Van Hammer

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Van Hammer
Van Hammer in 1993
Birth nameMark Ty Hildreth
Born (1959-11-11) November 11, 1959 (age 64)[1][2]
Hebron, Maryland, U.S.[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Hammer[1]
Major Stash[1]
Van Hammer[1]
Billed height6 ft 6 in (198 cm)[1]
Billed weight280 lb (127 kg)[1][3]
Trained byBoris Malenko[3]
Dan Spivey[3]
WCW Power Plant[1]
Debut1991[4]
Retired2009[5]

Mark Ty Hildreth (born November 11, 1959) is an American retired

professional wrestler, best known for his tenures in World Championship Wrestling under the ring names Van Hammer and Hammer.[1]

Early life

Before becoming a wrestler, Hildreth joined the United States Navy after graduating from high school and traveled around the world while on tour.[3][5]

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1991)

After being trained by Boris Malenko and Dan Spivey, Hildreth made his debut on July 19, 1991, as "The Hammer", teaming with "Iceman" King Parsons to defeat Billy Travis and Khris Germany in a tag team match for the North Georgia Wrestling Alliance.[6] The referee for this match was Hildreth's brother, Dwayne Hildreth. Hildreth had expected to wrestle on the independent circuit for at least a few years.[2] The promotion was booked by Dusty Rhodes, who also served as the booker for World Championship Wrestling. Despite having wrestled just one match, Hildreth was invited to be the opponent for fellow Malenko trainee Marc Mero for the latter's tryout match for WCW.

World Championship Wrestling (1991–1995)

Marc Mero was brought in to

Starrcade, Hammer teamed with Big Josh in a losing effort to Steve Austin and Rick Rude.[6]

After briefly continuing his tag team with Big Josh, Hammer returned to singles competition and faced Steve Austin for the

The Vegas Connection.[10] For the remainder of October and November he was strongly pushed, going 19–2 in a streak that included victories over Tony Atlas, The Barbarian, and Mustafa Saed. He would also team with Brad Armstrong
in a brief feud with Page and Vegas.

On the November 21 episode of

WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ron Simmons
. The following week Hammer defeated Simmons to win the arm wrestling challenge.

Hammer teamed with Sting and was victorious in a tag-team match on the November 21 episode of

The Great Muta defeated both Hammer, Spivey and five other wrestlers to win the Battlebowl.[8]

On January 2, 1993, Van Hammer lost to

Slamboree pay-per-view, Van Hammer lost his match with Sid Vicious in only 35 seconds.[8]

Despite the quick loss Hammer continued to be pushed, defeating Vinnie Vegas on a house show in

The Equalizer in the first round.[12]

In addition to making a television appearance in November 1993 (due to the pre-taping in July) in the Jesse Ventura arm-wrestling challenge, Hammer's name was also mentioned on the January 4 episode of WCW Main Event in a segment with Diamond Dallas Page. The heel randomly drew names out a fishbowl, and Hammer's name was one of the selections. He returned November 29, 1994, and was defeated by Dick Slater at a television taping.[13]

On the January 21, 1995, episode of WCW Pro (taped on December 4, 1994, in Dalton, Georgia) another challenge was made by Diamond Dallas Page, this time a call to defend his arm wrestling title. Van Hammer made a surprise appearance to accept the challenge and Page faked an arm injury and called it off.[13] One month later, on the February 25 episode of WCW Pro, Page defeated Hammer in an arm wrestling match after Max Muscle interfered.[14]

World Wrestling Federation (1993)

On July 26, 1993, Hildreth received a tryout match at a WWF Superstars taping in Utica, New York. Wrestling as Van Hammer, he worked as a heel, but was defeated by Virgil.[12] The following day working as a babyface at a Wrestling Challenge taping in Plattsburgh, New York he was defeated by Damien Demento in another dark match.

