Maven Huffman, the inaugural Tough Enough winner and former WWE Hardcore Champion, was reportedly seen backstage at Saturday’s AEW Collision in Atlantic City. The sighting marks his first known appearance with a major wrestling promotion since his 2005 WWE release.
The 45-year-old has recently regained attention through his popular YouTube channel, where he analyzes wrestling mechanics and shares behind-the-scenes WWE stories. His videos like ‘How Much Money Did I Make as a WWE Wrestler?’ and collaborations with active stars like AEW’s Shelton Benjamin have amassed millions of views.
PWInsider’s report notes Maven wasn’t advertised for the show, which featured FTR vs. Paragon in a 2/3 Falls main event. The appearance fuels speculation about potential involvement with AEW’s growing alumni-focused content initiatives or even a surprise return, though neither party has commented.
Maven’s last professional match occurred in 2016 for an independent promotion. His backstage visit follows similar appearances by other WWE alumni testing the waters before signing with AEW, including Jake Atlas and Brian Pillman Jr.