Mojo Rawley | |
|---|---|
 Rawley in 2016 | |
| Born | Dean Muhtadi[1] (1986-07-17)July 17, 1986 (age 39)[2] |
| Alma mater | University of Maryland |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Dean Muhtadi Mojo Rawley[3] |
| Billed height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)[3] |
| Billed weight | 265 lb (120 kg)[3] |
| Billed from | Alexandria, Virginia[3] |
| Trained by | WWE Performance Center[3] |
| Debut | May 29, 2013 |
| Football career | |
| No. 64 | |
| Position | Defensive lineman |
| Personal information | |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 296 lb (134 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Maryland |
| NFL draft | 2009: undrafted |
| Career history | |
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
Dean Muhtadi (Arabic:دين مُهتدي; born July 17, 1986)[4] is an American-Palestinianprofessional wrestler,businessman,television presenter,talk show host and formerAmerican football player. He is best known for his tenure inWWE, where he performed under thering nameMojo Rawley.[3] He has also become known in football betting circles as 'The Spreadmaster' for his ability to pick football games against the spread. During his tenure with WWE, he was a seven-timeWWE 24/7 Champion[5] and the winner of the2017 edition of the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.[6]
Dean Muhtadi was born on July 17, 1986, inAlexandria, Virginia, the son of Talal "TJ" Muhtadi and Maria Muhtadi-Roach.[2] Muhtadi is of predominantlyMiddle Eastern descent as his father isPalestinian and his mother is half-Syrian, and has extended family through his father's side inPalestine,Jordan,Saudi Arabia, and throughout theMiddle East.[7][8]
While in theseventh grade, Muhtadi began working for thefinancial services firmMorgan Stanley as anintern. After graduating from high school, Muhtadi continued to work for Morgan Stanley.[9] He attendedChristopher Newport University on a full academic scholarship.[10] At Christopher Newport, Muhtadi was named the top student-athlete on the team, he was a two-time All USA South Athletic Conference All-Academic Selection, a member of the President's Leadership Program, Honors Program, and Student Executive Board of the Business School. He also received the Edith McMurran Honors Scholarship for the student who best demonstrates the balance of leadership, public service, and academic excellence.
He then transferred to theUniversity of Maryland and spent the next three years there, where he became one of the top student-athletes in theAtlantic Coast Conference. In 2008, Muhtadi won the Jim and Pat Thacker Postgraduate Scholarship for being one of the top student-athletes in the ACC for all sports and all schools. In 2007 and 2008, Muhtadi also received the George Boutselis Memorial Award for being the letterman with the highest academic average on the football team. He also was named to the All-ACC Academic Team in 2008 and was a three-time Dean's List student. Muhtadi received his MBA from the Smith Business School MBA Program.[10]
 | This section of abiography of a living persondoes notinclude anyreferences or sources. Please help by addingreliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourcedmust be removed immediately, especially if potentiallylibelous or harmful.(January 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
At theT. C. Williams High School inAlexandria, Virginia, Muhtadi was a four-year starter along the defensive and offensive lines. He also was the team'spunter during his last two years. He finished second in thePatriot District in sacks in 2004, and broke the school's all-time punting record with a long of 76 yards againstWest Springfield High School.
Throughout his high school playing career, Muhtadi started games at defensive tackle, end, nose guard, and outside linebacker on defense, and at offensive tackle, guard, center, and tight end on offense. He was also the team's punter and kicker. Often his position changed every week to shadow the opposing team's best player. Muhtadi was an All-District choice at both defensive line and punter, as well as the team MVP.
In 2004 and 2005, Muhtadi playedcollege football for Division IIIChristopher Newport University inNewport News, Virginia. After redshirting his freshman season due tomononucleosis, Muhtadi started at defensive tackle for the Captains his sophomore year. He then transferred to theUniversity of Maryland in theAtlantic Coast Conference where he earned a scholarship, and a starting position. In 2008, Muhtadi finished third in sacks for the Terrapins. He was also only the second player in the past 15 years to play all defensive line positions in a game for the Terrapins.
| Height | Weight | Bench press | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft3+1⁄4 in (1.91 m) | 292 lb (132 kg) | 34 reps | ||||||||||
| All values fromPro Day.[11] | ||||||||||||
Muhtadi owns several of Maryland's all-time records for strength and speed:[citation needed]225 lb. Bench Press Test: 36 repetitions (Team Record)40 Yard Dash: 4.78 (Defensive Tackle Record) Power Clean: 390 lbs. (Defensive Line Record)Vertical Jump: 36.5 inches (Defensive Line Record) Pro Agility (20-yard shuttle): 4.37 (Defensive Line Record)
Muhtadi was signed by theGreen Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent following the2009 NFL draft on May 4, 2009.[12] He earned his contract on a tryout basis by being one of three players signed out of 25 trying out for the team. Muhtadi was the only player on the depth chart listed at both Defensive End and Nose Guard. On September 3, 2009, in a preseason game against theTennessee Titans, Muhtadi finished third on the team with 5 tackles, 1 for loss, and a forced fumble. Toward the end of the game, Muhtadi forced a fumble to save a touchdown. He was waived the next day.
