Tony Halme

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Tony Halme
An image of Tony Halme.
Statistics
Ring name(s) The Viking
Tony Halme
Ludvig Borga
Billed height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1][2]
Billed weight 275 lb (125 kg/19.6 st)
Born January 6, 1963 (1963-01-06) (age 45)
Helsinki, Finland
Resides Helsinki, Finland
Billed from Helsinki, Finland
Trained by Verne Gagne
Debut October 29, 1990
Retired March 2003

Tony Christian Halme (born January 6, 1963) is a former member of the Finnish Parliament, representing the True Finns party. He is also known by the pseudonym Viikinki he used while appearing in the Finnish version of the TV game show American Gladiators in the 1990s. He has also been a professional wrestler best known for his appearances with World Wrestling Federation under the name Ludvig Borga, an MMA fighter and a professional boxer who held the Finnish Heavyweight Championship.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Athletic career

[edit] Universal Wrestling Federation (1990)

His earlier career in show-fighting and boxing have given Halme a "tough guy" image, enhanced by well-publicized instances when he defended himself in bar brawls. Halme was trained by Charlie Gergan in boxing and Verne Gagne as a powerhouse professional wrestler. He made his professional wrestling debut for Herb Abrams' Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF) on October 29, 1990 as The Viking. In his first match, he defeated The Patriot.[1][3]

[edit] New Japan Pro Wrestling (1990-1993)

On December 26, 1990, Halme debuted in Japanese promotion New Japan Pro Wrestling defeating Shinya Hashimoto in a boxer vs. wrestler match.[2][4] On April 30, 1991, Halme defeated Seiji Aoyagi in a boxer vs. karate match.[2][5] In 1992, Halme was teamed/placed in matches with Scott Norton, Bam Bam Bigelow and Barry Windham.[2][6] He also competed in the NJPW Super Grade Tag League II teaming with Masa Chono scoring 8 points with fourth position.[2][7] The tournament was won by Shinya Hashimoto and Riki Choshu.[7] However, Halme became successful in his career for the first time winning his first wrestling title. On November 22, 1992, Halme teamed up with fellow powerhouse Scott Norton to win the IWGP World Tag Team Championship from Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott).[2][6][8] However, the next night, Halme and Norton were forced to face each other with separate tag team partners with Halme and Ron Powers losing to Norton and TNT.[2][6]

On December 14, Halme and Norton lost the IWGP World Tag Team Championship to Hell Raisers (Hawk Warrior and Power Warrior).[8] At Fantastic Story in Tokyo Dome (in North America aired on PPV as WCW/New Japan Supershow III), Halme was featured in a match against fellow powerhouse Ron Simmons which he lost after a Spinebuster.[2][9] On February 16, 1993, Halme got a shot for his second IWGP World Tag Team Championship where he was teamed up with Matthew Rambo against the champions Hell Raisers for the titles. However, Halme and Rambo lost the match.[2][10] On June 17, Halme wrestled his last match in NJPW where he teamed up with The Barbarian and lost to John Tenta and Haku.[2][10]

[edit] World Wrestling Federation (1993-1994)

On July 6, 1993 television tapings of Superstars (aired July 24), Halme debuted in World Wrestling Federation (WWF) as powerhouse Ludvig Borga squashing Tony Dimuaro with a top-rope clothesline.[11] He was offered the heel gimmick of a man who disliked America because of pollution and his entrance music was Maamme, the Finnish national anthem. At SummerSlam 1993, Borga squashed Marty Jannetty in his first WWF PPV match.[2][12] As Ludvig Borga, he made quite an impact in the mid-nineties WWF, ascending straight to main event status against the "All-American" Lex Luger. On September 28, 1993 edition of Superstars (aired October 30), Borga ended Tatanka's undefeated streak in WWF for over 2 years, pinning him with one finger (after hitting him with a steel chair while the referee was distracted).[11] At Survivor Series 1993, he participated in the main event teaming up with Yokozuna, Quebecer Jacques and Crush as "Foreign Fanatics" against "All-Americans" (Lex Luger, The Undertaker and Steiner Brothers).[13]

