Tim Burke (wrestler)
Encyclopedia
Timothy James "Tim" Burke (October 1, 1960 – June 21, 2011), known by his ring name
Lucifer, was an American professional wrestler
, trainer
and promoter
who competed in numerous East Coast
and Mid-Atlantic independent promotions
during the 1990s and early 2000s; among the promotions he appeared in included the Atlantic Wrestling Federation, East Coast Wrestling Association
, Cueball Carmichael
's Independent Professional Wrestling Alliance
, Long Island Wrestling Federation, New Jack City Wrestling, Regional Championship Wrestling, United Independent Wrestling, and the Wrestling Independent Network.
As co-founder of the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation
with promoter Dennis Wipprecht, Burke was a major figure in Maryland professional wrestling during the 1990s. He not only brought in stars from Extreme Championship Wrestling
, World Championship Wrestling
and the World Wrestling Federation to the area but gave many future independent stars their first big break in the business. His "Brain Buster's Pro Wrestling Academy", the MEWF's official training facility, produced many of these wrestlers, most notably, Ruckus and Tonya Stevens.
Burke went into semi-retirement after the MEWF folded in 2004, partially due to his declining health, and spent his final years in Maryland Championship Wrestling
until his death from cancer six years later. He wrestled his final match at MCW's "Legends of Maryland" show against the Cat Burglar on November 7, 2009, and where he was inducted into the MCW Hall of Fame. The company, which competed against the MEWF in a bitter 5-year rivalry, acknowledged Burke and Wipprecht's role in developing "indy wrestling" on the East Coast and "had it not been for these two men there may not be wrestling in Maryland today".
, Maryland, on October 1, 1960, to Eleanora and William M. Burke. He was trained by Bob Starr
who later helped he and promoter Dennis Wipprecht establish the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation
, then one of the first independent promotions in Maryland
. He made his pro debut as "Lucifer" on its first show held in Pasadena, Maryland
on August 2, 1991. One of his earliest opponents during the MEWF's first year was Rasta the Voodoo Mon
. The MEWF would eventually become of top independent promotions on the Eastern seaboard
during the 1990s. Burke also wrestled for other promotions while running the MEWF, using variations of his "Lucifer" ring name "Mr. Lucifer" and "Lucifer, the Knight of the Road", including the Atlantic Wrestling Federation and the Wrestling Independent Network. While working for promoter Steve Unterman, Burke was involved in several of WIN's charity events, most notably, wrestling Cream Team (Rip "Rest In Piece" Sawyer
and "Diamond" Dave Casanova
) with Morgus The Maniac
at the Preakness Festival in Highlandtown, Baltimore
on May 16, and Ivan Koloff for the Ronald McDonald House at Martin's North Point on November 15, 1992.
He and Wipprecht participated in fundraisers for their own promotion as well. Five days after the Ronald McDonald House benefit show, the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation held a fundraiser for North Carroll High School
in the school's gymnasium with the proceeds going towards the purchasing of computer software. The main event saw The Honky Tonk Man
wrestle Max Thrasher and featured appearances from "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert, A.C. Golden, Morgus the Maniac, Rusty "The Fox" Thomas, MEWF Woman's Champion Heidi Lee Morgan
, midget wrestler
s Haiti Kid
and Butch Cassidy, and the Cream Team. Also on the card, AWF Heavyweight Champion Kirk Dredd defended his title against Axl Rotten
. Burke himself wrestled Bob Starr in a stretcher match. Though still a fledgling promotion, which used a 1/3 the budget of its rivals, it eventually outlasted both the United Independent Wrestling and WIN to become the sole remaining promotion in the region.
from Max Thrasher on February 5, 1993, in Gaithersburg, Maryland
. It was also around this time that Burke formed the "Hollywood Hunks" with Bob Starr. In August, they won the ECWA Tag Team Championship
while touring the Mid-Atlantic "indy circuit" which they would hold until their eventual defeat by Ace Darling & Kid Flash two years later. They also briefly held the MEWF Tag Team Championship
, defeating The Goodfellows (Romeo Valentino & Dino Casanova
), before dropping the belts to Road Warrior Hawk
and Ultimate Comet in Catonsville
on November 11, 1994. Two days later, Burke's lost the heavyweight title to Morgus the Maniac in Hampstead
ending his first championship reign after nine months. He regained it the following night in a no-disqualification match at Kenwood High School
in Essex
, and successfully defended it against Doink the Clown
among others, before finally losing the title back to Morgus in Baltimore on May 13, 1994.
On March 26, 1995, Burke attempted to win the MEWF Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship from The Ultimate Comet. In spite of outside interference from Burke's then manager "Stud" Lee Osborne and bodyguard The Freak of Nature, he ended up being pinned by the champion. Months later at the MEWF's annual benefit show for North Carroll High School, Burke officiated a "bunkhouse match" between The Ultimate Comet, now wrestling as Corporal Punishment, and Morgus The Maniac for the MEWF Heavyweight Championship. At the end of the year, he began teaming with the Cat Burglar and the two defeated Bad Crew
for the tag team titles on December 3. Burke made two appearances at the Good Sports Arena in Aberdeen, New Jersey for New Jack City Pro Wrestling and the Garden State Wrestling Alliance. On December 18, 1995, he wrestled Steve Richards, Inferno Kid, and The Juggernaut in a 6-man tag team elimination match with The Dream Team which lasted 34 minutes. He and the Cat Burglar continued defending the belts until February 25, 1996, when Burke was abandoned by his partner in a title defense against Darkside (Glen Osborne
and Rockin' Rebel
) and forced to defend the championship in a handicap match which he lost. He subsequently feuded with Cat Burglar as well as Bob Starr on MEWF television. Their feud ended up spilling into other promotions such as Cueball Carmichael
's Independent Professional Wrestling Alliance
. He continued making appearance in NJCW during the first half of 1997 and later had matches against Joe Thunder
and joined forces with Mad Dog O'Malley
to face Thunder and Gino Caruso.
