Former WWE Star Mike ‘Mantaur’ Halac Passes Away

Former WWE Superstar Mantaur - real name Mike Halac - has reportedly passed away aged 55.

News of Halac’s death broke on July 12, with tributes to the New Generation era star pouring in on social media.

Halac began his pro-wrestling career in the early 90s, working in Germany for Otto Wanz’ CWA as Bruiser Mastino in 1991. Halac would stay in Germany until 1994 when he joined the then World Wrestling Federation. In WWE Halac would portray the character Mantaur, a play on the Greek legend of the Minotaur, with Halac wearing an elaborate bull head to the ring for his matches.

As Mantaur Halac would wrestle the likes of Bret Hart, Bam Bam Bigelow, and Razor Ramon amongst others, and would be a part of the 1995 Royal Rumble, and the 1995 King of the Ring tournament.

Following a brief stint in ECW in late 1995/early 1996, Halac would return to the WWE, briefly portraying Goldust’s bodyguard at In Your House 7, before being repackaged as the masked Tank as part of the Truth Commission in 1997.

After his run in The Truth Commission ended, Halac would work one match in WCW before returning to the CWA, wrestling there until 2001. Since then Halac would make sporadic appearances on the independent scene, with his last match coming at GCW Joey Janela’s Spring Break 3 in 2019, with Halac once again portraying Mantaur in the Clusterf*** Battle Royal.

Cultaholic sends its condolences to Halac’s friends and family.