Former WWE star Matt Capotteli passes away at 38, tributes pour in

Former WWE star and winner of WWE Tough Enough III, Matt Cappotelli passed away on Friday after battling brain cancer.

Cappotelli's wife Lindsay posted the news on the wrestler's fanpage on Facebook. She wrote, "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 whose 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."

Capotteli won the reality show WWE Tough Enough III to earn a WWE contract in 2003. In 2005, he was diagnosed with a malignant tumour in his brain. 

He had to retire from the game to undergo a surgery in 2007 to treat a tumour. Capotteli became vocal about his condition and continued to publicly fight his illness. In 2017, a decade later since his first surgery, cancer resurfaced. Cappotelli revealed that it was a very large tumour and a portion of it was inoperable, reports Daily Mail.

On June 29, 2017, he underwent surgery one more time. "The portion that they're hoping to remove will be sent for pathology, which will determine what exactly we are dealing with and provide insight on future treatment plans and the next steps for the inoperable portion in my brain stem #John9:1-3," he shared on his wife's Facebook page.

Capotteli publicly documented his battle with cancer in a hope to give other fighters some strength. A year later, at the age of 38, he breathed his last.

Mourning the loss of a member, WWE stars took to social media to share tributes.

My first best friend in the wrestling business and to this day one of the best people I’ve ever known Matt Cappotelli has passed on. I’m gutted about this news. Matt inspired everyone around him especially me early in my career. He is loved and will be missed.

— John Morrison (@TheRealMorrison) June 29, 2018

#RIPMattCappotelli You showed everyone what it means to never give up and to always stay positive. It was a honor to know you. https://t.co/rHsOgXIsfm

— Stephanie McMahon (@StephMcMahon) June 30, 2018

Very saddened to hear that Matt Cappotelli passed away. I had the privilege of working with and getting to know Matt during my time in OVW. If everyone strived to be even half the human being Matt was the world would be a wonderful wonderful place. #RIP

— Lance Storm (@LanceStorm) June 29, 2018

Rest easy my friend. So grateful that I had the opportunity to know you. To laugh with you. To make so many memories in @ovwrestling together with you. They say only the good die young. That rings all to true with you. You heart belongs with the angels. Xoxo #RIPCap #CuteBoots https://t.co/85veye9EsX

— Mickie James~Aldis (@MickieJames) June 30, 2018

RIP #MattCappotelli
What a wonderful brave man. You fought harder than anyone could ever imagine. Rest peacefully. Condolences to the family x

— Drake Maverick (@WWEMaverick) June 29, 2018

 

‪In 2005, Matt Cappotelli & I were gonna be brought up to WWE Smackdown as the tag team “Reality Check.” One day out of no where he called me and said that he had just been diagnosed w/ brain cancer. On the phone, even with this scary news he remained positive and was gonna fight to beat cancer. He has been fighting for his life ever since. Every time I saw him he was positive and always had a smile on his face. Today, we lost a good one. A true fighter. My condolences to his wife and family. Matt, you will be missed my friend. #RIPMatt #TeamCapp‬

A post shared by Mike "The Miz" Mizanin (@mikethemiz) on Jun 29, 2018 at 5:06pm PDT

'Life is the most precious gift we’re given,' he told WWE.com in 2017. '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.'