By the mid-1990s, the MEWF was at the peak of its success. It regularly featured talent from Philadelphia's Extreme Championship Wrestling
, due in part to then booker Axl Rotten, including Raven, Stevie Richards
, The Blue Meanie, Damian Kane, Pit Bull #2
, and Bad Breed
(Ian
and Axl Rotten), as well as The Honky Tonk Man
, Jim Neidhart
, Tom Brandi
, and The Headbangers
from the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling
's Joey Maggs and Disco Inferno
. Several independent stars such as Boo Bradley
, Devon Storm
, Steve Corino
, Jimmy Cicero
, Christian York
, Quinn Nash, and "Judge" Jeff Jones also made their home in the MEWF. Their success encouraged he and Wipprecht opened their own training facility for the MEWF, the "Brain Buster's Pro Wrestling Academy", which included Bob Starr as an instructor.
and Mark Shrader
left the MEWF to form a rival company, Maryland Championship Wrestling
, over creative control and salary disagreements. Most of the roster jumped to the newly formed promotion leaving few of the originals remaining. Axl Rotten, MEWF's longtime booker, was among those who had departed the company which meant MCW was not receiving ECW's talent. Burke was forced to use Brain Buster students to make up the loss while mainstays such as Bob Starr and Morgus The Maniac were tasked with carrying the promotion during 1998–99. Burke brought in World Wrestling Federation legends
including The Honky Tonk Man and George "The Animal" Steele as well as develop new stars through its training facility such as Ruckus and Tonya Stevens. Stevens, one of the few female referees in pro wrestling, was initially trained as a wrestler and later agreed to referee for the promotion.
On April 29, 2000, after Patch was stripped of the MEWF Heavyweight Championship, a match was held between Burke and Max Thrasher for the vacant title in Middle River, Maryland
, which Burke won. "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan
was the special guest referee. During his third championship reign, he defeated Dino Cassanova, Ruckus, and Mad Dog O' Malley. O'Malley would become one Burke's major rivals for the title. Though defeating O'Malley in a cage match several months earlier, he was confronted by the 450 lbs. Irish brawler at a June 24 MEWF house show in Dundalk, Maryland
while conducting an in-ring interview. O'Malley had taken issue with Burke's announcement to the crowd that he would be defending the championship against the "younger and newer competition in the MEWF". After an brief argument between the two, Burke was blindsided by O'Malley and left lying in the ring. Burke ended up getting the better of O'Malley decisively defeating him in their match at the main event. Burke voluntarily forfeited the title on August 9, 2000, at a special memorial show for fellow MEWF wrestler DOA, "DOA: A Night to Remember", in Martinsburg, West Virginia
so DOA could be posthumously awarded the title for one night only. He was defeated for the title by Buzz Stryker back in Middle River three days later.
He and Bob Starr reunited to defeat The Tokyo Terrors (Keushiro and Watsumi) for the MEWF Tag Team Championship a month later. They remained champions for over a year, defending the titles against teams such as The Freak Show and Tommy Hawk & Jimmy Jannetty, before losing the titles to Rayne and Buzz Stryker in Dundalk, Maryland
on October 16, 2001. Burke had one more tag team championship run with his old rival Max Thrasher, winning them KPA on June 9, 2002, and successfully defended the belts until November 24, 2002, when he and Bob Starr (substituting for Thrasher) lost to Chad Bowman and Dino Casanova.
, despite remaining loyal to the promotion and willing to work for less money, being phased out from the company. The promotion also failed to find a long-term replacement for booker Axl Rotten, using Bob Starr and Mark Osbourne among others, instead changing bookers every few months. These reasons, among others, ensured the MEWF would never fully recover. In early 2002, Tim's wife, Donna Burke took over the day-to-day running of the MEWF promoting shows twice a month at Dundalk's North Point Flea Market.
On March 1, 2002, MEWF original Dave Cassanova died following heart attack. A memorial show was held in his honor three months later jointly promoted by both the MEWF and MCW. It was the first time that wrestlers from either promotion appeared in the same ring together since the 1997 split. Lucifer and Thrasher successfully defended the tag titles against Thunder & Ceremery at the show. It was around this time that Derek Wayne, a former student of MCW's Bonebreakers wrestling school, heavily invested in the promotion and became a third co-owner. Wayne was able to make peace between Burke and MCW owner Dan McDevitt and was able to persuade them to begin working together in October 2002. A storyline invasion took place between the two companies for the next seven months, to somewhat mixed reaction from fans, ending with MCW's final show, the 2003 Shane Shamrock Memorial Cup, on July 16, 2003, at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, Maryland
. Burke previously appeared on several MCW show during this time against Gill
berg (January 29, 2003) and with The Holy Rollers (Earl The Pearl & Ramblin Rich) won a six-team blindfolded match with Lita as special guest referee (May 15, 2003).
