Josh Lomberger

Josh Lomberger (born November 25, 1980), is a professional wrestling personality from Schererville, Indiana who appears on World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) television under the name of Josh Mathews.

Career
Josh was a runner-up to Maven and Nidia in the first WWE Tough Enough in 2001. Despite being quite small, Josh held his own on the show, impressing trainers Al Snow and Tazz with his commitment to making it in the business. Despite not winning the first Tough Enough competition, he has actually lasted longer in World Wrestling Entertainment than any other contestant from the various seasons of the series.

After Tough Enough, Lomberger gained some in-ring experience on the independent circuit and in the X Wrestling Federation, which was run by former WWF manager Jimmy Hart. Although he did not win the first Tough Enough competition, Josh was eventually hired by World Wrestling Entertainment as an announcer/interviewer for the SmackDown! brand and was an announcer on WWE Velocity.

Mathews was given some limited ring-time on SmackDown! when JBL slapped Josh Mathews for not showing some respect to his chief of staff Orlando Jordan when he was interviewing him. He later offered and was accepted to be Booker T's temporary partner for a tag team match on an episode of Smackdown! Booker T and he won ultimately that match.

He was later assaulted by Orlando Jordan and requested from General Manager Theodore Long that he be given a one-on-one match against him. Booker T wanted to be at ringside during the Mathews-Jordan match, as JBL would no doubt be present, and would give Booker T an excuse to beat down JBL before their match at Survivor Series 2004. Mathews would once again emerge victorious against Orlando Jordan, with some considerable help from Booker T.

In the past, Mathews has been assaulted in the ring by Heidenreich and was spat in the face by Carlito with an apple, for trying to act "cool." He was also attacked by Kurt Angle and possessed by The Undertaker on the December 9, 2005 edition of Friday Night SmackDown! while interviewing Randy Orton.

Lunchtime Suicide
At Armageddon 2005, Josh interviewed former WWE referee Tim White to set up a Hell in a Cell match later in the evening. In the interview, White explained that the match ruined his life by giving him injuries and even contributing to his irritable bowel syndrome. White then attempted to commit suicide, but was unsuccessful. This started a WWE.com exclusive storyline called "Lunchtime Suicide" in which White tried to commit suicide a different way each week, while Mathews tried to stop him. In the final episode, White, during a "Celebration of Life" party, turned the tables and shot an unsuspecting (and drunk) Mathews with a shotgun. Josh then disappeared from WWE television, which in turn, started rumors that he had been fired. WWE quickly dismissed the rumors by saying Mathews was still on board, however, he has not been seen on Friday Night SmackDown! since the shooting.

Recent Work
Josh Mathews can still be seen on International Editions of the The WWE Experience, and WWE Afterburn. He hosted the WWE Fantasy Weekly Webcast for week 3 of season 8 of the WWE Fantasy Salary Cap game. He also filled in for an absent Todd Grisham on a summer 2006 episode of RAW. On November 19, 2006, his name was removed from the SmackDown superstar list on WWE.com.

It has been reported that Josh's recent duties are involved with the WWE 24/7 video on demand cable service.

On December 13, 2006, Josh was legitimately punched in the mouth by Finlay during the Armageddon 2006 press conference, drawing blood. The incident was unplanned and Josh was reportedly very upset over the incident afterwards.

On the March 9, 2007 edition of Heat, Matthews was heard commentating alongside Jonathan Coachman substituting for Todd Grisham. On Heat that night, they claimed that Grisham was on vacation.

On April 1, 2007 Josh Matthews and Maria hosted the Wrestlemania 23 preshow on WWE.com

On the April 20 and April 27, 2007 edition's of Heat, Mathews filled in at commentary alongside Jack Korpela in the European tour due to the fact that Todd Grisham filled in for Lillian Garcia as ring announcer who has undergone surgery.

Quotes

 * "Let the bodies hit the floor on Saturday night!"
 * During the ECW One Night Stand 2005 build up when ECW wrestlers appeared on Velocity in reference to the Drowning Pool song "Bodies" which was used for the PPV.


 * "Its breaking down on Velocity!"
 * During Velocity usually when all the participants of a tag match get in the ring at once and attack each other.


 * "Redneck Messiah!"
 * In reference to Jamie Noble


 * "[Wrestler's Name]'s spending more time on the canvas than Picasso!"
 * Usually talking about a jobber while he's getting severely beaten up.


 * "Mr. White, that's not wise!"
 * Repeated whenever he catches Tim White trying to commit suicide.


 * "I'm gonna go get help!"
 * Repeated after he catches Tim White trying to commit suicide


 * "Billy Kidman's about to pull the R-button on his Gamecube!"
 * Josh exclaims this when Billy Kidman attempts his finishing maneuver, the Shooting Star Press.


 * "My grandfather doesn't stay up late enough to watch Velocity to know what the hell you're talking about!"
 * Josh ranting against Steve Romero for his old references that only older people understand what Romero is talking about.


 * "Sanchez Ramirez"
 * Josh's nickname for his WWE Velocity broadcast partner, Steve Romero.


 * "Shannon "All That And" Moore"
 * Josh's nickname for Shannon Moore


 * "Jamie "By God" Noble"
 * Josh's nickname for Jamie Noble

Kayfabe injuries and insults

 * Getting slapped in the head by JBL
 * Getting phyically bullied by Orlando Jordan
 * Being powerslammed by Heidenreich
 * Getting attacked, Angle Slammed and having the ankle lock applied to on him by Kurt Angle
 * Getting slapped in the face by Sable, while she was in a food fight with then Smackdown! GM, Stephanie McMahon.
 * Getting an apple spat at him by Carlito
 * Getting physically shoved by Tim White in several Lunch Time Suicides, while he was trying to kill himself.
 * Getting shot in the shoulder with a rifle by Tim White
 * Being possessed by The Undertaker
 * Being forced many times by Queen Sharmell to kiss King Booker's hand during press conferences.
 * Getting knocked out by Finlay during the 2006 Armegedon press conference.

Personal life
Josh is married to former WWE television host Rue DeBona. He has a brother who auditioned for WWE Tough Enough 2.

Has a desisned tattoo on one of his arms.