Steve Madison

Stephen Philip Favata (born April 9, 1983) is an American professional wrestler, known by his ringname "Modern Miracle" Steve Madison, who competes in Southeastern independent promotions including AWA World-1 South, Full Impact Pro, Future of Wrestling, NWA Florida and Dusty Rhodes' Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling.

While in NWA Florida, he was part of the heel stable 911 Incorporated with Ron Niemi, Rod Steel, Eric Loy and The Shane Twins.

He was also a member of The Young, Rich & Ready with Chasyn Rance and Kenny King.

Madison has also made appearances in Ring of Honor, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and WWE, including its developmental territories Deep South Wrestling and Florida Championship Wrestling, as well Japanese promotions Big Mouth Loud, Fighting World of Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

He formed successful tag teams with Erick Stevens and Lex Lovett while touring Japan.

Stephen Favata was born in Tampa, Florida and graduated from George D. Chamberlain High School, lettering four years in baseball.

Madison was offered several baseball scholarships to small colleges, but turned them down to start wrestling.

Steve decided to attend the University of South Florida while starting his professional wrestling training.

His wrestling training started in the summer of 2001 with current WWE Talent Agent Steve Keirn and Jimmy Del Ray of the tag team, The Heavenly Bodies.

Steve adopted the "Madison" last name over a lunch meeting with former NWA President Howard Brody, after deciding that the last name "Favata" would not suit him well in the wrestling business.

On December 28, 2001, Madison wrestled future tag team partner Lex Lovett at a house show for Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling, a Georgia-based promotion owned by Dusty Rhodes, and was pinned by Lovett after a modified DDT.

In November 2002, Madison and David Babylon were the co-winners of an interpromotional NWA Florida vs. Future of Wrestling battle royal in which the winners would receive a title shot against the NWA Florida Unified Cruiserweight Champion Naphtali.

Madison had been accompanied by Lex Lovett and Jimmy Del Rey while Babylon had FOW promoter Bobby Rogers and Vanessa Harding in his corner.

The following month, he defeated the NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship against Agent Steele at NWA Florida's Total Annihilation.

On January 22, 2003, Madison and Agent Steele appeared in a dark match for NWA: Total Nonstop Action show against The Strong Brothers (Sedrick and Roderick Strong).

In mid-February 2003, Madison received a phone call from Steve Kiern who offered him a spot on an upcoming tour of Japan with Riki Choshu's Fighting World of Japan Pro Wrestling promotion.

Looking for younger American wrestlers unfamiliar to Japanese fans, Choshu had become interested in several students from Keirn's wrestling school.

Tiger Hattori, the American booker for Fighting World of Japan, had visited the school scouting for wrestlers to tour the country.

Madison, Big Vito and The Shane Twins would be signed for the first tour and were joined by Lex Lovett on the second tour.

Madison made his first trip to Japan at the age of 19 for new upstart Japanese promotion, World Japan.

After his first match against Kenzo Suzuki, he was complimented by Riki Choshu.

Madison headlined the Nagareyama Citizen Gymnasium on March 20, 2003, battling Kensuke Sasaki in the main event, making him one of the youngest gaijin of all time to headline a singles match in Japan.

The match was watched by The Road Warriors who came out to ringside.

On his second tour, he teamed with Big Van Vader to wrestle Takao Omori and Koichiro Kimura during the prologue of the Magna02 Series.

Briefly returning to Florida, he was preparing for his third tour of Japan.

Shortly after wrestling Mike Graham and David Babylon, he was hospitalized for appendicitis and had emergency surgery.

According to doctors, his appendix was about 24 hours from rupturing.

He had already been scheduled to appear for the Magna03 Series but called Hattori to cancel the tour.

However, he was back in the gym within three weeks and was eventually cleared to wrestle in Japan the day of the first tour.

He later went on to team with Riki Chosyu against Yoji Anjo & Koichiro Kimura at the Tsubame Civic Gym in Niigata Prefecture on October 22 and, teaming with Lex Meyer, against Takao Omori & Shiro Koshinaka at the Thajo City Gym in Miyagi.

Three days later, he returned to NWA Florida to wrestle Scoot Andrews at the Leaman School in St. Petersburg.

After several tours with World Japan, Madison teamed with Mike Shane, subbing for Mike's brother, Todd Shane, for several dates with the World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico.

Soon after that, Madison ventured to Europe, along with Dennis Knight and Jeff Bradley, to wrestle for EWA Wrestling in Austria.

On May 14, 2004, Madison faced and lost to Ahmed Chear in a match to crown the first EWA Middleweight Champion in Wolfsburg, Austria.

Madison was then booked by Tiger Hattori to participate for New Japan Pro-Wrestling in the summer of 2004.

An ankle injury suffered two weeks before the tour postponed Madison's debut in New Japan.

In the fall, Madison had sufficiently recovered from his injury to win the NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship from Todd Shane on September 4, 2004.

He defended the title for the next three months with victories over Michael Shane and Vordell Walker before losing the belt to Bruce Steel in a 3-way dance with Roderick Strong on November 20.

On January 8, 2005, he defeated Sal Rinauro at a show for Full Impact Pro.

Less than a week later, he made his first WWE appearance in a tag team match with Shannon Moore against The Shane Twins (Mike & Todd) in a dark match on the January 13th edition of SmackDown!.