Editing Tony Halme (section)

{{short description|Finnish boxer and politician (1963–2010)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2013}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Tony Halme
| image              = 
| caption            = 
| birth_name         = Tony Christian Halme
| birth_date         = {{birth date|1963|1|6}}<ref name=Cage/><ref name="acceleratorbio">{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/borga.html|title=Ludvig Borga Bio|access-date=2008-01-12|publisher=Accelerator 3359}}</ref>
| death_date         = {{death date and age|2010|1|8|1963|1|6}}<ref name=Cage/><ref name="acceleratorbio"/>
| birth_place        = [[Helsinki]], Finland<ref name="acceleratorbio"/>
| death_place        = Helsinki, Finland
| spouse             = {{marriage|Katja Talus|1998|2005|reason=divorced}}
| module             = {{Infobox professional wrestler|child=yes
| names = {{plainlist|
*The Viking<ref name="owwbio"/><ref name=Cage/>
*Finland Hellraiser Thor<ref name="acceleratorbio"/>
*Finland Thor<ref name=Cage/>
*Royal Viking<ref name=Cage/>
*Tony Halme<ref name="owwbio"/><ref name=Cage/>
*Ludvig Borga<ref name="owwbio"/><ref name=Cage/>
}}
| height= 6 ft 3 in<ref name=Encyclopedia>{{cite book |title=WWE Encyclopedia |last1=Shields |first1=Brian |last2=Sullivan |first2=Kevin |page=[https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/192 192] |publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley|DK]] |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-7566-4190-0 |url=https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/192}}</ref>
| weight= 275 lb<ref name=Encyclopedia/>
| billed = Helsinki, Finland
| trainer = {{plainlist|
*[[Brad Rheingans]]<ref name=WONObit>{{cite journal| last = Meltzer | first = Dave | author-link = Dave Meltzer | date = January 18, 2010 | title =  Jan. 18, 2010 Observer Newsletter: UFC sale details, Bret Hart interview, TNA/Spike, Tony Halme obit | journal = [[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] | location = [[Campbell, California]] | issn = 1083-9593}}</ref>
*[[Gene LeBell]]
*[[Gokor Chivichyan]]
*[[Masa Saito]]<ref name=WONObit/>
*[[Verne Gagne]]<ref name="owwbio"/>
}}
| debut = 1989<ref name=Cage/>
| retired = December 20, 1997
}}
| module2            = {{Infobox officeholder
|embed=yes
| office = Member of the [[Finnish Parliament]] for [[Helsinki (constituency)|Helsinki]]
| term_start = 2003
| term_end = 2007
| party = [[Independent politician|Independent]]
| otherparty = [[Finns Party|True Finns]] (2003–2007)
}}
}}
'''Tony Christian Halme'''<ref name=Cage>{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.de/?id=2&nr=1174&name=Ludvig+Borga |title=Ludvig Borga « Wrestler-Datenbank « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database |website=Cagematch.de |access-date=2016-02-04}}</ref><ref name="acceleratorbio"/><ref name="owwbio"/> (January 6, 1963 – January 8, 2010) was a Finnish politician, [[sportsperson|athlete]], author, actor, and singer. He was a member of the [[Parliament of Finland|Finnish Parliament]] from 2003 to 2007 as an [[Independent (politician)|independent]] elected on the [[Finns Party|True Finns]] party list. Halme was also known by the pseudonym ''[[viking|Viikinki]]'', which he used while appearing in ''[[Gladiaattorit]]'', a Finnish version of the TV game show ''[[Gladiators (television franchise)|Gladiators]]'', in the 1990s.

He was also a [[professional wrestler]] best known for his appearances with [[Catch Wrestling Association]] (CWA), [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] (NJPW) and [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF) under the [[ring name#Wrestling|ring name]] '''Ludvig Borga'''; a [[mixed martial artist]] and the first fighter from the Nordic countries to ever compete in the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]] (UFC); and a [[professional boxer]] who held the Finnish and the American [[heavyweight]] title.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.mmafighting.com/2010/01/10/tony-halme-randy-coutures-first-mma-opponent-dead-at-47|title=Tony Halme, Randy Couture's First MMA Opponent, Dead at 47|last=Chiappetta |first= Mike|date= 2010-01-10|website= mmafighting.com|access-date=13 February 2023 |quote=In addition to fighting mixed martial arts, Halme also performed as a professional wrestler, competing as "Ludvig Borga" in the World Wrestling Federation in the early 1990s. He also boxed professionally, finishing with a 13-6 record.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.thesportster.com/ufc-one-time-fighters/#tony-halme|title=10 Notable UFC Fighters (Who Only Fought Once In The Company) |last= Minor|first=Scott |date= May 14, 2022|website= TheSportster|access-date= 17 February 2023|quote=(#7) Tony Halme is most known for his time in the WWE back in the early 90s. Under the name Ludvig Borga, Halme was one of the company’s top bad guys playing a foreign menace who was going to take out the WWE’s American heroes. After a short stint in the WWE, Halme left the squared circle and stepped into the octagon. In 1997, at UFC 13, Halme competed in the one-night UFC heavyweight tournament. In the first round, he fought a future hall of famer, making his MMA debut, Randy Couture. The future UFC Champion took just a minute to submit Halme. Couture went on to win the tournament and had a legendary career.}}</ref>

During his time in CWA, he was an accomplished [[Card (sports)#Main eventer|main eventer]], who headlined many events for the company including the company's flagship event [[Euro Catch Festival]] three times.