Wrestling Obscurity: Maven

With the announcement of a new Tough Enough, I thought it would be a good idea to introduce "Wrestling Obscurity." This will look at wrestlers, storylines, managers, etc. that didn’t make that much of an impact and have faded into obscurity, hence the title. Now I think given enough time just about anyone or anything can fade away and be forgotten. So with that said, I won’t look back past the year 2000, now like all wrestling events; card is subject to change.

First up, Maven Huffman. Maven won a year's contract with the WWF after he won the first series of Tough Enough, a reality TV show on MTV, in 2001. Maven made an “impact” in the WWF by eliminating The Undertaker from the 2002 Royal Rumble, and holding the Hardcore Tilte 2-times in the same year.

In 2003, Maven entered the Royal Rumble for a second time. but was eliminated by the Undertaker. In March 2003, Maven was given a World Title match against then Champion Triple H, on Heat, but lost.
In 2004, Maven experienced the biggest push in his career, even gaining a victory over then-Evolution member Batista. Maven then took part in a Survivor Series Elimination Match at Survivor Series 2004, teaming with Randy Orton, Chris Benoit, and Chris Jericho to face Triple H, Batista, Gene Snitsky, and Edge for the power to control Monday Night Raw for one month. Maven was attacked backstage by Snitsky prior to the match, but after Benoit was eliminated, Maven arrived to join his teammates. He was eventually eliminated by Triple H. Orton was the sole survivor and as a result, he and his team had control of Monday Night RAW for one month.

Maven was the first to control Raw, booking himself in a World Heavyweight Championship match against Triple H, who tried to get out of it by offering Maven a place in Evolution. He declined, but despite interference from Jericho, Benoit, and Orton, Triple H retained the title.
Maven then feuded with then-Intercontinental Champion Shelton Benjamin, culminating at New Year's Revolution 2005 in a singles match for the championship. Benjamin quickly defeated him in just a matter of seconds. Maven then cut a promo on Benjamin, stating that it "Didn't count", and challenged Shelton for a re-match. It was accepted, he returned to the ring, and was then beaten in seconds…again.

Now long after losing to Shelton, he entered an unofficial alliance with Simon Dean, serving as a successful user of the Dean character's "Simon System" line of nutritional products. The team was split when Dean was traded to SmackDown and Maven was subsequently released by WWE on July 5, 2005.

After his time in WWE, it was announced by VH1 that Maven would be a participant in Season Six of The Surreal Life. On the first episode, he was picked by the existing castmates as the seventh and final cast member in a "15 More Minutes of Fame Reality Hunk Pageant," beating four other reality hunks, including former American Idol contestant Corey Clark. Subsequently, Maven was a host for a show the BET J List.
He continues to work the independent circuit, after nearly retiring, usually for Hermie Sadler's United Wrestling Federation. He has appeared on the Home Shopping Network's weekday morning show, HSN Today, as its exercise, wellness expert and as a Sports Promoter on HSN.
Maven has been in the films “The Man Behind the Curtain” “Mate” and “Cream.” And like so many others you can find him on twitter, facebook, and his website MavinHuffman.com