Cappotelli, along with
John Hennigan, won a
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) contract by winning Tough Enough III.[2] During the show
Hardcore Holly aggressively roughed up Matt while training, stiffly striking Cappotelli repeatedly, leaving him bleeding.[3][4] After winning, he made sporadic appearances on WWE shows.[1] At
Vengeance, Cappotelli competed in The APA Invitational Bar Room Brawl which
Bradshaw won.
Cappotelli was then sent to
Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW).[1] There, he formed a
tag team known as The Thrill Seekers with
Johnny Jeter.[5] 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.[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
Cappotelli attended college at
Western Michigan University in
Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he was also a member of the football team.[12][4]
Cappotelli was married to Lindsay.[1] They resided in
Louisville, 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 Brother winner Lisa Donahue was his cousin.[14]
In July 2017, Cappotelli announced that he was diagnosed with grade IV
glioblastoma multiforme.[15] In May 2018, Cappotelli's wife announced that, after consultations with his
neuro-oncologist, Cappotelli was ceasing medical interventions for the tumor.[16][17] He died on June 29, 2018, at the age of 38.[18][1]
^
abMooneyham, Mike (February 26, 2006).
"Cappotelli Proves He's Tough Enough". The Wrestling Gospel According to Mike Mooneyham. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
^Schenk, Ruth (December 14, 2009).
"Faith Warrior". southeastoutlookchristian.org. Archived from
the original on December 14, 2009. Retrieved December 14, 2009.