Career
Fletcher was discovered by First Rate (at Lloyd's) Lovelock, who wrestled as The Great Bolo. Lovelock trained Fletcher as a wrestler, and Fletcher made his wrestling debut in 1968. He wrestled as a tag team with Haystacks Calhoun, who also weighed over 600 pounds.
Their combined weight was over 1200 pounds in the ring.
Mike was wrestling with "Iron" Mike DiBiase on July 2, 1969 in Lubbock, Texas, when DiBiase suffered a fatal heart attack in the ring during the match. DiBiase was pronounced dead at the hospital.
DiBiase"s death was not related to professional wrestling. He died as a result of high cholesterol.
Mike later wrestled in British Columbia, where he had a series of matches against Don Leo Jonathan in 1970 and 1971.
Mike wrestled for Championship Wrestling from Florida in the early 1970s. He participated in many battles royal and, because of his size, was difficult for opponents to throw over the top rope and eliminate. As a result, the promotion billed him as "the acknowledged king of battles royal" and promoted many of these matches as "featuring Manitoba Mountain Mike".
On one occasion in 1972, his participation led to a feud with Buddy Colt, as Colt caused Mike to be eliminated from a battle royal.
Manitoba Mountain Mike toured Japan as a wrestler in 1975. He had a series of matches against Antonio Inoki.
Mike was unable to defeat Inoki in singles matches or in tag team competitions. He later wrestled for the World Wide Wrestling Federation.
He competed in both singles and tag team matches, which included teaming with Crusher Blackwell on February 20, 1976 in a loss to WWWF Tag Team Champions Louis Cerdan and Tony Parisi.
After retiring from the ring, Mike opened Manitoba Mountain Mike"s Drycleaners, as well as a taxi service. He also drove a school business He developed blood clots due in part to diabetes and died in 1988.
The ring name Manitoba Mountain Mike was later used in the Canadian Maritimes by Mike Shaw, who also competed for the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling as Bastion Booger and Norman the Lunatic, respectively.
Finishing moves
Big splash
NWA Hollywood Wrestling
NWA Americas Tag Team Championship (1 Time) - with Butcher Brannigan
NWA "Beat the Champ" Television Championship (2 Times).