made his debut for Yoshihiro TajiriYoshihiro Tajiri
, is a Japanese professional wrestler, perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment. He is currently competing in SMASH as TAJIRI.-Early years :...
's new SMASH
Smash (professional wrestling)
Smash is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in December 2009 following the folding of Hustle. In the fall of 2009 Hustle ran into financial problems that led to several show cancellations. After a planned restructuring and restarting of the promotion failed, a number of officials...
promotion on May 29, 2010, at SMASH.3, appearing in a video to start an invasion storyline involving wrestlers from Fight Club Finland. After several more videos and a match, where FCF wrestler Valentine lost the Finnish Heavyweight Championship to TAJIRI, StarBuck announced that he was going come to Japan in person to reclaim his promotion's title. StarBuck made his SMASH wrestling debut on July 24 at SMASH.5, squashing Hajime Ohara
Hajime Ohara
Hajime Ohara is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for Smash. Ohara worked for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre in Mexico for several years as part of his training mixing the Lucha Libre style of Mexico with the Japanese Puroresu style of wrestling.-Mexico:Hajime Ohara trained for...
, winning the match by pinning him with one finger after a spike piledriver, finally achieving his dream of working in Japan in the process. Later that same day on SMASH.6, StarBuck defeated TAJIRI in the main event in similar manner to regain the Finnish Heavyweight Championship, his fourth time winning the title. After the match, Hajime Ohara turned on TAJIRI and joined StarBuck's group of FCF wrestlers. After successfully defending the title against AKIRA
Akira Nogami
is a Japanese professional wrestler and actor, currently working for Yoshihiro Tajiri's Smash promotion as AKIRA.-New Japan Pro Wrestling :...
on September 24 at SMASH.8, StarBuck lost the Finnish Heavyweight Championship back to TAJIRI on November 22 at SMASH.10, after which he was attacked by the debuting Austrian wrestler Michael Kovac, who announced his intention of taking over SMASH. On January 29, 2011, at SMASH.12, Kovac defeated StarBuck in a grudge match and used the momentum to capture the Finnish Heavyweight Championship from TAJIRI later that same day on SMASH.13. Meanwhile, StarBuck went on a win streak, scoring pinfall victories over Super Crazy
Super Crazy
Francisco Islas Rueda is a Mexican professional wrestler, or Luchador, best known by his ring name Super Crazy. Islas is most known for his three year run in the original ECW...
, TAJIRI on two more occasions, Takao Ōmori
Takao Omori
is a Japanese semi-retired professional wrestler, currently competing for New Japan Pro Wrestling. He has formerly competed in All Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Noah and Pro Wrestling Zero1.-All Japan Pro Wrestling :...
, Yoshiaki Yago, Leatherface and Shinya Ishikawa.
After TAJIRI agreed to let an FCF representative participate in the tournament to determine the first ever SMASH Champion
Smash Championship
The Smash Championship is a professional wrestling championship, owned and promoted by the Japanese promotion in Smash. Championship reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in which competitors are involved in scripted rivalries. These narratives create feuds between the various...
, StarBuck won an eight man tournament in FCF in July to the second round of the SMASH Championship tournament. StarBuck returned to Japan on August 11 at SMASH.20, defeating Genichiro Tenryu
Genichiro Tenryu
Genichiro Tenryu , real name Genichiro Shimada , is a Japanese professional wrestler. At age 13, he entered sumo wrestling and stayed there for 13 years, after which he turned to Western-style professional wrestling...
, who had upset Michael Kovac in his opening round match, to advance to the semifinals of the tournament. On September 8 at SMASH.21, StarBuck defeated the Mexican VENENO in the semifinals to set up a grudge match with TAJIRI in the finals of the tournament. On October 28 at SMASH.22, StarBuck defeated TAJIRI with his signature spike piledriver to become the first ever SMASH Champion. After the match, both competitors were attacked by the returning Michael Kovac, who had previously in the event revealed former WWE wrestler Dave Finlay
Dave Finlay
David John "Fit" Finlay Jr. is a Northern Irish professional wrestler and road agent. He is perhaps best known for his time in World Championship Wrestling and WWE as an active wrestler and later as a road agent...
as his new associate and now revealed that he was coming to SMASH for the SMASH Championship, before he was chased out of the ring by Hajime Ohara and AKIRA. The event seemingly brought StarBuck and TAJIRI together to fight a common enemy, with StarBuck declaring war on Finlay, his first challenger for the SMASH Championship. On November 24 at Smash.23, StarBuck lost the Smash Championship to Finlay in his first defense.
Other endeavours
Majalahti has coached several Finnish rock and metal vocalists and bands in better English, both in regards to lyrics and pronunciation/enunciation. Known acts that Majalahti has worked with in some capacity are Sonata ArcticaSonata Arctica
Sonata Arctica are a Finnish power metal band from the town of Kemi, originally assembled in 1995. Their later works contain several elements typical of progressive metal.....