Though the MEWF was now the single remaining promotion in the Baltimore area, it was unable to win over MCW's former fanbase and attendance gradually dwindled as the booking became increasingly comedic. Former MCW talent began to leave the company and, if fact, many one-time MCW wrestlers refused to work for Burke despite Jeff Jones and Dan McDevitt were now involved backstage. McDevitt would quietly leave within a few months while Derek Wayne was forced out of the company.
Meanwhile, Burke was wrestling less and less. In June 2003, when Brand X's G-Dawg was stuck at the airport, Burke took his place so that his tag team partner Buckchyld would be able to face then MEWF Tag Team Champions Team Punishment (Buzz Stryker & Derek Wayne). One of his last matches was another tag team match with Dustin Timberlake defeating The Cracker Express in Dundalk, Maryland on March 28, 2004. Its final show was held on October 30, 2004.
At MCW's "Legends of Maryland" show, Burke was inducted into the MCW Hall of Fame along with Duane Gill
and Axl Rotten. It was also at the event that he wrestled his final match against the Cat Burglar, which he won.
. At the time of his death, a number of wrestling personalities left messages of condolences at MCW's official website which it then posted publicly. Many of them, such as those from Christian York, Jimmy Cicero, Tonya Stevens and "Judge" Jeff Jones, thanked Burke for giving them their first opportunities in pro wrestling.
At MCW Shane Shamrock Cup 11 on July 30, 2011, a ten-bell salute was observed in honor of Burke's passing. At the time of his MCW Hall of Fame induction, the company acknowledged the contributions of Burke and Dennis Wipprecht stating that "had it not been for these two men there may not be wrestling in Maryland today".
Ring 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:...
Lucifer, was an American professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
, trainer
Personal trainer
A personal trainer is a fitness professional involved in exercise prescription and instruction. They motivate clients by setting goals and providing feedback and accountability to clients. Trainers also measure their client's strengths and weaknesses with fitness assessments...
and promoter
Promoter (entertainment)
An entertainment promoter i.e. music, wrestling, boxing etc is a person or company in the business of marketing and promoting live events such as concerts/gigs, boxing matches, sports entertainment , festivals, raves, and nightclubs.- Business model :Promoters are typically hired as independent...
who competed in numerous East Coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
and Mid-Atlantic independent promotions
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...
during the 1990s and early 2000s; among the promotions he appeared in included the Atlantic Wrestling Federation, East Coast Wrestling Association
East Coast Wrestling Association
East Coast Wrestling Association is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded by promoter Jim Kettner in 1967. It is home to the annual Super 8 Tournament, one of the longest-running independent wrestling tournaments in the country...
, Cueball Carmichael
Cueball Carmichael
Chris Jackson is an American professional wrestler, trainer and promoter, known by his ringname Cueball Carmichael, who competes in the Mid-Atlantic and East Coast independent circuit...
's Independent Professional Wrestling Alliance
Independent Professional Wrestling Alliance
The Independent Professional Wrestling Alliance was an American independent professional wrestling promotion that held events in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States, especially in the Carolinas and Virginia, from October 1995 to February 2001, when it was run by Cueball Carmichael and...
, Long Island Wrestling Federation, New Jack City Wrestling, Regional Championship Wrestling, United Independent Wrestling, and the Wrestling Independent Network.
As co-founder of the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation
Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation
The Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation was a Mid-Atlantic independent professional wrestling promotion based in Essex, Maryland. Founded by promoter Dennis Wippercht and wrestler Tim "Lucifer" Burke in 1991, the MEWF was one of the leading independent promotions on the East Coast during the 1990s...
with promoter Dennis Wipprecht, Burke was a major figure in Maryland professional wrestling during the 1990s. He not only brought in stars from Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
, World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
and the World Wrestling Federation to the area but gave many future independent stars their first big break in the business. His "Brain Buster's Pro Wrestling Academy", the MEWF's official training facility, produced many of these wrestlers, most notably, Ruckus and Tonya Stevens.
Burke went into semi-retirement after the MEWF folded in 2004, partially due to his declining health, and spent his final years in Maryland Championship Wrestling
Maryland Championship Wrestling
Maryland Championship Wrestling is a regional independent wrestling promotion based in Dundalk, Maryland, and has regularly run events in the Mid-Atlantic region since the late 1990s as well as participating in numerous fundraising events throughout the state.Rivaling other east coast independent...
until his death from cancer six years later. He wrestled his final match at MCW's "Legends of Maryland" show against the Cat Burglar on November 7, 2009, and where he was inducted into the MCW Hall of Fame. The company, which competed against the MEWF in a bitter 5-year rivalry, acknowledged Burke and Wipprecht's role in developing "indy wrestling" on the East Coast and "had it not been for these two men there may not be wrestling in Maryland today".
Early career and the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation (1991–1992)
Timothy James Burke was born in BaltimoreBaltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland, on October 1, 1960, to Eleanora and William M. Burke. He was trained by Bob Starr
Bob Starr (wrestler)
Robert A. "Bob" Starr is a semi-retired American professional wrestler, trainer and manager who has competed in numerous independent promotions throughout the United States since his debut in 1988...
who later helped he and promoter Dennis Wipprecht establish the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation
Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation
The Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation was a Mid-Atlantic independent professional wrestling promotion based in Essex, Maryland. Founded by promoter Dennis Wippercht and wrestler Tim "Lucifer" Burke in 1991, the MEWF was one of the leading independent promotions on the East Coast during the 1990s...
