Maven (wrestler)

Maven Huffman (born November 26, 1976) is an American professional wrestler, YouTuber and media personality.

He is best known for his time with WWE under his first name, where he is known for co-winning the inaugural season of Tough Enough alongside Nidia Guenard.

He also became a three-time WWE Hardcore Champion.

Maven Huffman was born on November 26, 1976, in Crimora, Virginia.

According to a MyHeritage DNA kit test, he has Northern European, Western European, British and West African ancestry.

After his father left the family and his mother committed suicide, he was adopted by his maternal uncle and his aunt, who began rearing him at 2 years old.

In 1999, he moved to Portland, Oregon, where he began playing baseball for the Aloha Knights team.

Prior to becoming a professional wrestler, Huffman was a middle school teacher at Twality Middle School in Tigard, Oregon for two years.

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, and he was sent to the Heartland Wrestling Association (HWA) to receive further training.

On the October 4 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, eliminating Maven.

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 WWF 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 WWF Hardcore Championship, and after interference from The Rock and his Tough Enough trainer Al Snow, Maven defeated Undertaker to win the Hardcore Championship, 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.

The following night on Raw, Maven was attacked by a debuting Brock Lesnar during his Hardcore Championship defense against Al Snow and Spike Dudley.

Maven was the tenth pick for SmackDown! in the WWF draft due to being the Hardcore Champion, but he was punished by Vince McMahon after he lost the title to Raven on the March 28 episode of SmackDown!.

Maven was traded to the Raw brand on November 4, 2002, where he confronted Christopher Nowinski with his former trainer Al Snow.

Maven entered the 2003 Royal Rumble.

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 episode of Raw, but lost.

His aunt died from cancer in 2004.

Huffman graduated from Wilson Memorial High School in Fishersville, Virginia before attending Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

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 on the November 15 episode of Raw, 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 the 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 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 minutes by using a roll-up.