World Championship Wrestling (1997–2000)

The Flock (1997–1998)

Main article: The Flock

Hildreth returned to WCW in November 1997 under the shortened ring name "Hammer", where he was placed in Raven's stable The Flock.[1] Despite being an undercarder, much like the rest of The Flock's members, he was granted a title match against the United States Heavyweight Champion Diamond Dallas Page on the February 23, 1998, episode of Monday Nitro, but was unsuccessful in winning the title.[8] On the March 2, 1998, episode of Nitro, Hammer lost to Page via disqualification in a title rematch.[8]

Singles competition (1998–1999)

Hammer began

pacifist and returned to using his full Van Hammer name. Following this, he began a short winning streak over the next few weeks before losing to Bam Bam Bigelow on the February 22, 1999, episode of Nitro.[15] Van Hammer quickly rebounded and began another winning streak over the following weeks on Nitro, Thunder, Saturday Night and even on pay-per-view at The Great American Bash on June 13 by defeating Mikey Whipwreck.[15] Hammer's winning streak was ended a few weeks later as he lost to Rick Steiner in a title match for Steiner's World Television Championship on July 11 at Bash at the Beach.[15] On the October 11 episode of Nitro, Hammer lost to Sid Vicious in a match for the United States Heavyweight Championship.[15]

Misfits In Action (2000)

Main article:
Misfits In Action

On the May 2, 2000, episode of Thunder, Hammer participated in a 41-man

marijuana, but balked at being given the lowest rank in the stable, leading him to being "promoted" to "Major".[1] Stash's tenure with the Misfits was short-lived, as he wrestled what turned out to be his final match in WCW, a loss to The Demon on the July 12, 2000, episode of Thunder,[15]
as he was released from his contract shortly after.

Late career (2001–2003, 2009)

After leaving WCW, Hildreth took a brief hiatus from wrestling. On March 16, 2001, under his Van Hammer

Shane Shamrock Memorial Cup, where he won an eight-man tag team match alongside Gillberg, Thrasher and Kelly Bell against Brock Singleton, Genesis and The Holy Rollers (Earl the Pearl and Rich Meyes).[15]

In 2009, Hildreth attended an MCW show where wrestler Champ Pain performed a promo calling Hildreth "washed up" and comparing him to Randy "The Ram" Robinson, the character played by Mickey Rourke in the film The Wrestler. In response, Hildreth entered the ring, but Champ Pain fled before a fight could break out. On April 11, 2009, at MCW's event Xtreme Measures, Hildreth - wrestling as "Van Hammer" - came out of retirement for one night to defeat Champ Pain.[15]

Legal issues

On January 26, 2020, Hildreth was arrested in Palm Beach County, Florida, and charged with DUI and first degree felony hit and run.[16] Hildreth was reported to be driving at 58 mph in a 35 mph zone when he hit a 5-year-old child who was riding a bicycle. The child reportedly flew on to the hood of Hildreth's car and suffered internal injuries, but ultimately survived.[17] In May 2020, Hildreth pleaded guilty to both charges, and as a result was sentenced to one year of probation, one year of driver's license revocation, and he is now required to have an interlock device placed in his vehicle at all times.[18]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "OWOW profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved August 13, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d e Eyman, Scott (August 24, 2013). "Putting down the 'Hammer'". The Palm Beach Post. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Accelerator's profile".
  4. ^ Van Hammer profile, from WrestlingData.com
  5. ^ a b "Cagematch profile".
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Cagematch matches, page 1".
  7. ^ "WCW 1991". thehistoryofwwe.com. January 16, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Cagematch matches, page 2".
  9. ^ https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=245427
  10. ^ "WCW 1992". thehistoryofwwe.com. January 16, 2023.
  11. ^ "WCW 1993". thehistoryofwwe.com. January 16, 2023.
  12. ^ a b "1993". thehistoryofwwe.com. January 16, 2023.
  13. ^ a b "WCW 1994". thehistoryofwwe.com. January 16, 2023.
  14. ^ "WCW 1995". thehistoryofwwe.com. January 16, 2023.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Cagematch matches, page 3".
  16. ^ "Former WCW Star Van Hammer Arrested After DUI Hit & Run Incident". WrestlingInc.com. January 27, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  17. ^ "Former WCW Star van Hammer Sentenced in DUI Case". May 19, 2020.
  18. ^ Marc Middleton (May 19, 2020). "Former WCW Star Van Hammer Sentenced In DUI Case". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  19. ^ "Awards".
  20. ^ "Archived copy". www.100megsfree4.com. Archived from the original on June 16, 2008. Retrieved January 12, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. ^ "Jesse Ventura Strongest Arms Arm Wrestling Tournament results".

External links

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