, then one of the first independent promotions in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. He made his pro debut as "Lucifer" on its first show held in Pasadena, Maryland
Pasadena, Maryland
Pasadena is a census-designated place in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States. The population was 12,093 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pasadena is located at ....
on August 2, 1991. One of his earliest opponents during the MEWF's first year was Rasta the Voodoo Mon
Lester Speight
Lester Rasta Speight is a former American football player who has had subsequent careers as a professional wrestler and then actor...
. The MEWF would eventually become of top independent promotions on the Eastern seaboard
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
during the 1990s. Burke also wrestled for other promotions while running the MEWF, using variations of his "Lucifer" ring name "Mr. Lucifer" and "Lucifer, the Knight of the Road", including the Atlantic Wrestling Federation and the Wrestling Independent Network. While working for promoter Steve Unterman, Burke was involved in several of WIN's charity events, most notably, wrestling Cream Team (Rip "Rest In Piece" Sawyer
Rip Sawyer
Rip Sawyer is a retired American professional wrestler who competed in the Mid-Atlantic and East Coast independent circuit during the late 1980s and early 1990s. As one-half of The Cream Team with longtime tag team partner Dino Casanova, they won the MEWF Tag Team Championship in the Mid-Eastern...
and "Diamond" Dave Casanova
David DiMeglio
David Mark DiMeglio was an American professional wrestler, best known by his ring name Dino Casanova, who competed in Northeastern independent promotions including the National Wrestling Alliance, Extreme Championship Wrestling and the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation, most notably as one half of...
) with Morgus The Maniac
Morgus the Maniac
Morgus the Maniac is an American professional wrestler who has competed on the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern independent promotions including the Eastern Wrestling Alliance, Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation, National Wrestling League/House of Pain Wrestling Federation and Extreme Championship...
at the Preakness Festival in Highlandtown, Baltimore
Highlandtown, Baltimore
Highlandtown is a neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland, United States.The area currently known as Highlandtown was established in 1866 when the area known as "Snake Hill" was established as a village outside of the Baltimore city limits. The first settlers of the community were primarily Greek...
on May 16, and Ivan Koloff for the Ronald McDonald House at Martin's North Point on November 15, 1992.
He and Wipprecht participated in fundraisers for their own promotion as well. Five days after the Ronald McDonald House benefit show, the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation held a fundraiser for North Carroll High School
North Carroll High School
North Carroll High is a high school located in Hampstead, Maryland, in Carroll County.North Carroll is located at 1400 Panther Drive. The school mascot is a panther, and the school colors are red, white, and black. The school is a part of the Carroll County Public Schools system...
in the school's gymnasium with the proceeds going towards the purchasing of computer software. The main event saw The Honky Tonk Man
The Honky Tonk Man
Roy Wayne Farris , better known by his ring name The Honky Tonk Man, is an American professional wrestler. A 1975 graduate from University of Memphis with a B.S. degree in Education. Coached high school football 2 seasons at Munford High School in Munford, Tennessee...
wrestle Max Thrasher and featured appearances from "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert, A.C. Golden, Morgus the Maniac, Rusty "The Fox" Thomas, MEWF Woman's Champion Heidi Lee Morgan
Heidi Lee Morgan
Heidi Lee Morgan the daughter of Lester Morgan, is a retired American professional wrestler who competed in the World Wrestling Federation, International World Class Championship Wrestling, Ladies Pro Wrestling Association, and National Wrestling Federation...
, midget wrestler
Midget wrestler
A midget professional wrestler is a dwarf or person of short stature who competes in professional wrestling. The heyday of midget wrestling was in the 1950s and 1960s, when wrestlers such as Little Beaver, Lord Littlebrook, and Fuzzy Cupid toured North America, and Sky Low Low was the first holder...
s Haiti Kid
Raymond Kessler
Raymond Kessler was an American professional wrestler, who had dwarfism, wrestled under the name Haiti Kid in the World Wrestling Federation. He appeared in Mr. T's corner at WrestleMania 2 in his match against Rowdy Roddy Piper...
and Butch Cassidy, and the Cream Team. Also on the card, AWF Heavyweight Champion Kirk Dredd defended his title against Axl Rotten
Axl Rotten
Brian Knighton is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name, Axl Rotten.-Early years:After watching a professional wrestling match on television, Knighton decided to become a wrestler...
. Burke himself wrestled Bob Starr in a stretcher match. Though still a fledgling promotion, which used a 1/3 the budget of its rivals, it eventually outlasted both the United Independent Wrestling and WIN to become the sole remaining promotion in the region.
Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation (1993–1997)
After two years in the MEWF, Burke won the MEWF Heavyweight ChampionshipMEWF Heavyweight Championship
The Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Championship is the highest ranking singles title in the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation, one of three in the promotion....
from Max Thrasher on February 5, 1993, in Gaithersburg, Maryland
Gaithersburg, Maryland
Gaithersburg is a city in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. The city had a population of 59,933 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest incorporated city in the state, behind Baltimore, Frederick, and Rockville...
. It was also around this time that Burke formed the "Hollywood Hunks" with Bob Starr. In August, they won the ECWA Tag Team Championship
ECWA Tag Team Championship
ECWA Tag Team Championship are the tag team titles contested in the independent professional wrestling promotion, East Coast Wrestling Association.- Title history :...
while touring the Mid-Atlantic "indy circuit" which they would hold until their eventual defeat by Ace Darling & Kid Flash two years later. They also briefly held the MEWF Tag Team Championship
MEWF Tag Team Championship
This is a chronological list of MEWF tag team champions. The MEWF Tag Team Championship is the oldest championship title in the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation having been established when the Lords of Darkness defeated Cream Team at the MEWF's first show in Pasadena, Maryland on August 2, 1991...
