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Hi Everyone... Thanks for praying for me this past weekend in Indiana. God is so good. He surrounded both Johnny and I with Christians at a non christian event. our Limo drivers were Christians, our two body guards were Christian, the promoter is a Christian, we got to speak Sunday morning at a Black Church, some workers backstage were Christian, and the Lord blessed us with a Christian publicist while down there as well. All to God's glory. I can get into many things, but I will save that for another post.

When I returned off my flight from Chicago to NY, my mother told Johnny Ova and I about the news. Apparently, my home phone number was ringing off the hook about the death of Hawk. Due to so many people in the business wanting sometype of news regarding the death, I decided that I would give them a statement, but rather a witnessing based an answer. However, for the record, there is NO MORE NEW details as of right now. The plan is possible cremation, with a service in either Florida or Minnesota. I spoke to billy Graham today...he is devastated. Spoke to ted yesterday...keep all of us who worked with hawk in your prayers as we feela brotherhood with him when one of our own dies. As for the fans, I can relate to your loss as well as I grew up a fan, and eventually was honored to have been able to work with many of my childhood "idols". You can read below what has been sent out to SECULAR MEDIA.... It is with great sadness that I write this statement. Even though there are no words to express my thoughts clearly, I will make every attempt to honor Mike (Hawk) the best way I know how too.

My first "meeting" with Mike was at a WCW taping in Florida. It wasn't until a few years later that I worked with Mike and Joe (LOD). It was in Long Island at a local college. The LOD, among a host of other WWF talent, had to participate in a charity basketball game v. other NBA players. I was the Basketball Coach for the wrestlers (a joke if you knew my knowledge in basketball), but it was here where I noticed Hawk's heart.

It wasn't until June of 2003 that I would meet Mike again. However, this time the players were different. We all shared one common denominator...a love for Jesus Christ. Hawk got saved a year ago at the 2002 AIM Conference (Athletes In Ministry) in AZ. In June 2003, Hawk, Ted DiBiase, Animal, the Missing Link, George Steele, Nikita Koloff, Sting, Shawn Michaels, etc went to the AIM event again. It was here that I saw Hawk at his strongest....on his knees in worship to the Lord! This man was truly "Born Again" and his lifestyle was transformed.

At the wrestling event we did in Eloy, AZ, Hawk was a leader in the lockeroom. He took part in the prayer before we began, and took time to minister to Johnny Ova (Indy Star) backstage. He really wanted to save others who are just starting in this business from making some of the same mistakes he had in his career. He had a "Big Brother" quality to him that few workers today express outwardly.

My final memory of Mike is truly surreal. It cleary marks the true identity of who this man really was. It was just 2 weeks ago. Johnny Ova and I were working in Canada for a PWA event. As Talent and Administration for the event, we were around Mike quite a lot. What I'm about to describe to you, was who Mike really was.

It was roughly 6 PM in Canada. The doors started to open, and over 3,000 fans filled the church for the wrestling event that was to start in under an hour. All of us were upstairs (backstage) in a room. There were Christian and Non Christian Media present. Hawk dropped to his kness, and bowed his head, and began to pray out loud for blessing on the night. He prayed for safety, and that the fans would come to know Christ. As the night progressed, the matches ended and the true purpose for this event was revealed. Hawk's lifestory was dramatized for all to see. The ups and the downs. He then began to speak to the audience about all the mistakes he had made in his past and what it had cost him. However, what has become my final memory and glimpse of Hawk, came at the very closing of the event. There was this HUGE cross on the stage to the left of the ring. At the very foot of the cross, you found Hawk, Animal, Buff Bagwell, and Greg Valentine bowing on one knee praying to the Lord as Ted DiBiase gave the salvation invitation. The way Hawk started out the night, was the way Hawk ended the night... on bended knee towards God. I can't help but think that Mike is doing the very same thing at this very moment in Heaven.

The really cool thing about this night however was that it was taped for major distribution all across Canada and around the world. It is already in post production. God must of knew what He was doing when He decided to call Mike home, because this event in Canada was his last wrestling match before he died. It's fitting that his testimony will be archived for all to see in the months to come. "The Main Event" will be a DVD you will not want to miss out on.

In closing, I will forever be grateful for my time spent with Mike. I will always take with me his gentle way of dealing with people, and never forget his desire to impact the lives of others. Please keep Mike's wife in your prayers, as well as, all his friends and peers who have worked with him over the years. At the time of his death, Mike was moving into a new home. He didn't feel too well and decided to sleep (He had a bad heart). Peacefully, he entered Heaven. By Bobby Riedel

By Johnny Ova BREAKING NEWS: Legendary Wrestler... Hawk of the Road Warriors... Passes away. Some things that happen in life make you realize how precious life can be. I haven't known Hawk for a long time (since June of last year), but in that short time we became pretty good friends, and even greater Brothers In Christ. I will never forget the things he has said to me, and the time that he spent with me to teach me about the business. He also showed me how great God can be. His last sentence in that conversation was, "John you stay close to God. He can take you and make all your dreams possible! Plus, if you don't I will find you and kick your butt". He had such a great sense of humor and I am so blessed I got to know this amazing human being and a fantastic warrior for Chirst. So, I would just like to send out my condolences to Mike's family and friends... Hawk... it was a pleasure brother, Rest in peace my friend, and we will reunite once again"