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Michael Polchlopek (born December 27, 1965) is an American retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. He is best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) from 1993 to 1999 under the ring names Bart Gunn and Bodacious Bart. Under the ring name Bart Gunn, Polchlopek holds the distinction of being the only wrestler in WWE history to win a legitimate, unscripted competition, having emerged victorious in the 1998 shoot tournament Brawl for All.

Key Information

He is also known for his appearances with All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) from 1998 to 2002 and with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) from 2002 to 2004 as Mike Barton.[4][7]

Early life

[edit]

Michael Polchlopek was born on December 27, 1965, in Titusville, Florida. He was a big fan of wrestling, often watching Championship Wrestling from Florida, and enjoyed seeing Eddie and Mike Graham and Jack and Jerry Brisco.

Professional wrestling career

[edit]

Early career (1991–1993)

[edit]
See also: Long Riders

Polchlopek was trained to wrestle by Caesar Barraza, Blackjack Mulligan, Tim Parker and Boris Malenko. He made his debut in 1991.

In 1992, Polchlopek (wrestling as "Brett Colt") formed a tag team with Kip Winchester in the Tampa, Florida-based International Championship Wrestling Alliance known as the "Long Riders".

World Wrestling Federation (1993–1999)

[edit]

Smoking Gunns (1993–1996)

[edit]
Main article: Smoking Gunns

Polchlopek was perhaps most famous in the World Wrestling Federation by teaming with Monty Sopp, with Polchlopek being named Barry Winchester while Sopp was named Kip Winchester. They made their debut on April 5, 1993, by defeating Barry Horowitz and Reno Riggins. Later on, they would be rebranded as The Smoking Gunns, with Sopp being named Billy and Polchlopek being named Bart. The team won the Tag Team Championship three times before breaking up and engaging in a brief feud in October 1996. Bart Gunn briefly went into solo competition, his most high-profile match occurring on Monday Night Raw, in April 1996, which he lost to "Ringmaster" Steve Austin via the Million Dollar Dream.

Singles competitor (1996–1997)

[edit]

Gunn feuded with Billy Gunn during the fall of 1996 after Billy turned his back on Bart. The feud ended after he defeated Billy on the December 16 episode of Monday Night Raw. His most notable victory was scoring an upset victory over Triple H by disqualification on Superstars. He also participated in the 1997 Royal Rumble match being eliminated by Steve Austin. He would defeat Triple H by countout on February 17 on Raw after Goldust chased Triple H into the crowd. Gunn would later become a jobber in 1997 losing to the likes of Faarooq, Triple H, Ahmed Johnson and Vader. His final match in this run was on June 9, 1997, on an episode of Raw Is War against Rockabilly, where he was defeated. He disappeared from the roster afterward.

Gunn would then have a brief stint in Pennsylvania Championship Wrestling where he won their championship from Lance Diamond on May 3, 1997. Then he would drop the title to Ace Darling on September 26, 1997.

The Midnight Express (1998)

[edit]

Under his new manager Jim Cornette, Polchlopek recreated the Midnight Express tag team as "Bodacious Bart" with partner Bombastic Bob in March 1998. The team had limited success, though they did hold the NWA World Tag Team Championship for a brief period from March to August 1998.

Brawl for All and departure (1998–1999)

[edit]

In July 1998, Bart Gunn participated in the WWF's shootfight tournament, the Brawl for All. Gunn faced tag partner Bob Holly in the first round, and was declared the winner on points. Gunn next defeated "Dr. Death" Steve Williams, with a surprising knockout on August 24. Utilizing his enormous brute strength, Gunn defeated The Godfather in the semi-finals, and Bradshaw in the finals to win the tournament.

According to his interview in the Dark Side of the Ring episode on Brawl For All, he sat home for months following this after being told by Vince Russo that WWF creative had nothing for him at the time. Despite this, while still under WWF contract Gunn would sign with All Japan Pro Wrestling in October 1998, wrestling there for three months up until January 1999. During this time he also worked in the independent circuit.

After returning to WWF television in February 1999, the WWF sent him to be trained by Ray Rinaldi (notable for training Marc Mero) for a WrestleMania match against Eric "Butterbean" Esch.[5][6] Gunn would then briefly feud with both Holly and Williams, both angry at having been beaten in the tournament, the latter masking himself and pushing Gunn off a stage to prevent him from winning the WWF Hardcore Championship from Holly. At WrestleMania XV, Esch brutally knocked out Gunn in 35 seconds. Polchlopek was soon after released by WWF.

