After beginning his training at the Power Plant in June 1998,[3] Sanders made his World Championship Wrestling debut on the October 10, 1998 episode of Saturday Night in a losing effort to Chavo Guerrero Jr.[7] After being utilized as a jobber in a handful of matches on Saturday Night and WorldWide throughout 1998 and 1999, Sanders picked up his first victory on the July 19, 2000 episode of Thunder by defeating Crowbar.[8] Sanders was introduced in mid-2000 as "Above Average" Mike Sanders.
The Thrillers continued their feud with the Animals, with Sanders defeating the Inferno on the August 23 episode of Thunder[12] and the Thrillers defeating the Animals in an elimination match.[13] On September 17 at Fall Brawl, the Thrillers faced the Animals, Big Vito and their mystery partner (later revealed to be Paul Orndorff) in an elimination match, which ended in a no-contest due to Orndorff suffering a stinger during the match.[14] The Thrillers would then go on to lose a two-on-five handicap match against the Animals on the September 18 episode of Nitro despite having a numerical advantage, ending the feud between the two stables.[15]
Following their feud with the Filthy Animals, the Natural Born Thrillers would go on to lose to The Jung Dragons on the September 20 episode of Thunder.[16] After naming himself the new WCW Commissioner on the September 27 episode of Thunder,[17] the Thrillers gained Kevin Nash as a "coach". With Nash, Sanders defeated then-Cruiserweight ChampionElix Skipper in a handicap powerbomb match orchestrated by Sanders on the October 2 episode of Nitro, resulting in Sanders becoming the new Cruiserweight Champion.[18] He then went on to retain the Cruiserweight Title against Lance Storm in his first title defense on the October 4 episode of Thunder.[19] Sanders then entered into a feud with Ernest Miller over the Commissionership, and defeated Miller in a kickboxing match at Halloween Havoc on October 29 to retain his position as Commissioner thanks to interference by Shane Douglas.[20] The Thrillers then ended their alliance with Nash by attacking him during a title match against then-World Heavyweight ChampionBooker T, after finding Nash no longer useful due to Sanders being the new Commissioner.[21] The Thrillers then lost to Nash in a handicap match via disqualification on the November 12 episode of Nitro.[22] On November 16 at the Millennium Final pay-per-view, Miller defeated Sanders to become the new WCW Commissioner.[23] After retaining the Cruiserweight Title against Kwee Wee on November 26 at Mayhem,[24] Sanders lost the title to Chavo Guerrero Jr. on the December 6 episode of Thunder.[25]
On the December 12 episode of Nitro, Sanders was squashed by Sid, though the Thrillers would manage to defeat The Insiders (Nash and Diamond Dallas Page) in a handicap match later in the night in what turned out to be the Thrillers' final match together.[26][27]
At Sin on January 14, 2001, Sanders faced Miller in a rematch for the Commissionership, but was once again defeated.[28] Following this, Sanders teamed with Kwee Wee and lost to the Jung Dragons in a first round match of a tournament to crown the inaugural Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions.[29] On the final episode of Thunder on March 14, Sanders wrestled his final match for WCW as he and Disqo lost to Konnan and Hugh Morrus in a tag team match.[30]
Sanders later formed a tag team with Lance Cade called Natural Born Attitudes,[21] and on February 13, 2002, the duo captured the HWA Tag Team Championship belts after defeating Val Venis and Steve Bradley.[32] However, the Tag Team Title was vacated that same day, and Cade defeated Sanders on February 20 to win the title and subsequently named Bradley as his tag team partner.[21][33]
In March 2002, Sanders became the head booker of HWA after suffering a foot injury.[31] On June 24, 2002, Sanders wrestled his only match for the now-renamed World Wrestling Entertainment as he and Jason Sugarman defeated B.J. Payne and Steve Bradley in a tag team dark match before Sunday Night Heat.[4] He was released from the company on July 19, 2002.
After taking a two-year hiatus, Sanders returned to wrestling on February 20, 2005, for Vince Russo's Ring of Glory promotion, where he and Glenn Gilbertti defeated Adam Jacobs and Johnny Swinger.[4] On December 16, Sanders returned to Ring of Glory and wrestled his final match, as he and Erik Watts lost to Gilbertti and D'Lo Brown.[4]
Comedy career
After his final match in 2005, Sanders performed his first open mic at The Punchline, a comedy club in Sandy Springs, Georgia. Since then, Sanders has gone on to become a full-time stand-up comedian and improv actor,[36] and has also worked alongside fellow comedians Tommy Davidson, Mark Lundholm, Diana Jordan, Craig Robinson and Vinnie Coppola. He currently performs at clubs and corporate events and gives motivational speeches.[1][37]
Personal life
Sanders' father runs a towing business.[3] Sanders owns "Roll Speed Media", a talent solutions company that represents actors in Atlanta;[38] he also owns "The Party Paramedic", a DJ and entertainment company for weddings, parties, corporate events and trade shows.[39]
Sanders has been divorced twice;[6] he and his ex-wife DeLana have two children, Kenneth and Alexis.[40]