| Revision as of 04:50, 11 September 2014 view sourceOiyarbepsy (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers26,314 edits ←Redirected page to WWE#Charity← Previous edit | Revision as of 12:26, 10 March 2015 view source LM2000 (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers30,620 edits there's enough for an article nowNext edit → | ||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| '''Connor Michalek''' (2005 – April 25, 2014) was a ] fan who received considerable media attention after a social media campaign for him to meet his hero and favorite wrestler, ]. He later met Bryan and many other WWE stars a number of times. Michalek, who had battled cancer of the spine and brain since he was three years old, died in April 2014 at the age of 8. WWE executives ] and ] subsequently named the ''Connor's Cure'' charity in his honor and he is to posthumously receive the inaugural ] at the 2015 ] ceremony. | |||
| #REDIRECT ] | |||
| {{R to section}} | |||
| ==Biography== | |||
| Connor Michalek was born in 2005 to parents Steve Michalek and Brittany Caligiuri.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Pittsburgh boy battling cancer meets hero, WWE star Daniel Bryan|url=http://www.wpxi.com/news/entertainment/pittsburgh-area-boy-battling-cancer-meets-hero-wwe/nTZfX/|publisher=wpxi|date=December 18, 2012|accessdate=March 10, 2015}}</ref> Michalek developed ] when he was three years old. After his diagnosis he underwent several surgeries and many rounds of ]. He had a younger brother, Jackson. A ] of ], he was also known by his wrestling "]s" "Stone Crusher"<ref name="CBS"/> or simply "The Crusher".<ref name="independent"/> | |||
| In October 2012, a video featuring Michalek asking to meet his hero, WWE wrestler ], was posted to ] and received attention from media outlets. A social media campaign ensued, with hundreds of people joining a ] group entitled "Help Connor meet Daniel Bryan".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Online effort to help 6-year-old fighting brain cancer meet WWE star succeeds|url=http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/local/6-year-old-fighting-brain-cancer-hopes-online-effo/nSZBb/|publisher=WPXI|date=October 11, 2012 |accessdate=March 10, 2015}}</ref> Michalek met Bryan during a WWE '']'' event at Pittsburg's ] on December 18, 2012.<ref name="CBS">{{Cite web|title=WWE Star Makes Local Boy’s Dream Come True|url=http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2012/12/18/wwe-star-makes-local-boys-dream-come-true/|publisher=CBS Pittsburg|date=December 18, 2012 |accessdate=March 10, 2015}}</ref> Bryan met Michalek again on October 7, 2013 when ''Raw'' was in Pittsburg.<ref>{{Cite web|title= WWE VIDEOS: Cena talks WWE return on GMA, Bryan reunites with boy battling cancer, Raw Backstage Fallout |url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_73806.shtml#.VP7VfOFnz1I|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch|date=October 8, 2013|accessdate=March 10, 2015}}</ref> Michalek attended the ] festivities was in the front row to see Bryan win the ]. Bryan embraced Michalek immediately following his victory.<ref name="independent">{{Cite web|title=WWE releases touching YouTube tribute to Connor 'The Crusher' Michalek|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/wwe-mma-wrestling/wwe-releases-touching-video-tribute-to-connor-the-crusher-michalek-9330983.html|publisher=The Independent|date=May 7, 2014|accessdate=March 10, 2015}}</ref> | |||
| ==Death and legacy== | |||
| On April 25, 2014, Michalek died at 8 years old. WWE subsequently released a video, which went ], in his memory which featured him interacting with numerous WWE stars during WrestleMania XXX weekend.<ref>{{Cite web|title=WWE's touching tribute to superfan Connor 'The Crusher' Michalek|url=http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/05/wwe-connor-the-crusher-tribute|publisher=USA Today|date=May 7, 2014|accessdate=March 10, 2015}}</ref> | |||
| In June 2014, ] and ] founded ''Connor's Cure'' in Michalek's memory, a non-profit charitable organization, which they have personally funded through ].<ref>https://www.givetochildrens.org/CONNORSCURE</ref> | |||
| On March 9, 2015 WWE announced that Michalek would be honored at the 2015 ] induction ceremony. He will posthumously receive the inaugural Warrior Award, named after ], and will be inducted by Daniel Bryan and Dana Warrior.<ref>{{Cite web|title=WWE fan Connor Michalek to receive first-ever Warrior Award at 2015 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony|url=http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/fighting/article13172855.html|publisher=Miami Herald|date=March 10, 2015|accessdate=March 9, 2015}}</ref> The Warrior Award will be given to those who have "exhibited unwavering strength and perseverance, and who lives life with the courage and compassion that embodies the indomitable spirit of The Ultimate Warrior."<ref name=Warrior>{{Cite web|title=WWE fan Connor Michalek to receive first-ever Warrior Award at 2015 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/wwe-hall-of-fame/connor-michalek-warrior-award-2015-27168837|publisher=WWE|date=March 9, 2015|accessdate=March 9, 2015}}</ref> | |||
