Former skilled wrestler Mike “Mantaur” Halac has died, in keeping with a press release launched Wednesday by World Wrestling Leisure. He was 55.
“WWE is saddened to study that Mike Halac, higher identified to WWE followers as Mantaur, has handed away,” the group wrote. “Halac’s mixture of dimension and charisma instantly captivated followers worldwide as he took to the ring in a large bull head to focus on his half-man, half-minotaur persona. …
“WWE extends its condolences to Mike Halac’s household, pals and followers.”
After wrestling underneath the title Bruiser Mastino for a number of years in Germany, Halac made his WWE (then often called the World Wrestling Federation) debut in 1995 as Mantaur. The character was based mostly on a minotaur, a creature from Greek mythology that was half man and half bull.
Halac’s preliminary stint with the WWE lasted lower than a yr, however he returned on a number of events as numerous characters. He additionally wrestled for a number of different wrestling associations, together with Excessive Championship Wrestling.
Halac, who was mentioned to weigh greater than 400 kilos throughout his wrestling days, later revealed he had diabetes. He additionally was considered one of greater than 50 wrestlers who filed a class-action lawsuit in opposition to the WWE in 2016, alleging the group lined up neurological accidents that occurred on the job. The case was dismissed by a U.S. district decide in 2018.
An Omaha native, Halac was inducted into the Nebraska Skilled Wrestling Corridor of Fame in 2018.
“His loss might be felt by many,” the corridor of fame posted on Fb. “Our ideas are together with his household and pals as they grieve the lack of a person who was bigger than life.”
