Anthony Nese Anthony Nese ( August 6 , 1985 ) is an American professional wrestler , known for wrestling throughout the Northeastern United States under his real name and under the ring name s of Matt Cultrone , Matt Maverick , Tony Ace and Tony Nese . He is also known for his brief tenure in TNA from 2011 – 2013 . Since June 2016 , Nese has unofficially joined the WWE , where he has appeared on WWE NXT and WWE Monday Night RAW programs . Professional wrestling career . Independent circuit ( 2001 – 2011 ) . Anthony Nese was born in New York and trained there under the instruction of Mikey Whipwreck . He made his professional debut in 2005 and since then wrestled for various independent promotions across the Northeast , mostly between New York and New Jersey , winning several championships across the independent circuits including singles and tag team titles . Nese debuted on June 20 , 2001 at PWF Zero Gravity 2001 under the ring name Matt Maverick , where he wrestled a singles match won by Tony Balboa . Two years later , Nese returned to the ring on October 18 , 2003 in an event for Michigan Marquee Wrestling Association . As Matt Maverick , he teamed with Jimmy Shalwin and Frankie the Face to defeat Tommy Starr , Jim Duggan and Johnny Swinger . Since 2003 , Nese went on to wrestle every year , leading towards his eventual decision to sign with TNA in 2011 . He wrestled his last independent match on December 10 , 2011 for New York Wrestling Connection ' s NYWC Miracle on 112 , defeating Danny E . Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ( 2011 – 2013 ) . In December 2011 , Nese signed on to join TNA . He was assigned to the X - Division and made a few appearances before vanishing from television in - ring competition for months . Wisely , Nese was released from TNA on May 17 , 2012 . The release was a result of Nese being scheduled for a tag team match for Pro Wrestling Syndicate iPPV on June 1 , 2012 in Rahway , New Jersey . The match would include Nese teaming with Sami Callihan against wrestlers The Great Muta and Kai . Since Nese had been on TNA ' s X - Division roster for months without seeing any significant in - ring time , he asked permission to work the match for Pro Wrestling Syndicate . This request was denied due to the fact Nese was still under contract to TNA . Instead he was offered a release from TNA which Nese accepted . Nese took part at the X - travaganza on January 12 , 2013 ( aired on April 5 , 2013 ) teaming with Rashad Cameron against Doug Williams and Kid Kash in a losing effort after Nese would be pinned by Williams with the Chaos Theory . Return to Independent circuit ( 2012 – present ) . After departing from TNA , Nese returned to the independent wrestling circuit continuing to appear for the New York Wrestling Connection promotion also competing in several independent wrestling promotions including Pro Wrestling Syndicate . He started using his real name , Anthony Nese . Nese became the first PWS Tri - State champion and was undefeated . He shortly feuded with Matt Hardy , defeating him in a match for the Tri - State title before eventually losing the title to Star Man on November 9 , 2012 in a triple threat match . On October 12 , 2013 , Nese defeated the FWE Tri Borought Champion Paul London in a non - title match . In early 2013 , Nese began working for Dragon Gate USA and Evolve . On November 3 , Nese began his first tour of Dragon Gate USA ' s Japanese parent promotion , Dragon Gate , unsuccessfully challenging Genki Horiguchi H . A . Gee . Mee ! ! for the Open the Brave Gate Championship . On November 9 , 2013 , at House of Hardcore 3 , Nese defeated Alex Reynolds and Petey Williams . On December 8 , 2013 , Nese won the Family Wrestling Entertainment ' s Openweight Grand Prix . On September 14 , 2014 , at EVOLVE 35 , Nese and Caleb Konley won the Open the United Gate Championship from The Bravado Brothers ( Harlem and Lancelot ) in a three - way match , also involving AR Fox and Rich Swann . At FWE ReFueled Day 1 , Nese and Jigsaw defeated Adrenaline Express to win the FWE Tag Team Championship . The following day , they lost the title to The Young Bucks . On July 18 , 2015 at House of Hardcore 9 , Nese faced John Hennigan in a losing effort . On August 15 at EVOLVE 47 , Nese teamed with Caleb Konley in a winning tag team match , defeating Rey Horus and Trent Barreta . The day after on August 16 at EVOLVE 48 , Nese defeated Ethan Page . On August 20 at FBW Boiling Point , Nese defeated Chris Dickinson . On August 27 at NYWC Hotter than Hell , Nese and Papadon challenged NYWC Fusion Champion Joe Gacy in a triple threat title match in which Gacy successfully retained the championship . On December 12 at CZW Cage of Death XVII , Nese wrestled a match won by Greg Excellent . On December 18 at Five Borough Wrestling ' s FBW Season ' s Last Wish Nese wrestled a match losing to Kenny Omega . Nese finished 2015 on December 19 at NYWC Tour de Circus , where he defeated MASADA . WWE ( 2016 ) . Nese debuted on June 23 as part of the WWE Cruiserweight Classic tournament to determine a new Cruiserweight Championship after the title was reactivated ; where he defeated Anthony Bennett in the first round . He lost in the second round on July 14 to Brian Kendrick . On August 25 , Nese returned , in a match on WWE NXT where he teamed with Ariya Daivari in a defeated effort against TM - 61 ( Nick Miller & Shane Thorne ) . On the following night on August 26 , Nese wrestled in a dark WWE Cruiserweight Classic , teaming with Drew Gulak to defeat Kenneth Johnson & Lince Dorado . Beginning on September 26 , Nese made his brand debut on Monday Night RAW in a match won by TJ Perkins . On October 3 , Nese made his second RAW appearance , defeating Rich Swann . On the October 17 edition Monday Night RAW , Nese teamed with Brian Kendrick & Drew Gulak defeated TJ Perkins , Rich Swann & Cedric Alexander in a six - man tag team match .