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Josh Mathews
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{{Short description|American professional wrestler (born 1980)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}} {{redirect|Josh Matthews|the fictional character|List of Family Affairs characters#Josh Matthews}} {{Infobox professional wrestler |name = Josh Mathews |image = Josh Mathews 2010.jpg |caption = Mathews in 2010 |birth_name = Joshua Matthew Lomberger |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|11|25}}<ref name="OWOW"/> |birth_place = [[Griffith, Indiana]], U.S.<ref name="OWOW"/> |spouse = {{plainlist| * {{marriage|[[Rue DeBona]]|2006|2008|reason=div}} * {{marriage|[[Madison Rayne]]|2015|}} }} |names ='''Josh Mathews'''<ref name="WWEProfile">{{Cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/joshmathews|title=Josh Mathews Bio|access-date=December 9, 2010|publisher=[[WWE]]}}</ref> |height = {{height|ft=5|in=9}}<ref name="WWEProfile"/> |weight = {{convert|143|lb|kg|abbr=on}}<ref name="OWOW"/> |billed = Sea Isle City, New Jersey<ref name="WWEProfile"/> |trainer = [[Al Snow]]<br>[[Ivory (wrestler)|Ivory]]<br>[[Tazz]] |debut = 2001 |retired = }} '''Joshua Matthew Lomberger'''<ref name="OWOW">{{Cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/bios/j/josh-mathews/|title=Josh Mathews Profile|access-date=April 21, 2008|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> (born November 25, 1980),<ref name="OWOW"/> better known by the [[ring name]] '''Josh Mathews''', is an American [[professional wrestling]] producer, former [[Sports commentator|play by play commentator]], and former professional wrestler. He is signed to [[All Elite Wrestling]] (AEW) as a [[Producer (wrestling)|producer]]. He is best known for his time in [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]] (TNA) and [[WWE]]. ==Professional wrestling career== === World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment / WWE (2001β2014) === ====Tough Enough and backstage interviewer (2001β2006)==== Lomberger was a [[runner-up]] to [[Maven (wrestler)|Maven]] and [[Nidia Guenard|Nidia]] in the first ''[[WWE Tough Enough]]'' in 2001.<ref name="OWOW"/> Lomberger was eventually hired by [[WWE|World Wrestling Entertainment]] (WWE), and began using the name Josh Mathews. In December 2002, he began appearing as the backstage interviewer for the [[SmackDown (WWE brand)|SmackDown!]] [[WWE brand extension|brand]] and as an announcer on ''[[WWE Velocity|Velocity]]''. He also hosted the WWE webcast ''Byte This!''<ref>{{IMDb title|5859428|WWE Byte This!}}</ref> after [[Kevin Kelly (announcer)|Kevin Kelly]] was released. He later hosted several shows on WWE's official website, including ''Weekly Top 5'', ''The WWE Experience'', and ''[[WWE After Burn|After Burn]]''.<ref name="WWEProfile"/> In 2003, Mathews also stood in for [[Tony Chimel]] as ring announcer for ''SmackDown!''. In 2004, Mathews was given some limited ring time on ''SmackDown!'' when [[John Layfield|John "Bradshaw" Layfield]] (JBL) slapped Mathews for not showing respect to JBL's chief of staff [[Orlando Jordan]] when he was interviewing him. He later offered and was accepted to be [[Booker T (wrestler)|Booker T]]'s temporary partner for a [[tag team]] match on an episode of ''SmackDown!''. He and Booker T ultimately won the match.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/041104.html|title=WWE SmackDown! Results β November 4, 2004|date=November 4, 2004|access-date=March 27, 2008|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> He was later assaulted by Jordan and requested from [[Professional wrestling authority figures#General managers 3|General Manager]] [[Theodore Long]] that he be given a one-on-one match against him. Booker T wanted to be at ringside during the Mathews-Jordan match, as JBL would no doubt be present, and would give Booker T an excuse to beat down JBL before their match at [[Survivor Series (2004)|Survivor Series]]. Mathews once again emerged victorious against Jordan, with some considerable help from Booker T.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/041111.html|title=WWE SmackDown! Results β November 11, 2004|date=November 4, 2004|access-date=March 27, 2008|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> He also tried to help Booker T in his WWE Championship match at the Survivor Series, but was given a [[Professional wrestling attacks#Lariat|Clothesline From Hell]] by JBL for his efforts.