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Enzo Amore

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Enzo Amore
Amore in February 2015
Birth nameEric Arndt[1]
Born (1986-12-08) December 8, 1986 (age 37)[2]
Hackensack, New Jersey, United States[1]
Alma materSalisbury University
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Enzo Amore[3]
Eric Anthony[2]
Billed height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[3]
Billed weight200 lb (91 kg)[3]
Billed fromHackensack, New Jersey[3]
Trained byWWE Performance Center[3]
DebutOctober 25, 2012[2]

Eric Arndt[1] (born December 8, 1986)[2] is an American professional wrestler.[1] He is signed to WWE, where he performs under the ring name Enzo Amore.[3]

Early life

Arndt was born in Hackensack, New Jersey[1] but grew up in Waldwick, New Jersey. There, he attended Memorial Elementary School and Waldwick High School, where he also played football.[1] Arndt continued his football career at Division III (NCAA) Salisbury University, playing linebacker and safety for the Sea Gulls from 2007-2009.[1][4][5] Arndt ultimately earned a degree in journalism.[1] He formerly worked as a disc jockey for the New York Jets,[4] a piano mover, and a manager at Hooters.[1]

Professional wrestling career

WWE

NXT (2012–2016)

Main article: Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady

Arndt had no prior wrestling experience before WWE signed him.[6] He had trained with Joe DeFranco at the DeFranco's Training Systems gym in Wyckoff, New Jersey since the age of 16. By chance, WWE executive Triple H also started training with DeFranco; Arndt, a lifelong fan of professional wrestling, made a compilation video of himself doing various exercises and cutting a promo. When DeFranco showed the video to Triple H, Arndt was given a tryout at WWE,[6] ultimately resulting in his signing.[1] In August 2012, WWE was noted to have signed Arndt, then under the ring name Eric Anthony.[7][8] He was listed as a wrestler by the ring name of Enzo Amore within WWE's developmental system NXT by November 2012.[1][9]

Amore (right) with Colin Cassady at WrestleMania Axxess in March 2015

Amore made his NXT television debut, being described as a "stereotypical cocky, Jersey Shore loudmouth" and an "outsized version of the man playing the part",[1] on May 22, 2013, where he was quickly defeated by Mason Ryan.[10] Amore went on to form an alliance with Colin Cassady,[11] who had also previously lost to Ryan,[12] and they labelled themselves "the realest guys in the room".[11][13][14] In real life, Arndt (Amore) first met Bill Morrissey (Cassady) when Morrissey was 15, when they played basketball together at the Cage of Manhattan, New York nearly 10 years before reuniting on NXT in August 2013.[4]

Despite Amore and Cassady's alliance, Ryan easily defeated them in consecutive singles matches in July,[15] but lost to them in a handicap match.[13] Ryan ultimately had the last laugh when he caused Amore and Cassady to be attacked by Tons of Funk.[14] After the feud with Ryan, Amore and Cassady went on to feud with Alexander Rusev, Sylvester Lefort and Scott Dawson.[16][17] On September 25 episode of NXT, Amore and Cassady participated in a gauntlet match for a future shot at the NXT Tag Team Championship; they started the match, first defeating C.J. Parker and Tyler Breeze, then beating Rusev and Dawson, but fell to their final opponents, the Ascension.[18]

Amore and Cassady being managed by Carmella in March 2015

In November 2013, Amore suffered a broken leg while training.[19] Amore returned on June 26, 2014 episode of NXT, saving Cassady from an attack from Sylvester Lefort and Marcus Louis.[20] In early August, Amore and Cassady participated in the NXT Tag Team Championship tournament. They defeated Jason Jordan and Tye Dillinger in the first round but were eliminated by the Vaudevillains (Aiden English and Simon Gotch) in the second round.[21][22] Lefort and Louis then renewed their rivalry with Amore and Cassady by attacking them and shaving Amore's beard. As a result, Amore challenged Lefort to a match with the loser's hair as forfeit at NXT TakeOver: Fatal 4-Way. Amore proceeded to win the match but Lefort ran away, leaving his partner, Louis, to lose his hair and eyebrows at the hands of Amore and Cassady.[23]

Amore and Cassady formed an alliance with the debuting Carmella. The duo had accidentally cost Carmella her hairdressing job as per the storyline, causing her to demand to get a job as a wrestler.[24][25] Carmella had her televised in-ring debut on the October 16, 2014 episode of NXT.[26] Among the trainers at NXT, Amore singled out Bill DeMott and Dusty Rhodes as being instrumental in his training and promos respectively.[6]

On the March 11, 2015 episode of NXT, Amore and Cassady defeated The Lucha Dragons in a number one contenders match for the NXT Tag Team Championship. At NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable, Amore and Cassady faced Blake and Murphy for the title in a losing effort, following interference by Alexa Bliss. In December, Amore and Cassady began a feud with Dash and Dawson, where they challenged them for the NXT Tag Team Championship at both NXT TakeOver: London and WWE Roadblock in losing efforts.