All Japan Pro Wrestling (1998–2002)

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World Tag Team Champion (1998–2000)

[edit]

While still under contract with the WWF, Polchlopek found success wrestling in Japan (due in part to his knockout of Steve Williams, who in Japan was a longtime main-eventer and held a strong reputation for his toughness). After signing with All Japan Pro Wrestling in October 1998, his debut would be announced on the November 1, 1998, edition of AJPW TV.[8] His first in-ring match and appearance with the company was at a pay-per-view on November 14, going by his WWF ring name Bart Gunn.[9] He would compete in the 1998 World Strongest Tag Determination League, teaming with Johnny Ace, and finishing in 4th place with 8 points.[10] He became a member of Johnny Ace's gaijin (foreign wrestlers) stable, The Movement, and the two continued to team.

Both would regularly wrestle until January 22, 1999, when Gunn returned to the WWF to fulfil the rest of his WWF contractual obligations.

Upon being released from the WWF after WrestleMania XV, he would return to AJPW in May 1999, still maintaining fanfare and momentum even after the loss to Butterbean. On June 9, Gunn and Ace defeated Kenta Kobashi and Jun Akiyama to win the World Tag Team Championship.[11] They held the title for a month and a half, before losing to No Fear on July 23.[11] Following the title loss, Polchlopek stopped using the Bart Gunn name and became known as Mike Barton. In late 1999, Barton and Ace took part in the 1999 World's Strongest Tag Determination League, finishing in 5th place with 9 points.[12]

In the spring of 2000, Barton entered the Champion Carnival, defeating Masao Inoue in the first round but losing to Takao Omori in the second.[13] On June 9, Barton and Ace took part in a tournament for the vacant World Tag Team Championship, and lost in the first round to the eventual tournament winners, The Holy Demon Army.[14] In the summer of 2000, Mitsuharu Misawa left All Japan to form Pro Wrestling Noah, taking most of the native talent with him. Barton, like many of the gaijin, remained in All Japan. Johnny Ace, however, left All Japan during the split and retired from wrestling, taking an office job in WCW and later the WWF.

Revenge angle with Steve Williams (2000–2001)

[edit]

In January 2000, "Dr. Death" Steve Williams returned to All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), where Barton was wrestling as a full-time competitor during Williams's absence. On the January 17, 2000, edition of AJPW TV, Williams defeated Barton unexpectedly in a match,[15] with the feud continuing for a week in the house show circuit before being postponed.

The storyline would resume in the summer of 2000 at a time when Barton was teaming with Giant Kimala and George Hines. Barton and Williams would each win against each other on various TV episodes and house shows in 50/50 booking.[16] In the late summer and fall of 2000, Barton and Williams found themselves in an uneasy alliance where they both had a common enemy in Toshiaki Kawada, who was often defeating both Barton and Williams at the time on TV, as well as a common enemy with Genichiro Tenryu. Barton would ultimately defeat Kawada in tag-team action, but come short against Tenryu in the first round of the Triple Crown Tournament.[17]

In December 2000, the storyline animosity between Barton and Williams resumed, where Williams crossed paths with Barton in a tag-team television match during the World's Strongest Tag Determination League 2000 tournament. They were on opposite teams and Williams sought to get even with Barton for his loss in the Brawl For All in a definitive match in the Tokyo Dome.[18]

The feud with Williams would culminate into a revenge match on a January 28, 2001, pay-per-view main event, which Williams won.[19] After this, Barton and Williams would regularly wrestle against each other throughout the first half of 2001, before the two would eventually team with each other later that year in October. Jim Steele and Mike Rotunda would join them in three-way or four-way tag team matches whenever the need arose.[20]

By late 2001, Williams would be a friend of Bart Gunn, often being by his side and taking part in both backstage and in-ring skits, as well as Williams rooting for Barton in his matches. Most notably, in January 2002 the pair celebrated Abdullah The Butcher's birthday together in the ring singing and telling jokes, as well as Williams cheering Barton on when he was facing Genichiro Tenryu in the Champion Carnival 2002 tournament. Barton ultimately defeated Tenryu, bragging backstage to the camera about his win, where Williams was happy for Barton and they fist pumped each other shouting in excitement.[21][22]

Teaming with Jim Steele (2000–2002)

[edit]
Main article: Mike Barton and Jim Steele

Following the NOAH exodus, Barton formed a new tag team with Jim Steele. In October 2000, Barton entered a tournament for the vacant Triple Crown Heavyweight Championship, losing in the first round to Genichiro Tenryu.[14] In November, Barton and Steele entered the 2000 World's Strongest Tag Determination League, finishing in 4th place with 10 points.[23]