<ref name="WWE review">{{Cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2004/results/|title=Survivor Series 2004 results|access-date=April 7, 2008|publisher=[[WWE]]}}</ref> On the March 31, 2005 episode of ''SmackDown!'' Mathews was attacked by [[Kurt Angle]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/050331.html|title=WWE SmackDown! Results β March 31, 2005|date=November 4, 2004|access-date=March 27, 2008|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> Mathews was then [[Spirit possession|possessed]] by [[The Undertaker]] on the December 9, 2005 episode of ''SmackDown!'' while interviewing [[Randy Orton]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/051209.html|title=WWE SmackDown! Results β December 9, 2005|date=November 4, 2004|access-date=March 27, 2008|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling}}</ref> ====Commentator (2006β2014)==== Mathews filled in for an absent [[Todd Grisham]] on a summer 2006 episode of ''[[WWE Raw|Raw]].'' He also hosted pre-shows for WWE [[pay-per-view]] events, and he provided [[color commentator|color commentary]] on ''[[WWE Heat|Heat]]'' from time to time before the show was cancelled in May 2008.<ref>[http://fans.wwe.com/joshmathews/blog/2008/05/28/hey_everyone Josh Mathews blog confirming final episode of Heat] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080602004701/http://fans.wwe.com/joshmathews/blog/2008/05/28/hey_everyone |date=2008-06-02 }}</ref> He was the host of WWE.com's Weekly Top Five when it started and hosted it until April 2009 when he was replaced by Jack Korpela. During [[Todd Grisham]]'s stint as ECW commentator, Mathews replaced him as Raw's backstage interviewer. Mathews, along with [[WWE Diva]] [[Candice Michelle]] were WWE's correspondents at both the [[2008 Democratic National Convention|Democratic]] and [[2008 Republican National Convention|Republican]] [[United States presidential nominating convention|National Conventions]] in an effort to encourage WWE fans to register to vote for the [[2008 United States presidential election|2008 Presidential election]].<ref name="OWOW"/> On the April 7, 2009, episode of ''[[ECW (WWE)|ECW]]'', Mathews was announced as the new play-by-play commentator, as the previous commentator, [[Todd Grisham]] was moved to ''SmackDown'' after [[Taz (wrestler)|Tazz]] departed WWE.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/wwealumni/tazz/|title=Tazz's Alumni WWE Profile|publisher=[[WWE]]|access-date=April 4, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422074018/http://www.wwe.com/superstars/wwealumni/tazz/|archive-date=April 22, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/archive/04072009/mainarticle|title=Let the Chase to Backlash begin|date=April 7, 2009|access-date=April 7, 2009|publisher=[[WWE]]}}</ref> In addition to commentating on ECW and ECW pay-per-view matches, Mathews along with [[Matt Striker]] represented the [[ECW (WWE brand)|ECW]] [[WWE brand extension|brand]] on ''[[WWE Superstars|Superstars]]'' every week starting with the inaugural episode on April 16, 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jrsbarbq.com/blog/draft-thoughtsanother-von-erich-enter-ringsteamboat-put-tights-back-wgn|title=Draft Thoughts...Another Von Erich to Enter the Ring??...Steamboat to put tights back on?? WGN..|last=Ross|first=Jim|author-link=Jim Ross|publisher=J.R.'s Family Bar-B-Q|date=April 15, 2009|access-date=April 18, 2009|quote=All three brands will be featured weekly and each brand's announcers will call their respective bouts.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219204430/http://www.jrsbarbq.com/blog/draft-thoughtsanother-von-erich-enter-ringsteamboat-put-tights-back-wgn|archive-date=February 19, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> After ECW's closure, Mathews became the color commentator of ''[[WWE NXT|NXT]]''. On the April 9, 2010 episode of ''SmackDown'', Mathews was attacked with a sleeper hold by [[Dolph Ziggler]] when he was interviewing him. On December 10, Mathews officially replaced Todd Grisham as the play-by-play commentator for ''SmackDown'', commentating alongside [[Michael Cole (wrestling)|Michael Cole]] and Striker.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_45870.shtml|title=WWE News: Smackdown spoilers 12/10|last=Tucker|first=Benjamin|date=December 7, 2010|access-date=April 3, 2015|publisher=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> On the February 4, 2011, episode of ''SmackDown'', Mathews and Cole were joined by [[Booker T (wrestler)|Booker T]], forming a three-man announce team. Mathews was replaced by [[William Regal]] as a commentator on season five of ''NXT'' in 2011. In late 2010, Mathews often worked as the color commentator on ''[[WWE Raw|Raw]]'' due to [[Jerry Lawler]]'s increased in-ring competition. On April 3, 2011, Mathews commentated the majority of [[WrestleMania XXVII]], though he received a 'Stone Cold Stunner' from an angered [[Stone Cold Steve Austin]], cutting his night short.