Josh Mathews

Infobox Wrestler
name=Josh Matthews


names=Josh Mathewscite web|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/j/josh-mathews.html|title=Josh Mathews Profile|accessdate=2008-04-21|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling]
height=height|ft=5|in=9
weight=convert|143|lb|kg|lk=on|abbr=on
birth_date= birth date and age|1980|11|25
birth_place=Sea Isle City, New Jersey
resides= Schererville, Indiana
billed= Sea Isle City, New Jersey
trainer=Al Snow
Tazz
Ivory
debut= 2001
retired=

Josh Lomberger (born November 25, 1980 in Sea Isle City, New Jersey), is a professional wrestling personality who appears on World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) television under the name of Josh Mathews.

Career

Josh was a runner-up to Maven and Nidia in the first "WWE Tough Enough" in 2001. Despite being 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 John "Bradshaw" Layfield slapped 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!". He and Booker ultimately won that match. [cite web|url= http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/041104.html|title=WWE SMACKDOWN! RESULTS - November 4, 2004|date=2004-11-04|accessdate=2008-03-27|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling]

He was later assaulted by 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 Jordan, with some considerable help from Booker T. He also tried to help Booker in his WWE Championship match at the Survivor Series, but was given a Clothesline From Hell by JBL for his efforts.

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 (kayfabe) possessed by The Undertaker on the December 9, 2005 edition of "Friday Night SmackDown!" while interviewing Randy Orton.

Matthews can still be seen on international editions of the "The WWE Experience", and "WWE Afterburn." Fact|date=February 2007 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." He also hosts pre-shows for WWE pay-per-view events, and he provided color commentary on "Heat" from time to time before the show was cancelled in May 2008. He is currently the host of WWE.com's Weekly Top Five and the new backstage interviewer on RAW, replacing Todd Grisham after he left for ECW. Matthews was the WWE's correspondent at both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, being joined by Batista, Candice Michelle, and Shelton Benjamin at the Democratic Convention, and Mickie James and Mr. Kennedy at the Republican Convention. This was in an effort to encourage WWE fans to register to vote for the 2008 Presidential election.

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 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. The "shooting" was simply to write Josh's character off of "Friday Night SmackDown".

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves
**Frog splash

Personal life

Josh is married to former WWE television host Rue DeBona. [cite news|url=http://www.tpww.net/headlines/1164811116.html|title=Matthews marries Rue DeBona|accessdate=2007-11-24] He also has a brother who once auditioned for WWE Tough Enough 2, but didn't make the cut.

References

External links

* [http://fans.wwe.com/joshmatthews Official WWE Fan Nation Profile]
* [http://members.tripod.com/~ALSNOWSHEAD/joshinview.html Interview with Josh about "Tough Enough"]