Mikey Batts

{{short description|American former professional wrestler|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{Infobox professional wrestler

|name = Mikey Batts

|image =

|birth_name = Michael Altieri

|names = Mikey Batts
Michael Altieri

|height = {{height|ft=5|in=8}}

|weight = {{convert|171|lb|kg|abbr=on}}

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1983|10|3|mf=y}}

|birth_place = New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.

|billed = New Haven, Connecticut

|trainer =
Roderick Strong
NWA Florida

|debut = June 20, 2003

|retired = 2006

}}

Michael Altieri (born October 3, 1983) is an American former professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Mikey Batts. He is best known for his time spent in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. He has also worked as a referee.

Professional wrestling career

=Early career (2003–2004)=

Altieri began amateur wrestling in junior high school. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1999. Altieri was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, where he served a two-year term, during which he continued wrestling. He was discharged in 2001 and relocated to Tampa, Florida, where he became a personal trainer. While working as a trainer, he decided to become a professional wrestler.

Altieri trained under Roderick Strong at the NWA Florida school.{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/m/mikey-batts.html|title=Mikey Batts profile|access-date=2009-03-28|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}} He debuted in NWA Florida on June 20, 2003, as Mikey Batts, wrestling Naphtali. On February 26, 2005, in Brandon, Florida he won a six-way match to become the NWA Florida X Division Champion.

=Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2004–2005)=

Batts debuted in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as a planted security guard in June 2004. He was signed to a contract that same month and began teaming on a regular basis with fellow NWA Florida performer Jerrelle Clark. Batts and Clark were staples on TNA Impact! throughout 2004 but were not involved in any major angles.{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2004/07/12/537161.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120728150329/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2004/07/12/537161.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 28, 2012|title=Impact looks to hook racing fans|date=2004-07-12|last=Johnson|first=Steven|access-date=2009-03-28|publisher=SLAM! Sports}}

In addition to competing in the tag team division, Batts wrestled in the X Division.{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2004/11/08/723409.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716042149/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2004/11/08/723409.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 16, 2012|title=Victory Road bombs|date=2004-11-08|last=Clevett|first=Jason|access-date=2009-03-29|publisher=SLAM! Sports}}

Batts competed at TNA Hard Justice in a 20 man Gauntlet for the Gold match being quickly eliminated by The Outlaw. {{cite web | url=https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/events-results/ppv-special/tna-hard-justice-2005 | title=TNA Hard Justice 2005 | Match Card & Results | TNA PPV }}

At TNA No Surrender on July 17, 2005, Batts took part in a four-way qualifying match for the TNA 2005 Super X Cup Tournament, which was won by Sonjay Dutt.{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2005/07/19/1137613.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720120913/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2005/07/19/1137613.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 20, 2012|title=No Surrender a success|date=2005-07-19|last=Clevett|first=Jason|access-date=2009-03-28|publisher=SLAM! Sports}}

Batts teamed with Simon Diamond on the August 19 episode of Impact!, facing Shocker and Chris Sabin in the first round of the Chris Candido Cup.{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2005/08/20/1181199.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717230013/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2005/08/20/1181199.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 17, 2012|title=Impact: Candido tag tourney launched|date=2005-08-20|last=Sokol|first=Chris|access-date=2009-03-28|publisher=SLAM! Sports}} During the match, commentators Mike Tenay and Don West speculated that Batts was "auditioning" for membership in The Diamonds in the Rough, Diamond's stable of undercard wrestlers. Diamond and Batts lost the match after Sabin pinned Batts; Batts did not join the Diamonds.

=World Wrestling Entertainment=

==Deep South Wrestling (2005)==

On October 30, 2005, it was announced that Batts had signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment and had been assigned to the Deep South Wrestling developmental territory.

==Ohio Valley Wrestling (2005–2006)==

In December, 2005, it was announced that Batts had been transferred to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW). On January 21, 2006, Batts lost his first match in OVW to Da Beast, with Tytus acting as his manager.{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/ovw/_2006/|title=Ohio Valley Wrestling (2006) - January 18, 2006 – OVW TV Tapings|date=2006-01-18|access-date=2009-03-28|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}} Then, on January 27, 2006, Batts lost to Tytus, this time with Da Beast acting as manager.{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/ovw/_2006/|title=Ohio Valley Wrestling (2006) - January 25, 2006–OVW TV Tapings|date=2006-01-25|access-date=2009-03-28|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}} Batts, under his real name, wrestled and lost to WWE Cruiserweight Champion Gregory Helms on the May 6, 2006 episode of Velocity.{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/060505.html|title=WWE SmackDown! Results - Friday Night SmackDown!|date=2006-05-05|access-date=2009-03-28|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}

On June 14, 2006, Batts was released from his WWE contract.