Jump to content

Matt Cappotelli

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Matt Cappotelli
Birth nameMatthew Lee Cappotelli
Born(1979-11-12)November 12, 1979
Caledonia, New York,U.S.[1]
DiedJune 29, 2018(2018-06-29)(aged 38)
Louisville, Kentucky,U.S.[1]
Cause of deathGlioblastoma
Alma materWestern Michigan University
Spouse(s)
Lindsay Seeders
​
(m.2006)​
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)The Flava
Matt Cappotelli
Billed height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Billed weight225 lb (102 kg)
Billed fromRochester, New York
Trained byAl Snow
Bill DeMott
Eugene
Ivory
DebutJanuary 27, 2003
Retired2005

Matthew Lee Cappotelli(November 12, 1979 – June 29, 2018) was an Americanprofessional wrestler.After co-winningTough Enough IIIwithJohn Hennigan,he worked inOhio Valley Wrestling(OVW), the primary developmental territory forWWE.He ended his career due to amalignantbrain tumor.

Professional wrestling career

[edit]

Cappotelli, along withJohn Hennigan,won aWorld Wrestling Entertainment(WWE) contract by winningTough Enough III.[2]During the showHardcore Hollyaggressively roughed up Matt while training, stiffly striking Cappotelli repeatedly, leaving him bleeding.[3][4]After winning, he made sporadic appearances on WWE shows.[1]AtVengeance,Cappotelli competed in The APA Invitational Bar Room Brawl whichBradshawwon.

Cappotelli was then sent toOhio Valley Wrestling(OVW).[1]There, he formed atag teamknown as The Thrill Seekers withJohnny Jeter.[5]On November 9 at an OVW television taping, Cappotelli captured theOVW Heavyweight Championshipby defeating his former tag team partner, Johnny Jeter. On February 8, 2006, he announced that he had previously been diagnosed with a grade 2/3astrocytomaand surrendered the title to OVW ownerDanny Davisat a television taping inLouisville, Kentucky.[6]Cappotelli announced to OVW wrestlers and fans on April 4, 2006, that he would undergo surgery for brain cancer in Boston on May 1.[7]WWE's official website later reported that the surgery was a success,[8]and that the majority of the brain tumor was removed.[9]He was released from his contract in January 2009.[1] Toward the end of 2013, Cappotelli became the trainer for OVW's Beginner Program.[10][11]

Personal life and death

[edit]

Cappotelli attended college atWestern Michigan UniversityinKalamazoo, Michigan,where he was also a member of the football team.[12][4] Cappotelli was married to Lindsay.[1]They resided inLouisville, Kentucky,where he also worked as a personal trainer.[1]He was close friends with professional wrestler and Western Michigan alumnus,Colt Cabana.[13]Big Brotherwinner Lisa Donahue was his cousin.[14] In July 2017, Cappotelli announced that he was diagnosed with grade IVglioblastoma multiforme.[15]In May 2018, Cappotelli's wife announced that, after consultations with hisneuro-oncologist,Cappotelli was ceasing medical interventions for the tumor.[16][17]He died on June 29, 2018, at the age of 38.[18][1]

Championships and accomplishments

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^abcdefghiOliver, Greg (June 29, 2018)."Tough Enough winner Matt Cappotelli dies".SLAM Wrestling. Archived fromthe originalon July 1, 2018.RetrievedJuly 1,2018.
  2. ^ab"MTV Onair – Toughenough".MTV. Archived fromthe originalon August 9, 2001.RetrievedApril 8,2007.In the end, Matt and John were chosen to be the winners of Tough Enough 3.
  3. ^"The Ringside Voice Interviews – Matt Cappotelli".The Ringside Voice. Archived fromthe originalon July 17, 2011.RetrievedFebruary 18,2012.
  4. ^abMooneyham, Mike (February 26, 2006)."Cappotelli Proves He's Tough Enough".The Wrestling Gospel According to Mike Mooneyham.RetrievedAugust 26,2015.
  5. ^abWestcott, Brian; Dupree, Jim."NWA – National Wrestling Alliance NWA Ohio Valley Wrestling Southern Tag Team Title History".Solie.RetrievedJuly 1,2008.
  6. ^Brady, Hicks. "2006: The year in wrestling".PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts.Kappa Publications. p. 17. 2007 Edition.
  7. ^Dee, Louie (April 6, 2007)."Matt Cappotelli to undergo brain surgery".WWE.
  8. ^"Cappotelli undergoes surgery".World Wrestling Entertainment.May 1, 2007.RetrievedAugust 26,2015.
  9. ^"Cappotelli recovering well".World Wrestling Entertainment.May 9, 2007.
  10. ^"Helping wrestlers get a grip".The Courier-Journal.Louisville, KY. November 12, 2013.RetrievedAugust 26,2015.
  11. ^"Matt Cappotelli Beginner's Program".Ohio Valley Wrestling.Archived fromthe originalon August 20, 2015.RetrievedAugust 26,2015.
  12. ^"Football History: All-Time Jersey Roster: #34".Western Michigan University.June 1, 2010.RetrievedAugust 26,2015.
  13. ^Schenk, Ruth (December 14, 2009)."Faith Warrior".southeastoutlookchristian.org. Archived fromthe originalon December 14, 2009.RetrievedDecember 14,2009.
  14. ^@TheLisaDonahue (June 29, 2017)."Prayers needed for my cousin ❤️❤️"(Tweet).RetrievedSeptember 4,2017– viaTwitter.
  15. ^"Matt Cappotelli".www.facebook.com.July 14, 2017. Archived fromthe originalon February 26, 2022.RetrievedJuly 13,2017.
  16. ^"Slam! Wrestling News".Slam! Sports.Canadian Online Explorer.May 21, 2018. Archived fromthe originalon April 28, 2015.RetrievedMay 21,2018.
  17. ^Johnson, Mike (May 21, 2018)."Matt Cappotelli to discontinue treatments in his battle against cancer, how you can assist his family".PWInsider.RetrievedMay 21,2018.
  18. ^Xu, Linda (June 29, 2018)."Matt Cappotelli, Former WWE Wrestler and 'Tough Enough' Winner, Dies at 38".TheWrap.RetrievedJune 29,2018.
  19. ^Westcott, Brian; Dupree, Jim."NWA – National Wrestling Alliance NWA Ohio Valley Wrestling Heavyweight/Ohio Valley Wrestling Heavyweight Title History".Solie.RetrievedJuly 1,2008.
  20. ^Hoops, Brian (January 19, 2019)."Pro wrestling history (01/19): Ric Flair wins WWF title in 1992 Royal Rumble".Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online.RetrievedJanuary 18,2019.
  21. ^Wilkens, Tom (January 25, 2007)."2006 PWI Achievement Awards Winners Revealed".Wrestling News World. Archived fromthe originalon June 30, 2018.RetrievedAugust 26,2015.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Matt_Cappotelli&oldid=1247366256"