Maven Huffman
Encyclopedia
Maven Klint Huffman is an American professional wrestler
, best known for his appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment
(WWE) between October 2001 and July 5, 2005 under the name Maven. In 2008 he became a guest expert on the Home Shopping Network
.
of Harrisonburg, Virginia
in 1998. Before becoming a professional wrestler
, Maven was a middle school teacher, teaching Grade 6, at Twality Middle School in Tigard, Oregon
.
Maven's Aunt whom he called Mom, died on February 12, 2004, after a long battle with cancer.
, a reality television
show used to find new WWE stars, in 2001. Soon after, Maven would receive further training at Heartland Wrestling Association
.
Maven eliminated The Undertaker from the 2002 Royal Rumble
by dropkick
ing him from behind; Undertaker responded in turn by returning to the ring and dragging Maven out of the ring (under the ropes), and beating him all the way back to the concession stand
area, leaving Maven unable to compete in the rest of the match. Maven received a shot at Chris Jericho
's undisputed title on the January 28th edition of Raw. He lost, and was granted a beating by Undertaker after the match. The two wrestlers began a feud over the Hardcore Title
, which Maven won from Undertaker thanks to interference from his trainer Al Snow and The Rock. At WrestleMania X8
, Maven lost the Hardcore Championship to Spike Dudley
during Maven's match with Goldust but won the title back the same night from Christian
, thanks to the 24/7 title defense rule. In 2003 Maven entered the Royal Rumble for a second time. He attempted to eliminate Undertaker by using the dropkick a second time but failed and was eliminated again by Undertaker. Subsequently that year, Maven continued wrestling on WWE Heat
and making sporadic appearances on RAW. Nonetheless, on March, Maven was given a World Title match against then Champion Triple H
, on Heat, but lost.
In 2004, Maven experienced the biggest push in his career, even gaining a victory over then-Evolution
member Batista. Maven then took part in a Survivor Series Elimination Match at Survivor Series 2004
, 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. Maven turned into a villain
two weeks later by turning on Eugene
, assaulting him as revenge for his elimination in a Battle Royal
on Raw.
Maven then feuded
with then-Intercontinental Champion
Shelton Benjamin
, culminating at New Year's Revolution 2005
in a singles match for the championship. Before the start of the match, Maven did a worked interview out of the ring, blasting the Puerto Rican
crowd. Benjamin quickly defeated him in just a matter of seconds, using a roll-up. Maven then cut a promo on Benjamin, stating that it "Didn't count", and challenged Shelton for a re-match. It was accepted, he returned to the ring, and was then beaten in seconds, yet again, by Shelton's signature T-Bone suplex.
During this time, he entered an unofficial alliance with Simon Dean
, serving as a successful user of the Dean character's "Simon System" line of nutritional products. The team was split when Dean was traded to SmackDown!, and Maven was subsequently released by WWE on July 5, 2005.
that Maven would be a participant in Season Six of The Surreal Life
. On the first episode, he was picked by the existing castmates as the seventh and final cast member in a "15 More Minutes of Fame Reality Hunk Pageant," beating four other reality hunks
, including former American Idol
contestant Corey Clark
. Subsequently, Maven was a host for a show on BET J. He continues to work the independent circuit, after nearly retiring, usually for Hermie Sadler
's United Wrestling Federation
. He also appears on the Home Shopping Network
's weekday morning show, HSN Today, as its exercise and wellness expert. He also appears as a Sports Promoter on HSN.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
, best known for his appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(WWE) between October 2001 and July 5, 2005 under the name Maven. In 2008 he became a guest expert on the Home Shopping Network
Home Shopping Network
Home Shopping Network or HSN began in 1977 as a 24-hour/7 day a week home shopping television network televised via cable, satellite, and some terrestrial channels in the Philippines. HSN can also be shopped online at hsn.com...
.
Early life
Maven was born to an African-American father and an Argentine mother. After his mother died he was adopted by his mother's brother and his wife. Maven graduated from Eastern Mennonite UniversityEastern Mennonite University
Eastern Mennonite University is a private liberal arts university in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, affiliated with one of the historic peace churches, the Mennonite Church USA. Its main campus is on the edge of the small city of Harrisonburg, Virginia, about three miles from state-owned...
of Harrisonburg, Virginia
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Harrisonburg is an independent city in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia in the United States. Its population as of 2010 is 48,914, and at the 2000 census, 40,468. Harrisonburg is the county seat of Rockingham County and the core city of the Harrisonburg, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical...
in 1998. Before becoming a professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
, Maven was a middle school teacher, teaching Grade 6, at Twality Middle School in Tigard, Oregon
Tigard, Oregon
Tigard is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. The population was 48,035 at the 2010 census. As of 2007, Tigard was the state's 12th largest city. Incorporated in 1961, the city is located south of Beaverton and north of Tualatin, and is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
.
