Luke harper

**jon Huber**[1] (born December 16, 1979)[2][3] is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to signed to WWE, where he performs under the ring name **Luke Harper**. He was previously known for his work on the U.S. independent circuit under his former ring name **Brodie Lee** in promotions such as Chikara, Jersey All Pro Wrestling, and Ring of Honor. He also wrestled in Japan for Dragon Gate.[1] In WWE, he is a former NXT Tag Team Champion with former Wyatt Family stablemate Erick Rowan, and a one-time WWE Intercontinental Champion.

## Professional wrestling career

### Early career (2003–2007)

After being trained by Kirby Marcos and Rik Matrix in Rochester, New York, and Tony Mamaluke in Schenectady, New York, Huber made his professional wrestling debut for Roc City Wrestling in late 2002, working under a mask as Huberboy #2.[*citation needed*] He would eventually unmask while still using the Huberboy #2 name.[11]
 During 2003, Huber began working as Brodie Lee for Rochester Pro
Wrestling (RPW). He came up with the name Brodie Lee from the movie *Mallrats* by combining the names of actor Jason Lee and his character Brodie Bruce.[12] Huber cites Rick Rude, Jake Roberts and Big Show as his influences.[12]
 Throughout his time in RPW, which was later renamed to NWA Upstate and
then again to NWA New York, Lee would go on to win multiple
championships including the Heavyweight Championship on three separate
occasions, the Tag Team Championship once and the Television
Championship once, which he would also proceed to unify with the Kayfabe
 Dojo Championship.[1][8][13][14] Huber has described his original "The Right Stuff" gimmick as him "just having fun" and "being a cruiserweight".[12]

### Chikara (2007–2012)

Huber made his debut for Philadelphia-based Chikara on March 24, 2007, at *Time Will Prove Everything*, using the "The Right Stuff" Brodie Lee gimmick and losing to Equinox.[8][15] Lee originally was not scheduled to wrestle at the event, but was instead visiting backstage with friends. However, when Reckless Youth no-showed the event, Chikara booker Mike Quackenbush offered Lee the chance to get in the ring.[12]
 Lee would return to the company two months later, defeating Equinox in a
 rematch and starting a streak of not being pinned or submitted that
would last for the rest of the year.[8][16] In August, Lee aligned himself with the Olsen Twins (Colin and Jimmy) and adopted the nickname "Big Rig" and a more serious gimmick of a trucker.[8][17] Lee and the Olsen Twins were scheduled to enter the 2008 King of Trios tournament as Team Dr. Keith, but after Colin signed a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), the team was left one man short. A random draw picked Retail Dragon as his replacement, but after he dropped the deciding fall in their opening round match against Cheech, Cloudy and m.c.KZ, Lee turned on him while simultaneously ending his alliance with Jimmy Olsen in the process.[18]

Lee at a Chikara event in November 2008.

In April 2008, Lee's bullying of smaller wrestlers led to Claudio Castagnoli
 issuing a challenge to him. Their first match on April 20 ended in
Castagnoli being disqualified for accidentally kicking the referee of
the match.[19] The second match on May 24 ended in similar fashion, this time Lee was disqualified for kicking the referee.[20] This led to a No Disqualification match on July 13, which Lee won after interference from Shayne Hawke and Mitch Ryder, both of whom had a grudge with Castagnoli for breaking up the Kings of Wrestling the previous year.[21] Lee's and Castagnoli's feud ended on September 7, 2008, in Chikara's first-ever steel cage match, with Castagnoli coming out victorious.[22]