On January 2, 2001, Barton won the annual January 2 Korakuen Hall Battle Royal.[14] In the spring, Barton entered the 2001 Champion Carnival, placing 5th with 13 points.[14] By the end of 2001, Barton had begun making appearances in New Japan Pro-Wrestling as a member of the All Japan branch of Team 2000. In November 2001, Barton and Steele entered the 2001 G1 Tag League and made it to the finals, where they lost to Tencozy.[24]

In the spring of 2002, Barton entered the 2002 Champion Carnival, making it to the finals but losing to Keiji Mutoh.[25] On July 20, Barton and Steele won The Stan Hansen Cup Four Way against The Varsity Club, KroniK, and George Hines & Johnny Smith.[26] On August 30, Barton and Steele challenged Kronik for the World Tag Team Championship, but lost.[26] In the fall, Barton and Steele left All Japan. Their last match in AJPW was on October 27, 2002, where they teamed with George Hines to defeat Arashi, Nobukazu Hirai & Nobutaka Araya.[27]

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2003)

[edit]

Polchlopek had a short stint in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in 2003 only lasting a month where he wrestled one match where he lost to Perry Saturn.

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2002–2004)

[edit]

After leaving All Japan, Barton and Steele signed with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). Barton entered the 2002 New Japan Triathlon Series in November, teaming with Steele and Yuji Nagata. The team made it to the finals, but lost to Manabu Nakanishi, Osamu Nishimura and Yutaka Yoshie.[28] In February 2003, Barton and Steele entered a #1 Contenders tournament for the IWGP Tag Team Championship. They ultimately emerged victorious, defeating Makai Club members Tadao Yasuda and Kazunari Murakami in the finals, but an injury to Steele prevented them from getting the title match.[29] After Steele recovered, he and Barton returned to teaming. In October 2003, they entered the 2003 G1 Tag League. During the tournament, on October 21, the two received a shot at the IWGP Tag Team Title against champions Hiroshi Tanahashi and Yutaka Yoshie, but came up short.[30] Barton and Steele finished the tournament in 5th place with 6 points.[14] Gunn left New Japan in April 2004.

Reunion with Jim Steele (2005)

[edit]

Gunn reunited with Jim Steele as they teamed with George Hines when they defeated Chuck Palumbo, Jamal, and Rodney Mack at the Giant Baba 6th Anniversary Memorial on February 5, 2006, in Tokyo, Japan.

Muga World Pro Wrestling (2006)

[edit]

On September 15, 2006, Barton had his debut match in Muga World Pro Wrestling, which was a victory over Tatsutoshi Goto, then had another 4 matches in the company. His last match in the company was a victory over Katsushi Takemura on September 25, 2006. Afterwards, Barton left the company.

Return to World Wrestling Entertainment (2003, 2007)

[edit]

Wrestling as Mike Barton, he and Jim Steele would wrestle two tryout matches for World Wrestling Entertainment in December 2003, which were dark matches that never aired on television. They won both matches, although ultimately neither ended up signing with the WWE.[31]

Polchlopek returned to the WWE as Bart Gunn for the December 10, 2007, edition of Raw, where he participated in the 15th Anniversary Battle Royal. He was eliminated from the match by Steve Blackman. Afterwards, he retired from professional wrestling.

Mixed martial arts career

[edit]

Polchlopek made his mixed martial arts debut against UFC veteran Wesley Correira at Rumble On The Rock: Beatdown on June 17, 2006. He won his debut via TKO after the ringside doctor determined Correira was unable to continue fighting after suffering a large cut.

In his second and final fight, on November 5, 2006, he faced Ikuhisa Minowa at PRIDE Bushido 13, losing via unanimous decision.

Mixed martial arts record

[edit]
Professional record breakdown
2 matches 1 win 1 loss
By knockout 1 0
By decision 0 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 1–1 Ikuhisa Minowa Decision (unanimous) Pride – Bushido 13 November 5, 2006 2 5:00 Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
Win 1–0 Wesley Correira TKO (cut) ROTR – Beatdown 1 June 17, 2006 1 1:46 Hawaii, United States

Personal life

[edit]

Polchlopek was previously an electrician until 1993, and resumed work as an electrician 15 years later, in addition to doing home construction work. He is a father.[4] He currently resides in Orange Beach, Alabama.