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/WrestleMania27/2011/04/03/17863646.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730185556/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/WrestleMania27/2011/04/03/17863646.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 30, 2012|title=The Rock costs Cena as The Miz retains at WrestleMania XXVII|date=April 3, 2011|last=Bishop|first=Matt|access-date=April 9, 2011|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canoe.ca|Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref> The following night on ''Raw'', Mathews found himself aligned with Jerry Lawler, and against Michael Cole. He then became the alternate spokesman for the [[Anonymous Raw General Manager]], when Michael Cole was not commentating. He then using the new catchphrase "The Anonymous ''Raw'' General Manager says...", before reading each e-mail. On the April 25 episode of ''Raw'', Mathews announced that the [[Jim Ross]] and Jerry Lawler vs. Michael Cole and Jack Swagger match at [[Extreme Rules (2011)|Extreme Rules]] will be a Country Whipping match, which Cole and Swagger won. At the following pay-per-view, [[Over the Limit (2011)|Over the Limit]], Mathews supported Lawler, [[Bret Hart]] and [[Eve Torres]] in having Michael Cole kiss Lawler's foot. The following night, again as the spokesman for the anonymous Raw General Manager, Mathews read the e-mail that denied [[The Miz]]'s request for another title shot, seemingly done with [[John Cena]]. He left the ''Raw'' broadcasting table the following week, after Cole and Lawler reconciled, though he remained on the show as a backstage interviewer and backup commentator. Mathews reunited with his former ''ECW'' and ''SmackDown'' broadcast partner Matt Striker on the November 10, 2011 episode of ''Superstars'', becoming the full-time broadcasting team. He and Striker also called the November 9, 2011 broadcast of ''NXT'', marking his second return to the show since his original run ended after season four. On the April 23, 2012 episode of ''Raw'', Mathews was throttled by [[Brock Lesnar]] after Lesnar believed Mathews had made a smart-aleck comment towards him. Later in the year, he was attacked at [[SummerSlam (2012)|SummerSlam]], this time by [[Kane (wrestler)|Kane]], who was angry over being defeated by [[Bryan Danielson|Daniel Bryan]]. Mathews was again attacked by Kane on August 31, 2012 episode of ''SmackDown'' after he lost his match against [[Alberto Del Rio]]. Mathews was the play-by-play commentator of ''[[WWE Saturday Morning Slam|Saturday Morning Slam]]'' throughout the show's 2012β2013 run. He was also a commentator of ''[[WWE Main Event|Main Event]]''. On September 27, 2013, he started as commentator of ''Superstars'' with [[Tom Hannifan|Tom Phillips]].<ref name="pwinsider.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=80551|title=WWE Superstars report: Tag team action; who replaces Tony Dawson on commentary?|last=Trionfo|first=Richard|date=September 27, 2013|access-date=April 3, 2015|publisher=PWInsider}}</ref> On October 18, 2013 episode of ''SmackDown'', Alberto Del Rio attacked Mathews while threatening [[John Cena]] about what he was going to do to him in [[Hell in a Cell (2013)|Hell in a Cell]]. On June 25, 2014, Mathews was released from WWE.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwinsider.com/article/86520/longtime-wwe-announcer-gone-from-company.html|title=Longtime WWE announcer gone from the company|date=June 25, 2014 |access-date=June 25, 2014 |publisher=Pro Wrestling Insider}}</ref> === Total Nonstop Action Impact Wrestling (2014β2025)=== [[File:Pope and Mathews.jpg|right|thumb|280px|Mathews (right) commentating with [[Elijah Burke|D'Angelo Dinero]] in October 2015.]] After being released from WWE, it was reported that Lomberger had signed with [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]] (TNA) to work in their offices in Nashville.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pwinsider.com/article/88475/josh-mathews-update.html?p=1|title=Josh Mathews update|last=Johnson|first=Mike|date=September 24, 2014|access-date=April 4, 2015|publisher=PWInsider}}</ref> Throughout November and December, Mathews appeared in episodes of ''#ImWithSpud'' on TNA's [[YouTube]] channel. In December 2014, TNA confirmed that Mathews would take [[Mike Tenay]]'s place. In January 2015, Mathews was the lead announcer of ''[[Impact! (TV series)]]'' alongside [[Taz (wrestler)|Taz]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Namako|first1=Jason|title=Mike Tenay's new TNA role revealed in press release|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/tna-news/52183-mike-tenay-s-new-tna-role-revealed-in-press-release|publisher=WrestleView|access-date=16 December 2014}}</ref> On June 3, 2015, [[Elijah