, defeating The Goodfellows (Romeo Valentino & Dino Casanova
David DiMeglio
David Mark DiMeglio was an American professional wrestler, best known by his ring name Dino Casanova, who competed in Northeastern independent promotions including the National Wrestling Alliance, Extreme Championship Wrestling and the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation, most notably as one half of...
), before dropping the belts to Road Warrior Hawk
Road Warrior Hawk
Michael James Hegstrand was an American professional wrestler. He is best remembered as Road Warrior Hawk, one half of the tag team known as the Road Warriors or The Legion of Doom , with Road Warrior Animal.-Early life:While living in Chicago, Hegstrand met Joe Lauranaitis, who would be later...
and Ultimate Comet in Catonsville
Catonsville, Maryland
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:In 2010 Catonsville had a population of 41,567...
on November 11, 1994. Two days later, Burke's lost the heavyweight title to Morgus the Maniac in Hampstead
Hampstead, Maryland
Hampstead is a town in Carroll County in the U.S. state of Maryland. The population was 5,060 at the 2000 census. Hampstead School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.-Geography:Hampstead is located at ....
ending his first championship reign after nine months. He regained it the following night in a no-disqualification match at Kenwood High School
Kenwood High School
Kenwood High School is a Baltimore County public high school located in Essex, Maryland.-About the School:Kenwood has been educating students since 1931. The school was originally housed at 6700 Kenwood Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21237, which is now Golden Ring Middle School...
in Essex
Essex, Maryland
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 39,078 people, 15,952 households, and 10,336 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 4,104.1 people per square mile . There were 16,997 housing units at an average density of 1,785.1 per square mile...
, and successfully defended it against Doink the Clown
Doink the Clown
Doink the Clown is a professional wrestling gimmick, originally used by Matt Osborne in the World Wrestling Federation from 1993 to 1995. Since Osborne's departure from the WWF, the character has been played by several wrestlers, primarily on the independent circuit, as well as in sporadic special...
among others, before finally losing the title back to Morgus in Baltimore on May 13, 1994.
On March 26, 1995, Burke attempted to win the MEWF Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship from The Ultimate Comet. In spite of outside interference from Burke's then manager "Stud" Lee Osborne and bodyguard The Freak of Nature, he ended up being pinned by the champion. Months later at the MEWF's annual benefit show for North Carroll High School, Burke officiated a "bunkhouse match" between The Ultimate Comet, now wrestling as Corporal Punishment, and Morgus The Maniac for the MEWF Heavyweight Championship. At the end of the year, he began teaming with the Cat Burglar and the two defeated Bad Crew
Bad Crew
The Bad Crew was an American professional wrestling tag team consisting of Bad Crew #1 and Bad Crew #2 , who competed in North American regional and independent promotions throughout the 1990s including Extreme Championship Wrestling, Combat Zone Wrestling and World Xtreme Wrestling...
for the tag team titles on December 3. Burke made two appearances at the Good Sports Arena in Aberdeen, New Jersey for New Jack City Pro Wrestling and the Garden State Wrestling Alliance. On December 18, 1995, he wrestled Steve Richards, Inferno Kid, and The Juggernaut in a 6-man tag team elimination match with The Dream Team which lasted 34 minutes. He and the Cat Burglar continued defending the belts until February 25, 1996, when Burke was abandoned by his partner in a title defense against Darkside (Glen Osborne
Glen Osborne
Glen Matthew Osborne is a New Zealand rugby union player, playing as a fullback and wing. He was born in Wanganui.Osborne played representative rugby for Wanganui in the National Provincial Championship from 1990–1991, then for North Harbour from 1992...
and Rockin' Rebel
Rockin' Rebel
Chuck Williams is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Rockin' Rebel. He is best known for his appearances on the U.S...
) and forced to defend the championship in a handicap match which he lost. He subsequently feuded with Cat Burglar as well as Bob Starr on MEWF television. Their feud ended up spilling into other promotions such as Cueball Carmichael
Cueball Carmichael
Chris Jackson is an American professional wrestler, trainer and promoter, known by his ringname Cueball Carmichael, who competes in the Mid-Atlantic and East Coast independent circuit...
's Independent Professional Wrestling Alliance
Independent Professional Wrestling Alliance
The Independent Professional Wrestling Alliance was an American independent professional wrestling promotion that held events in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States, especially in the Carolinas and Virginia, from October 1995 to February 2001, when it was run by Cueball Carmichael and...
. He continued making appearance in NJCW during the first half of 1997 and later had matches against Joe Thunder
Joe Thunder
Joe Carter , better known by his ring name Joe Thunder, is a retired American professional wrestler and trainer who competed on the East Coast and Mid-Atlantic independent circuit during the 1990s and early 2000s, primarily working for the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation in Essex, Maryland during...
and joined forces with Mad Dog O'Malley
Mad Dog O'Malley
Mad Dog O'Malley is a retired American professional wrestler who competed on the East Coast and Mid-Atlantic independent circuit during the 1990s and early 2000s. He was one of the region's most dominant "heels" for much of the decade, billed as a 500 lbs...
to face Thunder and Gino Caruso.
