About Me
BIOGRAPHY
This page is for Mike Bucci. Most fans of his well recognize him as Nova, or Simon Dean. He is a former performer of the original/real ECW. He never won a championship in ECW, but but was one of the better known performers for that company, in its latter years.
Early Carreer
In 1992 Bucci graduated from Toms River High School North, with hopes of persuing a career in math. He attended classes at nearby Ocean County College while working as a manager at a local Wendy's. One day at school a friend of his informed him of a wrestling school run by "Iron" Mike Sharpe in nearby Brick Town, New Jersey. Bucci being a wrestling fan from a very young age decided to check the school out along with his twin brother Don. Within weeks Bucci decided to attend the school regularly, to become a wrestler as his brother had the same initial intention he decided wrestling just wasn't for him, so he opted to train to become a manager.
World Wrestling Federation
As it is well known by many indy stars when a major company comes near town it can be exciting to have your company scouted by WWE scouters for a chance to wrestle as a jobber or in dark matches at a major upcoming event.That was the case for Mike, while attending Mike Sharpes school in November of 1993 through January 1994 WWF ran events in the New York New Jersey area and used talent from Sharpes school, one of being Bucci. Bucci got meet alot of major stars and learn alot from them in this short period.
Extreme Championship Wrestling
The Beginning of the real career, if I forget anything its because I didn't live it, remember this is a fans page, not the real Mike Bucci. It all started when Bucci was doing some Super Hero gimmick at New Jack City Wrestling MEWF and WWA shows, and Scott Levy (Raven) picked up on this, since he found Stevie Richards virtually the same way, and Stevie and "Nova" have wrestled in the past he asked Nova to take his gimmick to the ECW arena. Bucci, hesitant at first because of stories he had heard about the fans and the style of wrestling I general. He got there and had a small series of matches against El Puerto Ricano, before coming out with Stevie Richards as his lacky, to whom Stevie Richards was a lacky to Raven. Stevie along with Brian Heffron, the Blue Meanie had been coming to the ring doing parodies of various pop culture figures both in and outside of wrestling, decided to incorporate Nova into their sharade. The first spoof done by the trio with the addition of two others was that of the Jackson 5, the fact that 4 came out dressed in black face, and Stevie came out caucasian wearing a glove, this did not sit well with the fans, and was never released on tape. Next they came out as Kiss, this hit off amazingly with the crowd. Then backstage after Bubba Ray Dudley said this it was asked of Nova and Stevie to both Raven and Paul Heyman if they could parody the nWo, the permission was granted, so then T shirts were made and their next apearance was as the Blue World Order, the Blue Guy, Big Stevie Cool, and initially Hollywood Bob Starr before eventually becoming Hollywood SuperNova. The stable was a success with fans, selling merchandise and tickets. Over time new members were initiated and left, as the popularity went from sky high to stale in a little over a year. In one night Taz vowed to kill the bWo and ultimately did until Vince McMahon's failed attempt 7 years later. Nova and Meanie went on to capture some local indy tag team gold, and teamed in ECW as well. As Stevie headed to WCW and Meanie was stricken with injuries, Nova found himself with out a partner, and was used slightly as a jobber before teaming up with ECW's wrestling schools only graduate and cousin of Taz, Chris Chetti. From 1998-2000 Nova and Chetti feuded with the best tag teams unsuccesfully, also during this time Nova dropped both the Hollywood and the super, changed his image slightly, lost his gut and bulked up. Nova was granted the nickname, the most ripped off man in pro wrestling, since almost every move that was original to his arsenal was copied eventually by one superstar or another from ECW or any another company. He eventually started feud in late 2000 against Chetti, with Nova ultimately winning. He also helped defend the tag titles with danny Doring at ECW's final show, flling in for an injured Amish Roadkill, and winning.
Jersey All Pro Wrestling
Aside from wrestling in ECW Nova also made many apearances in JAPW, first at the anniversary show in 1998, and then more often from 2000-2002.
Ultimate Pro Wrestling
After ECW's demise Nova along with many other ECW alumnus without a WWE contract got sent to a developmental promo backed by the WWE. He stayed here and eventualy won the tag titles with new found partner Frankie "the future" Kazarian. He and Kazarian became known as Evolution and captured some other Indy Tag gold.
World Wrestling Allstars
While working in UPW it was bought to his attention that some former WCW writers and talent were working on a global project based out of Australia, and he got invited along, and appeared at 2 of their PPV's, as a competetor for the WWA International Cruiserweight Championship, where he won matches over the likes of, Christopher Daniels, Tony mamaluke, Low-Ki (Senshi) and AJ Styles, he was unsuccessful in becoming champion.
Phoenix Championship Wrestling
After ECW folded he helped run shows with his twin brother, Donnie B. Dastardly, or Donnie B.,for short; the promotion Phoenix Championshp Wrestling located primarily in their home town of Toms River, New Jersey. He brought along Frankie Kazarian and The Wall (WCW's Malice) from WWA. Kazarian stayed until the promotions end, Nova nd he were the tag Champions until Nova got signed to OVW and won the OVW heavyweight title in his first match. After Novas departure, The Wall left for TNA and PCW was left without a big draw, struggled for a year and eventually ceased operation.
