News
*BREAKING* Former Tough Enough Winner Matt Cappotelli Passes Away
In some heartbreaking news to report this evening, former WWE Tough Enough winner Matt Cappotelli has passed away today at the age of 38 which was announced by his wife on Facebook:
“Hey Team Capp…I’ve been struggling with what to say and how to say this, and I’ll probably end up rambling, but here goes. Today my love-my strong, sweet, beautiful love-took his last breath at 3:30 a.m. and went Home to be with Jesus…exactly one year after his brain surgery. You think you can be prepared for this when you know it’s coming, but you just can’t. The only person who’s comfort I want right now is the one who can’t give it to me. I miss him so much. I know where he is now is so much better, but it doesn’t change how much I miss him.”
It’s no secret that Cappotelli has suffered from health issues after he was diagnosed with grade IV glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive form of brain cancer, last July. Matt had previously beaten grade 2/3 astrocytoma, another form of brain cancer, when he had a tumor removed that forced him to retire from the ring back in April 2007. Recently, Matt’s wife, Lindsay, had spoken out about his struggles and declining health back in May with a very heartwrenching blog post that indicated he didn’t have much time left as he could no longer eat on his own:
“Here’s where we’re at right now: Matt finished his radiation treatments last week. Did they help? I don’t know. He’s sleeping a lot more. Having trouble chewing and swallowing. Not eating much. Not talking much, at least not in full sentences. It’s just been a slow, steady decline for the last few months. I think it was really too late for radiation….But who knows, maybe it is delaying things.
I don’t know how much longer we have left, so I’m just loving him and kissing him and encouraging him with my words(I hope) and reading the bible to him at night….making sure he knows that I’ll be okay. And I am okay…right now. I’m okay right now, because I still have his hand to hold. I’m okay right now, because I say “I love you”, and I get to hear him whisper, “I love you, too.” I’m okay right now, because I still get to fall asleep with him by my side and wake up in the morning with my arm around him. I’m okay right now, because I get to look into his beautiful eyes and see his smile and kiss his face every day. I’m okay right now, because he’s still here with me. But when he’s not…you might as well just rip out my heart right out of my chest. I try to imagine life without him…I try to prepare myself for that outcome…but I just can’t really know what it will feel like. Life without him seems unimagineable.”
The Chairshot would like to send its deepest condolences to all of Matt’s family and friends during this time. Below are some reactions from wrestling personalities who were touched by Matt’s life:
I'm heart broken with the news of the passing of Matt Cappotelli. He is an inspiring young man that touched so many with his smile, his heart, and his faith. My love and prayers go out to Matts wife Lindsay and the family. #TeamCapp #RIPMAtt pic.twitter.com/GpZlWSfZiJ
— Bill DeMott (@BillDeMott) June 29, 2018
RIP #MattCappotelli
What a wonderful brave man. You fought harder than anyone could ever imagine. Rest peacefully. Condolences to the family x— Drake Maverick (@WWEMaverick) June 29, 2018
One of the most genuine, kind people I’ve met in wrestling and life has passed away. Very sad… RIP Matt Cappotelli.
— Jillian Hall (@Jillianhall1) June 29, 2018
Rest In Peace Matt Cappotelli, thank you for inspiring so many
— Jay Bradley (@JayBradleyPW) June 29, 2018
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Did your picks win points?
The AEW Continental Classic is underway, with almost everyone competing. Check in here if you haven’t seen the winners and losers of week 1!
Here are your Gold League standings!
- Jon Moxley: 1-0, 3 points
- Swerve Strickland: 1-0, 3 points
- Jay White: 1-0, 3 points
- Rush: 0-1, 0 points
- Mark Briscoe: 0-1, 0 points.
- Jay Lethal: 0-1, 0 points
Here are your Blue League standings!
- Brody King: 1-0, 3 points
- Claudio Castagnoli: 1-0, 3 points
- Daniel Garcia: 0-1, 0 points
- Eddie Kingston: 0-1, 0 points
- Bryan Danielson: Yet to Compete
- Andrade El Idolo: Yet to Compete
My Thoughts:
Nothing too crazy, nothing too wild, this tournament only just got started. The only disappointing point is that they could not get Bryan “cleared to compete” Saturday night. Not sure how much of that is shoot given the bad eye, but this was kinda the problem of wanting him in the tournament over tons of other choices. Bryan wants to face Okada for WrestleKingdom 18, how is Bryan supposed to do that at his best if he’s also gonna be in a round robin, doing five top level matches in about as many weeks? And it takes away from Andrade being able to do something. Also a little surprised we didn’t even hear from Andrade on Saturday.
Now as we heard on Saturday, round two’s matches are set. Gold League will see Mark Briscoe VS Rush, White VS Swerve, and of course, Moxley VS Lethal. Nice variety there, a couple 0-1 guys facing off, as well as two 1-0 guys, and then 1-0 VS 0-1. No offense to Lethal, but he feels like an 0-2 going up against Moxley. Hard to call the other ones but that’s the fun of it. Meanwhile, Blue League sees Brody VS Claudio in a showdown to be 2-0, then Bryan and Andrade finally jump in, Bryan against Eddie and Andrade against Garcia. Sadly, feels like Eddie and Garcia are going 0-2, no way Tony Khan is booking Bryan and Andrade to lose their first shots.
In fact, that could be half the reason they did wait on those two, that’s almost too good for just a first round opener. But I still would’ve done it, same as NJPW does stuff like that for round robins, which this is all modeled after anyway.
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Tony Khan Reveals the Blue and Gold “Leagues!”
Originally livestreamed, Tony Khan and Tony Schiavone officially announced the twelve total entrants and divided them into the two round robin blocks known as the “Blue League” and “Gold League.” If you don’t feel like sifting through the almost 30 minute video, the groups are:
Blue League
- Bryan Danielson
- Andrade El Idolo
- Brody King
- Claudio Castagnoli
- Daniel Garcia
- Eddie Kingston
Gold League
- Jon Moxley
- Swerve Strickland
- Rush
- Mark Briscoe
- Jay Lethal
- Jay White
Tony Khan also explains the rules for the Continental Classic:
- Every match has a 20 minute time limit
- The winner of each match earns 3 points, losers earn 0, 1 point for a draw
- EVERYONE ELSE is banned from ringside for true 1v1 action
Eddie Kingston also joined the selection special as his “life’s work” is on the line in this tournament, both the ROH World Championship and NJPW Strong Openweight Championship on the line as part of the modern day North American Triple Crown Eddie, Tony Khan, AEW, ROH and NJPW are looking to create together. Gold League competes tonight on Dynamite while Blue League will have their start this Saturday on Collision. Look for more articles like this one to keep up with the Continental Classic standings over the next six weeks of tournament action!
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