By the mid-1990s, the MEWF was at the peak of its success. It regularly featured talent from Philadelphia's Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
, due in part to then booker Axl Rotten, including Raven, Stevie Richards
Stevie Richards
Michael Manna is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Stevie Richards. Also known by his ring names, Steven Richards and Dr...
, The Blue Meanie, Damian Kane, Pit Bull #2
Anthony Durante
Anthony Durante was a professional wrestler best known as "Pitbull #2" as one half of the tag team The Pitbulls, with "Pitbull #1" Gary Wolfe.-WWF:...
, and Bad Breed
Bad Breed
The Bad Breed was the professional wrestling tag team of Axl Rotten with his storyline brother/real life protégé Ian Rotten. The team achieved their greatest fame in the Philadelphia wrestling promotion Extreme Championship Wrestling but has also competed in the Global Wrestling Federation and...
(Ian
Ian Rotten
John Benson Williams is an American professional Wrestler better known by his ring name Ian Rotten. He has wrestled in Global Wrestling Federation , Extreme Championship Wrestling , and his own wrestling promotion IWA: Mid-South.-Early career:After becoming a fan of Dusty Rhodes and "Superstar"...
and Axl Rotten), as well as The Honky Tonk Man
The Honky Tonk Man
Roy Wayne Farris , better known by his ring name The Honky Tonk Man, is an American professional wrestler. A 1975 graduate from University of Memphis with a B.S. degree in Education. Coached high school football 2 seasons at Munford High School in Munford, Tennessee...
, Jim Neidhart
Jim Neidhart
James Henry "Jim" Neidhart is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances in the 1980s and 1990s in the World Wrestling Federation as Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart. Jim is the father of WWE Diva Natalya...
, Tom Brandi
Tom Brandi
Tom Brandi is a professional wrestler known for his work in World Wrestling Federation as Salvatore Sincere. He is also known for his current work as The Patriot, working for such companies as Pro-Wrestling WORLD-1, National Wrestling Superstars, and other independent promotions on the East...
, and The Headbangers
The Headbangers
The Headbangers is a professional wrestling tag team consisting of Mosh and Thrasher, best known for their work in the World Wrestling Federation...
from the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
's Joey Maggs and Disco Inferno
Glenn Gilberti
Glenn Gilbertti is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling as Disco Inferno. He is also a former road agent for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling....
. Several independent stars such as Boo Bradley
Balls Mahoney
Jonathan Rechner better known by his ring name Balls Mahoney , is an American professional wrestler...
, Devon Storm
Devon Storm
Christopher "Chris" Ford is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his tenure in World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Crowbar, where he was a one time Hardcore Champion, a one time World Tag Team Champion with David Flair and a one time Cruiserweight Champion, which he...
, Steve Corino
Steve Corino
Steven Eugene "Steve" Corino is a Canadian professional wrestler, who currently works for Pro Wrestling Zero1, Ring of Honor and numerous other independent promotions. Corino is a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion and ECW World Heavyweight Champion.-Early years :Corino began wrestling in 1994...
, Jimmy Cicero
Jimmy Cicero
Matt Bowman, best known by his ring name "Wiseguy" Jimmy Cicero, is an American professional wrestler who has competed in several promotions on the independent circuit. He had also competed for the United States Wrestling Association, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and the World Wrestling Federation...
, Christian York
Christian York
Jason Spence is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Christian York.-York and Matthews:...
, Quinn Nash, and "Judge" Jeff Jones also made their home in the MEWF. Their success encouraged he and Wipprecht opened their own training facility for the MEWF, the "Brain Buster's Pro Wrestling Academy", which included Bob Starr as an instructor.
Rivalry with Maryland Championship Wrestling (1998–2002)
In 1998, Corporal PunishmentCorporal Punishment (wrestler)
Daniel "Dan" McDevitt , best known by his ring name Corporal Punishment, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler, trainer and promoter...
and Mark Shrader
Mark Shrader
Mark "The Shark" Shrader is a retired American professional wrestler, trainer and promoter who competed in numerous independent promotions throughout the United States during the 1990s and early 2000s...
left the MEWF to form a rival company, Maryland Championship Wrestling
Maryland Championship Wrestling
Maryland Championship Wrestling is a regional independent wrestling promotion based in Dundalk, Maryland, and has regularly run events in the Mid-Atlantic region since the late 1990s as well as participating in numerous fundraising events throughout the state.Rivaling other east coast independent...
, over creative control and salary disagreements. Most of the roster jumped to the newly formed promotion leaving few of the originals remaining. Axl Rotten, MEWF's longtime booker, was among those who had departed the company which meant MCW was not receiving ECW's talent. Burke was forced to use Brain Buster students to make up the loss while mainstays such as Bob Starr and Morgus The Maniac were tasked with carrying the promotion during 1998–99. Burke brought in World Wrestling Federation legends
WWE Hall of Fame
The WWE Hall of Fame is a hall of fame for professional wrestlers maintained by WWE. It was officially created on the February 1, 1993 episode of the World Wrestling Federation's Monday Night Raw television program...
including The Honky Tonk Man and George "The Animal" Steele as well as develop new stars through its training facility such as Ruckus and Tonya Stevens. Stevens, one of the few female referees in pro wrestling, was initially trained as a wrestler and later agreed to referee for the promotion.
On April 29, 2000, after Patch was stripped of the MEWF Heavyweight Championship, a match was held between Burke and Max Thrasher for the vacant title in Middle River, Maryland
Middle River, Maryland
Middle River is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 23,958 at the 2000 census...
