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WWE Tough Enough Winner Matt Cappotelli Has Passed Away at Age 38

By John Canton • Published 30th June 2018
TJR Wrestling

There was some very sad news today after learning that WWE Tough Enough 3 winner Matt Capotelli has passed away at the age of 38. Cappotelli passed away due to brain cancer.

Cappotelli won Tough Enough season 3 in 2003 along with John Hennigan, who would later become known in wrestling as John Morrison/Mundo. They were sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling for training, Cappotelli was a standout there, he won the OVW Heavyweight Title and then tragedy struck. Cappotelli was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2007, which meant he had to stop wrestling. In 2017, the brain cancer returned and sadly, there was no coming back from it.

Cappotelli’s wife Lindsay, who he married in 2006, shared the news of Matt’s death 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.”

In a 2017 interview with WWE.com, Matt said this about his fight against cancer: ““Life is the most precious gift we’re given. If I can inspire others to not give up on the life they’ve been blessed to have, that’s what I’m trying to spread – hope.”

Those are strong words from a man that is gone way too soon.

It’s tough to think about somebody so strong succumbing to something so early in their life. Matt had his whole life ahead of him. To see it end just like that because of cancer just breaks my heart. On behalf of everybody here at TJRWrestling, we send our condolences to Matt’s family, friends and fans.

Several people in the wrestling business that knew Matt well paid tribute to him on Friday.