Championships and accomplishments

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Bart Gunn

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Bart Gunn is the ring name of Michael Polchlopek (born December 27, 1965), an American retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) during the 1990s, where he formed the successful tag team the Smoking Gunns with Billy Gunn and won the WWF Tag Team Championship three times between 1995 and 1996. He also gained notoriety as the surprise winner of the 1998 Brawl for All legitimate fighting tournament, defeating several top competitors including Bradshaw in the finals to claim a $75,000 prize, though the victory led to a controversial booking that ultimately shortened his WWF run. Polchlopek, who grew up in , as a fan of local wrestling promotions like , began his professional career in 1991 on the independent circuit before signing with the WWF in 1993. As part of the —a cowboy-themed duo with (real name Monty Kip Sopp)—he helped elevate the division, securing their first title win in January 1995 and defending the belts against notable pairs like and the . The team's run ended in 1996 amid internal storylines, after which Gunn entered the Brawl for All, a legitimate fighting tournament intended to highlight real competitors but marred by injuries, including a knockout of veteran Steve "Dr. Death" Williams. Following his Brawl for All success, Gunn faced boxer Eric "Butterbean" Esch in a high-profile match at in 1999, where he scored a stunning knockout victory but was subsequently released by the WWF due to creative fallout from the tournament's poor reception. He then competed internationally under the name Mike Barton, debuting in in late 1998 and participating in events like the World Strongest Tag Determination League, before moving to from 2002 to 2004. Gunn also ventured into , though his record there was limited, and he retired from in-ring competition around 2007 after 16 years, having worked primarily as a singles and tag team wrestler across various promotions.

Early life

Upbringing and family

Michael Polchlopek, professionally known as Bart Gunn, was born on December 27, 1965, in Titusville, Florida. Polchlopek grew up in Titusville during his early childhood, in an environment that fostered his passion for professional wrestling from a young age. His father was an electrician. As a boy, he regularly watched Championship Wrestling from Florida broadcasts every Saturday morning, which ignited his enthusiasm for the sport and highlighted his initial interest in physical performance and athleticism. This early fascination with wrestling activities laid the groundwork for his later pursuits in athletics leading into adolescence.

Pre-wrestling activities

This exposure to the sport ignited his passion, though he initially pursued other paths during his youth. In high school, Polchlopek engaged in athletics, notably participating in wrestling competitions as part of the Florida High School Activities Association. He competed in the Class 3A District tournament in 1981, representing his school in the division. No notable academic achievements are recorded from this period, but his involvement in sports laid a foundation for the physical demands of his future career. Following high school graduation, Polchlopek entered the workforce as an electrician, following his father's profession in the trade and joining the to support himself financially. While maintaining this steady job, he began training for in the late under mentors such as , , Caesar Barraza, and Tim Parker, ultimately debuting in independent matches in 1991 at the age of 25.

Professional wrestling career

Independent circuit debut (1991–1993)

Michael Polchlopek, who would become known in professional wrestling as Bart Gunn, began his training in the early under a group of seasoned mentors including , Caesar Barraza, Tim Parker, and . These trainers provided him with foundational skills in the sport, drawing from their own extensive experiences in the industry. Polchlopek's preparation occurred amid his continued work as an electrician, reflecting the common path of many aspiring wrestlers balancing day jobs with rigorous physical conditioning. Polchlopek made his professional wrestling debut in 1991, entering the ring on small-scale independent shows primarily in the . His initial appearances were untelevised and focused on building basic ring psychology and athletic presentation, typical for entry-level performers in regional territories. By 1992, he adopted the Brett Colt and began gaining more structured experience in promotions like the Florida-based . A pivotal development came when Polchlopek, as Brett Colt, teamed up with Kip Winchester—later —in the , performing as . This partnership, formed after the two met during training sessions, emphasized dynamics and allowed Polchlopek to refine his in-ring timing and through collaborative matches against local competitors. The duo's work in this promotion marked a key step in his progression on the independent scene.

World Wrestling Federation (1993–1999)

