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Chris Chavis

Christopher Chavis is a Native American professional wrestler best known for his work with the World Wrestling Federation (later known as World Wrestling Entertainment) as Tatanka from 1991 to 1996 and from 2005 to 2007. His ring name is a Lakota word that literally means "bull buffalo." He is descended from the Lumbee Native American tribe. is a Native American professional wrestler best known for his work with World Wrestling Entertainment from 1991 to 1996 and from 2005 to 2007. His ring name, Tatanka, is a Lakota word that literally means "bull buffalo". He is descended from the Lumbee Native American tribe. Chavis started competing in powerlifting, he competed in his first bodybuilding contest, Mr. Virginia Beach, placing second. He won many competitions during his time in bodybuilding, but decided against competing on the national level and possibly turning pro for personal reasons. From 1985 to 1990 he worked for Bally's Health and Tennis Corporation, becoming a Divisional Manager. In 1987 he received many tryouts for the National Football League, from teams such as the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins, and the Los Angeles Raiders. He decided to pursue a career with the Dolphins. Chavis was one of 20 hopefuls offered a deal out of approximately 2,000 tryouts. The Dolphins offered him a free agent contract with the availability to increase after the first year. He declined, however, since his income at Bally's exceeded the value of the contract. In 1989, Chavis left Bally's to pursue an accounting career. He met "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers in Florida at a video store while looking for wrestling tapes. Rogers had Chavis call Larry Sharpe, who ran a wrestling school in southern New Jersey called "The Monster Factory." He had his first match, as Tatanka, against Joe Thunderstorm in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on January 13, 1990. Rogers then introduced Chavis to George Scott, the booker for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) during the 1980s. Scott was starting his own promotion called the North American Wrestling Association, later known as South Atlantic Pro Wrestling. Chavis wrestled under the name "The War Eagle" Chris Chavis and was voted 3rd runner up for Rookie of the Year in Pro Wrestling Illustrated for 1990. Also in 1990, he became The South Atlantic Heavyweight Champion by beating Ken Shamrock. Not long after, he was signed to a WWF contract. On May 2, 2014, Tatanka won the DPW Tag Team Championship along with Rick "The Prick" Dominick. They lost the titles on October 18, 2014 to Ravn and Demolition Davies. On November 3, 2015, WWE announced that they signed Tatanka to a Legends contract. On April 3, 2016, at WrestleMania 32, Tatanka competed in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal as a face, and was among the last to be eliminated.


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Born:
Jun 8, 1961 In Pembroke, North Carolina, USA
Movie/TV Credits:
49
First Appeared:
In the series Saturday Night's Main Event 1985-05-11
Latest Project:
Movie WWE WrestleMania 32 2016-04-03
Known For
Poster of WWE March to WrestleMania XI
Poster of WWE SummerSlam Spectacular 1993
Poster of WWE March to WrestleMania IX
Poster of WWE Survivor Series Showdown 1992
Filmography
Movie WWE WrestleMania 32 Tatanka 2016-04-03
Movie The Old Boys Tatanka 2015-06-20
Movie Shawn Michaels: Mr Wrestlemania Tatanka 2014-02-11
Movie PWG: Kurt Russellreunion 2 - The Reunioning Tatanka 2011-01-29
Movie The True Story of WrestleMania Tatanka (archive footage) 2011-03-13
Movie WWE Royal Rumble 2006 Tatanka 2006-01-29
Movie WWE No Way Out 2006 Tatanka 2006-02-19
Movie Rodman Downunder Tatanka 2006-06-01
Movie WWE vs. ECW: Head to Head Tatanka 2006-06-07
Movie WWE Royal Rumble 1996 Tatanka 1996-01-21
Movie WWF Off the Top Rope 1995-03-22
Movie WWE Wham, Bam, Bodyslam! Tatanka 1995-03-08
Movie WWE Royal Rumble 1995 Tatanka 1995-01-22
Movie WWE March to WrestleMania XI Tatanka 1995-03-26
Movie WWF Mega Matches '95 Tatanka 1995-12-01
Movie WWE In Your House Tatanka (Appearance) 1995-05-13
Movie WWE King of the Ring 1995 Tatanka 1995-06-25
Movie WWE SuperSlams Tatanka 1995-10-03
Movie WWE Brawl in the Family Tatanka 1995-05-23
Movie WWE King of the Ring 1994 Tatanka 1994-06-19
Movie WWE Royal Rumble 1994 Tatanka 1994-01-22
Movie WWF March to WrestleMania X Tatanka 1994-03-13
Movie Inside the WWF Tatanka 1994-05-04
Movie WWE Bloopers Bleeps and Bodyslams Tatanka 1994-06-29
Movie WWE Survivor Series 1994 Tatanka 1994-11-23
Movie German Fan Favorites 2 Tatanka 1994-10-24
Movie WWE SummerSlam 1994 Tatanka 1994-08-29
Movie WWE WrestleMania IX Tatanka 1993-04-04
Movie WWE Wrestling Grudge Matches Tatanka 1993-03-01
Series WWE Raw Tatanka ( 1993-01-11
Movie WWE King of the Ring 1993 Tatanka 1993-06-13
Movie WWE Royal Rumble 1993 Tatanka 1993-01-24
Movie WWE March to WrestleMania IX Tatanka 1993-03-28
Movie WWE Grudges, Gripes & Grunts Tatanka 1993-10-16
Movie WWF Bashed in the USA Tatanka 1993-06-23
Movie WWE SummerSlam Spectacular 1993 Tatanka 1993-08-22
Movie WWE SummerSlam 1993 Tatanka 1993-08-30
Movie WWE Invasion of the Bodyslammers Tatanka 1993-06-24
Movie WWE U.K. Fan Favourites Tatanka 1993-08-09
Movie WWE U.K. Rampage 1992 Tatanka 1992-04-19
Movie 3rd Annual Battle of the WWE Superstars Tatanka 1992-06-25
Movie WWE WrestleMania VIII Tatanka 1992-04-05
Movie WWE SummerSlam Spectacular 1992 Tatanka 1992-08-23
Movie WWE Survivor Series Showdown 1992 Tatanka 1992-11-22
Movie WWE SummerSlam 1992 Tatanka 1992-08-29
Movie WWE Survivor Series 1992 Tatanka 1992-11-25
Movie WWE Rampage '92 Tatanka 1992-10-22
Series WWF Wrestling Challenge 1986-09-07
Series Saturday Night's Main Event 1985-05-11