Josh Lomberger
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Josh Lomberger | |
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| Statistics | |
| Ring name(s) | Josh Mathews |
| Billed height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) |
| Billed weight | 143 lb (65 kg) |
| Born | November 25, 1980(age 26) Sea Isle City, New Jersey |
| Trained by | Al Snow, Tazz, Ivory |
Josh Lomberger (born November 25, 1980), is a professional wrestling personality from Schererville, Indiana who appears on World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) television under the name of Josh Mathews.
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[edit] Career
Josh was a runner-up to Maven and Nidia in the first WWE Tough Enough in 2001. Despite being quite small, Josh held his own on the show, impressing trainers Al Snow and Tazz with his commitment to making it in the business. Despite not winning the first Tough Enough competition, he has actually lasted longer in World Wrestling Entertainment than any other contestant from the various seasons of the series.
After Tough Enough, Lomberger gained some in-ring experience on the independent circuit and in the X Wrestling Federation, which was run by former WWF manager Jimmy Hart. Although he did not win the first Tough Enough competition, Josh was eventually hired by World Wrestling Entertainment as an announcer/interviewer for the SmackDown! brand and was an announcer on WWE Velocity.
Mathews was given some limited ring-time on SmackDown! when JBL slapped Josh Mathews for not showing some respect to his chief of staff Orlando Jordan when he was interviewing him. He later offered and was accepted to be Booker T's temporary partner for a tag team match on an episode of Smackdown! Booker T and he won ultimately that match.
He was later assaulted by Orlando Jordan and requested from General Manager Theodore Long that he be given a one-on-one match against him. Booker T wanted to be at ringside during the Mathews-Jordan match, as JBL would no doubt be present, and would give Booker T an excuse to beat down JBL before their match at Survivor Series 2004. Mathews would once again emerge victorious against Orlando Jordan, with some considerable help from Booker T.
In the past, Mathews has been assaulted in the ring by Heidenreich and was spat in the face by Carlito with an apple, for trying to act "cool." He was also attacked by Kurt Angle and possessed by The Undertaker on the December 9, 2005 edition of Friday Night SmackDown! while interviewing Randy Orton.
[edit] Lunchtime Suicide
At Armageddon 2005, Josh interviewed former WWE referee Tim White to set up a Hell in a Cell match later in the evening. In the interview, White explained that the match ruined his life by giving him injuries and even contributing to his irritable bowel syndrome. White then attempted to commit suicide, but was unsuccessful. This started a WWE.com exclusive storyline called "Lunchtime Suicide" in which White tried to commit suicide a different way each week, while Mathews tried to stop him. In the final episode, White, during a "Celebration of Life" party, turned the tables and shot an unsuspecting (and drunk) Mathews with a shotgun. Josh then disappeared from WWE television, which in turn, started rumors that he had been fired. WWE quickly dismissed the rumors by saying Mathews was still on board, however, he has not been seen on Friday Night SmackDown! since the shooting.
[edit] Recent Work
Josh Mathews can still be seen on International Editions of the The WWE Experience, and WWE Afterburn.[citation needed] He hosted the WWE Fantasy Weekly Webcast for week 3 of season 8 of the WWE Fantasy Salary Cap game. He also filled in for an absent Todd Grisham on a summer 2006 episode of RAW. On November 19, 2006, his name was removed from the SmackDown superstar list on WWE.com.
It has been reported that Josh's recent duties are involved with the WWE 24/7 video on demand cable service.
On December 13, 2006, Josh was legitimately punched in the mouth by Finlay during the Armageddon 2006 press conference, drawing blood. The incident was unplanned and Josh was reportedly very upset over the incident afterwards. [1]
On the March 9, 2007 edition of Heat, Matthews was heard commentating alongside Jonathan Coachman substituting for Todd Grisham. On HEAT that night, they claimed that Grisham was on vacation.
[edit] Personal life
Josh was married to former WWE television host and former WWE Diva Rue DeBona. He has a brother who auditioned for WWE Tough Enough 2. He has a tattoo that he designed himself that ranges from his left shoulder blade to mid-forearm.
Josh enjoys 12 egg whites with white american cheese, not the yellow because it has artificial coloring, and 4 pieces of whole wheat toast before he shoots episodes of the WWE Mobile news with Jaclyn O'Sullivan and Samara Kelly.
Josh can still be seen on WWE programming through the WWE Mobile service if you subscribe to ATT and upgrade your service to WWE Rinside for the daily edition of the WWE Mobile News.
