 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Michael Stanco (1968-08-02)August 2, 1968 Newark, New Jersey, United States |
| Died | (2014-08-21)August 21, 2014 (aged 46)[1] Sunrise, Florida U.S. |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Maximum Capacity Max Capacity Monster MAX Cobra The World's Largest Athlete |
| Billed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Billed weight | 650 lb (290 kg) |
| Billed from | Dania Beach, Florida |
| Trained by | Rusty Brooks Billy Fives Flex Magnum |
| Debut | September 2000 |
| Retired | January 28, 2012 |
Michael Stanco (August 2, 1968 – August 21, 2014) was an Americanprofessional wrestler, better known by his ring nameMaximum Capacity, and is billed in many independent promotions as the "World's Largest Athlete".
Born inNewark, New Jersey, Stanco trained at the School Of Hard Knocks under formerWWF preliminary wrestlerRusty Brooks. Billy Fives also played a large role in training Max. He taught him many of grappling and submission moves that Fives was famous for in Japan. Stanco worked as a bodyguard and bouncer at several South Florida's nightclubs, leaving after a dangerous bar incident to take up wrestling.
Capacity began working forFuture of Wrestling in January 2001.[2] He quickly became their number one heel. During his time in FOW, Max faced the likes ofJerry "The King" Lawler,Barry Horowitz andHacksaw Jim Duggan. Max was defeated for the FOW Hardcore Title by Horowitz in 2002.[3]
Max worked againstChris Raaber for the EWA World Heavyweight Championship inLeoben,Austria in November 2003.[4]
After taking 2½ years off due to injuries, Capacity returned to the ring forPro Wrestling ZERO1-MAX inJapan in October 2006.[5]He did a 10 match tour throughoutJapan. During this tour he faced the likes ofMasato Tanaka,Shinjiro Otani andTakao Omori.[6][7]
After his return to the United States, Max began working for D1PW in Davie, Florida. D1PW has thus since begun an invasion angle with aNorth Carolina–based company called WCEW. Maximum Capacity defeated Tommy Vandal on July 21, 2007, for their Extreme Title.[8]
Max just completed another overseas tour. Wrestling in Tuggen, Switzerland on May 23, 2009, vs Jamie Gardner for the WWPW Heavyweight title.[9]
Max was diagnosed with Colorectal Cancer on December 29, 2011, and was forced to retire against his wishes. He worked his final retirement match for Frank Goodman's PWX promotion at PWX-A Wrestling Odyssey in Orlando, FL on January 28, 2012. Although he fought hard to battle his illness and make one final return to the ring, his cancer continued to worsen, making any return impossible.
Maximum Capacity was featured on an episode ofThe Jerry Springer Show in 2001 called "3 Pigs and A Trailer". Max has also appeared on numerous TV wrestling shows throughout Europe, Asia and America. Max has also appeared on German TV station RTL, when they did a featured story on him in 2003 when he wrestled in Austria.
Max made his feature film debut in 2009'sDeath Print.[10]
Max was involved in theCelebrity Boxing 25 show at the Hard Rock Casino Passions nightclub whereJose Canseco sent his brother Ozzie instead. Max wrestled the opening match vs. Jordan Rayner on March 26, 2011.
After a nearly 3-year battle with colorectal cancer, Max was admitted to the hospital on August 19, 2014, and succumbed to his illness on August 21, 2014, in Sunrise, Florida.[11]