 Mondo in 2007 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Michael Brendli[3] (1983-03-26)March 26, 1983 (age 42)[4] Patchogue, New York, U.S.[1] |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | El Mondo[1] Livewyre[2] Mike Mondo[2] Mikey[2] |
| Billed height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[2] |
| Billed weight | 229 lb (104 kg)[2] |
| Trained by | Critical Mass Wrestling School[3] Ohio Valley Wrestling[2] |
| Debut | 2002[1] |
Michael Brendli (born March 26, 1983), better known by thering nameMike Mondo, is an Americanprofessional wrestler. He is currently performing on theindependent circuit – predominantly for theNational Wrestling Alliance (NWA), where he is the currentNWA National Heavyweight Champion in his first reign. He is best known for his time inWWE as Mike Mondo andMikey as a member of TheSpirit Squad.
After training at the Critical Mass Wrestling School, he debuted in June 2002 and began working for severalindependentpromotions as Mike Mondo, Livewyre, or El Livewyre. His earliest success came in the New York Wrestling Connection promotion, where he won the NYWC Heavyweight Championship on two occasions between 2003 and 2005. In February 2005, he signed a contract with WWE, and was assigned to the OVWdevelopmental territory. There, he formed The Spirit Squad faction with four other wrestlers.
The Spirit Squad debuted on theRawbrand in January 2006, and quickly won theWorld Tag Team Championship in April. They held the championship for seven months, before losing it in early November. They were taken off television in late 2006. He returned to OVW in 2007, before being moved to theFlorida Championship Wrestling (FCW) territory in September. He competed in FCW until his WWE release in June 2008. He then returned to the independent circuit, and later returned to OVW, where he won both theOVW Television Championship and theOVW Southern Tag Team Championship in 2009. He went on to win theOVW Heavyweight Championship for the first time in mid-2010 and the second time in early 2011.
Brendli began training at the Critical Mass Pro Wrestlingwrestling school during his freshman year of college.[3] He debuted in June 2002, and wrestled on theindependent circuit, both in New York and in New Jersey. Brendli first became known as "Livewyre", occasionally competing under amask as "El Livewyre".[2][3] Most of his early success was in the New York Wrestling Connectionpromotion, where he had a nine-month undefeated streak.[1] Competing as "Livewire" Mike Mondo he won the NYWC Heavyweight Championship from "Superstar" Dickie Rodz on June 7, 2003, holding it for approximately two months, until he vacated it.[5] On March 26, 2005, he defeatedJoey Matthews to win the NYWC Heavyweight Championship for the second time, and later successfully retained the championship againstMikey Whipwreck. Mondo lost the championship toMatt Striker on April 30, after holding it for just over a month.[1][5]
Brendli was also competing inOhio Valley Wrestling (OVW) during this time, making his debut in September 2003. He appeared in severaldark matches prior to the television tapings against wrestlers includingTank Toland, Joey Matthews, andCarly Colón.[1]
Brendli signed a World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)developmental contract in February 2005, and was assigned to OVW full-time.[1] First he acted as amanager, then became a full-time wrestler and a member of the Bolin Servicesfaction led by Kenny "The King Maker" Bolin.[2] He competed in a tournament for theOVW Television Championship, but lost in the first round toAlexis Laree. Embarrassed by losing to a female wrestler, Mondo issued an open challenge to any woman backstage, and a result, lost toVictoria.[1]
In late summer 2005, Mondo feuded withBrent Albright after attacking Albright during a match withDa Beast and injuring his eye. Albright obtained revenge on Mondo, however, defeating him bysubmission at the television tapings on September 7. Throughout the end of 2005, Mondo continued to team with various members of Bolin Services, mainlyJohnny Jeter and Da Beast. In December 2005, Mondo debuted acharacter, where he pretended to be aluchadore, and competed under a mask as "El Mondo". He won several dark matches using the El Mondo gimmick, before losing toCM Punk in a televised match.[1]