Muhtadi was signed by theArizona Cardinals on January 20, 2010, to play defensive line. Muhtadi became training partners withDarnell Dockett as the two competed against one another every day in workouts. He sustained a calf injury during training camp and placed oninjured reserve before being released by the Cardinals.[13]
Muhtadi spent 18 months rehabilitating from the injury he sustained with the Arizona Cardinals. During his recovery, he received offers to return to the NFL and to work infinancial services, but instead opted to become a professional wrestler withWWE by August 2012.[9][14] He joined WWE'sdevelopmental territoryWWE NXT and he adopted the ring name "Mojo Rawley".[1]
Rawley made his television debut on the May 29, 2013, episode ofNXT, competing in abattle royal that was won byBo Dallas.[15] On the October 9 episode ofNXT, Rawley adopted a high-energy character based on the concept of "staying hyped"; Rawley explained that if getting hyped allowed superhuman achievements, he would take it one level higher by staying hyped.[16][17] Rawley defeatedCJ Parker atNXT Arrival[18] and then went on an unbeaten streak, defeating CJ Parker,Sylvester Lefort andOliver Grey, among others. He also took part in a battle royal to determine the new number one contender where he made it to the final seven before being eliminated byJason Jordan.[citation needed] On May 29, 2014, atNXT TakeOver event,Rusev beat down Rawley.[19] Rawley then formed a team withBull Dempsey, but they lost in the 1st round of the number one contenders tournament for the tag titles, causing Dempsey to turn on Rawley. The two faced off atNXT TakeOver: Fatal 4-Way with Rawley losing, he also lost a rematch a few weeks later. In October, Rawley suffered a shoulder injury that would take him out of action for four to six months.[20]
In June 2015,Zack Ryder debuted in NXT, and returning Rawley formed an alliance with him, dubbing themselves asThe Hype Bros.[21] On the June 10 episode ofNXT, The Hype Bros went on to defeatElias Samson andMike Rallis. On August 22 atNXT TakeOver: Brooklyn, The Hype Bros teamed up withEnzo Amore and Colin Cassady to defeat Jason Jordan,Chad Gable andThe Mechanics (Dash Wilder andScott Dawson) in an 8-man tag team match. On the October 16 episode ofNXT, The Hype Bros competed in a match for theNXT Tag Team Championship in a losing effort.[citation needed] On the October 22 episode ofNXT, Rawley competed in a 26-man battle royal to determine the number one contender for the NXT Championship, he was unsuccessful, although he was among the last few competitors in the match. On the November 11 episode ofNXT, The Hype Bros teamed up withBayley during anintergendertag team match againstBlake and Murphy andAlexa Bliss, where they emerged victorious.[22] On the February 10, 2016, episode ofNXT, The Hype Bros defeated Corey Hollis and John Skyler in atag team match.
.jpg)
On July 19, Rawley was called up to the main roster as a supplemental pick in the2016 WWE draft, being selected in the 11th round bySmackDown, the brand in which his partner Zack Ryder wrestled.[23] He made his main roster debut atBattleground, helping Ryder against being assaulted post-match by Rusev. On theSummerSlam pre-show, The Hype Bros teamed withAmerican Alpha (Jason Jordan and Chad Gable) andThe Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) to faceThe Vaudevillains (Aiden English andSimon Gotch), Breezango (Tyler Breeze andFandango), andThe Ascension (Konnor andViktor) in a 12-man tag team match, where The Hype Bros' team was victorious.[citation needed] On the August 30 episode ofSmackDown, they defeated The Vaudevillains to advance in theWWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship Tournament.[24] The Hype Bros were later eliminated byHeath Slater andRhyno in semifinals.[25] The Hype Bros would later get a second chance to face Heath Slater and Rhyno in the final atBacklash after American Alpha were injured by The Usos, in a losing effort. On the October 25 episode ofSmackDown, The Hype Bros defeated The Ascension to qualify as part of Team SmackDown for the10–on–10 Survivor Series Tag Team Elimination match atSurvivor Series.[26] On the December 13 episode ofSmackDown, The Hype Bros won a multi-team battle royal for a chance to take onThe Wyatt Family for the titles, but Ryder sustained a knee injury, cancelling their #1 contender status.[27]
After Ryder's injury was determined, the following week onSmackDown, Rawley defeatedCurt Hawkins. On the January 24, 2017, episode ofSmackDown, Rawley won a battle royal to earn a spot in the2017 Royal Rumble match.[28] At the event, Rawley entered at number four and was eliminated byBraun Strowman. He then defeated Hawkins on theElimination Chamber pre-show the following month.[citation needed] Rawley's biggest career win would come on theWrestleMania 33 kickoff show when with the help of then NFL'sRob Gronkowski, he won the fourth annualAndré the GiantMemorial Battle Royal with the last elimination ofJinder Mahal.[29]
