All Pro Wrestling has released the news that former wrestler Mike Raybeck has died.
Raybeck wrestled from 1995 until 2002 under various aliases, including Maxx Justice and Mike Diamond.
The promotion out of Northern California issued the following announcement on Sunday:
All Pro Wrestling is saddened to learn about the passing of APW Original, Mike Raybeck professionally known as Maxx Justice and Mike Diamond.
A 5x APW Universal Champion, Mike was a graduate of the All Pro Wrestling Boot Camp. At 6’5 and north of 250lbs he was a stand out on the California independent scene. Adopting the moniker Maxx Justice, he formed the original incarnation of the Border Patrol tag team with fellow APW alumni, Michael Modest.
Justice would go on to wrestle internationally in both Mexico and Japan as well as receiving tryouts in WWF (WWE) and WCW. Not to mention a having one of the more memorable moments in the Beyond The Mat documentary.
Mike would go on to work for the city of Hayward as a maintenance mechanic. His life was cut short following a bicycle accident where he was struck by a vehicle near Chabot College last Friday.
Our most sincere condolences go out to the family, friends and fans of Maxx Justice!
Rest in Power, thank you for your contributions and for helping pave the way.
Raybeck worked enhancement matches for the WWF over two nights in October 1996 with Freddie Joe Floyd (Tracy Smothers), Barry Horowitz, and The Godwinns. In 1998, he teamed with Michael Modest against Robert Thompson & Donovan Morgan in a dark match on the February 23 edition of Monday Nitro in Sacramento, California.
Raybeck held APW’s Universal Heavyweight title five times throughout 1998 and 1999. During this period, Barry Blaustein profiled the promotion and its school for his documentary, Beyond the Mat, and included an appearance by Raybeck during its shows. The documentary followed APW wrestlers Michael Modest and the late Tony Jones for a tryout match with the WWF in September 1998.
Raybeck spent most of his independent career with Roland Alexander’s APW but would wrestle a pair of matches for Pro Wrestling Iron, which was an offshoot group launched by Modest and Morgan after they left APW. The affiliation with Morgan & Modest led to Raybeck being booked for a tour with Pro Wrestling NOAH in October 2002, which were Raybeck’s final matches of his career.
Raybeck has worked as a city employee since March 2009.
APW states that he died on Friday, May 9, after a cycling accident where he was struck by a vehicle while riding home from work.
Our condolences are extended to the family and friends and Mike Raybeck.