In late 2005, Mondo joined theSpirit Squad, a faction of five wrestlers using thein-ring personas of male cheerleaders, as Mikey. Brendli has described being in the Spirit Squad as "the most fun" he's had in his career.[3] Mikey andKenny began appearing in dark matches and atlive events using the Spirit Squad gimmick, and on January 2, 2006, Mikey lost toChavo Guerrero.[1] On January 23, 2006, they had their WWE television debut as a group, appearing onRaw and helpingJonathan Coachman win aRoyal Rumble qualifying match againstJerry "The King" Lawler by distracting Lawler and performing cheers for Coachman.[6] They later became a part of the ongoing scripted feud between WWE chairmanMr. McMahon andShawn Michaels. Theheel (villainous) McMahon brought in the Spirit Squad to attack Michaels on numerous occasions, including placing them in multiplehandicap matches.[7][8]
They also wrestled in the tag team division, and on April 3, onRaw, Mikey and Kenny defeatedBig Show and Kane to win theWorld Tag Team Championship, with help from the other Spirit Squad members.[9][10] After winning the championship, all five members of the Spirit Squad were recognized as the champions under thefreebird rule, allowing any combination of them to defend the championship.[2]
In May, McMahon signed another handicap match, with the Spirit Squad facing Michaels. The Spirit Squad instead attacked Michaels before the match had started, andTriple H came out to help them. As a result of feeling disrespected by the Spirit Squad, however, Triple H helped Michaels instead.[11] This led to Triple H and Michaels reformingD-Generation X (DX) and they began a feud with the Spirit Squad.[12][13] DX played varioussophomoricjokes on the Spirit Squad and theMcMahons, as well as defeating the Spirit Squad in handicap tag team matches atVengeance and a clean sweep in anelimination handicap match atSaturday Night's Main Event XXXIII.[13][14][15]
At the same time as their feud with DX and their alignment with McMahon, the Spirit Squad also wrestled other teams inRaw's tag division over their World Tag Team Championship, successfully defending the championship against the teams ofJim Duggan andEugene,Charlie Haas andViscera, andSnitsky andVal Venis.[16] They then entered a lengthy feud withThe Highlanders, whom they eventually defeated to retain the championship at theUnforgivenpay-per-view in September.[17][18] The Spirit Squad as a whole later began a losing streak with Johnny, Mikey, andMitch losing singles matches toRic Flair on consecutive episodes ofRaw.[19][20][21] After two consecutive losses to the debutingCryme Tyme tag team, Kenny attacked Mikey on the October 23 episode ofRaw and announced that he was going to defeat Flair. With the help of the other Spirit Squad members, Kenny was successful, despite Flair being accompanied to the ring by his own reinforcements (Dusty Rhodes,Sgt. Slaughter, andRoddy Piper).[22][23] It was then announced that Flair and a legend, selected by interactive voting, would wrestle the team for the World Tag Team Championship at theCyber Sunday pay-per-view in early November.[23] The fans chose Piper, and he and Flair defeated Kenny and Mikey to win the championship.[24]
The group disbanded on the November 27 episode ofRaw, when they were defeated in a five-on-three handicap match by DX and Flair. In a backstage segment later that episode, DX placed all members into a crate stamped "OVW,Louisville, Kentucky", a reference to the developmental territory from which all the Spirit Squad members had come.[25]
Brendli, under the name Mikey Mondo, appeared at the January 17 OVW taping along withNick Nemeth and teamed with Mike Kruel in a match against Seth Skyfire,Shawn Spears, andCody Runnels.[26] The pair teamed up for a while as The Frat Boys, and later The Frat Pack, but they had disbanded by late March 2007. Mondo moved into singles competition, and picked up wins overSteve Lewington,Boris Alexiev, andColt Cabana, among others.[2] In June 2007, he started a feud with Shawn Spears over the OVW Television Championship, but failed to capture it on several occasions.[2][27] A one-night reunion with Nemeth followed, before he began dubbing himself "The Professional" Mike Mondo and began feuding withAtlas DaBone.[28][29]