Maven's Aunt whom he called Mom, died on February 12, 2004, after a long battle with cancer.
World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment (2001-2005)
Maven won a year's contract with the company after he won the first series of Tough EnoughWWE Tough Enough
WWE Tough Enough is a professional wrestling reality television program produced by WWE wherein participants undergo professional wrestling training and compete for a contract with WWE. There were two winners per season for the first three seasons, all of which aired on MTV...
, a reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
show used to find new WWE stars, in 2001. Soon after, Maven would receive further training at Heartland Wrestling Association
Heartland Wrestling Association
The Heartland Wrestling Association is a Midwestern independent professional wrestling promotion based in Cincinnati, Ohio. A former developmental territory for both World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation during the 1990s, it was listed as one of the top independent...
.
Maven eliminated The Undertaker from the 2002 Royal Rumble
Royal Rumble (2002)
Royal Rumble was the fifteenth annual Royal Rumble professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on January 20, 2002 at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia...
by dropkick
Dropkick
A dropkick is an attacking maneuver in professional wrestling. It is defined as an attack where the wrestler jumps up and kicks the opponent with the soles of both feet; this sees the wrestler twist as he or she jumps so that when the feet connect with the opponent one foot is raised higher than...
ing him from behind; Undertaker responded in turn by returning to the ring and dragging Maven out of the ring (under the ropes), and beating him all the way back to the concession stand
Concession stand
A concession stand , snack kiosk or snack bar is the term used to refer to a place where patrons can purchase snacks or food at a cinema, fair, stadium, or other entertainment venue. Some events or venues contract out the right to sell food to third parties...
area, leaving Maven unable to compete in the rest of the match. Maven received a shot at Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho
Christopher Keith Irvine , better known by his ring name Chris Jericho, is an inactive Canadian-American professional wrestler, musician, songwriter, radio personality, television host, actor, author, and dancer...
's undisputed title on the January 28th edition of Raw. He lost, and was granted a beating by Undertaker after the match. The two wrestlers began a feud over the Hardcore Title
WWE Hardcore Championship
The World Wrestling Entertainment Hardcore Championship is a hardcore wrestling championship in World Wrestling Entertainment and is contested under "hardcore" rules, meaning there is no disqualifications, no countouts, and pin falls could be counted anywhere...
, which Maven won from Undertaker thanks to interference from his trainer Al Snow and The Rock. At WrestleMania X8
WrestleMania X8
WrestleMania X8 was the eighteenth annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on March 17, 2002 at the SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario. The event marked the final WrestleMania event under the WWF name...
, Maven lost the Hardcore Championship to Spike Dudley
Matt Hyson
Matthew "Matt" Hyson is a retired American professional wrestler, best known for his performances in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Spike Dudley and in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Brother Runt.In ECW, he was a two-time...
during Maven's match with Goldust but won the title back the same night from Christian
Jason Reso
William Jason Reso is a Canadian professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring names Christian and Christian Cage...
, thanks to the 24/7 title defense rule. In 2003 Maven entered the Royal Rumble for a second time. He attempted to eliminate Undertaker by using the dropkick a second time but failed and was eliminated again by Undertaker. Subsequently that year, Maven continued wrestling on WWE Heat
WWE HEAT
WWE Heat was a professional wrestling television program produced by World Wrestling Entertainment...
and making sporadic appearances on RAW. Nonetheless, on March, Maven was given a World Title match against then Champion Triple H
Triple H
Paul Michael Levesque is an American professional wrestler, professional wrestling authority figure, WWE Executive Vice President of Talent and actor, better known by his ring name Triple H, an abbreviation of the ring name, Hunter Hearst Helmsley...
, on Heat, but lost.