In late 2008, Lee aligned himself with Eddie Kingston and Grizzly Redwood to form a stable called The Roughnecks.[8] On February 21, 2009, The Roughnecks defeated UltraMantis Black, Crossbones and Sami Callihan to earn a spot in the 2009 King of Trios tournament.[23] On March 27, The Roughnecks lost their King of Trios opening round match to Team Uppercut (Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli and Dave Taylor).[24] When Kingston moved on to feuding with Castagnoli, Lee and Redwood began wrestling matches as a tag team.[8]
 With victories over Los Ice Creams (El Hijo del Ice Cream and Ice Cream
 Jr.), Cheech Hernandez and K.C. Day, and the North Star Express (Darin
Corbin and Ryan Cruz), Lee and Redwood earned their right to challenge
for the Campeonatos de Parejas.[25][26][27] On October 17, 2009, Lee and Redwood challenged The Colony (Fire Ant and Soldier Ant) for the Championship, but were defeated in two straight falls.[28] Lee opted to give Redwood one more chance, but when he dropped the fall on October 19 in a match against The Osirian Portal (Amasis and Ophidian), Lee kicked him in the face, effectively ending The Roughnecks.[29] Redwood made his return six months later on April 24, 2010, as a surprise opponent of Lee's, but was easily defeated by him.[30] Afterwards, Redwood stated that he was not done with Lee, but would prepare himself before their next match.[31] On August 29 Lee entered the Countdown Showdown battle royal and was dominating the match, before being eliminated by Redwood.[32] On October 23 Lee suffered an upset loss in a match against Dasher Hatfield, who was defeated by Redwood the following day.[33][34]
 On November 20 Lee and Redwood, having earned each other's respect,
re–united and attacked Hatfield after his match with Shayne "Buck"
Hawke.[35][36]
 On January 23, 2011, at the season ten premiere, the Roughnecks
defeated the Throwbacks (Hatfield and Sugar Dunkerton) in a tag team
match.[37] The Roughnecks and the Throwbacks ended their feud on March 13 in a lumberjack match, where Hatfield and Dunkerton were victorious.[38] In May 2011, Lee entered the *12 Large: Summit*, set to determine the inaugural Chikara Grand Champion, but was forced to pull out of the tournament following his first match, after suffering an injury.[39] Lee returned to Chikara on October 30.[40]
 After signing a developmental contract with WWE, Lee made his farewell
appearance for Chikara on March 25, 2012, when he unsuccessfully
challenged Eddie Kingston for the Chikara Grand Championship.[40]

### Squared Circle Wrestling (2007–2012)

Brodie Lee in 2011.

Lee made his debut for Syracuse, New York–based
 Squared Circle Wrestling (2CW) on August 20, 2007, teaming with Colin
Olsen, as a replacement tag team partner for Jimmy Olsen, in a tag team
match, where they were defeated by the Wyld Stallyns.[41] Lee started off as a heel aligned with the rival promotion NWA Upstate. Lee started becoming popular after a July 26, 2008, post–match incident in Binghamton, New York that ended with him punching out a fan in the parking lot.[42]
 Lee was in storyline suspended from 2CW over the incident. He returned
on October 24 to a huge ovation, although he was still a heel, leading
NWA Upstate to a victory in an eight-man tag team main event.[43]
 He officially became a babyface starting April 2009 when the rivalry
between 2CW and NWA Upstate had subsided. Lee then started a friendly
rivalry with Slyck Wagner Brown that saw both men trade wins in singles matches on June 6 and September 19, 2009.[44][45] Lee defeated Brown in a rubber match on February 19, 2010, and then again in a two-out -of-three falls match on April 3, 2010, to end the feud.[46][47] Lee challenged Jason Axe for the 2CW Heavyweight Championship on June 20, 2010, but lost due to outside interference.[48] Lee defeated Isys Ephex on July 10 in a number one contender's match to earn another shot at the title and, on August 22 in Watertown, New York, defeated Jason Axe to win the 2CW Heavyweight Championship for the first time.[49][50] Lee made a successful first defense of the title against the former champion, Jason Axe, in an "I Quit" match in Binghamton, New York, on September 24, 2010.[51] Lee lost the title to Slyck Wagner Brown on November 19, 2010, in Elmira, New York.[52] Lee regained the title on April 13, 2012, in a four-way match with Jay Freddie, Slyck Wagner Brown and Kevin Steen, who stole the belt after the match.[53]
 The following night, with the title belt still in Steen's possession,
Lee successfully defended the 2CW Heavyweight Championship in another
four-way against Jason Axe, Jay Freddie and Matt Milan and afterwards
relinquished it, announcing that he had signed with WWE and would be
contractually unable to defend it in the future.[54]

### Ring of Honor (2008–2009)

Lee made his debut for Ring of Honor on October 25, 2008, aligning himself with The Age of the Fall and helping the stable's leader Jimmy Jacobs defeat Austin Aries in an Anything Goes match.[55] Lee then teamed with fellow Age of the Fall member Delirious and defeated Cheech and Cloudy in a tag team match, before ending the night by attacking Necro Butcher, with whom the stable was feuding, after his match with Go Shiozaki.[55]
 On November 7, Lee's match with Necro Butcher ended in a
disqualification, when the rest of the Age of the Fall attacked his
opponent.[56] Lee and Necro Butcher had a rematch under Anything Goes rules on February 27, 2009, which Necro won.[57] In March Delirious turned on the Age of the Fall and on May 30 he defeated Lee in his final ROH match to date.[58]

