Deven Michaels

Deven Michaels

The Snakeman Deven Michaels
Birth name William Lester Franz Jr
Born (1981-06-01) June 1, 1981
Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Deven Michaels
Billed height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Billed weight 216 lb (98 kg)
Trained by Jake Roberts
Debut 2000

William Lester Franz Jr., (born June 1, 1981) is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name "The Snakeman" Deven Michaels. He is the second wrestler to carry a snake to the ring. Michaels has worked in numerous Independent circuits in the United States.[1]

Career

Beginning

Michaels has said, "I had a relatively bad childhood. The wrestlers I saw were my only heroes. When things were at their worst I would think about all the larger than life wrestlers I had seen and that would help me get through the night. Also when I would tell people about my dream of wanting to become a pro-wrestler every one would laugh and tell me that it would be impossible for me to make it. I wanted to become a wrestler so that perhaps one day I will be hero to some one and be an inspiration to every one that has a dream." [2] He was supported by his first wife, Jamie in 2000 to attend an independent wrestling show in Dubois, Pennsylvania. He met Jake "The Snake" Roberts there and sought training. He went to Gainesville, Texas to train to be a professional wrestler shortly after.[3]

Training

Deven Michaels with The Honky Tonk Man

Deven arrived in Gainesville, Texas in July 2000. He lived with Jake and worked off the balance of training, as well as room and board, by doing some manual labor around Roberts home.[4] According to Deven, Roberts taught him about the psychology of wrestling. Deven also got additional advice and training by Roberts' father Grizzly Smith. Michaels spent approximately a year with Roberts in Texas before traveling back north to Pennsylvania where he sought further technical training from Dr. Feelgood. Michaels started out working in wrestling promotions in Pennsylvania and Michigan. Michaels credits Feelgood with getting his foot in the door of the indy world. He also took a training seminar with Dr. Tom Prichard,[5] Raven, Steve Corino, Doink the Clown, and Demolition Ax.[6]

Working

Michaels has worked for numerous wrestling promotions. A few are APWF, CWF, KSWA, BDW, SVW, PWC, WVWA, CIW, World-1, MWA, PWA, Allstar, XWF, Firestorm Pro, UCW, XCW, PWE, RWA, XMCW, MEWL, MadMar Entertainment, Championship Wrestling, Ultimate Wrestling, and MFW.[7] He has worked programs with many different wrestlers and is always looking to expand. Deven is also the first man to DDT its inventor, Jake Roberts.[8] Deven's ultimate goal is to work for a main television based federation.[9]

Deven makes his way to the ring (2009).

In wrestling

  • Snakeman
  • The Snake
  • Serpent of Mayhem

Championships and accomplishments

Controversy

Michaels has taken heat from other independent wrestlers as well as his former trainer, Jake Roberts. Roberts issued a statement, via his Myspace, which was republished in Wrestlezone that he only spent a couple of weeks with Deven Michaels and taught him only the basics.[14] However, there is also a video of Roberts on YouTube where he states that he passed the torch to another man who had a dream. Then he introduced Deven Michaels.[15] The video was later explained as a "WORK" strictly for the crowd, by Roberts.

In an interview with Deven he openly talks about alcoholism, drugs, and sex. Michaels had an alcohol problem up until 2009. He claims to have taken his addiction in hand.[16] The vice he is most notable for is the ladies. Deven explains that he has a hard time saying no to sex and does not see that changing any time soon.[17]

Personal life

Deven was born and raised in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania by his parents William & Amy Frantz. He has one younger sister, Ashley Frantz. Deven was married in 2000 to Jamie Kunselman, subsequently divorced. Married to Bridget Stahlman in 2002 and has a daughter named Jezabel born on November 15, 2002.[18]

References

  1. ↑ Porter, Michael (2008, July 13) Wrestleshoot. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/michaelporterswrestleshoot.rss Retrieved on June 6, 2010.
  2. ↑ Steven, Andy (2006, Oct. 19) Interview With: The Snake Man Deven Michaels. http://www.pwmania.com/interviews.php?page=snake Retrieved on June 6, 2010.
  3. ↑ Earnest, Melissa (2008, Dec. 17) WZ.com Exclusive: Interview with "The Snakeman" Deven Michaels. http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/article/wzcom-exclusiveinterview-with-the-snakeman-deven-michaels-56628 or http://thesnakemandevenmichaels.com/Wrestlezone-Interview.php Retrieved on June 6, 2010.
  4. ↑ Trash, Mike (2009, April 7) Trash Talking Radio. http://www.trashtalkingradio.com/wn/2009.htm Retrieved on June 6, 2010.
  5. ↑ Steven, Andy (2006, Oct. 19) Interview With: The Snake Man Deven Michaels. http://www.pwmania.com/interviews.php?page=snake Retrieved on June 6, 2010.
  6. ↑ Porter, Michael (2008, July 13) Wrestleshoot. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/michaelporterswrestleshoot.rss Retrieved on June 6, 2010.
  7. ↑ Porter, Michael (2008, July 13) Wrestleshoot. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/michaelporterswrestleshoot.rss Retrieved on June 6, 2010.
  8. ↑ YouTube (2008, June 9) Jake Roberts & Deven Michaels. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1856UMsFYs Retrieved on June 6, 2010
  9. ↑ Earnest, Melissa (2008, Dec. 17) WZ.com Exclusive: Interview with "The Snakeman" Deven Michaels. http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/article/wzcom-exclusiveinterview-with-the-snakeman-deven-michaels-56628 or http://thesnakemandevenmichaels.com/Wrestlezone-Interview.php Retrieved on June 6, 2010.
  10. ↑ Rock N Flight Entertainment (2008, July 10th) Award Winning Snake. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeeW_EEqdfc Retrieved on June 6, 2010.
  11. ↑ RWA (2009) Records. http://rwalive.com/records.html Retrieved on June 6, 2010.
  12. ↑ MWA (2009, Nov. 28th) Champions. http://mountaineerwrestling.com/champions.htm Retrieved on June 6, 2010.
  13. ↑ YouTube (2008, June 9th) Jake Roberts & Deven Michaels. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1856UMsFYs Retrieved on June 6, 2010
  14. ↑ Behrens, Bill (2009, August 26th) Jake Roberts Calls Out Gimmick Stealing Indy Wrestler. http://lax2.wrestlezone.com/news/article/jake-roberts-calls-out-gimmick-stealing-indy-wrestler-83947 Retrieved on June 6, 2010.
  15. ↑ YouTube (2008, June 9th) Jake Roberts & Deven Michaels. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1856UMsFYs Retrieved on June 6, 2010
  16. ↑ Trash, Mike (2009, April 7) Trash Talking Radio. http://www.trashtalkingradio.com/wn/2009.htm Retrieved on June 6, 2010.
  17. ↑ Porter, Michael (2008, July 13) Wrestleshoot. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/michaelporterswrestleshoot.rss Retrieved on June 6, 2010.
  18. ↑ Porter, Michael (2008, July 13) Wrestleshoot. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/michaelporterswrestleshoot.rss Retrieved on June 6, 2010.

External links

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