, which Burke won. "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan
Jim Duggan
James Edward Duggan , better known by his ring name "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment in the 1980s, when it was known as World Wrestling Federation , and World Championship Wrestling...
was the special guest referee. During his third championship reign, he defeated Dino Cassanova, Ruckus, and Mad Dog O' Malley. O'Malley would become one Burke's major rivals for the title. Though defeating O'Malley in a cage match several months earlier, he was confronted by the 450 lbs. Irish brawler at a June 24 MEWF house show in Dundalk, Maryland
Dundalk, Maryland
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 62,306 people, 24,772 households, and 16,968 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 4,689.5 people per square mile . There were 26,385 housing units at an average density of 1,985.9 per square mile...
while conducting an in-ring interview. O'Malley had taken issue with Burke's announcement to the crowd that he would be defending the championship against the "younger and newer competition in the MEWF". After an brief argument between the two, Burke was blindsided by O'Malley and left lying in the ring. Burke ended up getting the better of O'Malley decisively defeating him in their match at the main event. Burke voluntarily forfeited the title on August 9, 2000, at a special memorial show for fellow MEWF wrestler DOA, "DOA: A Night to Remember", in Martinsburg, West Virginia
Martinsburg, West Virginia
Martinsburg is a city in the Eastern Panhandle region of West Virginia, United States. The city's population was 14,972 at the 2000 census; according to a 2009 Census Bureau estimate, Martinsburg's population was 17,117, making it the largest city in the Eastern Panhandle and the eighth largest...
so DOA could be posthumously awarded the title for one night only. He was defeated for the title by Buzz Stryker back in Middle River three days later.
He and Bob Starr reunited to defeat The Tokyo Terrors (Keushiro and Watsumi) for the MEWF Tag Team Championship a month later. They remained champions for over a year, defending the titles against teams such as The Freak Show and Tommy Hawk & Jimmy Jannetty, before losing the titles to Rayne and Buzz Stryker in Dundalk, Maryland
Dundalk, Maryland
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 62,306 people, 24,772 households, and 16,968 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 4,689.5 people per square mile . There were 26,385 housing units at an average density of 1,985.9 per square mile...
on October 16, 2001. Burke had one more tag team championship run with his old rival Max Thrasher, winning them KPA on June 9, 2002, and successfully defended the belts until November 24, 2002, when he and Bob Starr (substituting for Thrasher) lost to Chad Bowman and Dino Casanova.
Final years of the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation (2002–2004)
Through Bruke's efforts, the MEWF was able to survive the departure of Corporal Punishment and Mark Shrader. It continued suffering from internal problems with MEWF talent, specifically backstage politics among the younger wrestlers, which resulted in stars like Ruckus and Sonjay DuttSonjay Dutt
Retesh Bhalla is an American professional wrestler of Indian Punjabi descent, better known by his ring name, Sonjay Dutt. He is best known working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, and is also known for his stints with Combat Zone Wrestling, Major League Wrestling, and other various independent...
, despite remaining loyal to the promotion and willing to work for less money, being phased out from the company. The promotion also failed to find a long-term replacement for booker Axl Rotten, using Bob Starr and Mark Osbourne among others, instead changing bookers every few months. These reasons, among others, ensured the MEWF would never fully recover. In early 2002, Tim's wife, Donna Burke took over the day-to-day running of the MEWF promoting shows twice a month at Dundalk's North Point Flea Market.
On March 1, 2002, MEWF original Dave Cassanova died following heart attack. A memorial show was held in his honor three months later jointly promoted by both the MEWF and MCW. It was the first time that wrestlers from either promotion appeared in the same ring together since the 1997 split. Lucifer and Thrasher successfully defended the tag titles against Thunder & Ceremery at the show. It was around this time that Derek Wayne, a former student of MCW's Bonebreakers wrestling school, heavily invested in the promotion and became a third co-owner. Wayne was able to make peace between Burke and MCW owner Dan McDevitt and was able to persuade them to begin working together in October 2002. A storyline invasion took place between the two companies for the next seven months, to somewhat mixed reaction from fans, ending with MCW's final show, the 2003 Shane Shamrock Memorial Cup, on July 16, 2003, at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie, Maryland
Glen Burnie, Maryland
Glen Burnie is a census-designated place in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States, and is a suburb of Baltimore. The population was 67,639 at the 2010 census...
. Burke previously appeared on several MCW show during this time against Gill
Duane Gill
Duane Gill is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his stint in the World Wrestling Federation as Gillberg, a parody of then-rival promotion World Championship Wrestling's top star Goldberg. During his tenure in the WWF, Gill became a one time Light Heavyweight Champion...
berg (January 29, 2003) and with The Holy Rollers (Earl The Pearl & Ramblin Rich) won a six-team blindfolded match with Lita as special guest referee (May 15, 2003).
Though the MEWF was now the single remaining promotion in the Baltimore area, it was unable to win over MCW's former fanbase and attendance gradually dwindled as the booking became increasingly comedic. Former MCW talent began to leave the company and, if fact, many one-time MCW wrestlers refused to work for Burke despite Jeff Jones and Dan McDevitt were now involved backstage. McDevitt would quietly leave within a few months while Derek Wayne was forced out of the company.
