Originally a schoolteacher, Maven Huffman received the opportunity of a lifetime when he was chosen to participate in the
WWE reality program, Tough Enough. After being crowned the first-ever male champion in the show's history, he was
awarded a contract and immediately began his professional wrestling career. Unfortunately for the newcomer, his lack of
experience cost him, as he lost several of his early matches against more season competitors such as Taz and Chris Jericho.
Despite coming up short in his early days, Huffman persevered. By 2002, the former schoolteacher was beaming with confidence.
He used his newfound self-assurance to eliminate the legendary Undertaker from the 2002 Royal Rumble. A few weeks
later, he defeated the "Deadman" for the WWF Hardcore Championship.
 MAVEN HUFFMAN FEATURES |
In November 2004, Huffman parlayed an impressive Survivor Series appearance into a World Heavyweight Championship
opportunity against Triple H. Unfortunately for the youngster, he was unsuccessful in his bid to uncrown "The Game." Shortly
after the loss, fans turned against Huffman when he attacked the endearing Eugene. His villainous character, however, was
short-lived as he was released from his contract on July 5, 2005.
|
The winner of the inaugural season of Tough Enough has fallen on hard times
|
|
|
Former WWE wrestler Maven Huffman--one of two winners of the inaugural season of Tough Enough on MTV in 2001--is
currently working as a bouncer at a sports bar in New York City. Mixed martial arts journalist and wrestling fan Ariel
Helwani confirmed this tidbit on his Twitter account.
"Just walked by a bar that former Tough Enough winner Maven was bouncing. Told him the Rumble spot was awesome. He didn't
seem pleased," wrote Helwani on Friday night.
He added further, "I swear. He seemed embarrassed someone recognized him."
A second person relayed a very similar story online last month in a post on TheColi.com message board, noting that he crossed paths with the former WWF Hardcore Champion at a bar in New York City (Midtown 1015 at Sutton Place). This individual recognized the bouncer as a professional wrestler and found out it was indeed Huffman upon asking.
"[Huffman] was a huge dikk he was kind a pushing me away the whole time, but i had told him man I remember when you eliminated undertaker in RR, he didnt care lol," wrote the message board user. "Dude seemed bitter for me even bringing up his wrestling past."
After being released from his contract with WWE on July 5, 2005, Huffman found himself on multiple television shows; a cast member on the VH-1 reality show The Surreal Life, and host of programs on the Home Shopping Network and BET J. However, the former schoolteacher's life took a rough turn in 2012 as he was arrested in Florida for "doctor shopping." TMZ.com reported in April of that year that he allegedly went to multiple pharmacies to fill prescriptions for painkillers—he gained more than 1,000. Huffman subsequently agreed to participate in WWE's "Former Talent Rehab Program" to defeat his drug addiction, which he successfully completed.
"I owe the WWE my life for helping me through this situation," said Huffman in June 2012. "I have the clarity and focus that comes with sobriety and will never let my family, friends, and fans down again."
While Huffman was in rehab, the trophy he was awarded for winning Tough Enough ended up in a storage unit in Virginia (his home state), until he stopped paying the bill. The contents of the unit went up for auction last November and was sold for $100. The person who bought the unit discovered the trophy and immediately reached out to Huffman to return it, but didn't hear back. It then surfaced on eBay and was sold for $600 to a wrestling fan in California.