(Unia album), Stratovarius
Stratovarius
Stratovarius are a Finnish power metal band that formed in 1984. Since their formation they have released 13 studio albums and one live album. Along with Helloween, Blind Guardian, Rhapsody of Fire and Gamma Ray, Stratovarius are considered one of the leading groups of the power metal and symphonic...
(Stratovarius album), Lordi
Lordi
Lordi is a Finnish hard rock/heavy metal band, formed in 1996 by the band's lead singer, songwriter and costume-designer, Mr. Lordi. The band is known for wearing monster masks and using pyrotechnics during concerts...
(The Arockalypse and The Monsterican Dream albums), Celesty
Celesty
Celesty is a Finnish power metal band from Seinäjoki, formed in 1998. The band has released four albums, of which their latest includes a collaboration with the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra and a professional choir....
(Vendetta album), The Souls (The Grand Confusion), Widescreen Mode
Widescreen Mode
Widescreen Mode is a heavy melodic band from Riihimäki, Finland.-History:Widescreen Mode’s members are no strangers to playing together, the four-some originally formed the band Fairlane until career decisions in the 1990s forced them to split up and move on...
(The Hanging Man album), Godsplague (Evilution and Triumph albums), Thunderstone
Thunderstone (band)
Thunderstone is a Power metal band from Helsinki, Finland. The band was formed in 2000 by guitarist Nino Laurenne, and the line-up became full the following year. After the release of the band's self-titled debut album, Thunderstone, the band toured Europe supporting Stratovarius and Symphony X...
(Tools of Destruction album), Timo Kotipelto
Timo Kotipelto
Timo Antero Kotipelto is the vocalist of the Finnish power metal band Stratovarius and is the creator and vocalist of the power metal band Kotipelto...
(Coldness and Serenity albums), in addition to others. Majalahti has also created the characters of children's heavy metal band Hevisaurus
Hevisaurus
Hevisaurus is a Finnish Power Metal Children's music band, who dress in dinosaur costumes. The band was started by Thunderstone drummer Mirka Rantanen...
, and has illustrated the band's album covers.
Majalahti is a licensed FAF gym instructor, serving as a freelance personal trainer and coach in Finland. He also works as a freelance graphic artist and illustrator, and has been known to do perform translation work from Finnish to English for several companies.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Attitude Adjustment (Spike piledriver)
- Superkick
- Signature moves
- Fist drop
- Russian legsweep
- Sitout double underhook powerbomb
- Slingshot suplex
- NicknameNicknameA nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
s- "The Canadian Rebel"
- "The Nordic God"
- Entrance themesMusic in professional wrestlingMusic in professional wrestling serves a variety of purposes. The most common uses of music in professional wrestling is that of the entrance theme, a song or piece of instrumental music which plays as a performer approaches the ring...
- "Eye of the TigerEye of the Tiger"Eye of the Tiger" is a single by American rock band Survivor, from their third album Eye of the Tiger. It was released as a single on May 29, 1982, the same year as the album. It was written at the request of actor Sylvester Stallone, who was unable to get permission for Queen's "Another One Bites...
" by SurvivorSurvivor (band)Survivor is an American rock band formed in Chicago in 1978. The band achieved its greatest success in the 1980s with its AOR sound, which garnered many charting singles, especially in the United States. The band is best known for its double platinum-certified 1982 hit "Eye of the Tiger", the theme... - "Swatting at Flies" by Flotsam and JetsamFlotsam and Jetsam (band)Flotsam and Jetsam is a thrash metal band that formed in Phoenix, Arizona in 1982.-1981-1986: The beginning:The band's original name was "Paradox" founded by Drummer Kelly David-Smith and two other guitarists, until 1982 when bassist Jason Newsted joined. Jason had come to Phoenix with his band...
- "Eye of the Tiger
Championships and accomplishments
- European Professional Wrestling
- European Tag Team Championship (1 time, current) – with Mikey Whiplash
- EuroStars
- European Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- Fight Club Finland
- Finnish Heavyweight Championship (4 times)
- Italian Wrestling Superstars
- Italian Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Italian Intercontinental Championship (1 time)
- SmashSmash (professional wrestling)Smash is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in December 2009 following the folding of Hustle. In the fall of 2009 Hustle ran into financial problems that led to several show cancellations. After a planned restructuring and restarting of the promotion failed, a number of officials...
- Smash ChampionshipSmash ChampionshipThe Smash Championship is a professional wrestling championship, owned and promoted by the Japanese promotion in Smash. Championship reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in which competitors are involved in scripted rivalries. These narratives create feuds between the various...
(1 time)
- Smash Championship
- TopCatch
- European Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
External links
- Fight Club Finland profile
- Smash profile
- Feature article at Canoe.ca
- Cagematch profile
- StarBuck at MySpace.com
- Majalahti at Maximal.tv
- Stoner Kings at MySpace.com