Luther Reigns: Difference between revisions

Matthew Wiese
Born	September 22, 1971 Danville, Illinois
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Horshu Inspector Impact Luther Reigns
Billed height	6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Billed weight	285 lb (129 kg)
Trained by	WCW Power Plant UPW Navajo Warrior
Debut	1997

Matthew Wiese better known as Luther Reigns (born September 22, 1971 in Danville, Illinois) is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances on World Wrestling Entertainment's SmackDown! brand between April 29, 2004 and May 11 2005.

World Championship Wrestling

Wiese started his career as a jobber in World Championship Wrestling in 1997 by the name of Horshu. His hair was shaved to look like a horseshoe, and he would try to work the word "shu" into his promos (eg. There's no business like "shu" business!). He appeared under this alias on an episode of The Jenny Jones Show shortly before it was cancelled, as one of the guests in the panel that was depicted as having gone from an ordinary and plain look in his early years to a dramatic overhaul to his current appearance.

AWA Superstars

After WCW, Wiese made his way to the second version of the American Wrestling Association, known as the American Superstars of Wrestling. During his time there, he won the AWA World Heavyweight Champion and held the title for a total 9 months in just his first reign. Unfortunately, Reigns was stripped of his championship after missing too many title defenses. After being fired from the AWA, Wiese received a WWE contract in 2003 and went to wrestle in Ohio Valley Wrestling, WWE's developmental territory, where he was known as Inspector Max Impact.

World Wrestling Entertainment

In April, 2004 He was brought into WWE under the name Luther Reigns the "assistant" to (then) general manager Kurt Angle. Reigns made his WWE pay-per-view debut at the Great American Bash in June, 2004, defeating Charlie Haas.

In September, 2004 Reigns and Angle brought Mark Jindrak to their team during a tag team match of Reigns and Angle vs. The Big Show and Eddie Guerrero. Jindrak hit the ring attacking Big Show, and Angle, Reigns, and Jindrak beat down Big Show and shaved his head bald. This led to a 4 month feud with The Big Show.

Reigns, Jindrak, and Angle reformed the new Team Angle with Kurt Angle as the leader. From September 2004 until Mid-Februay 2005 Reigns and Jindrak helped Kurt Angle win most of his matches as well as taking care of Angle's enemies. Reigns and Jindrak served as Kurt Angle's bodyguards as well, and also wrestled for the tag titles on occasion. Then in mid-February 2005 Reigns and Jindrak went off on their own to feud with the Undertaker. On the February 17, 2005 edition of Smackdown!, Undertaker defeated Mark Jindrak, after which Luther Reigns smashed a television camera over the Undertaker's head. Then on February 20, 2005 Luther Reigns wrestled perhaps the biggest match in his career against The Undertaker at No Way Out 2005. Mark Jindrak was thrown out before the match started and although Reigns put up a good battle, the Undertaker got the victory.

After this the pair began to have a falling out. Reigns got upset at Jindrak for tapping out in a "Double Jeopardy" handicap match against the Undertaker on the February 24, 2005 edition of Smackdown! when Reigns refused to tag in. After the match, Reigns and Jindrak briefly argued before coming to blows, and had to be pulled apart by officials. Then the following week on the March 3, 2005 edition of SmackDown!, Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio beat Jindrak and Reigns to retain the WWE Tag Team Championships. After the match, Jindrak tried to help up Reigns after he got pinned and Luther Reigns smacked Jindrak. The two argued until Jindrak knocked Reigns out with a left hook to the head leading to Jindrak's face turn. On the March 10, 2005 edition of SmackDown!, Jindrak and Reigns went head to head in a singles match, which ended with Jindrak pinning Reigns after his left hook punch, ending their tag team.

After this Reigns started a brief feud with Big Show again. Reigns would try to prove he was stronger and better than The Big Show and this left to Big Show proving him wrong by pushing a Jeep over and defeating Reigns in a singles match. Reigns was defeated a few times by Booker T and achieved one more win over Funaki on WWE Velocity before he was released from his WWE contract on May 11 2005. By all reports, the split between Wiese and WWE was amicable, and Wiese is now focusing on a career in real estate while continuing to wrestle. He also owns a salon. In mid to late 2006, Wiese returned to the U.S. independent wrestling circuit for several independent federations. On Scott Norton's official website, Wiese was confirmed to appear for Norton's new promotion, Wild West Championship Wrestling.

Personal Life

Before becoming a WWE superstar, he endured many hardships, including several drug overdoses, being fired from the WCW roster, being stabbed 2 centimeters from his heart, being shot, and at one point having his throat cut from ear to ear. He also served one year in prison.

In early 2006 Wiese began working as a bodyguard. He was spotted at the AVN porn convention in Las Vegas working as a bodyguard.

Wiese appeared in the movie The Girl Next Door as "Mule"

In wrestling

Finishing and signature moves

• Reign of Pain / Shu-icide(Sitout Side Powerslam)
• Terror Reign (Rolling Cutter)
• Double Underhook Suplex
• Northern Lights Suplex
• Big Boot
• Triple Rib Breaker

Quotes

• "Gimme some of dem peas, I had peas b'fo!"
• "5 CALENDARS!"

Championships and accomplishments

• American Wrestling Association

• 1-time AWA World Heavyweight Champion