Just 14 months ago, Matt Cappotelli was the Ohio Valley Wrestling Champion, seeming on the verge of Superstardom. But that all changed when he was forced to relinquish the WWE developmental territorys biggest prize and announce to the OVW fans that he was suffering from a brain tumor.
Flash forward to this week. OVW TV celebrated the taping of its 400th episode, and Cappotelli returned to Louisville, Ky. and the OVW ring. Unfortunately, he had some bad news: the tumor has grown, and he now faces major surgery to attempt to remove the growth.
Last time I was here, I know it was hard
but you guys are my family, and its time to update my family on my condition and whats been going on with me, an emotional Cappotelli said to the cheering OVW fans before his speech.
WWE.com also caught up with him this week, and Cappotelli explained how the discovery of the growth came about.
Doctors have been monitoring the tumor since its discovery, and my last MRI revealed that it had grown a little, Cappotelli said. I had been feeling pretty good the last couple months, but recently I had some bad headaches and noticed a little change in my vision. They told me that because the tumor has grown, my optic nerves had swollen as well.
Doctors have advised Cappotelli to have surgery, where they will remove as much of the tumor as possible while trying to avoid doing any damage to the brain. The surgery is scheduled for May 1 in Boston, and Cappotelli is cautious yet optimistic about the procedure.
Any surgery like this
its extremely tough to get 100 percent of the tumor. Theyre hoping to get in the high 90s, and well have to treat whatever they cant get with chemo or radiation or a combination of both.
Despite his condition, Cappotelli is upbeat about the surgery and recovery, using his strong faith as a foundation.
Im glad Im not in control of this, because I probably would have screwed this up a long time ago, he laughed. God is in control, and I have complete faith in what hes doing. Theres a scripture I read quite often that describes my situation; it says Gods strength is made perfect in my weakness, and I think this is a time where Im at the darkest point of my life.
Throughout this whole ordeal, Cappotelli is thankful for all the support he has received.
Its been about a year now, and I cant express how thankful I am for the fans who have reached out through email or word of mouth, and for their thoughts and prayers, a gracious Cappotelli said. I really wish I could think of a way to give back, but I thank them with my whole heart.
If you would like to send well-wishes to Matt Cappotelli, you can do so by sending email to