In September 2007, Mondo was moved to theFlorida Championship Wrestling (FCW) developmental territory and defeated Chris Gray in his debut there.[30] He once again reformed his tag team with Nemeth, and they wrestled against teams including Hade Vansen and Chris Gray, and theNew Generation Hart Foundation (Teddy Hart andTJ Wilson).[2][31] At the start of 2008, however, they split and began feuding, competing against each other both in singles and tag team matches.[32][33] Having dubbed himself "Mighty Mikey", he went to wrestleTed DiBiase Jr.,Sinn Bowdee,Heath Miller, andJack Gabriel throughout the early part of 2008.[2] On June 13, 2008, WWE announced that Brendli had been released from his contract.[34]
After his WWE release, Brendli returned to competing on the independent circuit, and, in an interview in December 2008, said he plans to wrestle inMexico andJapan.[3] He competed for several independent promotions, including Division I Pro Wrestling and Ward Family Entertainments, where he reprised his feud with Rory McAllister of the former WWE tag team, The Highlanders.[2] Brendli made it to the semi-final of the17th annual ECWA Super 8 Tournament before losing to eventual winner Damian Dragon. Brendli participated inChikara's2014 King of Trios tournament under his Spirit Squad character, and teamed with Johnny and Kenny.[35] After a win over Sinn Bodhi and the Odditorium (Qefka the Quiet and Sir Oliver Grimsly) on September 19, the Spirit Squad was eliminated from the tournament in the second round on September 20 by the Golden Trio (Dasher Hatfield,Icarus, andMark Angelosetti).[36]
He also returned to the New York Wrestling Connection on September 20, 2008, atDraw The Line, where he teamed with Mikey Whipwreck in a losing effort toRob Eckos andFrederick of Hollywood.[37] On February 28, 2015, Mondo defeated Rex Lawless to win the NYWC Fusion title. He later vacated the championship in April due a schedule conflict, meaning he could not defend the championship.[38] In 2016, he was inducted into the NYWC Hall of Fame.[39] On November 12, 2016, wrestling as The Spirit Squad, Mondo and Doane captured the NYWC Tag Team Championship from Hounds of Hatred (Boo and Bam Sullivan) at Firestorm 3.[40] 15 days later, Spirit Squad lost the titles back to Hounds of Hatred.[40] The pair continued to compete as a tag team in the greater New York region throughout 2017 and 2018, and also traveled abroad to compete forPreston City Wrestling in England andWestside Xtreme Wrestling in Germany.[41]
In early 2009, he returned to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) both to wrestle and to be an assistant trainer.[42] On February 7, 2009, he defeatedIdol Stevens and Johnny Punch in a triple threat match to become the new OVW Television Champion.[43] On March 21, Brendli failed a drugs test at an OVW event, and was suspended by the Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling Authority.[44] He lost the OVW Television Championship toJamin Olivencia on May 9.[43] After postponing two hearings, he was suspended for six months and finedUS$100 on June 29.[citation needed] On November 21, 2009, Mondo teamed with Turcan Celik to defeat Moose and Tilo for theOVW Southern Tag Team Championship.[45] They held the championship for a week, before losing it to The Network on November 28.[45] On May 29, 2010, atAll or Nothing, Mondo won theOVW Heavyweight Championship by defeatingBeef Wellington.[46][47] He later lost the championship to James Thomas on June 16.[47] On March 5, 2011, Mondo regained the OVW Heavyweight Championship by winning a three-wayladder match, also involvingCliff Compton and"Low Rider" Matt Barela.[47][48] Mondo was stripped of the championship on May 4, after attacking OVW presidentDanny Davis.[47][49] On November 2, at OVW'sepisode 637, Christian Mascagni prevented Mondo from winning aneight-man melee, costing him a match for the OVW Heavyweight Championship.[50]
