Michael Tarver, a former WWE talent best known for his role in the Nexus storyline, revealed he recently suffered a stroke.
According to Newsweek, the 45-year-old shared the news with fans on his social media accounts, describing the moment he realized something was wrong.
“Last night I was told I was having a Stroke,” Tarver wrote. “I don’t EVER emote, I don’t EVER ‘Sell’ as we say in the Wrestling Biz where I spent 20 years of my life. I told nobody, until I was forced to last night. I had a 202/114 blood pressure reading and the few people I told right before taking myself to the ER. I am still processing all of the weird emotions I’m being overcome with but the sun came up and so did I. Thank you Jesus.”
Tarver’s time in WWE began in 2008, when he signed a developmental contract under Florida Championship Wrestling. Fans first saw him on a major stage as part of Floyd Mayweather’s security team for his WrestleMania 24 match against Big Show.
In 2010, Tarver appeared on the inaugural season of NXT, which led directly to one of the most infamous invasion angles in company history.
On June 7, 2010, Tarver and the rest of the NXT cast stormed the main event of Monday Night Raw, attacking John Cena, CM Punk, and multiple WWE staff members. The group became known as The Nexus, a storyline that dominated WWE programming that summer and marked Tarver’s most high-profile run in the company.
Tarver’s WWE momentum slowed later that year due to a groin injury. He returned to developmental and made sporadic appearances on Raw and SmackDown before his release in 2011.
Outside of the ring, Tarver pursued a career in Christian rap under the name Monster Tarver, releasing music that reflected his faith and life experiences.
Though his WWE tenure was brief, Tarver’s involvement in The Nexus remains a key part of the company’s modern history.