Meanwhile, Burke was wrestling less and less. In June 2003, when Brand X's G-Dawg was stuck at the airport, Burke took his place so that his tag team partner Buckchyld would be able to face then MEWF Tag Team Champions Team Punishment (Buzz Stryker & Derek Wayne). One of his last matches was another tag team match with Dustin Timberlake defeating The Cracker Express in Dundalk, Maryland on March 28, 2004. Its final show was held on October 30, 2004.
Later career (2005–2009)
After the close of the MEWF, Burke went into semi-retirement though he continued to be a fixture at many Maryland wrestling events. He joined Maryland Championship Wrestling following its revival in 2006 and could be seen by fans selling tickets or working gimmick tables at the MCW events. He was also known for friendly interactions with audience members, both in the MEWF and MCW, often welcoming arriving fans "with a small joke or high five" and enjoyed personal relationships with a number of regulars. To his fellow wrestlers, he was a colorful character with a penchant for "ribbing". His frequent use of the phrase "Hey boss" as a greeting, according to "Judge" Jeff Jones, was imitated by many who knew him. He was very much characterized by his many catchphrases and a well known quote in the business, "Wrestling is no place for people with long memories", is attributed to Burke.At MCW's "Legends of Maryland" show, Burke was inducted into the MCW Hall of Fame along with Duane Gill
Duane Gill
Duane Gill is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his stint in the World Wrestling Federation as Gillberg, a parody of then-rival promotion World Championship Wrestling's top star Goldberg. During his tenure in the WWF, Gill became a one time Light Heavyweight Champion...
and Axl Rotten. It was also at the event that he wrestled his final match against the Cat Burglar, which he won.
Death
Burke died on June 21, 2011, after a long battle with cancer. He was buried in Meadow Ridge Memorial Park in Elkridge, MarylandElkridge, Maryland
Elkridge is a census-designated place in Howard County, Maryland, United States. The population was 22,042 at the 2000 census. Founded early in the 18th century, Elkridge is located at the confluence of three counties, the other two being Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties...
. At the time of his death, a number of wrestling personalities left messages of condolences at MCW's official website which it then posted publicly. Many of them, such as those from Christian York, Jimmy Cicero, Tonya Stevens and "Judge" Jeff Jones, thanked Burke for giving them their first opportunities in pro wrestling.
At MCW Shane Shamrock Cup 11 on July 30, 2011, a ten-bell salute was observed in honor of Burke's passing. At the time of his MCW Hall of Fame induction, the company acknowledged the contributions of Burke and Dennis Wipprecht stating that "had it not been for these two men there may not be wrestling in Maryland today".
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
-
- The Devil Made Me Do It Drop (Samoan drop)
- ManagersManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
- "Stud" Lee Osborne
- Ox BakerOx BakerDouglas A. Baker better known professionally as Ox Baker, is an American former professional wrestler and actor, and was feared for his dreaded finishing move, the Heart Punch, sometimes called the "Hurt Punch", after Baker's famous catchphrase "I love to hurt people!" He has appeared in several...
Championships and accomplishments
- East Coast Wrestling AssociationEast Coast Wrestling AssociationEast Coast Wrestling Association is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded by promoter Jim Kettner in 1967. It is home to the annual Super 8 Tournament, one of the longest-running independent wrestling tournaments in the country...
- ECWA Tag Team ChampionshipECWA Tag Team ChampionshipECWA Tag Team Championship are the tag team titles contested in the independent professional wrestling promotion, East Coast Wrestling Association.- Title history :...
(1 time) – with Bob StarrBob Starr (wrestler)Robert A. "Bob" Starr is a semi-retired American professional wrestler, trainer and manager who has competed in numerous independent promotions throughout the United States since his debut in 1988...
- ECWA Tag Team Championship
- Maryland Championship WrestlingMaryland Championship WrestlingMaryland Championship Wrestling is a regional independent wrestling promotion based in Dundalk, Maryland, and has regularly run events in the Mid-Atlantic region since the late 1990s as well as participating in numerous fundraising events throughout the state.Rivaling other east coast independent...
- MCW Hall of Fame (Class of 2009)
- Mid-Eastern Wrestling FederationMid-Eastern Wrestling FederationThe Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation was a Mid-Atlantic independent professional wrestling promotion based in Essex, Maryland. Founded by promoter Dennis Wippercht and wrestler Tim "Lucifer" Burke in 1991, the MEWF was one of the leading independent promotions on the East Coast during the 1990s...
- MEWF Heavyweight ChampionshipMEWF Heavyweight ChampionshipThe Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Championship is the highest ranking singles title in the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation, one of three in the promotion....
(3 times) - MEWF Tag Team ChampionshipMEWF Tag Team ChampionshipThis is a chronological list of MEWF tag team champions. The MEWF Tag Team Championship is the oldest championship title in the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation having been established when the Lords of Darkness defeated Cream Team at the MEWF's first show in Pasadena, Maryland on August 2, 1991...
(4 times) – with Bob StarrBob Starr (wrestler)Robert A. "Bob" Starr is a semi-retired American professional wrestler, trainer and manager who has competed in numerous independent promotions throughout the United States since his debut in 1988...
(2), Cat Burglar (1), and Max Thrasher (1)
- MEWF Heavyweight Championship
- Regional Championship Wrestling
- RCW Television Championship (2 times, first)
- RCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Trooper Gilmore
- RCW United States Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Adam FlashAdam FlashDouglas Adam Becker in York, Pennsylvania is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Adam Flash. Over his career, he has worked for various independent promotions, including Maryland Championship Wrestling, Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South, and Combat Zone...