### Jersey All Pro Wrestling (2009–2011)

Lee made his debut for Jersey All Pro Wrestling on March 28, 2009, as a member of the Hillbilly Wrecking Crew, along with Necro Butcher and Trevor Murdoch.[59] On August 1 Lee and Necro defeated the Garden State Gods (Corvis Fear and Myke Quest) to win the JAPW Tag Team Championship.[60] On January 23, 2010, at JAPW's 12th Anniversary Show Lee and Necro lost the title to Da Heavy Hitters (Havok and Monsta Mack) in a three-way match, which also included the H8 Club (Nate Hatred and Nick Gage).[61] On March 20 Lee got to challenge for the JAPW Heavyweight Championship, but was defeated by the defending champion Dan Maff. After the match Nick Gage attacked Maff and joined the Hillbilly Wrecking Crew, replacing Murdoch, who had left the company.[62] On May 22 Lee and Necro faced Maff and the JAPW New Jersey State Champion Charlie Haas

```
in a tag team match, where they put their JAPW careers on the line

```

against the titles of their opponents. In the end Lee managed to pin
Haas, after Maff had turned on him, to become the new JAPW New Jersey
State Champion.[63]
 On October 23, 2010, Lee challenged Dan Maff for the JAPW Heavyweight
Championship in a Champion vs. Champion match, but was defeated.[64]
 On November 20 Lee first successfully defended the New Jersey State
Championship against Eddie Kingston and then defeated Dan Maff, Nick
Gage and Azrieal in a Championship Scramble to win the JAPW Heavyweight Championship for the first time, unifying the two titles.[65][66] Lee made his first JAPW Heavyweight Championship defense on December 11, during the Anniversary weekend, defeating Rhino with help from Nick Gage.[67][68]
 On December 30, 2011, JAPW announced that Lee, who had not made an
appearance for the promotion in nine months, had been stripped of the
Heavyweight Championship.[69]

### Evolve (2010–2011)

Lee debuted for Evolve on January 16, 2010, at the promotion's first ever show, teaming with Gran Akuma and Icarus in a six-man tag team match, where they were defeated by Team Frightning (Mike Quackenbush, Hallowicked and Frightmare).[70]
 After losing a singles match to Gran Akuma on March 13, Lee picked up
his first victory in the company by defeating Gran Akuma, Hallowicked
and Chris Dickinson in a four-way match on May 1.[71][72] At the fourth show on July 23, Lee wrestled Jon Moxley to a no contest.[73]
 As Moxley was protesting the stoppage, Lee kicked a chair into his
face, which led to Evolve suspending him for the September 11 show.[74] Lee returned to Evolve on May 20, 2011, in a match, where he was defeated by Sami Callihan via submission.[75]

### Dragon Gate USA (2010–2011)

On May 8, 2010, Lee made his debut for Dragon Gate USA, defeating Cheech, Cloudy, Kyle O'Reilly, Phil Atlas, Xtremo, Brent B. and Anthony Fiasco in a dark eight–way fray elimination match, prior to the tapings of the Uprising pay-per-view.[76]
 Later, on the pay-per-view section of the evening, Lee interrupted a
match between Rip Impact and Johnny Wave and beat down both of the
competitors, before announcing that next time he would be coming after a
 Japanese wrestler.[77] At the following event on September 25, Lee defeated Da Soul Touchaz

```
(Acid Jaz, Marshe Rockett and Willie Richardson) in a three–on–one

```

handicap match, before repeating his threat of going after a Japanese
competitor. Later in the night Lee set his sights on Yamato and chased him away from ringside, when he tried to interfere in a match between his ally Jon Moxley and Jimmy Jacobs.[78] The following day Lee defeated Jimmy Jacobs, Kyle O'Reilly, Mike Quackenbush, Rich Swann and Silas Young in a six–way match.[79] On October 29 at Dragon Gate USA's first live pay-per-view, Bushido: Code of the Warrior, Lee teamed with sumo legend Akebono Tarō

```
in a tag team match, where they defeated The Osirian Portal. After the

```

match, Lee and Akebono had to be separated from one another by the rest
of Dragon Gate USA's locker room. Later in the night, Cima used his draft pick to name Lee the newest member of his Warriors International stable.[80] At the following day's tapings of Freedom Fight 2010, Lee defeated Akebono in a singles match.[81] On January 28, 2011, at *United: NYC*, Lee, now representing the heel group Blood Warriors, defeated Jimmy Jacobs in a singles match.[82] The following day at *United: Philly*, Lee suffered his first loss in Dragon Gate USA, when he was defeated by Open the Freedom Gate Champion Yamato in a non–title match.[83]

