Matt Cappotelli Matthew Lee " Matt " Cappotelli ( November 12 , 1979 ) is an American professional wrestler , currently working in Ohio Valley Wrestling , which was the primary developmental territory for World Wrestling Entertainment until February 7 , 2008 . He postponed his career due to a malignant brain tumor , which has been fully removed . He last wrestled in 2005 and has not wrestled since that time . Career . World Wrestling Entertainment ( 2005 - 2009 ) . Tough Enough . Cappotelli , along with John Hennigan , won a WWE contract by winning " Tough Enough III " . Ohio Valley Wrestling . He was then sent to OVW in order to continue his training and work on his vocal skills . In OVW , Cappotelli formed a fan favorite tag team known as The Thrill Seekers with Johnny Jeter . Cappotelli was embroiled in controversy when one of the former " NXT Superstar " trainers , Bob " Hardcore " Holly , worked stiff on the unsuspecting Cappotelli during a practice match , leaving him bruised and bloody . Holly later accidentally concussed Cappotelli while wrestling him at a live event on April 24 , 2004 . On July 31 , 2005 , Cappotelli suffered a broken fibula during a match against The Blond Bombers ( Chad and Tank Toland ) at an Ohio Valley Wrestling ( OVW ) event in Elizabethtown , Kentucky , when he landed awkwardly after a suplex . He was out of action for approximately eight weeks . On November 9 at an OVW television taping , Cappotelli captured the OVW Heavyweight Championship by defeating his former tag team partner , Johnny Jeter . WWE was planning to bring Cappotelli up into the main roster , but he was diagnosed with a grade 2 / 3 astrocytoma in December 2005 . He was scheduled to undergo tests to further diagnose the tumor and plan treatment . On February 8 , 2006 , he announced the brain tumor was indeed cancerous and surrendered the title to OVW owner Danny Davis during an emotional speech at a television taping in Louisville , Kentucky . Cappotelli announced that he was planning on surgery on May 1 , 2007 . Cappotelli announced to OVW wrestlers and fans on April 4 , 2007 that he would undergo surgery for brain cancer in Boston on May 1 . WWE ' s official website later posted an article , which included video of the announcement . WWE ' s official website later reported that the surgery was a success , and that the majority of the brain tumor was removed . He underwent 30 Radiation treatments and is undergoing continual bouts of monthly chemotherapy . On January 4 , 2009 , Cappotelli was released from his WWE contract . On July 24 , 2010 , Matt Cappotelli was on The Pain Clinic Talk Show out of Rochester , NY . He was asked about successes of his former partners The Miz and Morrison , as well as the question of what is he doing now . He currently manages a gym and athletic training faciltiy in Kentucky . One of the hosts also mentioned a WWE comeback to Matt , who seemed to enjoy the idea a bit for the few seconds it lasted . Personal life . He attended Caledonia - Mumford Central School in Caledonia , New York . He married Lindsay Adalaide Seeders in March 2006 . He is a born again Christian . Matt and his wife are active members of New Vision Ministry Center in Louisville , Kentucky . Cappotelli is a frequent guest on " The Pain Clinic " pro wrestling radio talk show in his hometown of Rochester , New York . Cappotelli also recently opened up a Christian clothing company , Faith Ink . Matt was on " R News " on September 12 , 2006 to talk about his new company . He was also on " The Pain Clinic " the following Saturday .