Bart Gunn signed a contract with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in early 1993 and made his debut as part of the tag team The Smoking Gunns alongside , portraying brothers with a . Initially positioned on the undercard, the duo quickly established themselves through victories over preliminary teams, building momentum in house shows and syndicated programming before their first televised appearance in May 1993. The achieved significant success as a fan-favorite , engaging in notable feuds with opponents such as the Headshrinkers and , which highlighted their high-energy style and teamwork. They captured the WWF Tag Team Championship on three occasions between 1995 and 1996, solidifying their status as reliable midcard attractions during the Era. However, internal tensions led to the team's dissolution in late 1996, when turned on Bart following a title loss, prompting Gunn's shift to singles competition. In 1996, Gunn transitioned to a solo role, competing against established midcard talent including a loss to on the February 12 episode of Monday Night Raw and a submission defeat to Mankind on April 29. His singles run yielded limited opportunities, with Gunn primarily featured in enhancement matches and occasional pushes that failed to elevate him beyond the midcard. By 1998, Gunn briefly revived his tag team career by partnering with Bob Holly as "Bodacious Bart" in The New Midnight Express, managed by , during a short-lived NWA invasion angle on WWF programming. Gunn's WWF tenure took a dramatic turn in July 1998 when he entered the Brawl for All, a legitimate tournament intended to showcase authentic toughness among the roster. Competing under real rules with limited training, Gunn advanced through the bracket by defeating Bob Holly via decision in the first round and knocking out notable competitors like Bradshaw (John Bradshaw Layfield) in the finals on August 24, 1998, to claim victory and a $75,000 prize. As the tournament winner, Gunn was booked in a match against heavyweight Eric "Butterbean" Esch at on March 28, 1999, where he was knocked out in just 35 seconds, severely damaging his credibility in the eyes of WWF management. The rapid knockout and perceived mismatch led to Gunn's contract termination by the WWF in 1999, as officials viewed him as unsuitable for the evolving product focused on entertainment over legitimate fighting prowess. This fallout effectively ended his six-year stint with the promotion, during which he had transitioned from a dependable tag specialist to an unintended symbol of booking missteps.

All Japan Pro Wrestling (1998–2002)

In late 1998, while still under contract with the World Wrestling Federation, Bart Gunn debuted for (AJPW), teaming with (John Laurinaitis) in the World Strongest Tag Determination League , where they finished in the middle of the standings. This partnership marked Gunn's entry into the Japanese strong-style wrestling scene, where he adapted by incorporating more stiff strikes and suplexes into his repertoire, drawing on his legitimate background from the WWF's Brawl for All . Gunn and Ace established themselves as contenders and captured the AJPW World Tag Team Championship once, on June 9, 1999, defeating and . Gunn adopted the ring name Mike Barton around this period. They dropped the titles to Great Nita and on July 23, 1999. Barton continued to compete in major tournaments like the . Throughout this period, Barton avoided major injuries despite the physically demanding AJPW schedule, maintaining a consistent presence that highlighted his resilience in adapting to the promotion's emphasis on and hard-hitting exchanges. A pivotal aspect of Barton's AJPW tenure was his intense feud with Steve Williams in 2000–2001, which originated from lingering tensions over Gunn's knockout victory against Williams in the WWF Brawl for All. The rivalry, one of the most acclaimed angles in AJPW during this era, featured several high-stakes singles matches where Barton often held his own, leveraging his striking ability to counter Williams' power-based offense and earning praise for elevating the storyline's realism. In late 2000, Barton shifted focus to tag team competition by partnering with Jim Steele for the World's Strongest Tag Determination League, where they achieved a mid-pack finish but pursued further title opportunities without success in 2001–2002. Barton departed AJPW in 2002 after four years that represented his most successful international run, having fully embraced the Japanese wrestling ethos through consistent performances and key contributions to the tag team landscape.

Other promotions (2002–2006)

Following his departure from All Japan Pro Wrestling, Mike Barton (Bart Gunn's ring name in Japan) signed with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) in late 2002, teaming primarily with longtime partner Jim Steele. Their debut tour included Barton's participation in the 2002 New Japan Triathlon Series, a multi-division tournament showcasing heavyweight talent, where he competed in singles and tag matches against prominent NJPW roster members such as Yuji Nagata and Hiroyoshi Tenzan. The duo's NJPW run emphasized hard-hitting gaijin-style wrestling, with key opponents including the Makai Club faction and established teams like TenKoji (Satoshi Kojima and Hiroyoshi Tenzan) during the 2003 G1 Tag League, where Barton and Steele finished mid-pack but earned respect for their physicality. In February 2003, they won the IWGP Tag Team Championship #1 Contenders Tournament by defeating Kazunari Murakami and Tadao Yasuda in the final via disqualification, securing a title shot. However, on October 21, 2003, at the G1 Tag League Day 6 event, champions Hiroshi Tanahashi and Yutaka Yoshie retained the IWGP Tag Team Titles against Barton and Steele in a closely contested match. Barton and Steele continued touring NJPW through early 2004, facing opponents like Manabu Nakanishi and Osamu Nishimura, before parting ways with the promotion in the spring amid shifting booking priorities. In 2003, Barton made a brief appearance in (TNA), debuting under his real name on the April 9 weekly event. He faced in a singles match, losing by submission after a competitive bout that highlighted his shoot-style background from the Brawl for All era. This one-match stint lasted only a month, with no further booking or push, as TNA focused on its core roster during its early weekly PPV format. After leaving NJPW in 2004, Barton's wrestling appearances shifted to sporadic independent dates in the United States and , reflecting a semi-retired schedule as he transitioned toward training and other pursuits. He wrestled select U.S. independents, including dark matches and house shows, often against local talent to mentor younger wrestlers, with appearances tapering off by 2005. In September 2006, Barton returned for a one-off match in Muga World Pro Wrestling, defeating veteran Tatsutoshi Goto on September 15 in , showcasing his enduring maneuvers before an appreciative crowd. This appearance was one of his final in-ring outings before his full retirement from in 2007, following cumulative injuries from over a decade of high-impact and earlier tours, combined with turning 42.

