The wrestler, whose real name is Robert Rechsteiner, was half of the Steiner Brothers tag-team wrestling tandem in various pro wrestling leagues in the late 1980s and early '90s.

Cherokee County supervisor of elections Janet Munda told Steiner he was disqualified after she couldn't find Steiner's name among the registered voters during a routine search of qualified candidates.

Because only people who qualify under their legal name can seek public office, Steiner was barred even though he had been appointed to fill out a school board term in November and was the only person to qualify for the board seat last week.

On Friday, Steiner apologized through a letter to Munda. He said his real estate license is in that name and ``everyone'' knows him by it.

Steiner, 45, won't be able to get his real name on the ballot for the July primary, Munda said. But the former wrestler would be able to qualify and be on the ballot for the general election in November, she said.

Steiner, who had gone by his ring name for 20 years, plans to return under his legal name.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)