In 2004, Maven experienced the biggest push in his career, even gaining a victory over then-Evolution
Evolution (professional wrestling)
Evolution was a villainous professional wrestling stable on WWE's Raw brand between 2003 and 2005. At the height of its existence, the group consisted of Triple H, Ric Flair, Randy Orton, Batista and briefly Eugene....
member Batista. Maven then took part in a Survivor Series Elimination Match at Survivor Series 2004
Survivor Series (2004)
Survivor Series was the eighteenth annual Survivor Series professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment...
, teaming with Randy Orton
Randy Orton
Randal Keith "Randy" Orton is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is signed to WWE wrestling on its SmackDown brand...
, Chris Benoit
Chris Benoit
Christopher Michael "Chris" Benoit was a Canadian professional wrestler whose career and life ended in a murder–suicide...
, and Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho
Christopher Keith Irvine , better known by his ring name Chris Jericho, is an inactive Canadian-American professional wrestler, musician, songwriter, radio personality, television host, actor, author, and dancer...
to face Triple H
Triple H
Paul Michael Levesque is an American professional wrestler, professional wrestling authority figure, WWE Executive Vice President of Talent and actor, better known by his ring name Triple H, an abbreviation of the ring name, Hunter Hearst Helmsley...
, Batista, Gene Snitsky
Gene Snitsky
Eugene Alan "Gene" Snisky is a professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Snitsky, who is best known for his time spent with World Wrestling Entertainment. He had played college football at the University of Missouri and was on the pre-season roster in 1995 for the Birmingham Barracudas...
, and Edge
Adam Copeland
Adam Joseph Copeland is a retired Canadian professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name Edge. He is currently signed to WWE under a Legends contract....
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
World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)
The World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in WWE. It is the world title of the SmackDown brand and one of two in WWE, complementing the WWE Championship of the Raw brand...
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. Maven turned into a villain
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
two weeks later by turning on Eugene
Nick Dinsmore
Nicholas "Nick" Dinsmore , better known by his ring names Eugene and U-Gene, is an American professional wrestler...
, assaulting him as revenge for his elimination in a Battle Royal
Battle royal (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a battle royal is a multi-competitor match type in which wrestlers are eliminated until one is left and declared winner...
on Raw.
Maven then feuded
Feud (professional wrestling)
A professional wrestling feud is a staged rivalry between multiple wrestlers or alliances of wrestlers. They are integrated into ongoing storylines, particularly in events which are televised...
with then-Intercontinental Champion
WWE Intercontinental Championship
The WWE Intercontinental Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It is the original secondary title of the promotion. Currently, it is the secondary championship exclusive to the SmackDown brand...
Shelton Benjamin
Shelton Benjamin
Shelton James Benjamin is an American professional wrestler and former amateur wrestler best known for his tenure in World Wrestling Entertainment. Benjamin has an amateur wrestling background, including wrestling in high school and at the University of Minnesota. In addition, Benjamin has acted...
, culminating at New Year's Revolution 2005
New Year's Revolution (2005)
New Year's Revolution was the first annual New Year's Revolution pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment. It took place on January 9, 2005 at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This event was the first pay-per-view event produced by WWE to be held in Puerto...
in a singles match for the championship. Before the start of the match, Maven did a worked interview out of the ring, blasting the Puerto Rican
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
crowd. Benjamin quickly defeated him in just a matter of seconds, using a roll-up. Maven then cut a promo on Benjamin, stating that it "Didn't count", and challenged Shelton for a re-match. It was accepted, he returned to the ring, and was then beaten in seconds, yet again, by Shelton's signature T-Bone suplex.
During this time, he entered an unofficial alliance with Simon Dean
Mike Bucci
Michael "Mike" Bucci is an American semi-retired professional wrestler. Bucci is probably best known for his appearances in Extreme Championship Wrestling as Nova, Super Nova, and "Hollywood" Nova and World Wrestling Entertainment as Simon Dean...
, serving as a successful user of the Dean character's "Simon System" line of nutritional products. The team was split when Dean was traded to SmackDown!, and Maven was subsequently released by WWE on July 5, 2005.
Reality television and independent circuit (2005-present)
A few months after his departure from WWE, it was announced by VH1VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
that Maven would be a participant in Season Six of The Surreal Life
The Surreal Life
The Surreal Life is a reality television series that sets a select group of past-their-prime celebrities and records them as they live together in Glen Campbell's former mansion in the Hollywood Hills for two weeks...