Returns to WWE (2003, 2007)

In late 2003, Polchlopek, working under his ring name Mike Barton, teamed with longtime partner Jim Steele for two tryout dark matches against . The duo won both contests, including a bout on December 15 where they defeated Brent Dail and Carly Colón, but they were not offered contracts by the promotion. Polchlopek made a brief return to WWE under his Bart Gunn persona for the Raw 15th Anniversary special episode on December 10, 2007, held at the Arena at Harbor Yard in . He participated in a 15-man featuring former WWE talent such as , , and , entering to the theme from the 1998 Brawl for All tournament. During the match, Gunn was eliminated by via over-the-top-rope toss. This nostalgic one-off appearance served as a nod to Gunn's earlier WWE tenure, including his tag team success as part of The and his controversial Brawl for All victory, but it did not lead to further bookings due to his advancing age and shifting career priorities following stints in and . The bout concluded his professional wrestling career, with Gunn retiring immediately afterward at age 41.

Mixed martial arts career

Debut and bouts (2006)

Following his retirement from around 2006, Bart Gunn transitioned to . This move was motivated by a desire to prove his combat prowess, leveraging the real-fight experience from the Brawl for All to explore opportunities in legitimate fighting promotions. Gunn's MMA debut occurred on June 17, 2006, at Rumble on the Rock: Beatdown 1 in , , against Wesley "Cabbage" Correira, a veteran MMA fighter with a background in and Hawaiian promotions. Weighing in at , Gunn quickly overwhelmed Correira with aggressive striking, landing a powerful right hand early in the first round that caused a severe cut above Correira's eye, leading to a technical knockout victory at 1:46 via doctor stoppage due to the laceration. This emphatic win highlighted Gunn's carryover power from his wrestling striking drills, ending the bout before it could test his defense. Emboldened by his debut success, Gunn took on a more experienced opponent in his second bout on November 5, 2006, at 13 in , , facing Ikuhisa "Minowaman" Minowa, a specialist known for competing against larger . The fight went the full two-round distance under 's open-weight rules, with Minowa utilizing superior wrestling and submissions to control Gunn on the ground for much of the match, including multiple takedown attempts and positional dominance. Gunn managed to land some strikes in the stand-up exchanges but was unable to mount significant offense, resulting in a loss. In preparing for MMA, Gunn adapted his Brawl for All-honed fundamentals to incorporate basic and conditioning, training under coaches familiar with wrestling crossovers to address the shift from scripted performances to , high-stakes . Challenges included building endurance for prolonged rounds and learning defensive techniques against submissions, as pro wrestling emphasized athleticism over technical fighting skills, though his physical conditioning from years in the ring provided a solid base.

Professional record

Bart Gunn's professional mixed martial arts record stands at 1 win and 1 loss, with no draws or no-contests recorded. His sole win came via technical knockout, while his loss was by unanimous decision. The following table summarizes his professional bouts:
DateOpponentEventResultMethodRoundTime
June 17, 2006Wesley CorreiraROTR - Beatdown 1WinTKO (doctor stoppage)11:46
November 5, 2006Ikuhisa MinowaPride FC - Bushido 13LossDecision (unanimous)25:00
Gunn's MMA career ended after his loss to Minowa, marking the conclusion of his brief foray into the sport following his wrestling background. No additional or unverified bouts are documented in reputable records.

Personal life

Family and relationships

Bart Gunn, born Michal Polchlopek Jr., was married to Brenda Polchlopek, with whom he had four children: a daughter, Amanda Polchlopek, and three sons, Gage Polchlopek, Bartley Polchlopek, and Michal Polchlopek III. The marriage ended in prior to 2007, after which Brenda remarried Don Farrish. In December 2007, the family's son Michal died at age 19 from an accidental to the head sustained while a friend was cleaning a .

