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Height: 6'6"
Weight: 280 lbs.
Finishing Move: Cobra Clutch Slam
Real Name: Mark Hildreth
PWI Rankings: (1991-1993, 1998-2000) 290, 204, 112, 173, 179, 211
SAG Member


Professional Experience:
Film:
Ready to Rumble, Warner Brothers, 2000


A chance meeting with Sting got Hammer started down the path of wrestling
in the early 90's.
He got his training under the legendary Boris Malenko,
and his trainers, Tommy Rogers and Dan Spivey.
He graduated with such notables as Horace Hogan, Jerry Flynn, and Marc Mero.
Hammer was catapulted to the forefront of WCW, his first match
on the now-extinct annual mega card, Clash of the Champions.
In early 1991, "Heavy Metal Van Hammer" was introduced
as a motorcycle riding headbanger who loved Heavy Metal.
After some very forgettabble feuds with Vinnie Vegas and Big Sky,
he went on to one of the premiere fueds of the early 90's WCW, against Cactus Jack.
The last memorable moment of Hammer's first stint with WCW
was jobbing to Sid Vicious in his return at Slamboree '93.


Contractual and substance abuse problems sidelined Hammer for several years,
until his return to WCW as "Hammer," a member of Raven's Flock in early 1998.
This soon ended as in May of '98, Hammer was officially kicked out of the Flock.
Even though he won a "loser leaves The Flock" match against Saturn one week prior,
Raven still decided that he wanted to keep his right hand man as Saturn.
Hammer began to feud with Reese and other lower level Flock guys.
He was helped out by Juventud Guerrera a few times.
He disapeered again before and he returned after the summer of 1998,
where he made his return after The Flock had been disbanded.


He was shortly brought back as a hippy, and then as an anti-hippy.
That angle played out shortly, however, and Hammer was soon without an angle and off TV.
This continued until mid 2000 when
Hammer was thrown in with Lash LeRoux, Hugh Morrus, Chavo Guerrero,
and Tylene Buck as the "Misfits In Action."
He was renamed "Major Stash," and he has since recieved Tag title shots,
as well as a great deal more air time.
This also didn't last long, as "Stash" was soon pulled from the group
and replaced by The Wall.
Cost cutting and backstage politics ended Hammer's latest stint with WCW,
and he is now on the indie wrestling scene.


Wrestling Style
Van Hammer was never known for his extensive wrestling playbook...
He often uses foreign objects to help him during matches.
However, no one can deny his superhuman strength...
Hammer has been known to gorilla press opponents well above his head,
then throw them to the ground like a piece of meat...
His physique is one of the best in WCW,
and he uses his brute strength to defeat anyone in his path.


Did You Know?
Heavy Metal Van Hammer was one of the most popular WCW superstars in the beginning
of the 1990s...
During his time as a member of the flock, Van Hammer was the only person to shower after
matches...
His favorite movies are from the 1960s, and he really enjoys "Easy Rider"...
His favorite actor is Timothy Leary and favorite actress is Jane Fonda.


Television:
Monday Night, Nitro, TNT - 1998-2000
Thursday Night Thunder, TBS - 1998-2000
Humane Society Porgram, Access 26 - 2000
Next Door Neighbor, WBOC News - 2000
E! Inside Wrestling, E! - 1999
Music Video, MTV - 1999
National Commercial for AT&T - 1999
Worldwide Wrestling, TBS - 1997 - 1999
National Commercial for Hi-Fi Buys - 1992
Summer Scene, United Kingdom - 1992
WCW Power Hour, TBS - 1991 -1992
Jerry Lewis Telethon - 1991


Radio:
The Murph and Reed Morning Show, Delaware - 1999 - 2000
The Simon Bates Radio Show, BBC Radio 1 - 1993
The Richard Skinner Show, United Kingdom - 1992


Events:
Dallas Cowboy's Football Game - 1998 - 1999
Atlanta Hawks Half-Time Show - 1992 - 1993


Magazines:
Marvel Comics, Sports Illustrated, TV Wrestler, Audacity, WCW Magazine,
Pro Wrestling Illustrated, Wrestling World, Inside Wrestling, Wrestle America,
Heartland USA, Wrestling Fury, The Wrestler, The Sunday Mirror, WCW/NWO


Public Speaking:
Parkway Youth Group - 1999
Liberty County High School, Holy Trinity School - 1992
Jessup Elementary School, Middle River Middle School - 1991

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