Brad Maddox

Joshua Tyler Kluttz (born May 4, 1984) is an American professional wrestler and actor best known for his tenure in WWE, where he performed under the ring name Brad Maddox.

From 2008 to 2012, Kluttz was assigned to WWE's developmental territories Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) and Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), where he held the OVW Heavyweight Championship and OVW Television Championship once each and the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship twice with different partners. He served as the General Manager of Raw in storyline from July 2013 to May 2014, before being released in November 2015.

Kluttz debuted on March 14, 2008, for Derby City Wrestling (DCW), under the name Brent Wellington, losing to Big Cat. He won his first match on May 8, 2008, teaming with James "Moose" Thomas, defeating The War Party (Indian Outlaw and Lennox Lightfoot). During this time, Kluttz would also wrestle for OVW, often teaming with Gavin Garrison and James "Moose" Thomas as the group Theta Lambda Psi, amongst others. Kluttz would have a title match for the OVW Heavyweight Championship on December 24, 2008, losing to Aaron "The Idol" Stevens.

After he was defeated, he adopted the nickname "Beef". He had his first match under his new name at OVW Tapings January 14, 2009, winning with his Theta Lambda Psi team against Ted McNaler and Adam Revolver. Theta Lambda Psi split in April 2009, after Kluttz defeated James "Moose" Thomas, before losing their rematch after being hit with a paddle. On July 26, 2009, he competed for the OVW Television Championship against Jamin Olivencia, winning the match to claim his first championship. His reign lasted 45 days when he was defeated by his former Theta Lambda Psi partner James "Moose" Thomas during OVW tapings on September 9, 2009. On 27 February 2010 Kluttz won the vacant OVW Heavyweight Championship by winning a Battle Royal. His reign lasted 90 days before losing the title on May 29, 2010, to Mike Mondo. In mid-2010 it was reported that Kluttz had signed a development contract with WWE.

Kluttz was renamed Brad Maddox and debuted for Florida Championship Wrestling at a live show on August 5, 2010, losing to Tyler Reks. His TV debut was on November 4, 2010, losing to Tito Colon. He won his first match on the July 1, 2011 episode of FCW against Percy Watson and Richie Steamboat. On the 22 September edition of FCW Maddox defeated Briley Pierce. On the 13 October edition of FCW they formed a Tag Team and competed for the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship against CJ Parker and Donny Marlow, which they lost. On the November 3 tapings he won the Tag Team titles with Briley Pierce. On February 2, 2011, they lost their titles due to Pierce sustaining an injury. Maddox would attempt to regain the vacant title with Eli Cottonwood, losing to Bo Rotundo and Husky Harris. On the March 4, Maddox would be the first to sign for Summer Rae´s "organization", and she was at ringside when he was defeated by Seth Rollins.

On June 21, 2012, he won the FCW Jack Brisco 15 Championship from Richie Steamboat. While holding the FCW 15 Championship, he won the Florida Tag Team Championship with Rick Victor on July 28, 2012. He became the final holder for both titles, as all of FCW's championships were retired when the territory was rebranded as NXT .

Maddox was promoted to the main roster as a referee in August 2012, debuting on the August 20 episode of Raw when he refereed a Divas Battle Royal. On October 28 at the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view, Maddox refereed the main event, a Hell in a Cell match between CM Punk and Ryback for the WWE Championship. As Ryback was about to win the match, Maddox gave Ryback a low blow and proceeded to fast-count a pin for Punk, resulting in Punk retaining his title, turning Maddox heel in the process. Maddox explained his actions on the November 5 episode of Raw. He claimed that he was not working for Punk but his actions were self-motivated. Maddox revealed his lifelong dream of becoming a WWE wrestler, but WWE continually rejected him, so he took up the chance to be a referee and attacked Ryback to make a name for himself to earn a contract to become a WWE wrestler. WWE Chairman Vince McMahon then granted Maddox's request at a match against Ryback, while offering a million dollar contract if Maddox won. The next week, Maddox lost to Ryback, who threw him into an ambulance.

Maddox returned in December 2012, now accompanied by his personal cameraman, Carson, and claiming to be a "YouTube sensation". Raw Managing Supervisor Vickie Guerrero offered Maddox a contract if he could defeat Randy Orton, but Orton prevailed. Orton was attacked by the Shield after the match. Similar to Maddox, the Shield had earlier aided Punk by attacking Ryback during the duo's WWE Championship match at Survivor Series to ensure Punk's retention of his title and also denied an alliance with Punk. Maddox then took his pleas to SmackDown General Manager Booker T, who thrice granted him opportunities to earn a contract if he could defeat Brodus Clay, The Great Khali, and Sheamus, but Maddox lost all three matches. On the January 28 episode of Raw, via camera footage taken by Maddox's cameraman, it was revealed that Maddox, as well as the Shield, had been working for Punk's manager Paul Heyman all along, although Punk did not appear in the footage and claimed that Heyman had acted without his knowledge. Heyman had also instructed the Shield to attack Maddox. The next week on Raw, Maddox revealed he turned in Carson's footage to Vince McMahon and proceeded to call out the Shield, telling them that "justice awaits you". The Shield would come out to attack him until John Cena, Sheamus, and Ryback interfered.