Enzo Amore
Enzo Amore | |
---|---|
Birth name | Eric Arndt |
Born | Hackensack, New Jersey, U.S. | December 8, 1986
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Enzo Amore[1] Eric Anthony[2] nZo Real1 |
Billed height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)[1] |
Billed weight | 200 lb (91 kg)[1] |
Billed from | Hackensack, New Jersey[1] |
Trained by | WWE Performance Center |
Debut | October 25, 2012[2] |
Eric Arndt (born December 8, 1986) is an American
Early life
Eric Arndt was born in
Professional wrestling career
WWE (2012–2018)
Early career (2012–2013)
Arndt had no prior wrestling experience before WWE signed him.[7] 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,[7] ultimately resulting in his signing.[4] In August 2012, WWE signed Arndt, who then started using the ring name Eric Anthony.[8] In November 2012, he was given the ring name of Enzo Amore when he debuted in WWE's developmental system NXT as a wrestler.[4][9]
Teaming with Big Cass (2013–2017)
On May 22, 2013, Amore debuted on NXT television as a heel, portraying an Italian American who is described as a "stereotypical cocky, Jersey Shore loudmouth" and an "outsized version of the man playing the part",[4] where he was squashed by Mason Ryan.[10] On the July 3 episode of NXT, Amore went on to form an alliance with Colin Cassady,[11] who had also lost to Ryan,[12] and they named themselves "the realest guys in the room".[11] Despite Amore and Cassady's alliance, Ryan easily defeated them in consecutive singles matches in July,[13] but lost to them in a handicap match.[14] After the feud with Ryan, Amore and Cassady went on to feud with Alexander Rusev, Scott Dawson and their manager Sylvester Lefort, turning face in the process.[15][16] On the 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 CJ Parker and Tyler Breeze, then defeating Rusev and Dawson but lost to The Ascension (Konnor and Viktor).[17] In November 2013, Amore suffered a broken leg while training.[18] According to fellow wrestler Simon Gotch, who at the time was also signed to NXT, Amore "broke his own leg trying to counter a wristlock. He blamed it on the canvas being loose."[19]
Amore returned on June 26, 2014, episode of NXT, saving Cassady from an attack from Sylvester Lefort and
On the
On July 19 at the
On the May 22 episode of Raw, Amore was found unconscious backstage after being attacked from behind by an unknown assailant, and again the following week. Big Cass went on to accuse
Cruiserweight Champion (2017–2018)
On the August 22 episode of
Amore was suspended from WWE on January 22, 2018, due to his sexual assault allegations (see below).[40] As a result, his scheduled title defense against Cedric Alexander at the Royal Rumble was canceled.[41] The next day, Amore was fired from WWE and the title was vacated.[42][43] After his release, Amore retired from professional wrestling to focus on his music career.[44][45]
On November 18, 2018, Arndt attended the
Ring of Honor (2019)
Arndt, alongside former tag team partner William Morrissey, appeared at the
Independent circuit (2019–present)
On June 15, Arndt, under the ring name nZo, debuted for
In February 2020, he appeared at QPW's SuperSlam II vs Brian Pillman Jr. He was slated to appear at SuperSlam III in October 2020 but did not.
On September 23, 2023, Arndt as Enzo Amore teamed up with Hellfire McGuire and Mike Walker to defeat The Trade - Alec Odin, Brandon Scott and Robert Locke in a MCW Autumn Armageddon Tour 2023 tag team event.[52]
Major League Wrestling (2021–2023)
On November 6, 2021, at War Chamber, nZo made his MLW debut, defeating Matt Cross. He subsequently changed his ring name to Real1 and worked as a heel in feuds against the likes of Jacob Fatu, KC Navarro and Mance Warner.[53] On April 1, 2023, it was reported that MLW would no longer be working with Arndt, who had been working on a per-appearance agreement. Fightful reported that Arndt was refusing most angles pitched to him, including a scheduled match against Alexander Hammerstone for the MLW World Heavyweight Championship at Battle Riot V on April 8, 2023.[54] Arndt claimed the match against Hammerstone was advertised without him agreeing to the match. He also claimed he turned down a program with Richard Holliday after the company wanted him to "bury a guy who just beat cancer". nZo had been written off TV at Blood and Thunder after losing to Microman in a quick squash.[55]
Music career
Under the stage name Real1, Arndt began pursuing a career as a rapper in May 2018, releasing his first song titled "Phoenix" through WorldStarHipHop on May 28, 2018.[56] He released a second song titled "Bury Me a G" on June 7.[57] On November 18, using the name nZo, Arndt released an album titled Rosemary's Baby Pt. 1: Happy Birthday.[58] Arndt's second album, Born in N.J. was released on August 15, 2019.[59] On March 31, 2020, Arndt released Certified G Series: Zo's Exotic Quarantine Music, the first mixtape under the Real1 Entertainment label.[60]
Other media
Arndt is a playable character in WWE 2K16, WWE 2K17, and WWE 2K18 as Enzo Amore.[61][62][63]
Personal life
Before their employment with WWE, Arndt met
Arndt was in a relationship with fellow professional wrestler and New Jersey native Gionna Daddio, who currently wrestles in WWE as Liv Morgan.[66] Their relationship ended when Daddio accused Arndt of cheating on her.[67]
Sexual assault allegation
On January 22, 2018, the Phoenix Police Department confirmed that Arndt was under investigation for an alleged sexual assault that was reported to authorities in October 2017.[68][69] Later that day, Arndt was suspended by WWE due to violating their zero tolerance policy for matters involving sexual harassment and sexual assault. WWE released a statement indicating that he would remain suspended until the matter was resolved.[40] In an interview on January 23, a woman accused him of raping her in a Phoenix, Arizona, hotel room on October 19, 2017.[70] Arndt was fired from WWE the same day, due to his failure to inform WWE of the investigation. Arndt responded, via his lawyer, that he wasn't even aware of the investigation until it was made public.[71][72][73] On Twitter, Arndt "fully and unequivocally" denied the allegations against him.[74] On May 16, 2018, the Phoenix Police Department ceased their investigation due to insufficient evidence.[71]
Championships and accomplishments
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Rolling Stone
- Ranked No. 10 of the 10 best WWE wrestlers of 2016 with Big Cass[76]
- Ranked No. 10 of the 10 best WWE wrestlers of 2016 with
- WWE
Luchas de Apuestas record
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] |
- ^ Lefort's tag team partner Marcus Louis lost his hair after Lefort ran away.
References
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- ^ a b c "Enzo Amore: Profile & Match Listing". profightdb. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
- ^ "Rosemary's Baby Pt. 1: Happy Birthday by nZo". iTunes. November 18, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g Locicero, Anthony. "Where are they now? Former Waldwick football player Eric Arndt". Archived from the original on June 30, 2014. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
- ^ 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.
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- ^ ""Real1 Ent. Presents it's [sic] first mixtape: "Certified G Series: Zo's Exotic Quarantine Music." Dropping this week! In the mean time show some #Amore & get over to @PWTees & get the realest cat in the Zoo"". March 31, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2020 – via Twitter.
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External links
- Real1 on Twitter
- Enzo Amore's profile at Cagematch.net , Wrestlingdata.com, Internet Wrestling Database