Mike Sanders has endured several setbacks on his way to showing WCW and the world he is anything but average.
"I'm glad to see Bill Goldberg coming back. It gives all us power plant guys a reminder that you can survive anything in this business" said Mike Sanders, standing along side fellow R&B security members Elix Skipper and Allan Funk (now known as Kwee Wee), during an interview on the nigh Goldberg returned from an arm injury.
Fans of WCW.coms reload, the Nitro video pre show that conducted that interview with Sanders months ago, probably agreed with his sentiments. Only Sanders closest friends, however, knew the true meaning behind his words. 3 weeks before participating on the Internet show, Sanders learnt that his developmental contract with WCW would not be renewed after it expired July 2000. "(Power Plant director) Paul Orndorff called me into his office after I had spent the day training and then scrubbed all 4 wrestling rings" Sanders says. "He told me that Vince Russo and Eric Bischoff couldn't figure out hoe to use me."
Stunned and dejected, Sanders didn't consider pursuing work with other wrestling companies, even after his release papers arrived by mail a week later. "Honestly, I thought about quitting. I knew I could work, but I don't stand 6'6" like Sean O'Haire or have thick curly locks and a frame like Chuck Pulumbo" says Sanders, who is listed at 6'1 and 230 pounds. "My nick name, 'Above Average' was kind of a shoot. I really thought I was as average as they come."
After surviving 16 months of Power Plant training and participating in many WCW Saturday Night Matches, Sanders stopped attending the train facility after his release. "I started working for my dads towing business" Sanders says. "I was preparing to move on, but Terry Taylor told me to stick with R&B security and not to lose hope. I owe him everything."
Taylor, a member of WCWs creative team, has a reputation for championing both young and established talent - and he wasn't alone in his support of Sanders. Other Power Plant trainees, as well as Power plant graduates Diamond Dallas Page and Brian Clark, implored Sanders to be patient.
The night of Goldberg return provided Sanders with his first fragment of hope. "Russo and Terry Taylor had met with most of the WCW girls during that show and told them they would have to start training for in ring stuff" Sanders says. "Mona (now know as Molly Holly in the World Wrestling Federation) told me they asked the girls who they wanted to train with, and they said me. According to Mona, Russo said he had no idea who I was or why I was released."
Sanders, along with the most of his current Natural Born Thrillers brethren, auditioned in the ring for Russo prior to the June 5th Nitro at Atlanta's Phillips Arena. Afterwards, Orndorff take Sanders aside. Sanders recalls the moment proudly: "Orndorff looked at me and said, Looks like you got your job back."
Sanders returned to WCW and became a regular on Televised events. He battled Norman Smiley, defeated Crowbar with Jeff Jarrett guitar, suffered backstage beatings from Daffney, Jarrett and Kanyon, and changed his hair colour 3 times before Russo intervened. "Where not changing Sanders hair again" said Russo in a WCW production meeting. The poor kids going to lose it any day now."
On August 21st 2000, Sanders took a giant step in his WCW adventure. Flanked by Pulumbo, Mark Jindrak, O'Haire, Reno and Shawn Stasiak, Sanders delivered a 6-minute speech introducing the Natural Born Thrillers. "When TV writer Bill Banks gave me the promo, I looked at how long it was, and I couldn't believe it" Sanders says. "It was the Gettysburg address - but they said they believed in me and I was in awe."
In ensuing months, Sanders had battled with the like of, Kevin Nash, The Cat and the Legendary Ric Flair, and was appointed WCW Commissioner by Russo. "I'm still in awe" Sanders says. "I've gotten heat from some people for not respecting the Veterans, but it's not true. I'm honored to be out there every day I get a chance to work."
Sanders is near flawless speech that launched the Natural Born Thrillers, along with his patience and the sage advise of friends, cemented his ability to work in Sports Entertainment for many days, months and years to come. Along with new opportunity came a level of scrutiny alien to the former security guard. Watching Sanders August 21st performance from backstage, Goldberg felt compelled to make a statement after Sanders listed his somewhat bloated vital statistics. "The kid can cut a promo" Goldberg said, "But he'll never be 250 pounds."
Average to the End.