Mondo appeared atRing of Honor (ROH)'sBluegrass Brawl event on July 22, where he lost toDelirious.[51] He returned to ROH at theRing of Honor Wrestling television tapings on December 9 and 10, defeating Grizzly Redwood the first night, before losing toColt Cabana on December 10.[52][53]
In late 2011, Brendli returned to Ring of Honor as a full-time member, under his 'Mike Mondo' personality.[54] After a string of losses to begin his full-time ROH career, he eventually defeatedMatt Taven. He then feuded withT. J. Perkins, whom he defeated in their first match together, but lost the second. Making his ROH pay-per-view debut atBorder Wars, he teamed withthe Young Bucks to lose to Perkins andThe All Night Express ofKenny King andRhett Titus. Following a draw withDavey Richards in May and a win overMike Bennett atBest in the World 2012: Hostage Crisis, he had his first title opportunity when he unsuccessfully challengedKevin Steen for theROH World Heavyweight Championship. Mondo won anROH World Television Championship number one contendership six-man mayhem match, and facedAdam Cole for the championship atDeath Before Dishonor X: State of Emergency in a losing effort. Following the loss, Mondo defeatedKyle O'Reilly in a qualifying match for the2012 Survival of the Fittest tournament, but lost in the final toJay Lethal. AtGlory By Honor XI: The Unbreakable Hope, Mondo lost to Mike Bennett, suffering a leg injury in the process which sidelined him for several months.[55]
Mondo returned in March 2013, forming a tag team partnership with Grizzly Redwood and starting a feud withS.C.U.M. AtSupercard of Honor VII, Mondo,B. J. Whitmer,Caprice Coleman,Cedric Alexander, andMark Briscoe lost to five members of S.C.U.M.
He made a further return at television tapings in April 2017, when he and Kenny unsuccessfully challenged The Young Bucks for theROH World Tag Team Championship.[56]
In late 2016, Brendli, as Mikey, alongside Kenny, returned to WWE for a short storyline withDolph Ziggler (formerly Nicky in the Spirit Squad). On October 4, onSmackDown, they utilised their Spirit Squad characters to taunt Ziggler about his time in the Spirit Squad, before attacking him at the behest of theIntercontinental ChampionThe Miz andMaryse.[57] Five days later, at theNo Mercy pay-per-view, he and Kenny attempted to distract Ziggler in hiscareer vs. title match against The Miz, but were unsuccessful.[58] On the October 11 episode ofSmackDown, Mikey and Kenny faced Ziggler in a two-on-one handicap match; Ziggler won but was attacked by The Miz before being saved byRhynoandHeath Slater.[59] This led to a six-man tag team match the following week, which Mikey, Kenny, and The Miz won.[60] Mikey and Kenny unsuccessfully challenged Slater and Rhyno for theWWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship on October 25.[61] They appeared throughout November in tag team matches, before disappearing off television.
On July 24, 2019, it was announced that Squad members Mondo and Kenny Dykstra were now signed toMajor League Wrestling (MLW). They would go on to debut at that month'sNever Say Never show.[62]
On the January 7, 2025, episode ofNWA Power, Mondo made his debut, defeating Boz. On the April 8 episode of Powerr, Mondo challenged Mims for theNWA National Championship, but was unsuccessful. He would later go on to defeat Mims for the NWA National Championship atNWA 77th Anniversary Show on August 16, 2025.[63]
Brendli playedfootball in middle andhigh school.[3] Brendli is good friends with his former Spirit Squad teammate Nick Nemeth (better known asDolph Ziggler), and the two lived together in Florida until 2008.[64] On June 1, 2008, Brendli was arrested fordriving under the influence inFlorida.[4][65][66] He was released the next day after posting $500 bail.[4]
a Mikey defended the championship with eitherKenny,Johnny,Mitch, orNicky under theFreebird Rule.
Mike Brendli, aka Mikey or Mike Mondo, was arrested last night at 11:12 a.m. with a 0.09 blood alcohol level.
,Cagematch,Internet Wrestling Database