Luther Reigns

Matthew Robert Wiese (born September 22, 1971) is an American retired professional wrestler and actor.

He is best known for his tenure in WWE, where he performed on its SmackDown brand under the ring name Luther Reigns.

After a friend's recommendation, Wiese tried out for the Power Plant, World Championship Wrestling (WCW)'s professional wrestling school.

Upon completing his training in the Power Plant, Wiese started his wrestling career as an enhancement talent in WCW in May 1997 using the ring name Horshu.

To complement the name, his hair was shaved into a horseshoe pattern and he would try to work the word "shu" into his promos, which most notably spawned his catchphrase "There's no business like 'shu' business, baby!".

He was also among six wrestlers who "auditioned" for an anti-New World Order faction called Piper's Family on the March 3, 1997, episode of Monday Nitro, spearheaded by "Rowdy" Roddy Piper.

After being tested in 30-second impromptu match with Piper, Wiese was quickly defeated via sleeper hold after attempting to use dirty tactics to defeat Piper.

After his stint in WCW, Wiese made his way to Ultimate Pro Wrestling (UPW) for more training.

After his finishing up in UPW, Wiese debuted in AWA Superstars of Wrestling under his Horshu ring name.

During his time there, he won the World Heavyweight Championship and held the title for a total of nine months.

However, he was stripped of the title due to missing mandatory title defenses.

Horshu left the promotion shortly afterwards.

Wiese also worked in Japan for Pro Wrestling Zero1.

After an interview with Vince McMahon, he received a developmental contract from World Wrestling Entertainment in June 2003.

He soon signed on and was sent to wrestle in Ohio Valley Wrestling, WWE's then-developmental territory, where he competed under the ring name Inspector Max Impact.

After a few non-televised matches before Raw in 2003 and 2004, Wiese was promoted to World Wrestling Entertainment's main roster in April 2004 under the name Luther Reigns, where he became the "assistant" to then-SmackDown! general manager Kurt Angle.

Reigns later made his in-ring debut on SmackDown!

against Funaki.

He made his PPV debut at The Great American Bash by defeating Charlie Haas, a former member of Kurt Angle's team, with whom Angle was feuding at the time.

In September, Reigns and Angle introduced the newly drafted Mark Jindrak as a new member of their team during their tag team match against Big Show and Eddie Guerrero.

This led to a four-month feud with Big Show.

Reigns and Jindrak then formed a new Team Angle with Angle as the leader.

From September 2004 until mid-February 2005, Reigns and Jindrak helped Angle win most of his matches as well as dealing with his enemies.

Reigns and Jindrak also began to compete for the WWE Tag Team Championship on occasion.

However, the faction split in mid-February as Reigns and Jindrak went off on their own to feud with The Undertaker.

On the February 17 episode of SmackDown!, Undertaker defeated Jindrak, after which Reigns smashed a television camera over Undertaker's head.

On February 20, Reigns wrestled against The Undertaker at No Way Out.

Jindrak was thrown out before the match started and although Reigns managed to hold his own, Undertaker ultimately won the match.

Following this, the team of Reigns and Jindrak began to have a falling-out.

Reigns became upset at Jindrak for tapping out in a "Double Jeopardy" handicap match against The Undertaker on the February 24 edition of SmackDown! when Reigns refused to tag in.

After the match, Reigns and Jindrak briefly argued before coming to blows and had to be pulled apart by officials.

The following week on the March 3 edition of SmackDown!, Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio defeated Jindrak and Reigns to retain the Tag Team Championship.

After the match, Jindrak tried to help Reigns up to his feet after he was pinned, but Reigns smacked Jindrak in response.

The two argued until Jindrak knocked Reigns out with a left hook.

On the March 10 edition of SmackDown!, Jindrak and Reigns competed in a singles match, which ended with Jindrak pinning Reigns after a left hook, effectively ending their team.

Reigns later took part in a 30-man interpromotional battle royal at WrestleMania 21 as a representative of the SmackDown! brand, but was unable to win as fellow SmackDown!

superstar Booker T won the match.

After this, Reigns resumed his feud with Big Show after saying that Big Show embarrassed the SmackDown!

brand at WrestleMania 21 when Show lost to Akebono in a sumo match.

Reigns unsuccessfully tried to tip over a Jeep to prove he was stronger than Show, who then successfully tipped the Jeep over.