The first time Taz picked a headset over a head drop was in ECW. Nursing a broken neck after a 1995 match against Dean Malenko and Too Cold Scorpio, the company's monster-in-waiting used a brief stint in the booth as a way to broaden his horizons in a business known for rewarding the multi-skilled.
Exhibiting the perfect blend of quiet menace and shrewd analysis, the move was vital in ensuring he'd never again go full caveman as The Tasmaniac. He'd only worked five matches in his updated shooter role before the knock, but the move to boots and trunks was made permanent by the virtue of him absolutely not f*cking around when he returned.
Taz' November To Remember 1995 heel turn was the stuff of legend when it occurred. The Red Hook native was a b*stard, but he typically unleashed his bad mood on the bad guys. No longer - the 'Human Suplex Machine' was in the pocket of loathed heel referee Bill Alfonzo, and on a collision course with one of the company's poster boys.
To paraphrase a b*stardised chant, this was awesome.
Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett
