Maven (wrestler) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Maven |
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Maven in 2023
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| Birth name | Maven Huffman |
| Born | November 26, 1976 Tennessee, U.S. |
| Website | Official website: https://archive.today/20140716164942/http://mavenhuffman.com/ (archive) |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Maven Maven Huffman |
| Billed height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) |
| Billed weight | 220 lb (100 kg) |
| Billed from | Charlottesville, Virginia |
| Trained by | Al Snow Tazz HWA |
| Debut | October 2, 2001 |
| YouTube information | |
| Years active | 2023–present |
| Genre | Professional wrestling |
| Subscribers | 550 thousand |
| Total views | 92.9 million |
| Subscriber and view counts updated as of January 25, 2025. | |
Maven Huffman (born November 26, 1976) is an American professional wrestler and YouTuber. He is best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment (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.
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Early life
Maven Huffman was born on November 26, 1976, in Crimora, Virginia. Huffman's father is African-American and his mother was Argentinian. After his mother died in a car crash, he was adopted by his maternal uncle and his aunt, who began raising him at 2 years old. 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 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.
Professional wrestling career
World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (2001–2005)
Tough Enough and Hardcore Champion (2001–2003)
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.
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling/United Wrestling Federation (2006–2007)
After WWE and working in the independent circuit Maven joined United Wrestling Federation Live on February 10, 2006 and teamed alongside Jeff Jarrett to defeat Team 3D. On March 31, 2006, Maven wrestled his first match for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where he and Jarrett lost to Jeff Hardy and Kip James in a tag team match. After wrestling sporadically for the UWF and on house shows for TNA throughout the year, Maven wrestled his final match on October 5, 2007, where he lost to Test in a match for Full Throttle Wrestling.
Independent circuit (2015–present)
On July 11, 2015, Maven announced his return to pro wrestling. His return match took place at Brian Myers' Create A Pro Wrestling Academy in Long Island, New York on July 19, 2015. Maven teamed with Johnny Clash to defeat The Warren Cousins (Mikey Warren and TJ Warren) in his first match since 2007.
On September 26, 2015, Maven teamed with Brian Myers in a losing effort against The Cam-An Connection (Anthony Greene and Cam Zagami).
On April 16, 2016, Maven teamed with Myers and Pat Buck in a six man tag team match losing to Aesthetic Males (Beefcake Charlie, Damian Gibbs and Mike Del) in a match for the WrestlePro promotion.
Maven would return to wrestling in 2021. He defeated Matt Cardona for the vacated FWF Tough Enough Trophy Street Fight title on October 9, 2022. On July 23, 2023, Maven won a 26-man battle royal for Dropkick Diabetes 7 in Youngstown, Ohio. On April 27, 2024, Maven entered Reality of Wrestling’s 30 Man Last Stand Rumble at number 21, eliminating Inferno Tiger before being eliminated by Quentin Winters in the same way that Maven eliminated The Undertaker in the 2002 Royal Rumble Match.
Television career
In July 2005, Huffman was featured in episode three of MTV's The 70s House where he and other WWE wrestlers competed in a game of dodge ball.
In March 2006, it was announced by VH1 that Huffman would be a participant in The Surreal Life season 6. 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, Huffman was a host for a show on BET J called BET's J List. He also appeared on the Home Shopping Network's weekday morning show, HSN Today, as its exercise and wellness expert as well as the co-host of HSN's NFL Pro Football Fan Shop. He was terminated from HSN after his arrest.
Maven also has a popular YouTube channel where he discusses his WWE career and offers insights into life as a WWE superstar.
Other media
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Remuneration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Tough Enough | Himself | $2,700 (9 weeks) | |
| 2002 | Blind Date | Himself | $2,000 (1 day) | |
| 2005 | MTV's The 70s House | Himself | $5,000 (1 day) | |
| 2006 | The Surreal Life | Himself | $50,000 (10 days) | |
| 2006 | BET's J List | Himself | Host | |
| 2010 | HSN Today | Himself | Host |
Video games
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth | Video game debut |
Personal life
According to fellow professional wrestler Konnan, Huffman is his nephew. On July 29, 2021, Maven stated during an interview with Chris Van Vliet that he’s not related to Konnan.
On April 2, 2012, Huffman was arrested in Florida. Police revealed that he was doctor shopping due to an addiction to oxycodone and hydrocodone. He was released on a $2,000 bond and faced up to 5 years behind bars, if convicted. On April 11, Huffman revealed that he was seeking help for his addiction and underwent WWE's former talent rehabilitation program.
After his 2012 arrest, Huffman worked as a bouncer in New York City. Maven was an account executive with the Brooklyn Nets basketball team until September 2019. On July 29, 2021, Maven stated during an interview with Chris Van Vliet that he now works in finance, specifically on Wall Street.
Beginning in July 2023, Huffman began uploading videos to YouTube, talking about his experiences within WWE. On his channel, Huffman has been transparent about his use of anabolic steroids during his time with WWE.
Championships and accomplishments
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI Rookie of the Year (2002)
- PWI ranked him #88 of the Top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2003
- World Wrestling Federation
- WWF Hardcore Championship (3 times)
- Tough Enough I – with Nidia Guenard
See also
In Spanish: Maven Huffman para niños
