Maven

Huffman began his professional wrestling career in 2001 upon being selected to participate in the inaugural season of *Tough Enough*, a reality television show used by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) to find new WWF stars. Ultimately, Maven would become the co-winner of the competition alongside Nidia Guenard.

On the October 4, 2001 episode of *SmackDown!*, Maven made his in-ring debut against Tazz, one of his *Tough Enough* trainers, who forced him to submit to the *Tazzmission*. Following the match, Tazz helped Maven to his feet before clotheslining him, thus starting a feud between the two. After losing to Tazz via submission in a rematch the following week on *SmackDown!*, Maven clotheslined Tazz following the match. On the October 18 episode of *SmackDown!*, Maven won his first wrestling match as he defeated Tazz with assistance from *Tough Enough* co-winner Nidia Guenard. Following this brief feud, Maven began a feud with The Undertaker after he eliminated Undertaker from the 2002 Royal Rumble by dropkicking him from behind; Undertaker responded in turn by returning to the ring and eliminating Maven from the Royal Rumble match by tossing him over the top rope. He proceeded to hit him with a steel chair, and beating him all the way back to the concession stand area.

On the January 28, 2002 episode of *Raw*, Maven was awarded a title bout by WWF co-owner Ric Flair against Chris Jericho for the Undisputed Championship by virtue of never actually being eliminated from the Royal Rumble, but lost after submitting to the *Walls of Jericho*. After the match, Maven was attacked by The Undertaker. On the February 7 episode of *SmackDown!*, Maven faced Undertaker for his Hardcore Championship, and after interference from The Rock and his *Tough Enough* trainer Al Snow, Maven defeated Undertaker to win the Hardcore Title, the first championship of his career. Their feud ended after The Undertaker defeated Maven and Al Snow in a 2-on-1 handicap match when The Undertaker made Maven submit to the *Dragon Sleeper*. At WrestleMania X8, Maven lost the Hardcore Championship to Spike Dudley during a match with Goldust due to the title's unique 24/7 rule, but won the title back the same night from Christian due to the same rule. Maven was the tenth pick for *SmackDown!* in the WWE draft due to being the Hardcore Champion, but he was punished by Vince McMahon after he lost the belt to Raven. Maven was drafted to *Raw* on November 4, 2002, where he confronted Christopher Nowinski with his former trainer Al Snow.

Maven entered the 2003 Royal Rumble, where he attempted to eliminate The Undertaker by using a dropkick like he did the previous year, but failed and was eliminated by The Undertaker. Maven fought World Heavyweight Champion Triple H on the March 10 edition of *Raw*, but lost. In 2004, Maven received the biggest push in his career, even gaining a victory over then-Evolution member Batista. Maven then took part in an elimination match at Survivor Series, teaming with Randy Orton, Chris Benoit, and Chris Jericho to face Triple H, Batista, Gene Snitsky, and Edge for the power to control *Raw* for one month. Maven was attacked backstage by Snitsky prior to the match, but after Benoit was eliminated, Maven arrived to join his teammates. He was eventually eliminated by Triple H. Orton was the sole survivor and as a result, he and his team had control of *Raw* for one month.

Maven was the first to control *Raw*, booking himself in a World Heavyweight Championship match against Triple H, who tried to get out of it by offering Maven a place in Evolution. He declined, but despite interference from Jericho, Benoit, and Orton, Triple H retained the title due to interference from Snitsky and Ric Flair.

On the November 29 episode of *Raw*, Maven competed in a battle royal to determine the number one contender for World Heavyweight Championship, but was eliminated by Eugene. The following week on *Raw*, Maven faced Eugene in a singles match, which he lost by disqualification after attacking Eugene's injured knee during the match before choking him out. After the match, Maven attacked Eugene's tag team partner William Regal as Regal came to help him, thus turning heel in the process.

Following this, Maven began feuding with Shelton Benjamin over Benjamin's Intercontinental Championship, culminating at New Year's Revolution 2005 in a singles match for the title. Before the start of the match, Maven proceeded to blast the Puerto Rican crowd before Benjamin quickly defeated him in just a matter of seconds by using a roll-up. Maven then cut a promo on Benjamin, stating that the match "didn't count", and challenged him to a re-match. Benjamin accepted, and Maven was defeated in only seconds yet again following the *T-Bone Suplex*.

At WrestleMania 21, Maven competed in a 30-man Interpromotional battle royal which was won by Booker T. Following his feud with Benjamin, Maven formed a tag team with Simon Dean, where he acted as a dedicated user of Dean's "Simon System" brand of nutritional products. After being jobbers for a month, at Backlash, Maven and Simon Dean competed in a tag team turmoil match for the World Tag Team Championship which was won by The Hurricane and Rosey. The team came to an end when Dean was traded to the *SmackDown!* brand while Maven was subsequently released by WWE on July 5, 2005.