 Prior to becoming a professional wrestler, Wenzel was an amateur wrestling champion in high school and was also on his high school's varsity football and baseball teams.After graduating in 1998, Wenzel later attended Penn State University in 2001 and graduated with a degree in Business Management and marketing in 2004.After training under Afa Anoa'i and Gino Caruso, Wenzel made his debut on February 26, 1999 for Caruso's East Coast Professional Wrestling promotion with a disqualification victory over Pub Bully.