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Chris Chavis

Chris Chavis

Christopher Chavis is a Native American professional wrestler best known for his work with WWE 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 WWE 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 WWE 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 Raven 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.

Ale

Ale

2021

as Selbst

WWE WrestleMania 32

WWE WrestleMania 32

2016

as Tatanka

The Old Boys

The Old Boys

2015

as Tatanka

Shawn Michaels: Mr Wrestlemania

Shawn Michaels: Mr Wrestlemania

2014

as Tatanka

The True Story of WrestleMania

The True Story of WrestleMania

2011

as Tatanka (archive footage)

PWG: Kurt Russellreunion 2 - The Reunioning

PWG: Kurt Russellreunion 2 - The Reunioning

2011

as Tatanka

WWE vs. ECW: Head to Head

WWE vs. ECW: Head to Head

2006

as Tatanka

Rodman Downunder

Rodman Downunder

2006

as Tatanka

WWE No Way Out 2006

WWE No Way Out 2006

2006

as Tatanka

WWE Royal Rumble 2006

WWE Royal Rumble 2006

2006

as Tatanka

WWE Royal Rumble 1996

WWE Royal Rumble 1996

1996

as Tatanka

WWF Mega Matches '95

WWF Mega Matches '95

1995

as Tatanka

WWE SuperSlams

WWE SuperSlams

1995

as Tatanka

WWE King of the Ring 1995

WWE King of the Ring 1995

1995

as Tatanka

WWE Brawl in the Family

WWE Brawl in the Family

1995

as Tatanka

WWE In Your House

WWE In Your House

1995

as Tatanka (Appearance)

WWE March to WrestleMania XI

WWE March to WrestleMania XI

1995

as Tatanka

WWF Off the Top Rope

WWF Off the Top Rope

1995

WWE Wham, Bam, Bodyslam!

WWE Wham, Bam, Bodyslam!

1995

as Tatanka

WWE Survivor Series 1994

WWE Survivor Series 1994

1994

as Tatanka

German Fan Favorites 2

German Fan Favorites 2

1994

as Tatanka

WWE SummerSlam 1994

WWE SummerSlam 1994

1994

as Tatanka

WWE Bloopers Bleeps and Bodyslams

WWE Bloopers Bleeps and Bodyslams

1994

as Tatanka

WWE King of the Ring 1994

WWE King of the Ring 1994

1994

as Tatanka

Inside the WWF

Inside the WWF

1994

as Tatanka

WWF March to WrestleMania X

WWF March to WrestleMania X

1994

as Tatanka

WWE Royal Rumble 1994

WWE Royal Rumble 1994

1994

as Tatanka

WWE Grudges, Gripes & Grunts

WWE Grudges, Gripes & Grunts

1993

as Tatanka

WWE SummerSlam 1993

WWE SummerSlam 1993

1993

as Tatanka

WWE SummerSlam Spectacular 1993

WWE SummerSlam Spectacular 1993

1993

as Tatanka

WWE U.K. Fan Favourites

WWE U.K. Fan Favourites

1993

as Tatanka

WWE Invasion of the Bodyslammers

WWE Invasion of the Bodyslammers

1993

as Tatanka

WWF Bashed in the USA

WWF Bashed in the USA

1993

as Tatanka

WWE King of the Ring 1993

WWE King of the Ring 1993

1993

as Tatanka

WWF European Rampage 1993

WWF European Rampage 1993

1993

as Tatanka

WWE WrestleMania IX

WWE WrestleMania IX

1993

as Tatanka

WWE March to WrestleMania IX

WWE March to WrestleMania IX

1993

as Tatanka

WWE Wrestling Grudge Matches

WWE Wrestling Grudge Matches

1993

as Tatanka

WWE Royal Rumble 1993

WWE Royal Rumble 1993

1993

as Tatanka

WWE Raw

WWE Raw

1993

as Tatanka (archive footage)

WWE Raw

WWE Raw

1993

as Tatanka

WWE Survivor Series 1992

WWE Survivor Series 1992

1992

as Tatanka

WWE Survivor Series Showdown 1992

WWE Survivor Series Showdown 1992

1992

as Tatanka

WWE Rampage '92

WWE Rampage '92

1992

as Tatanka

WWE SummerSlam 1992

WWE SummerSlam 1992

1992

as Tatanka

WWE SummerSlam Spectacular 1992

WWE SummerSlam Spectacular 1992

1992

as Tatanka

3rd Annual Battle of the WWE Superstars

3rd Annual Battle of the WWE Superstars

1992

as Tatanka

WWE U.K. Rampage 1992

WWE U.K. Rampage 1992

1992

as Tatanka

WWE WrestleMania VIII

WWE WrestleMania VIII

1992

as Tatanka

WWF Wrestling Challenge

WWF Wrestling Challenge

1986

as Tatanka

Saturday Night's Main Event

Saturday Night's Main Event

1985