Post-retirement activities

Following his final in-ring appearance for in December 2007 as part of the Raw 15th Anniversary , Bart Gunn transitioned out of , effectively retiring from active competition. He returned to civilian life in , resuming his pre-wrestling profession as a licensed . Gunn joined the (IBEW) Local 606 in Orlando, where he has worked steadily in residential and commercial electrical construction. His role involves installing wiring, systems, and contributing to home-building projects, providing a stable routine away from the travel demands of wrestling. In his personal time, Gunn maintains a low-profile centered on leisure activities such as riding motorcycles, barbecuing, and outdoor relaxation in Florida's climate. He has described this phase as a welcome , allowing him to focus on personal fulfillment after nearly two decades in the industry. Gunn has occasionally reflected on his career through media appearances, including a 2013 profile on WWE.com detailing his post-wrestling adjustment and a 2020 interview for the Vice TV series Dark Side of the Ring, where he discussed the Brawl for All tournament's impact on his WWE tenure. As of 2013, he resided in the Orlando area at age 47, prioritizing work and hobbies over public engagements.

Championships and accomplishments

Professional wrestling titles

Bart Gunn achieved success primarily as a tag team specialist, capturing five major professional wrestling championships during his career, all in the tag team division. His most notable accomplishments came as one-half of the Smoking Gunns alongside Billy Gunn in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), where they won the WWF World Tag Team Championship on three occasions between 1995 and 1996. These reigns established the duo as prominent figures in the mid-1990s tag team landscape, characterized by their cowboy gimmick and high-energy matches. The Smoking Gunns secured their first WWF World Tag Team Championship on January 23, 1995, during an episode of WWF Raw, defeating the reigning champions, Bob Holly and the 1-2-3 Kid, in a match that highlighted their technical prowess and synergy. They held the titles for 69 days, successfully defending against teams such as and The Heavenly Bodies, before losing the belts to and Yokozuna on April 2, 1995, at in a high-profile bout that ended their initial run. Their second reign began on September 25, 1995, during an episode of WWF Raw, where the defeated and Yokozuna to reclaim the titles. This 143-day reign included defenses against teams such as the and Razor Ramon & the 1-2-3 Kid, but concluded when the titles were vacated on February 15, 1996, due to a neck injury to . The duo's third and final WWF World Tag Team Championship victory occurred on May 26, 1996, at , defeating in a hard-fought amid the promotion's evolving tag division. This 119-day reign ended on September 22, 1996, at , as and the British Bulldog dethroned them, marking the dissolution of the ' title pursuits in WWF shortly thereafter. Transitioning to (AJPW) in 1998, Gunn, billed as Mike Barton, partnered with to win the AJPW World Tag Team Championship on June 9, 1999, in , , by defeating and in the final of a for the vacant titles following the previous champions' departure. Their 44-day reign featured intense defenses against AJPW's strong-style competitors, but they lost the belts on July 23, 1999, in to Takao Omori and in a that showcased the promotion's grueling pace. Earlier in 1998, as part of WWF's NWA Invasion storyline, Gunn teamed with Bob Holly as the New Midnight Express to capture the on March 30, 1998, during an episode of Raw, defeating (Mosh and Thrasher) in a surprise angle that revived the historic Midnight Express moniker. The 137-day reign, the longest of Gunn's NWA title hold, involved sporadic defenses amid the crossover narrative, ending on August 14, 1998, when they lost to the Border Patrol team of Agent Gunn and Agent Maxx in , as the storyline faded.

Other honors

In 1998, Bart Gunn won the WWF Brawl for All tournament, a legitimate competition held on WWF programming, by defeating John Bradshaw Layfield via knockout in the finals on the August 24 episode of Raw Is War, earning a $75,000 prize while the runner-up received $25,000. This unexpected victory, which included notable knockouts over competitors like "Dr. Death" Steve Williams, positioned Gunn as a legitimate striker but ultimately led to backstage tensions and a punitive booking decision. As a direct result, Gunn was booked in an unsanctioned match against professional boxer Eric "Butterbean" Esch at on March 28, 1999, where he was knocked out in 35 seconds, marking one of the shortest bouts in history and contributing to his departure from WWF shortly thereafter. Following his WWF exit, Gunn competed in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) under the ring name Mike Barton, achieving significant accolades in tournament play. In the 2002 Champion Carnival, Barton advanced to the finals by topping Block A with 10 points, including victories over Genichiro Tenryu and Toshiaki Kawada, before losing to Keiji Mutoh in the decisive match on April 10. That same year, teaming with Jim Steele, he captured the Stan Hansen Cup tournament, a prestigious gaijin tag team competition. Barton also participated in multiple editions of AJPW's Real World Tag League, notably finishing tied for fifth in 1999 alongside Johnny Ace with 10 points and fourth in 2000 alongside Jim Steele with 10 points, showcasing his endurance in the promotion's round-robin format. As one half of the tag team with , Bart Gunn contributed to a legacy of consistent mid-card success in WWF from 1993 to 1998, highlighted by their cowboy gimmick and multiple title defenses that solidified their status as fan favorites. recognized Gunn individually in its annual PWI 500 rankings, placing him at No. 129 in 1997 following his tag team prominence.