During the match, Borga powered up in the beginning as he eliminated Rick Steiner very quickly. Crush was counted-out when he brawled with his rival at the time, Randy Savage. Jacques Rougeau was the next who was pinned by Lex Luger after an elbow smash. Borga and Yokozuna were left in Foreign Fanatics while All-Americans were still three. Yokozuna was able to eliminate Scott Steiner making it a 2-on-2 match. Yokozuna and Undertaker fought off together and it was for the first time that Yokozuna was afraid. The two brawled outside the ring and were counted-out. Borga and Luger were the final two remaining participants and Borga got eliminated by Luger after a running elbow smash thus making Luger's team the winner making his final PPV appearance for WWF.[13] On December 14, Borga defeated Razor Ramon at a house show to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship after pinning him with a clothesline. However, the contest continued because Razor's foot was on the bottom rope. Shawn Michaels interfered and hit Razor with a fake Intercontinental title belt and Borga pinned Razor again to win the title. However, two referees brawled that who was the winner and then the decision was reversed making Razor the winner.[1][14] On January 17, 1994, Borga injured his ankle in a match with Rick Steiner. This injury forced him to cancel his scheduled appearance at Royal Rumble 1994, and he did not return to the WWF.[15]

[edit] Catch Wrestling Association (1995)

He was said to have been considered for a WWF Championship run, but his wrestling career was cut short by an ankle injury. He wrestled for Catch Wrestling Association (CWA) in 1995. On December 20, Borga won his first (and only) singles title the CWA World Heavyweight Championship by defeating Rambo. After holding the title for over a year, Borga lost it back to Rambo on December 21, 1996.[16] After professional wrestling, Halme went on to fight in the RINGS and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), though without appreciable success, losing to future UFC champion Randy Couture.[2]

[edit] Political career

Halme does not hide his nativist views and tends to speak in a rash, direct manner, which tends to catch the public ear. He has also suggested that Finland should send drug dealers to Russian prisons as this would result in considerable cost savings, and a prison term in Russia would be a more effective deterrent. The populist party of True Finns took him as an independent candidate in the parliamentary elections of 2003. His share of about 17,000 votes was the 7th highest in the Helsinki parliamentary district. Most of his voters were from the poorest suburbs where unemployment is high. Some political analysts believe the Halme phenomenon to be a form of protest, but some fear this marks the rise of a political racist right-wing movement.

During his parliamentary career, Halme raised controversies. The day after the elections, Halme referred to president Halonen as a lesbian in a radio interview. Halme stated that if a lesbian can be president of Finland and he can be a member of Parliament, anything seems possible. A huge uproar ensued as much of the Finnish media treated the statement as a personal attack on Halonen; Halonen herself made no comment. Halme later apologized, stating that he was sorry that the statement had been interpreted as an insult and that he had been under the genuine impression that Halonen was a lesbian.[17]

In July 2003, a handgun was fired inside his apartment, probably after a domestic quarrel. Nobody was hurt, but the gun was unlicensed. Halme had only days before been in a boxing match and was using prescription medication because he was in pain. The dangerous combination of drugs and alcohol was a decisive factor in the incident. His blood contained trace amounts of amphetamine. Illegal steroids were also found in his apartment. Halme said that somebody had put the illegal substance into his drink without his knowledge. He was unconscious for several days following the incident. The police searched Halme's office at the House of Parliament. In January 2004 his trial was shown live on television by the MTV3 digital television channel. Halme received a four-month suspended sentence and a fine,[18] but continued to serve as Member of Parliament. In 2006 he was convicted on driving while impaired.

In early March 2006, Halme was involuntarily committed to a mental hospital, reportedly due to delirium caused by excessive alcohol use. Earlier in 2006 he had been diagnosed with alcohol-related cirrhosis and acute pancreatitis. After being on sick leave for almost the entire year of 2006, he went on disability pension at end of the Parliamentary term.

[edit] Other media

He has also written four books and recorded one album called "Mestarit salilla". He has also starred in the Finnish movies Ponterosa and Kohtalon kirja and in 1995 had a small role overseas in Die Hard: With a Vengeance.