Burke|D'Angelo Dinero]] officially joined Mathews as his broadcast partner for ''TNA Wrestling''. On the March 2, 2017 episode of ''Impact Wrestling'', Mathews turned [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]] that night when he began favoring heel wrestlers over [[Face (professional wrestling)|face]] wrestlers. He continuously praised himself, and he argued with D'Angelo Dinero throughout the broadcast. In April, Mathews had a series of arguments with [[Jeremy Borash]] and the two started a heated rivalry, which seemed to culminate in a match where Mathews and Borash formed teams of four wrestlers to compete against each other, with the team Mathews created ending up on the losing side, meaning he would no longer be lead-commentator. However, on April 21, Mathews returned to ringside accompanying [[Ethan Carter III]], and joined Borash and Dinero, providing commentary, again belittling the wrestlers who the fans cheered for. At [[Slammiversary XV]], Mathews teamed with [[Scott Steiner]] against Jeremy Borash and [[Abyss (wrestler)|Joseph Park]] in a losing effort. On January 13, 2018, [[Matt Sydal]] turned heel and gifted his [[Impact Grand Championship]] to Mathews, only for Sydal to drop the belt to [[Austin Aries]] while defending it on Mathews' behalf. Following this, Mathews' heel commentator status was phased out. Mathews ceased to be TNA's main play-by-play announcer following [[Hard To Kill (2021)|2021 Hard To Kill]], though he still occasionally filled in at shows when new lead [[Matt Striker]] was unavailable. On February 12, 2025, it was reported that Mathews had parted ways with TNA ending his decade-long tenure with the company.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wrestlingheadlines.com/major-tna-changes-underway-tna-president-anthony-cicione-christy-hemme-josh-mathews-gone-from-the-company/|title=Major TNA Changes Underway, TNA President Anthony Cicione, Christy Hemme, & Josh Mathews Gone from the company|last=Clark|first=Ryan|date=February 12, 2025|access-date=February 12, 2015|publisher=Wrestling Headlines}}</ref> === All Elite Wrestling (2025βpresent) === In May 2025, it was reported that Mathews had begun working for [[All Elite Wrestling]] (AEW) as a [[Producer (wrestling)|producer]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mutter |first=Eric |date=2025-05-01 |title=Report: Former WWE & TNA Name Working Behind The Scenes For AEW |url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/1848886/former-wwe-tna-name-working-for-aew/ |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=Wrestling Inc. |language=en-US}}</ref> ==Personal life== Lomberger was previously married to [[Rue DeBona]] from November 2006 until their divorce in 2008. In August 2015, Lomberger married Ashley Simmons, best known by her ring name [[Madison Rayne]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tnainsider.com/2015/09/5686/|title=TNA EMPLOYEES GET MARRIED!|website=[[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling|TNA]]|author=Rodgers, Ciaran|date=September 2, 2015|access-date=September 3, 2015}}</ref> Mathews, along with [[Dave Bautista|Batista]], [[Shelton Benjamin]] and [[Candice Michelle]], represented [[WWE]] at the [[2008 Democratic National Convention]] in an effort to persuade fans to register to vote in the [[2008 United States presidential election|2008 presidential election]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/overtheropes/wweconventions08/conventionspreview|title=WWE at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions|publisher=[[WWE]]|access-date=2016-07-27}}</ref> ==Championships and accomplishments== *'''[[TNA Wrestling]]''' **[[Impact Grand Championship]] ([[Impact Grand Championship#Reigns|1 time]]) ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{professional wrestling profiles}} {{S-start}} {{succession box | title=[[Impact! (TV series)|Impact! lead announcer]] | before=[[Mike Tenay]] | years=2015β2017| after=[[Jeremy Borash]]}} {{succession box | title=[[Impact! (TV series)|Impact! lead announcer]] | before=[[Jeremy Borash]] | years=2018β2021| after=[[Matt Striker]]}} {{S-end}} {{All Elite Wrestling}} {{Impact Grand Championship}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Mathews, Josh}} [[Category:1980 births]] [[Category:All Elite Wrestling personnel]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Sea Isle City, New Jersey]] [[Category:American male professional wrestlers]] [[Category:American television hosts]] [[Category:New Jersey Democrats]] [[Category:Professional wrestlers from New Jersey]] [[Category:American professional wrestling announcers]] [[Category:Tough Enough contestants]] [[Category:Impact Grand Champions]]
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