Ohio Valley Wrestling
It is believed that after his match with Eddie Guerrero in PCW that Eddie put in a good word about Nova when he got hired back by the WWE, leading toward a contract with the WWE for Nova. This stage of his journey began in OVW, where in his first night he defeated "The Prototype" (John Cena, another UPW alumnus) for the OVW Heavyweight title, he held the title for 6 months before losing it to The Damaja (WWE's Danny Basham). After his title loss it was suggested to him that Stephanie McMahon was looking to use him, if he would cut his hair, stating that with it he resembled Triple H. After the haircut, he was also given a new gimmick, that of a fitness guru to try and sell his product to other superstars, and given the name Simon Dean the reverse name of WWE Road agent and former WCW ECW and WWE superstar Dean Malenko.
World Wrestling Entertainment
He started out on the Raw brand as a info-mercial guy. Selling his patented simon system. And he made fun of fat people.
At ECW one night stand he was again allowed to be Nova. As part of the ol' bWo. It was supposed to last one show, (as part of a trade he went to smackdown) but Stevie Meanie and he started a fued with the Mexicools. He actually wrestled 2 times in one week for 3 weeks under different stage names for Smackdown and Velocity. And at the Great American Bash it was scheduled for the bWo to fight the Mexicools, the night this was revealed he wrestled a match as Simon Dean against Booker T, then later cut a promo with Stevie and Meanie , as Nova.
Soon the bWo ended, and he started a feud with Bobby Lashley, in a stipulation at the 2005 No Mercy he issued a challenge, saying if he couldnt beat Lashly he'd eat 20 double cheeseburgers.
He was also the manager of the tag team Gymeni, which consists of The Shane twins Mike and Todd together they've held 12 independent tag team championships among 5 companies, includiont the last ever NWA world tag champions before that title became exclusive property to TNA.
He has since been seldom seen, on tv in the year 2006, entering 3rd at the rumble, and being conjoindly ejected by both mysterio and triple h, and jobbing numerous times to Vito.
In August 2006 he was sent to DSW to take on the same role he had in OVW, assistant booker, he also the office assistant to Jim Ross as a talent scout, for the main roster. At this time he is currently working on a new gimmick with WWE creative team and testing it on the Deep South Wrestling TV Tapings, to help mask the Simon Dean gimmick and work on him getting some mainstream exposure much like Umaga being reformed from Jamal.
Deep South Wrestling, LLC.
Instead of being reformed, he was given the title of Developmental Coordinator, under Johnny Ace and Jim Ross, his job was to find talent from various indy promotions around the country. In August 2007 this all came to an end when his name was brought up as being a potential client of Signature Pharmacy, a drugstore known for their involvement with other wrestlers for sale of steroids. His firing was a result of 10 superstar suspensions, he was made an example of because he was not active talent, and for WWE to show that their Wellness Policy plays no favorites.
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Titles and Other Accomplishments
Border City Wrestling
1-Time BCW Tag Team Champion (with Tommy Dreamer)
National Wrestling Alliance
1-Time NWA Northeast Wrestling Light Heavyweight Champion
Ohio Valley Wrestling
1-Time OVW Heavyweight Champion
1-Time OVW Southern Tag-Team Champion (with Aaron Stevens)
2002 OVW Russ Haas Memorial Tag Team Tournament Winner (with R.C. Haas)
Phoenix Championship Wrestling
1-Time PCW Tag-Team Champion (with Kazarian)
Premier Wrestling Federation
1-Time PWF Universal Champion
Ultimate Pro Wrestling
1-Time UPW Tag-Team Champion (with Kazarian)
American Championship Wrestling
1-Time ACW Heavyweight Champion
Southern Championship Wrestling
1-Time SCW Tag-Team Champion (with The Blue Meanie)
PWI 500 Rankings
2006 #322 - as Simon Dean
2005 #88 - as Simon Dean
2004 #152 - as Simon Dean/Nova
2003 #98 - as Nova
2002 #138 - as Nova
2001 #147 - as Nova
2000 #162 - as Nova
1999 #211 - as Nova
1998 #300 - as Super Nova
1997 #244 - as Super Nova
Websites
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Bucci
http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/simondean
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/dean-simon.html
http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/profiles/n/nova.html
http://www.kyda.com/profiles/nova.html
http://www.wrestlingzone.ru/star/ecw/nova
http://www.genickbruch.com/
http://www.bizhisto.com/Biz-Retail-Companies-A---Ba/Bacco-Bu
cci.html
http://www.socaluncensored.com/board/showthread.php3?p=1993
http://www.reference.com/browse/wiki/Mike_Bucci
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_282218.html
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0117891/
http://www.upw.com/Nova.htm
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/dean-simon.html
http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBiosN/nova_mar01-can.html