After six months of inactivity, Ryder returned on the June 13 episode ofSmackDown, reuniting with Rawley. On June 18, at theMoney in the Bank pre-show, The Hype Bros facedThe Colóns (Primo andEpico Colón) in a winning effort.[30] Two days later onSmackDown,Shane McMahon announced that The Hype Bros would have an opportunity to become number one contenders for the SmackDown Tag Team championship at the June 27 episode ofSmackDown in a match against tag team championsThe Usos, in which they were defeated.[citation needed]
After several weeks of losing matches causing dissension between the team, both Rawley and Ryder began to claim that a change was needed.[31] On the November 28 episode ofSmackDown Live, after losing toThe Bludgeon Brothers (Harper andRowan), Rawley attacked Ryder, turningheel for the first time in his career.[32] Rawley appeared on the December 5 episode ofSmackDown Live, claiming Ryder was dead weight.[33] Rawley and Ryder had a match scheduled atClash of Champions, which Rawley won.[34]
Rawley then competed in aUnited States Championship tournament, where he defeated Zack Ryder in the first round,[35] but lost toBobby Roode in the semi-finals.[36] AtRoyal Rumble on January 28, 2018, Rawley answered Bobby Roode's open challenge for the United States Championship, but was unsuccessful in winning the title.[37] As part of theSuperstar Shake-up, Rawley was drafted toRaw brand.[38] On April 27, Rawley participated in theGreatest Royal Rumble, entering at number 29, but was eliminated byRandy Orton.[39] On the June 18 episode ofRaw, after defeatingNo Way Jose, Rawley claimed that he was no longer hyped and simply focused.[40] Over the following weeks onRaw, Rawley defeated No Way Jose, andTyler Breeze several times.[41][42] Following a brief feud with Bobby Roode, Rawley found himself off Raw for an extended amount of time.[43] On the January 28, 2019, episode of Raw, Rawley began to appear in pre-recorded segments talking to an off-screen person, blaming them for his lack of success, before being revealed that he was talking to a mirror.[44] On the May 13 episode ofRaw, he debuted with a new look, quickly defeatingApollo Crews.[45] However, the gimmick was quietly dropped.[46]
On December 31, Rawley won theWWE 24/7 Championship fromR-Truth, his first championship in WWE; however, he would lose it back to Truth moments later.[47] Rawley won the title again on the January 13, 2020, episode ofRaw, pinning R-Truth on the entrance ramp.[48] During threehouse shows from January 17 to 19, Rawley lost the title to Truth, but quickly regained it moments later.[49] On the January 27 episode ofRaw, Rawley lost the title to Truth, but he would quickly regain it back by pinning Truth, who was distracted by Rawley's new bodyguardRiddick Moss whom Rawley dubbed his 'offensive lineman', becoming a six-time champion.[50] On the February 10 episode ofRaw, Rawley lost the title to Moss after Moss turned on him during a tag team match, ending their alliance.[51]
On the March 13 episode ofSmackDown, as aface with his old "Hype" gimmick, Rawley was moved to the SmackDown brand and announced thatRob Gronkowski would be appearing onSmackDown the next week.[52][53] This move has been seen by critics as a lifeline to Rawley's stagnant career as Gronkowski is more widely known to the general public and is one football's most popular stars before joining WWE.[54][55] AtWrestleMania 36, with no crowd in attendance, Rawley won the 24/7 championship from R-Truth on the first day of the two-day event, marking his 7th title win. The following day, Gronkowski pinned Rawley to win the title.[56] On the June 5 episode ofSmackDown, Rawley reverted to being a heel by mockingShorty G and later joiningShinsuke Nakamura andCesaro in attacking him. Two weeks later on the June 19 episode ofSmackDown, Rawley was defeated by Shorty G in what would be his final WWE match. On April 15, 2021, after ten months of inactivity caused bylong-haul COVID, Rawley was released from his WWE contract.[57]
After leaving WWE, Muhtadi and Steven Kaye founded Paragon Talent Group, a talent agency focusing on professional wrestlers.[58] Among the clients of Paragon Talent Group include WWE superstarsAlexa Bliss,Nia Jax andBlake Monroe, andAll Elite Wrestling (AEW) wrestlersDarby Allin andMercedes Moné.[59]
Rawley made hisvideo game debut as a playable character inWWE 2K17 (as adownloadable character), and has since appeared inWWE 2K18,WWE 2K19, andWWE 2K20.[60] Following his WWE release, Muhtadi appeared in theG.I. Joe prequel film,Snake Eyes. Rawley is currently a co-host onTMZ Sports which airs daily onFox Sports FS1. Additionally, Mojo stars on the "God Bless Football" podcast with his partners Chris Gronkowski, K-Funk, Joba Chamberlain, Billy Gil, Mikey A, and Stugotz.
Muhtadi is close friends with retired professional football player,Rob Gronkowski. In January 2022, Muhtadi revealed he had COVID-19 in 2020 and defined it as a near-fatal experience.[61]
On February 12, 2022, Muhtadi got engaged to Gracie Tracy.[62] The couple were married on October 17, 2022, inFlorence,Italy.[63][64] Their daughter, Nova was born on December 6, 2024.[65]
,Cagematch,Internet Wrestling Database| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