. On the first episode, he was picked by the existing castmates as the seventh and final cast member in a "15 More Minutes of Fame Reality Hunk Pageant," beating four other reality hunks
Beefcake
Beefcake is a term denoting the use of nude or semi-nude male bodies. It can refer to a genre or a person. It often is used to denote male sexual attractiveness stemming from physical build but the definition has expanded to include anyone interested in physical fitness, bodybuilding and weight...
, including former American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
contestant Corey Clark
Corey Clark
Corey Delaney Clark is an American singer. He is known for his highly-publicized disqualification from the second season of American Idol and later allegations of a sexual relationship between him and then-Idol judge, Paula Abdul....
. Subsequently, Maven was a host for a show on BET J. He continues to work the independent circuit, after nearly retiring, usually for Hermie Sadler
Hermie Sadler
Herman Marion Sadler III is an American race car driver/announcer and professional wrestling promoter from Emporia, Virginia. He is also an advocate for autism research, as his daughter Hailie Dru, was diagnosed with the disorder in 2001...
's United Wrestling Federation
UWF Live
United Wrestling Federation Live is a professional wrestling promotion. It was started by Hermie Sadler, Earl Hebner, and Dave Hebner in late 2005. It was designed to be an outlet for TNA to do house shows, and also to have other independent talent compete in Virginia, North Carolina, and...
. He also appears on the Home Shopping Network
Home Shopping Network
Home Shopping Network or HSN began in 1977 as a 24-hour/7 day a week home shopping television network televised via cable, satellite, and some terrestrial channels in the Philippines. HSN can also be shopped online at hsn.com...
's weekday morning show, HSN Today, as its exercise and wellness expert. He also appears as a Sports Promoter on HSN.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Halo DDT (Top rope spike DDT)
- Missile dropkick
- M–Plosion (Double knee backbreaker)
- Signature moves
- Arm drag, sometimes done repeatedly in succession
- Bulldog, sometimes from the second or top rope
- Clothesline
- Diving crossbody
- DropkickDropkickA dropkick is an attacking maneuver in professional wrestling. It is defined as an attack where the wrestler jumps up and kicks the opponent with the soles of both feet; this sees the wrestler twist as he or she jumps so that when the feet connect with the opponent one foot is raised higher than...
, sometimes done repeatedly in succession - MoonsaultMoonsaultA moonsault, moonsault press, or back flip splash is a professional wrestling aerial technique. Much of its popularity in American wrestling is attributed to The Great Muta, despite it being used in North America by "Leaping" Lanny Poffo years before Muta came from Japan.In a standard moonsault,...
- Reverse Russian Legsweep
- ManagersManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
- Al SnowAl SnowAllen Ray Sarven is an American professional wrestler and actor better known by his ring name of Al Snow. He is best known for his work in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment and currently works for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as a road agent.-Early career:Sarven...
- NidiaNidia GuenardNidia Guenard better known simply Nidia is a former professional wrestler who worked for World Wrestling Entertainment...
- Simon DeanMike BucciMichael "Mike" Bucci is an American semi-retired professional wrestler. Bucci is probably best known for his appearances in Extreme Championship Wrestling as Nova, Super Nova, and "Hollywood" Nova and World Wrestling Entertainment as Simon Dean...
- Al Snow
- Entrance themesMusic in professional wrestlingMusic in professional wrestling serves a variety of purposes. The most common uses of music in professional wrestling is that of the entrance theme, a song or piece of instrumental music which plays as a performer approaches the ring...
- "TattooTattoo (Big Mother Thruster)"Tattoo" is a single by modern rock band Big Mother Thruster, released in 2001 and used as the entrance theme for professional wrestler Maven during the entirety of his WWE career...
" by Big Mother ThrusterMercy DriveMercy Drive was a Central Florida-based Hard rock band that created entrance themes for several World Wrestling Entertainment wrestlers, most notable for Maven Huffman and Randy Orton .-History:...
- "Tattoo
Championships and accomplishments
- Pro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling Illustrated is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.-History:The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979...
- PWI Rookie of the Year (2002)
- PWI ranked him #88 of the Top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2003.
- World Wrestling FederationWorld Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
- WWF Hardcore ChampionshipWWE Hardcore ChampionshipThe World Wrestling Entertainment Hardcore Championship is a hardcore wrestling championship in World Wrestling Entertainment and is contested under "hardcore" rules, meaning there is no disqualifications, no countouts, and pin falls could be counted anywhere...
(3 times) - WWF Tough Enough I