Inducted By: Scythe
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 251 lbs.
Hometown: New York, NY
Born: 1965
Theme Music: "Perfect Strangers" by Deep Purple
Years Active: CAW 1999-2002; PWA 2003-04
PWA Debut: 2002
Career Highlights: Progressive Entertainment Hall of Famer, Class of '04
PWA World Heavyweight Champion
6-time CAW Heavyweight Champion
Bio: While a lot of future PWA mega-stars populated the CAW roster - including Hall of Famers Vulture, Jason Calysto, Bryan Conroy, Kerry Cox, Jaguar, Mike Griffin, and Greg Tantalus - it was Mike Tortorici who reigned supreme over them all, holding the company's heavyweight title a record six times. Tortorici's high-impact, power-based assault led him to great success over the top CAW stars, specifically engaging in a long-term on-and-off feud with Vulture, during which the two produced an array of memorable matches, concluding with Tortorici defeating Vulture at CAW's final show to win the championship. When FSW launched months later, Tortorici declined to join, but willingly stepped back into the CAW fold to defend his title when that company re-emerged in late 2001. He finished out the CAW run, but quietly stepped away from the business after the ultimate end of CAW and the formation of PWA. However, in early 2003, PWA superstar The Machine found himself victimized by a masked man on a number of occasions over the course of a month, until it was shockingly revealed that Tortorici had been behind the mask, citing tensions back to both of their CAW days. Whatever the reason may be, Tortorici had arrived in PWA, and spent the next 18 months adding to his legacy, earning the PWA World Heavyweight Championship later that year with a victory over Mike Griffin, and helping to make Scythe into a superstar with a fantastic series of matches. When Tortorici elected to retire in June 2004, it was only natural that his last match be against Vulture. Tortorici was beaten on that night, but just two months later, was elected to the first Progressive Entertainment Hall of Fame class. Although Tortorici came out of retirement to team with Scythe at Everlasting Epic V, he has no plans to do so again in the future, instead opting to enjoy a retirement he so greatly deserves.
FEATURED MOVES:
CRUCIFIX POWERBOMB
TOMBSTONE PILEDRIVER