References

  1. https://www.wwe.com/classics/wherearetheynow/where-are-they-now-bart-gunn
  2. https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/wrestlers/bart-gunn
  3. https://www.wwe.com/videos/butterbean-vs-bart-gunn-brawl-all-wrestlemania-xv
  4. https://www.profightdb.com/wrestlers/bart-gunn-159.html
  5. https://www.theofficialwrestlingmuseum.com/bart-gunn.html
  6. https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=654
  7. http://www.profightdb.com/wrestlers/bart-gunn-159.html
  8. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60ce0b39ddbe9c10fbb384ce/t/631f696f44a5de4828fba2d9/1663002998418/1981%2BFHSAA%2B3A%2BDistrict%2BResults.pdf
  9. https://prowrestlingstories.com/pro-wrestling-stories/brawl-for-all/
  10. https://www.thesportster.com/facts-trivia-things-wwe-smoking-gunns-tag-team/
  11. https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2016/10/21/podcast-recap-colt-cabanas-art-wrestling-wbilly-gunn-early-career-drug-addiction-recent-wwe-exit-plus-cabana-dvd-news/
  12. https://gvwire.com/2025/03/11/billy-gunn-not-the-one-as-aew-hits-fresno-on-wednesday/
  13. https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles_old/b/bart-gunn.html
  14. https://prowrestlingstories.com/pro-wrestling-stories/brawl-for-all-failed-experiment/
  15. https://www.thesportster.com/dr-death-steve-williams-wrestling-legacy-wwe-wcw-japan-wrestling/
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  18. https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/mike-barton/
  19. https://puroresusystem.fandom.com/wiki/Mike_Barton
  20. http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/barton.html
  21. http://www.profightdb.com/wrestlers/jim-steele-636.html
  22. https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=654&page=4
  23. http://www.profightdb.com/wrestlers/bart-gunn-159.html?prom_id=12
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  25. https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=11667
  26. https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=15322
  27. https://insidepulse.com/2007/12/11/72463/
  28. https://www.badlefthook.com/2020/4/8/21213191/butterbean-my-kids-thought-i-killed-bart-gunn-wrestlemania-15-vice-dark-side-ring-brawl-for-all
  29. https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Mike-Polchlopek-16622
  30. https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/bouts/13764-rumble-on-the-rock-mike-bart-gunn-polchlopek-vs-wesley-cabbage-correira
  31. https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/bouts/641-pride-bushido-13-minowaman-ikuhisa-minowa-vs-mike-bart-gunn-polchlopek
  32. https://www.lowkickmma.com/pride-rules/
  33. https://www.thesportster.com/wrestling/legitimately-tough-15-wrestlers-who-pursued-mma/
  34. https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/mike-polchlopek-bart-gunn
  35. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/floridatoday/name/michal-polchlopek-obituary?id=9830008
  36. https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2020/04/dark-side-of-the-ring-producers-call-bart-gunn-a-tragic-668946/
  37. https://www.wwe.com/superstars/billy-gunn
  38. https://www.wwe.com/videos/smoking-gunns-vs-1-2-3-kid-and-bob-holly-raw-world-tag-team-championship-match-january-23-1995
  39. https://www.wwe.com/videos/owen-hart-yokozuna-vs-the-smoking-gunns-wrestlemania-xi-april-2-1995
  40. https://www.wwe.com/videos/smoking-gunns-vs-owen-hart-and-yokozuna-raw-world-tag-team-championship-match-se
  41. https://thehistoryofwwe.com/wwe-world-tag-team-title-history/
  42. https://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/alljapan/aj-t.html
  43. https://www.wrestling-titles.com/nwa/world/nwa-t.html
  44. https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/new-midnight-express/
  45. https://www.purolove.com/ajpw/history/carnival02.php
  46. http://prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/alljapan/real.html
  47. https://www.profightdb.com/pwi/bart-gunn-159.html
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