### Dragon Gate (2010–2011)

On December 21, 2010, Lee made his debut for Japanese promotion Dragon Gate in Tokyo, where he, representing the Warriors stable, defeated Kzy.[84] The Warriors stable turned heel on January 14, 2011, when they attacked Masato Yoshino and World–1, aligning themselves with Naruki Doi's group, though Lee himself was not present, as he was snowed in and could not make the show.[85][86] The following day Lee made his return to Dragon Gate as a member of the new top heel group, in a match, where he, Gamma and Genki Horiguchi defeated Yamato, Kagetora and Diablo.[85] On January 18 the new group was named Blood Warriors.[85]

### WWE

#### The Wyatt Family (2012–2014)

Main article: The Wyatt Family

Harper and Bray Wyatt at an NXT event in October 2012.

On March 12, 2012, it was reported that Huber had signed a developmental contract with WWE.[87] Huber made his debut for WWE's developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) at a house show on May 18, working under the new ring name Luke Harper.[6][88]

When FCW was rebranded as NXT Wrestling in August 2012,[89] Harper made his television debut on the November 7 episode of *NXT* as a follower of Bray Wyatt, who introduced Harper as the "first son" of the Wyatt Family.[90] The Wyatt Family later also came to include Wyatt's "second son" Erick Rowan,[91] with whom Harper formed a tag team, with the two defeating Percy Watson and Yoshi Tatsu in their first match together on the January 9, 2013, episode of *NXT*.[92] On the January 23 episode of *NXT*, Harper and Rowan again defeated Watson and Tatsu in the opening round of the NXT Tag Team Championship tournament.[93] Following a win over Bo Dallas and Michael McGillicutty in the semi-finals with Wyatt's interference,[94] Harper and Rowan were defeated in the finals of the tournament by Adrian Neville and Oliver Grey.[95] Harper defeated tag champion Neville on the March 20 episode of *NXT*.[96] On the May 2 episode of *NXT*, Harper and Rowan won a triple threat elimination tag match by last pinning tag champion Neville.[97] On the May 8 *NXT* (taped on May 2), Harper and Rowan defeated Neville and Bo Dallas, filling in for the injured Grey, to win the tag title.[98][99] On the June 5 *NXT*, Harper and Rowan successfully retained their title against Corey Graves and Kassius Ohno.[100] On the July 17 *NXT* (taped on June 20), Harper and Rowan lost the NXT Tag Team Championship to Neville and Graves.[101][102]

Harper (right) with the other Wyatt Family members in April 2014.

From the May 27 episode of *Raw*, WWE aired vignettes promoting the upcoming debut of the Wyatt Family.[103] The vignettes showed the Wyatt Family's backwoods origins.[104][105] On the July 8 episode of *Raw*, the Wyatt Family made their debut by assaulting Kane.[106] Harper made his WWE in-ring debut on the July 26 episode of *SmackDown*, where he and Rowan defeated Tons of Funk (Brodus Clay and Tensai) in a tag team match.[107] Over the next few months, Harper and Rowan went on a winning streak over many teams,[108][109][110] until Cody Rhodes and Goldust handed them their first loss on the October 11 episode of *SmackDown*.[111] After the Wyatt Family started feuding with CM Punk and Daniel Bryan, Harper wrestled two singles matches, losing to Punk on the November 4 episode of *Raw* and to Bryan via disqualification on the November 8 episode of *SmackDown*.[112][113] In early 2014, Harper took part in the Wyatt Family's feud with The Shield,[114] while also supporting Bray Wyatt in his feud with John Cena through WrestleMania XXX.[115] Through Wyatt's feud with Cena, Harper and Rowan also started their own feud with the WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso), who supported Cena in the feud.[116]
 Harper and Rowan went on to unsuccessfully challenge the Usos for the
WWE Tag Team Championship first in a regular tag team match on June 29
at Money in the Bank and then in a two out of three falls match on July 20 at Battleground.[117][118]

#### Intercontinental Champion (2014–present)

Beginning on September 29, vignettes were shown of Harper and Rowan
being "set free" by Wyatt, marking the dissolution of the Wyatt Family
and the transition of its members into singles competition.[119] After a further series of video vignettes aimed at Dolph Ziggler, Harper made his return to TV during the closing moments of the November 10 *Raw*, throwing an unconscious Ziggler at Triple H and Stephanie McMahon's feet and expressing his desire to join their team at Survivor Series.[120] On the November 17 episode of *Raw*, Harper officially joined Team Authority. Immediately after, Harper was awarded an impromptu match for the Intercontinental Championship against Dolph Ziggler, which Harper won to capture his first title in WWE.[121] At Survivor Series, Harper was the second to last man eliminated in Team Authority's loss against Team Cena.[122]
 As punishment for his affiliation with the Authority, Harper was forced
 to put his Intercontinental Championship on the line against Dean Ambrose on the November 24 episode of *Raw* and successfully retained the title after getting himself disqualified.[123] Harper lost the title back to Ziggler in a ladder match on December 14 at TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs, his reign ending at only 27 days.[124]

## Other media

In 2014, Harper made his video game debut in *WWE 2K15*, where he is featured as a playable character.[125]

## In wrestling

Lee performing the *Brodie Bomb* on Fire Ant.

