Mike Rotunda

Lawrence Michael Rotunda (born March 30, 1958) is an American retired professional wrestler.

Rotunda was born on March 30, 1958, in St. Petersburg, Florida.

He attended Newark Valley High School in Newark Valley, New York.

He transferred to Owego Free Academy where he lettered in football and wrestling.

He graduated from OFA in 1976.

He participated in amateur wrestling, becoming a sectional champion in the 215 lb class in 1976, and placing 4th at the New York State Championships.

After graduating from high school, Rotunda attended Syracuse University.

He is best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling in the 1980s and 1990s under the ring names Mike Rotunda, Mike Rotundo, Michael Wallstreet, Irwin R. Schyster, and V.K. Wallstreet.

Rotunda held numerous singles and tag team championships including the NWA World Tag Team Championship, NWA World Television Championship and WWF World Tag Team Championship.

On July 23, 2022, he was inducted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and as a member of The U.S. Express, Rotunda and Barry Windham will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in April 2024.

He competed in football and amateur wrestling, becoming Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association champion in 1981, in the heavyweight division and becoming a letterwinner in 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1981.

After graduating from Syracuse University, Rotunda traveled to Germany where he trained as a professional wrestler under The Destroyer.

He debuted in 1981, wrestling for promotions including Lutte Internationale, Jim Crockett Promotions and Championship Wrestling from Florida.

Rotunda and Barry Windham joined the World Wrestling Federation as The U.S. Express in 1984, during which time he was billed as Mike Rotundo rather than Rotunda.

They won the WWF World Tag Team Championship twice, first from Dick Murdoch and Adrian Adonis in January 1985.

The US Express' most notable feud was with The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff, to whom they lost the title at the first WrestleMania.

The US Express regained the belts in June 1985, but lost them two months later to Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine.

Windham left the WWF soon after.

Rotunda continued to wrestle in singles matches until he left the WWF himself, in early 1986.

He briefly returned to the WWF in the fall of 1986 to team with "Golden Boy" Dan Spivey as a new version of "The U.S. Express", but they were more or less used as a jobber team against up-and-coming teams such as Demolition in house shows.

They were not considered top contenders.

The U.S. Express reunited in the AWA to wrestle at WrestleRock 86 on April 20, 1986, defeating The Fabulous Ones.

The team did not stay long as Windham left the AWA very shortly after debuting.

Rotunda stayed around for a few more months with little success.

Rotunda left the WWF in early 1987 and returned to Florida, where he won the NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship in March.

There, he feuded with Sir Oliver Humperdink's "Shock Troops" stable.

Later in the year, Rotunda joined the National Wrestling Alliance affiliate Jim Crockett Promotions, where he lingered at mid-card level as a face before turning heel and joining Kevin Sullivan's Varsity Club, a group of wrestlers with amateur wrestling credentials.

Rotunda began bickering with fellow Varsity Club member Rick Steiner, a graduate of the University of Michigan, over which of the two had a superior alma mater.

This in turn led to the two arguing over which of them was the superior wrestler.

Rotunda won the NWA World Television Championship from Nikita Koloff in January 1988, and subsequently gave his Florida Heavyweight title to Steiner.

He then began a feud with Jimmy Garvin, because Sullivan wanted Garvin's wife Precious.

Steiner left the group and began feuding with Rotunda, the enemies trading the Television Championship before Rotunda lost it to Sting.

"Dr. Death" Steve Williams and Dan Spivey joined the Varsity Club in late 1988, and Rotunda teamed with Williams to win the NWA World Tag Team Championship from The Road Warriors.

Referee Theodore Long turned heel during the match and administered a fast three count, enabling Rotunda and Williams to overcome the champions.

Long went on to become a manager following the controversial officiating.

In May 1989, Williams and Rotunda were stripped of the title and, shortly after Sullivan and Rotunda concluded a feud with the Steiner Brothers, Rotunda briefly left the NWA.

He returned in 1990 as a face, using the shipowner gimmick Captain Mike Rotunda.

He formed a "crew" (consisting of Abdullah the Butcher and Norman the Lunatic) and feuded with Kevin Sullivan's new stable, "Sullivan's Slaughterhouse" (Cactus Jack, Buzz Sawyer, and Bam Bam Bigelow).

In mid-1990, Rotunda turned heel again and became Michael Wallstreet, with Alexandra York (and her computer) as his manager.

They founded The York Foundation.