Matt Cappotelli
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox professional wrestler Matthew Lee Cappotelli (November 12, 1979 – June 29, 2018) was an American professional wrestler. After co-winning Tough Enough III with John Hennigan, he worked in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), the primary developmental territory for WWE. He ended his career due to a malignant brain tumor.
Professional wrestling careerEdit
Cappotelli, along with John Hennigan, won a World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) contract by winning Tough Enough III.<ref name="MTV">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> During the show Hardcore Holly aggressively roughed up Matt while training, stiffly striking Cappotelli repeatedly, leaving him bleeding.<ref name="voice-Matt">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="mooneyham"/> After winning, he made sporadic appearances on WWE shows.<ref name=slam/> At Vengeance, Cappotelli competed in The APA Invitational Bar Room Brawl which Bradshaw won.
Cappotelli was then sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW).<ref name=slam/> There, he formed a tag team known as The Thrill Seekers with Johnny Jeter.<ref name=south/> On November 9 at an OVW television taping, Cappotelli captured the OVW Heavyweight Championship by defeating his former tag team partner, Johnny Jeter. On February 8, 2006, he announced that he had previously been diagnosed with a grade 2/3 astrocytoma and surrendered the title to OVW owner Danny Davis at a television taping in Louisville, Kentucky.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Cappotelli announced to OVW wrestlers and fans on April 4, 2006, that he would undergo surgery for brain cancer in Boston on May 1.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> WWE's official website later reported that the surgery was a success,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and that the majority of the brain tumor was removed.<ref name=removed>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was released from his contract in January 2009.<ref name=slam/> Toward the end of 2013, Cappotelli became the trainer for OVW's Beginner Program.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Personal life and deathEdit
Cappotelli attended college at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he was also a member of the football team.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="mooneyham">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Cappotelli was married to Lindsay.<ref name=slam/> They resided in Louisville, Kentucky, where he also worked as a personal trainer.<ref name=slam/> He was close friends with professional wrestler and Western Michigan alumnus, Colt Cabana.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Big Brother winner Lisa Donahue was his cousin.<ref name=Lisa>Template:Cite tweet</ref> In July 2017, Cappotelli announced that he was diagnosed with grade IV glioblastoma multiforme.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref> In May 2018, Cappotelli's wife announced that, after consultations with his neuro-oncologist, Cappotelli was ceasing medical interventions for the tumor.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He died on June 29, 2018, at the age of 38.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=slam>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Championships and accomplishmentsEdit
- Ohio Valley Wrestling
- OVW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- OVW Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Johnny Jeter<ref name=south>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=Jan19F4W>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (2006)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref>
- World Wrestling Entertainment
- Tough Enough III with John Hennigan<ref name=MTV/><ref name=slam/>
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
Template:OVW Heavyweight Championship Template:OVW Tag Team Championship Template:Tough Enough winners