ABOUT MIKE QUACKENBUSH

Born and raised in the idyllic Reading suburb of West Lawn, Pennsylvania, Mike's childhood love of the comic book medium, inspired by the likes of Christopher Reeve's Superman films and the Adam West Batman show set him on a course to becoming a career superhero...and he didn't miss the mark by much.

"Lightning" Mike is now one of the most sought-after professional wrestlers in the world, known throughout the industry as "The Master of a Thousand Holds," he is the founder and head trainer of CHIKARA, a Philadelphia-based company. He's held over 3 dozen championships in various countries and weight classes, toured the world, published hundreds of wrestling-related articles, penned a handful of books and has dabbled in everything from improv comedy to podcasting. In recent years, he's shown his diversity as a performer and writer, and the influence of his ground-breaking company has only begun to be appreciated by critics and pundits.

In 2003, Mike made his first tour of Europe, later that same year, he wrestled in Mexico for the very first time. He has competed in Germany, Austria, Holland, and England over the years.

He's also racked up impressive tournament wins - in 2005, Mike won Combat Zone Wrestling's Best Of The Best 5 elimination tournament in Philadelphia. Over the years, Mike's opponents in the wrestling ring have ranged from famous to obscure. His most renowned opponents include Johnny Saint, Tiger Mask IV, El Hijo del Santo, La Parka, Billy Kidman, Rey Misterio Sr. and the late Eddie Guerrero. His most noted rivalry of the last five years has been against a man he helped train, Swiss expatriate Claudio Castagnoli.

In 2007, he won CHIKARA's King of Trios tournament, and later the same year, emerged victorious in the annual Ted Petty Invitational. Shortly thereafter, he wrestled his first matches in Japan. He also married the girl of his dreams in Salzburg, Austria, as the high-point of a banner year. He currently resides in a noisy Philly suburb with his wife and step-cat.