My Take On 2.10.06: Reality Bites
Posted by Larry Csonka on 02.10.2006
My Take on Matt Cappotelli.
Ignorance is bliss.
When we are children we are truly ignorant, and that isn't a bad thing. We don't have the day-to-day worries that adults have. When we were kids, a lot of us anyway, wrestling was real to us. We were into anything and everything on our TV sets. I have a memory of Dusty Rhodes and the Road Warriors. The Road Warriors turned on their friend Dusty, and beat him down. Not only did they beat him down, no, they took one of their spikes and "stabbed" Dusty in the eye with it. They left him a bloody mess and I was in shock, I thought Dusty was hurt for real. It was at this time that my dad laid a reality trip on me, "It's not for real son, and they really didn't hurt him. Wrestling is fake, and no one really gets hurt." For a moment I felt better knowing that Dusty was all right, but was also crushed because I thought it was real. Santa was dead again, the Easter Bunny was as well and I was crushed. I learned that these guys aren't super heroes or invincible, they are human.
There are times when reality bites, and it bites you right in the ass.
When Matt Cappotelli won his spot in Tough Enough, he was asked to speak and in that speech he said these words: "Through faith I am here tonight, it's been a long journey, I've a lot of trials and tribulations and there are many more to come, but through faith I'll make it." To him these were very emotional and heartfelt words, and today they appear to be prophetic.
Back in May of 2004, when Chavo Guerrero was Cruiserweight Champion and Chavo Classic was at his side, Matt Cappotelli was to get his big break in the WWE. He was going to be brought up to the big time, and put into a program for the Cruiserweight title. Just weeks before his call up in April, he suffered a concussion in a house show match with Bob Holly. This caused him to miss some time, and things got rewritten. The big time would have to wait.
Cappotelli continued to work his craft in Ohio Valley Wrestling. He would team with Johnny Jeter and create another incarnation of the "Thrill Seekers," which was appropriate with Lance Storm working in OVW as a trainer at that time. They had a successful run; including winning the OVW tag team titles. Last summer there was talk again of bringing up Cappotelli up to the main roster yet again, most likely to team with Mike Mizanin. Unfortunately for Cappotelli, on July 30th he would suffer a broken fibula in a tag match against the Blond Bombers (The Tolands/Dicks)
A mere few days later, his partner Johnny Jeter would win the OVW title, and turn on Cappotelli, leaving him laid out. Cappotelli would recover, and go after Jeter for the OVW Title. October 26, 2005 would be Cappotelli's return, and he challenged Jeter for the title, but with the help of Ken Anderson, Jeter retained. Cappotelli would continue to go after Jeter and on November 9, 2005 Cappotelli defeated Johnny Jeter in a 2 of 3 falls match to win the OVW Heavyweight title. Cappotelli had overcome reality and injury once again to get back to where he wanted to be, and it looked like he was headed for the main roster again.
Back on December 14th, while in a tag match, Chris Cage turned on Matt Cappotelli and delivered a stiff vicious shot to his head. Cappotelli was taken to the hospital for examination as his bell was rung; this was a blessing is disguise. Cappotelli was diagnosed with a brain tumor on that trip to the hospital, and was then set to have tests done on the tumor at a specialized facility in Cincinnati. Once again this was bad timing for his career, as he was set for a trip to Stanford to start shooting vignettes.
For weeks things were quiet on the status of Cappotelli, and many had hoped for the best. This past Tuesday it was revealed that Cappotelli would speak at the OVW TV Tapings the next night. Cappotelli did speak in a truly emotional speech (which can be seen here ) Matt surrendered the OVW Heavyweight title in that speech. Cappotelli, who is 26, handed back the title to back to Danny Davis, saying that he can't do the title justice because he can't defend it due to his condition. He explained his condition to the fans and wrestlers that surrounded the ring; he told them he had a stage two brain tumor. He then did something most wouldn't in this day; he asked to lead the Davis Arena crowd in a moment of prayer. After his prayer, in which he prayed for others more than he prayed for himself, former tag team partner, nemesis and friend Johnny Jeter jumped into the ring and the two embraced.
Some were quick to say that this was an angle, and with the WWE exploiting Eddie Guerrero's death I can't blame them, but it isn't; it's real. This was a very emotional and true event. It is times like this that we remember that these guys are just like us. They aren't super heroes or invincible, they are human. They go out there week in and out and put their bodies on the line. Matt Cappotelli has tried his best to get to the big time, and unfortunately for him he was stopped again; but this time it was something beyond his control. Matt could have just given the belt up and walked away and entered treatment, but he decided to go out there in front of a crowd of fans and his peers to thank them for everything and to say goodbye for now. To me that was a truly brave thing to do, Matt showed his human side as he wanted to be a pillar of strength to others. He wants to visit hospitals and give others hope, because he has hope through his relationship with God. Maybe he is a super hero.
Get well soon Matt, stay strong in your faith and thank you for being real.
