| Tatanka |
| Tatanka Height: 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) Weight: 258 lb (117 kg) Real name: Christopher Chavis Hometown: Pembroke, N.C. Pro debut: 1989 Finishing move: Wykea (Swinging side slam), Trail's End / End of the Trail (Samoan drop), Indian Death Drop/Papoose To Go (Fallaway slam), Tomahawk Chop (Top rope modified overhead chop) Other aliases: Chris Chavis (WWE/Indy), American War Eagle (NWA), The Native American Tatanka (WWE) Career highlights: AWF United States Champion, i-Generation Australian Heavyweight Champion (2), NAWA Heavyweight Champion, SAPW Heavyweight Champion, Stampede North American Heavyweight Champion, USWA Heavyweight Champion, ASW Tag Team Champion (w/Joe Gomez), TRCW Heavyweight Champion, UCW Heavyweight Champion Trained by: Larry Sharpe WWE profile: In recent months, Tatanka has become a changed man. After a string of bad luck, the Native American warrior blamed the WWE fans for his shortcomings. Citing constant discrimination and prejudice towards his people, Tatanka has vowed to get revenge for years of mistreatment. The newest member of the Lakota tribe, Native American warrior Tatanka went through several rituals on the path to becoming a Lakota. Cameras documented his participation in the Inipi purification ceremony and the sacred Hunka ceremony, where a new member is welcomed into the tribe. With the initation finished and the journey complete, Tatanka made his way back to SmackDown. A proud Native American, Tatanka is a fierce warrior inside the ring. He takes his name from the Native American tongues, as “tatanka” loosely translated represents a buffalo. A native of North Carolina’s Lumbee Tribe, Tatanka is proudest of his Native American Heritage, but his athletic background is something he can be proud of as well. An outstanding athlete during his high school years in Virginia, Tatanka competed in wrestling, track and football, where he was a two-time All-City selection. He was also a Colonel in his school’s Army ROTC program, but turned down a scholarship to the United States Military Academy to play football for James Madison University. After receiving several NFL tryouts, Tatanka went into competitive bodybuilding, where he won several contests. After conquering the bodybuilding world, Tatanka decided to pursue his dream of becoming a professional wrestler. Having met former WWE Champion “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers years earlier, Tatanka used him as a contact. Rogers sent Tatanka to see Larry Sharpe, who trained Tatanka at his famous Monster Factory in New Jersey. Tatanka won his first professional match in January 1990; less than two years later, he joined WWE in late 1991, beginning an undefeated streak that lasted nearly two years. He received an opportunity to face Shawn Michaels for the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania IX, but won the match by disqualification, keeping the gold around HBK’s waist. In September 1993, Tatanka finally suffered his first WWE defeat, losing to Ludvig Borga on an episode of Superstars. After the match, Borga and then-WWE Champion Yokozuna attacked Tatanka further; a pair of Bonzai Drops from the massive champion left Tatanka injured, knocking him out of action for three months. Tatanka returned in early 1994 to settle the score with the men who put him out of commission. He faced Yokozuna for the WWE Championship, but Mr. Fuji’s interference prevented him from winning the gold. Tatanka then formed an alliance of sorts with Lex Luger, who was also battling Yokozuna at the time, but their alliance would lead to a new era for Tatanka. After a brief rivalry with I.R.S. (who had desecrated a ceremonial headdress Tatanka had received from WWE Hall of Famer Chief Jay Strongbow on RAW), Tatanka began to make allegations that Luger had sold out and joined Ted DiBiase’s Corporation. Luger and Tatanka squared off at SummerSlam 1994, where it was revealed that it was actually Tatanka who had joined the Corporation. He defeated Luger and went on to become one of the cornerstones of DiBiase’s group. As a member of the Corporation, Tatanka nearly won the World Tag Team Championship in early 1995. He and fellow Corporation member Bam Bam Bigelow reached the finals of the World Tag Team Championship Tournament, but lost to 1-2-3 Kid and Hardcore Holly at the 1995 Royal Rumble; this match was in turn the impetus for Bigelow’s match with Lawrence Taylor at WrestleMania XI. After spending two years in the Corporation, Tatanka left WWE in late 1996. After nearly a decade away from WWE, Tatanka made a shocking return in August 2005. As RAW emanated from the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut, Tatanka came out as the “hometown hero” to be Eugene’s opponent in the Eugene Invitational. While the match ended in a No-Contest thanks to Kurt Angle, the support Tatanka received prompted him to make a full-time return to the squared circle. |
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