Lee striking Drake Younger with a big boot.

Lee suicide diving onto Michael Elgin.

* **Finishing moves**
	+ **As Luke Harper**
		- Discus clothesline[5][93][127] or lariat[128]
		- *Truckstop*[2] / Spinning side slam[129] – NXT; used as a signature move in WWE
	+ **As Brodie Lee**
		- *Brodie Bomb* (Running sitout powerbomb)[1][8][7][130]
		- Gutwrench powerbomb[26][130]
		- Package piledriver[1]
		- *Truck Stop* (Spinning side slam)[7][9][130]

* **Signature moves**
	+ **As Luke Harper**
		- Body avalanche[127][128][131][132]
		- Catapult hangman[132][133][134][135]
		- European uppercut[132][136][137][138]
		- *Gator Roll*[136][137][139][140] (Rolling front chancery to a facedown opponent)[141]
		- Multiple kick variations
			* Big boot[5]
			* Drop[142][143]
			* Super[114][144][145][146]
		- Sitout powerbomb[147][148]
		- Sitout scoop slam piledriver[144][145][149][150]
		- Suicide dive[114][146][151][152]
	+ **As Brodie Lee**
		- Big boot,[1][7][9][130] sometimes to a cornered opponent[153][154]
		- Multiple suplex variations
			* Double underhook super[9]
			* Half nelson[7][130][155]
			* Overhead choke[8]
		- Suicide dive[155][156]
		- Superkick[155][156]

* **With Grizzly Redwood**
	+ **Double team finishing moves**
		- *The Truck Stops Here* (Electric chair drop (Redwood) / Running jumping big boot (Lee) combination)[37][40]

* **Managers**
	+ Jimmy Jacobs[1][157]
	+ Bray Wyatt[131]

* **Nicknames**
	+ "The Bulldozer"[1]
	+ "The Right Stuff"[1]
	+ "Throat Load"[10]
	+ "Big Rig"[1][130]

* **Entrance music**
	+ "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" by New Kids on the Block[158] (Independent circuit)
	+ "God's Gonna Cut You Down" by Johnny Cash[158] (Independent circuit)
	+ "Live in Fear" by Mark Crozer[159] (NXT / WWE; November 7, 2012 – November 11, 2014)
	+ **"Swamp Gas"** by Jim Johnston[160] (WWE; June 29, 2014–present)

## Championships and accomplishments

Lee holding both the JAPW Heavyweight and Tag Team Championship belts in November 2010.

* **Alpha-1 Wrestling**
	+ A1 Zero Gravity Championship (1 time)[7]

* **Jersey All Pro Wrestling**
	+ JAPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[161]
	+ JAPW New Jersey State Championship (1 time)[130][162]
	+ JAPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Necro Butcher[130][163]

* **Next Era Wrestling**
	+ NEW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[1][164]

* **NWA Empire**
	+ NWA Empire Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[1][165]

* **NWA Mississippi**
	+ NWA Southern Television Championship (1 time)[166]

* **Pro Wrestling Illustrated**
	+ PWI ranked him #**34** of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2014[167]

* **Rochester Pro Wrestling / NWA Upstate / NWA New York**
	+ NWA Upstate Kayfabe Dojo Championship (1 time)[8][168]
	+ NWA Upstate/NWA New York Heavyweight Championship (3 times)[1][13][130]
	+ RPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Freddie Midnight[1][169]
	+ RPW/NWA Upstate Television Championship (1 time)[14]

* **Squared Circle Wrestling**
	+ 2CW Heavyweight Championship (2 times)[50][53]

* **World of Hurt Wrestling**
	+ WOHW United States Championship (3 times)[170]

* **Wrestling Observer Newsletter**
	+ Best Gimmick (2013) The Wyatt Family[171]

* **WWE**
	+ WWE Intercontinental Championship (1 time)[172]
	+ Slammy Award for Match of the Year (2014) Team Cena vs. Team Authority at Survivor Series[173]

* **WWE NXT**
	+ NXT Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Erick Rowan[99]