  • Books
  • Jumala armahtaa, minä en (1998) (Title translation: God Has Mercy, I Don't)
  • Tuomiopäivä (2001) (Title translation: The Judgement Day)
  • Viikingin voimaopas (2003) (Title translation: The Viking's strength guide)
  • Kovan päivän ilta (2003) (Title translation: A Hard Day's Night)
  • Albums

[edit] In wrestling

  • Finishing and signature moves

[edit] Championships and accomplishments

[edit] In boxing

[edit] Professional boxing record

13 Wins (10 knockouts, 3 decisions), 6 Losses (5 knockouts, 1 disqualification), 0 Draws [1]
Result Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Location Notes
Win Flag of Kenya Chris Sirengo Unanimous decision 6   November 29, 2002   Helsinki, Finland
Loss Flag of the United States Garing Lane TKO 5 (6) October 13, 2001 Copenhagen, Denmark
Win Flag of Russia Almaz Gismejev TKO 3 (8) February 20, 2001 Helsinki, Finland
Loss Flag of France Yacine Kingbo KO 2 (12) October 3, 2000 Helsinki, Finland Bout was for the vacant NBA Heavyweight title.
Win Flag of Finland Mika Kihlström KO 4 (10) April 17, 2000 Helsinki, Finland Won Finnish Heavyweight title.
Win Flag of Hungary Ferenc Deák KO 1 November 22, 1999 Helsinki, Finland
Loss Flag of Mexico Agustin Corpus KO 3 September 6, 1999 Helsinki, Finland
Win Flag of the United States Iran Barkley Split decision 12 April 19, 1999 Helsinki, Finland Won vacant WBF Americas Heavyweight title.
Win Flag of the United States Ken Woods KO 2 November 16, 1998 Helsinki, Finland
Loss Flag of Finland Mika Kihlström TKO 5 (10) September 14, 1998 Helsinki, Finland Lost Finnish Heavyweight title.
Win Flag of the United States Terry Armstrong KO 1 March 16, 1998 Helsinki, Finland
Win Flag of Finland Jukka Järvinen KO 1 (10) September 29, 1997 Helsinki, Finland Won Finnish Heavyweight title.
Win Flag of the United States Paul Genick KO 1 September 6, 1997 Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
Loss Flag of Finland Jukka Järvinen Disqualification 3 (10) September 9, 1996 Helsinki, Finland Bout was for the vacant Finnish Heavyweight title.
Win Flag of the United States Robert Swenson KO 1 May 26, 1996 Helsinki, Finland
Loss Flag of the United States Patrick Freeman KO 4 April 27, 1996 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Win Flag of the United States Tony Messenger TKO 1 March 4, 1996 Helsinki, Finland
Win Flag of the United States Archie Perry Points 5 June 26, 1995 Inglewood, California, USA
Win Flag of the United States Bradford Powell KO 1 June 10, 1995 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

[edit] In mixed martial arts

[edit] Mixed martial arts record

Result Opponent Method Rd. Time Date Event Notes
Loss Flag of the United States Randy Couture Submission (rear naked choke) 1 0:56 May 30, 1997 UFC 13: Ultimate Force Heavyweight tournament semifinals.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Ludvig Borga Profile. Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Ludvig Borga Bio. Accelerator 3359. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
  3. ^ UWF 1990 Episode Guide. Herb Abrams' UWF. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
  4. ^ NJPW 1990 results. Strong Style Spirit. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  5. ^ NJPW 1991 results. Strong Style Spirit. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  6. ^ a b c NJPW 1992 results. Strong Style Spirit. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  7. ^ a b Super Grade Tag League II. Strong Style Spirit. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  8. ^ a b c IWGP World Tag Team Championship title history. Strong Style Spirit. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  9. ^ Fantastic Story in Tokyo Dome results. Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  10. ^ a b NJPW 1993 results. Strong Style Spirit. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  11. ^ a b Cawthon, Graham. Superstars results. Angelfire. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  12. ^ SummerSlam 1993 official results. WWE. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  13. ^ a b Survivor Series 1993 main event. WWE. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  14. ^ Cawthon, Graham. Ring Results: 1993. The History of WWE. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  15. ^ Cawthon, Graham. Ring Results: 1994. The History of WWE. Retrieved on 2008-05-27.
  16. ^ a b C.W.A. World Heavyweight Title. Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  17. ^ ranneliike.net:
  18. ^ HS Home 30.1.2004 - Four-month suspended sentence for MP Tony Halme

[edit] External links

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