Mike Lozansky

Mike Lozansky
Birth nameMichael Joseph Lozanski
Born(1968-11-13)13 November 1968
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Died19 December 2003(2003-12-19) (aged 35)[1]
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Mike Lozansky
Mike Anthony
Tiger Canadiaense
Canadian Tiger
Billed height5"10
Billed weight189 lb (86 kg)[2]
Trained byJesse Hernandez
Debut1989
Retired2002

Michael Lozanski (November 13, 1968 – December 19, 2003) was a Canadian professional wrestler who spent his career in Western Canada, Mexico, Japan, Memphis and Extreme Championship Wrestling in Philadelphia.[3] He also competed as Mike Anthony and Tiger Canadianese.

Professional wrestling career

Lozansky began his professional wrestling career in his hometown of Calgary, Alberta where he worked for Stampede Wrestling. Also worked in the Maritimes, Winnipeg and Vancouver.

In 1990, he worked for Steve Rickard in New Zealand. Then in 1991, he began working in Mexico as Tiger Candianese and later that year made his debut in Japan for New Japan Pro Wrestling.[4]

Chris Jericho gives Lozansky praise for getting Jericho into Mexico in 1992.[5][6] The two would become a tag team where Jericho got his name Lionheart.[7]

In 1993, he made his debut in Memphis, Tennessee as Mike Anthony for United States Wrestling Association where he became a two time USWA World Tag Team Champion with Moondog Spike and Jeff Gaylord.[8]

Lozansky made his debut in 1993 in Puerto Rico for World Wrestling Council where he teamed with Doby Gills for the tag team titles in 1994.

In 1995, Lozansky returned to Japan to work for All Japan Pro Wrestling.

He worked at the Stu Hart 50th Anniversary Show in Calgary where he teamed with King Lau losing to Gerry Morrow and the Cuban Assassin.[9][10]

In 1996, he worked for Catch Wrestling Association in Germany.

From 1997 to 1998 he worked for World Championship Wrestling[11][12] and the World Wrestling Federation in 1998.[13]

In 1998 he worked for Extreme Championship Wrestling based in Philadelphia. He lost to Mikey Whipwreck at A Matter of Respect (1998) pay-per-view.[14][15] He lost to ECW World Television Champion Rob Van Dam for a title shot on ECW Hardcore TV.[16][17] He left ECW in early 1999.

Later in his career he worked in the independents in the States and Mexico.

He lost to Val Venis on the March 4, 2002 edition of Monday Night Raw.[18]

Death

Lozanky died on December 19, 2003, from a heart attack in his sleep at his home in Calgary. He was 35 years old.[19][20][21]

Friend and colleague Moondog Manson made a tribute on his website to Lozansky a couple of days later after his death[22]

Championships and accomplishments

Luchas de Apuestas record

See also: Luchas de Apuestas
Winner (wager) Loser (wager) Location Event Date Notes
Villano IV (mask) Tigre Canadiense (mask) Naucalpan, State of Mexico Live event October 20, 1991 [27]
Tigre Canadiense (hair) Tamba (career) Nezahualcoyotl, State of Mexico Live event February 28, 1992 [28]

References

General

  • Nevada, Vance (2022). (Un)Controlled Chaos: Canada's Remarkable Professional Wrestling Legacy. FriesenPress. ISBN 9781039154797.

Specific

  1. ^ "Mike Lozanski«Ancestry". Ancestry.com.
  2. ^ "Profile". Wrestlingdata. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  3. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Mike Lozansky « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".
  4. ^ Goldstein, Marty (23 December 2003). "One man's memories of Mike Lozanski". SLAM! Wrestling. Canoe.com. Retrieved 2003-12-23.
  5. ^ Molinaro, John (28 September 2001). "Jericho, Benoit, Guerrero on their time in Mexico". Slam! Wrestling. Canoe.com. Retrieved 2001-09-28.
  6. ^ "The Story Of The Dupree Brothers, The Gay Pro Wrestling Icons No One Ever Knew Existed". Pro Wrestling Stories. 2017-10-31. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  7. ^ "Chris Jericho Reveals Why He Is Called Lionheart". Atle Tifo. 2022-12-15. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  8. ^ "USWA Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  9. ^ Bruce and Ross Hart (Producers) (December 15, 1995). Stu Hart 50th Anniversary Tribute show (VHS). Calgary, Alberta: Stampede Wrestling.
  10. ^ Cawthon, Graham (16 January 2023). "1995". TheHistoryofWWE.com.
  11. ^ "1997". Thehistoryofwwe.com. Retrieved 2016-12-31.
  12. ^ "1998". Thehistoryofwwe.com. Retrieved 2016-12-31.
  13. ^ "1998". Thehistoryofwwe.com. Retrieved 2016-12-31.
  14. ^ "Review: ECW A Matter Of Respect 98". LiveJournal. 30 September 2008. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  15. ^ "ECW A Matter of Respect II". The Wrestling Revolution. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  16. ^ "1998". Thehistoryofwwe.com. Retrieved 2016-12-31.
  17. ^ "We Lose Mike Lozansky". Fight Times. 2007-06-25. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  18. ^ "2002". Thehistoryofwwe.com. Retrieved 2016-12-31.
  19. ^ Oliver, Greg (20 December 2003). "Mike Lozanski dead at 35". SLAM! Wrestling. Canoe.com. Retrieved 2003-12-20.
  20. ^ Clevett, Jason (23 December 2003). "Friends remember Mike Lozanski". SLAM! Wrestling. Canoe.com. Retrieved 2003-12-23.
  21. ^ "Michael Joseph Lozanski".
  22. ^ "The Wrestling home of Moondog Manson".
  23. ^ Duncan, Royal; Gary Will (2006). "(Memphis, Nashville) Memphis: USWA Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. pp. 200–202. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  24. ^ "Larry Booker's profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
  25. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "Japan: W*ING Junior Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  26. ^ "WWC World Junior Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
  27. ^ Ssio, Sergio (November 3, 2008). "Villano III vs Pegasus Kid; Máscara vs. Máscara" [Villano III vs Pegasus Kid; mask vs. mask]. Súper Luchas (in Spanish). Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  28. ^ "Tigre Canadiense - Luchawiki".