| ==Awards and accomplishments== | |||
| *''']''' | |||
| **] (Class of 2015 - ])<ref name="Warrior"/> | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{Reflist}} | |||
Revision as of 12:26, 10 March 2015
Connor Michalek (2005 – April 25, 2014) was a WWE fan who received considerable media attention after a social media campaign for him to meet his hero and favorite wrestler, Daniel Bryan. He later met Bryan and many other WWE stars a number of times. Michalek, who had battled cancer of the spine and brain since he was three years old, died in April 2014 at the age of 8. WWE executives Triple H and Stephanie McMahon subsequently named the Connor's Cure charity in his honor and he is to posthumously receive the inaugural Warrior Award at the 2015 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony.
Biography
Connor Michalek was born in 2005 to parents Steve Michalek and Brittany Caligiuri. Michalek developed medulloblastoma when he was three years old. After his diagnosis he underwent several surgeries and many rounds of chemotherapy. He had a younger brother, Jackson. A superfan of WWE, he was also known by his wrestling "ring names" "Stone Crusher" or simply "The Crusher".
In October 2012, a video featuring Michalek asking to meet his hero, WWE wrestler Daniel Bryan, was posted to YouTube and received attention from media outlets. A social media campaign ensued, with hundreds of people joining a Facebook group entitled "Help Connor meet Daniel Bryan". Michalek met Bryan during a WWE Raw event at Pittsburg's Consol Energy Center on December 18, 2012. Bryan met Michalek again on October 7, 2013 when Raw was in Pittsburg. Michalek attended the WrestleMania XXX festivities was in the front row to see Bryan win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Bryan embraced Michalek immediately following his victory.
Death and legacy
On April 25, 2014, Michalek died at 8 years old. WWE subsequently released a video, which went viral, in his memory which featured him interacting with numerous WWE stars during WrestleMania XXX weekend.
In June 2014, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon founded Connor's Cure in Michalek's memory, a non-profit charitable organization, which they have personally funded through Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation.
On March 9, 2015 WWE announced that Michalek would be honored at the 2015 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony. He will posthumously receive the inaugural Warrior Award, named after The Ultimate Warrior, and will be inducted by Daniel Bryan and Dana Warrior. The Warrior Award will be given to those who have "exhibited unwavering strength and perseverance, and who lives life with the courage and compassion that embodies the indomitable spirit of The Ultimate Warrior."
Awards and accomplishments
- WWE
- WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2015 - Warrior Award)
References
- "Pittsburgh boy battling cancer meets hero, WWE star Daniel Bryan". wpxi. December 18, 2012. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
- ^ "WWE Star Makes Local Boy's Dream Come True". CBS Pittsburg. December 18, 2012. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
- ^ "WWE releases touching YouTube tribute to Connor 'The Crusher' Michalek". The Independent. May 7, 2014. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
- "Online effort to help 6-year-old fighting brain cancer meet WWE star succeeds". WPXI. October 11, 2012. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
- "WWE VIDEOS: Cena talks WWE return on GMA, Bryan reunites with boy battling cancer, Raw Backstage Fallout". Pro Wrestling Torch. October 8, 2013. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
- "WWE's touching tribute to superfan Connor 'The Crusher' Michalek". USA Today. May 7, 2014. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
- https://www.givetochildrens.org/CONNORSCURE
- "WWE fan Connor Michalek to receive first-ever Warrior Award at 2015 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony". Miami Herald. March 10, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
- ^ "WWE fan Connor Michalek to receive first-ever Warrior Award at 2015 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony". WWE. March 9, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2015.