Main roster (2016–present)

On the April 4 episode of Raw, Amore and Cassady made their main roster debuts, confronting The Dudley Boyz.[27] On the April 14 episode of SmackDown, Amore and Cassady defeated The Ascension in the first round of the WWE Tag Team Championship number one contenders tournament and defeated the Dudley Boyz to advance to the finals at Payback.[28] At Payback, Amore suffered a legitimate injury when his head struck the second ring rope, snapping his neck backwards and bouncing his head into the ring-apron. Amore was not moving, resulting in the match being stopped and him heading to the hospital.[29][30] During the event, it was announced that Amore had suffered a concussion and no other injuries were diagnosed. He was released from the hospital later that evening.[31]

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

Luchas de Apuestas record

See also: Luchas de Apuestas
Winner (wager) Loser (wager) Location Event Date Notes
Enzo Amore (hair) Sylvester Lefort (hair) Orlando, Florida NXT TakeOver: Fatal 4-Way September 11, 2014 [23][Note 1]
  1. ^ Lefort's ally Marcus Louis lost his hair after Lefort ran away.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Locicero, Anthony. "Where are they now? Former Waldwick football player Eric Arndt". North Jersey Media Group. Archived from the original on June 30, 2014. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d "Enzo Amore: Profile & Match Listing". profightdb. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Enzo Amore – WWE profile". WWE. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c Saxton, Byron. "Colin Cassady & Enzo Amore: 'The Realest Guys in the Room' – Page 1". WWE. Archived from the original on August 20, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  5. ^ "Football – 2 – Eric Arndt". Salisbury Sea Gulls. Archived from the original on October 8, 2009. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  6. ^ a b c Tully, Louis. "The Chad Dukes Wrestling Show with Enzo Amore". Archived from the original on February 7, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Scherer, Dave. "New WWE signings, the next step for former WWE Diva". PWInsider. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  8. ^ "Enzo Amore". Twitter. Archived from the original on June 29, 2014.
  9. ^ "Enzo Amore – old NXT profile". NXT Wrestling. Archived from the original on November 1, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  10. ^ James, Justin. "James's WWE NXT report 5/15 & 5/22: El Generico debuts, O'Brian beats two NXT releases in same match, Bray Wyatt debuts mask, Natalya vs. Rae, more developments". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  11. ^ a b c Saxton, Byron. "Colin Cassady & Enzo Amore: 'The Realest Guys in the Room' – Page 2". WWE. Archived from the original on August 23, 2013. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  12. ^ James, Justin. "James's WWE NXT results 5/29 & 6/5: Wyatts defend Tag Titles, NXT Women's Title introduced, #1 contender battle royal, Parade of released NXT wrestlers in matches". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  13. ^ a b James, Justin. "James's WWE NXT report 7/10: Wyatts vs. Team Regal six-man main event, NXT Women's Title tourney continues, Generico (Zayn), Mason Ryan, set-up for Charlotte's debut". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  14. ^ a b Namako, Jason. "WWE NXT results – 8/1/13 (tag team main event)". WrestleView. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  15. ^ James, Justin. "James's WWE NXT report 7/3 – WEEK 53: Bo Dallas defends NXT Title, Women's Tourney continues, Mason Ryan". PWTorch. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  16. ^ James, Justin. "James's WWE NXT report 9/11". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  17. ^ James, Justin. "James's WWE NXT report 10/9". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  18. ^ "James's WWE NXT report 9/25 – Week 65: Triple H makes "big announcement," Ohno/Hero returns, Zayn/Generico in action, Overall Reax". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  19. ^ Saxton, Byron. "Riding solo: Can Colin Cassady go it alone?". WWE. Archived from the original on April 23, 2014. Retrieved June 30, 2014.
  20. ^ Justin, James. "James's WWE NXT report 6/26 – Week 104: RVD faces NXT champion Neville, Summer Rae, Overall Reax". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  21. ^ Namako, Jason. "WWE NXT results – 8/21/14 (Rose/Zayn vs. Cara/Kalisto)". WrestleView. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  22. ^ James, Justin. "James's WWE NXT report 8/7 – Week 110: Rose finds his way into Zayn vs. Kidd & Gabriel issue, Overall Reax". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  23. ^ a b Howell, Nolan. "Neville shocks, defies odds at NXT Takeover: Fatal 4 Way". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  24. ^ Namako, Jason. "WWE NXT Results – 9/4/14 (Tag Tournament Finals)". WrestleView. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  25. ^ Namako, Jason. "WWE NXT Results – 9/18/14 (Hideo Itami in-ring debut)". WrestleView. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  26. ^ Trionfo, Richard. "WWE NXT report: one move to win a match; a Diva debuts; Zayn versus Kidd; and an update on Mojo Rawley". PWInsider. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
  27. ^ Caldwell, James. "4/4 WWE Raw Results – CALDWELL'S Complete Report on post-WM32". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
  28. ^ "WWE Smackdown TV Taping Results For Tonight *Spoilers* - Wrestlezone". Wrestlezone. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  29. ^ http://www.cbssports.com/general/eye-on-sports/25574456/wwe-payback-match-stopped-as-enzo-amore-suffers-serious-injury
  30. ^ http://www.si.com/more-sports/2016/05/01/video-wwe-payback-tag-team-match-head-neck-injury-enzo-amore
  31. ^ https://twitter.com/WWE/status/726988412931158016
  32. ^ Namako, Jason (April 17, 2015). "WWE NXT RESULTS - 4/15/15 (SAMI ZAYN VS. RHYNO)". WrestleView. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  33. ^ Trionfo, Richard (June 17, 2015). "WWE NXT REPORT: JOE VERSUS OWENS, FINN BALOR . . . THE EARLY YEARS WITH COMMENTS FROM BECKY LYNCH, AND MORE". PWInsider. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  34. ^ "WWE NXT results: Rhyno returns after 10-year absence at Full Sail University". Sky Sports. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  35. ^ "WWE: SAWFT Is a Sin (feat. Enzo Amore) - Single". iTunes. April 30, 2016.
  36. ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2015". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  37. ^ Zimmerman, Zack. "1/13 Zim's WWE NXT Live Coverage: Battle Royal to determine Bayley's next challenger for the NXT Women's Championship, Dash and Dawson vs. The Ascension, plus Elias Sampson and Tommaso Ciampa in action". prowrestling.net. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
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