Gene attended Panther Valley High School in the "Coal region” of

Pennsylvania. While at PV he excelled in numerous sports, competing in

varsity track, basketball and football. His basketball career led him to the

Pennsylvania Keystone State Games where he was the starting center for the

Northeast region. He was a four-year letterman who led his team in scoring

for two straight years, being part of the team that still holds the best record in

the history of the school. In football, Gene was a three year letterman leading

the team to its first ever championship. His football skills earned him first

team all state, becoming only the third person in the school's history to attain

that achievement. After a very successful athletic career in high school, Gene

was offered several full athletic scholarships. Ultimately Gene chose to attend

the University of Missouri on a Division I full football scholarship.

​

In college, Gene was a three year letterman in football seeing action his

sophomore year and starting during his junior and senior years. While at the

University of Missouri, Gene was coached by former Philadelphia Eagles and

current Kansas City Chiefs head coach, Andy Reid. After graduating from

college, Gene was invited to the NFL Combines and eventually signed as a free

agent with the San Diego Chargers where a torn labrum required surgery and

prematurely ended his NFL career. After recovering from this surgery he

returned to professional football in the CFL, playing with the Birmingham

Barracudas, but due to ongoing shoulder issues he was forced to an early

retirement. The injury was actually a blessing in disguise as this spawned

Gene's wrestling career.

​

Gene always had professional wrestling in his sights. After a tireless search he

found the Wild Samoan Pro Wrestling Training Center in the Lehigh Valley.

Gene had to go through a rigorous tryout and evaluation process. Seeing his

potential, Afa the Wild Samoan decided to take Gene under his wing. As a

mentor and friend, Afa, a WWE Hall of Famer, provided Gene with the

valuable learning tools needed to be successful in professional wrestling.

While training with Afa, Gene held numerous odd jobs just to get by always

knowing someday he would become a WWE Superstar. During these years

Gene drove all over the country for little or no money, as what is known in the

wrestling world as “paying his dues”. He quickly impressed Afa to the point

where he was invited to join Afa's son Samu on a 28-day tour of military

bases in Egypt, Afghanistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, South Korea and Japan.

Things picked up after this tour with Gene earning a tryout match for WWE

later that year. The tryout went so well that Gene was offered a WWE

developmental contract shortly thereafter.

 

Upon signing the contract with WWE Gene had to relocate to Louisville,

Kentucky to attend the WWE training camp located there. While at camp Gene

progressed quickly wrestling under the moniker Mean Gene Mondo. He rose

rapidly to the top of the developmental system making it to the main WWE

live TV roster in only 4 months time. Thus fulfilling his dream of becoming a

WWE Superstar. His first major feud was with WWE veteran, Kane. Over the

course of the next 4 years Gene would have many memorable feuds with a

number of WWE greats. During his tenure in WWE Gene experienced great

success as a wrestler, always loving becoming a character that was larger

than life.

​

He has celebrated some historic milestones in his wrestling career, just to

name a few:

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● 'WWE: Raw 100 - The Top 100 Moments in Raw History'

● Top 10 Royal Rumble Eliminations

● Top 50 OMG Moments in WWE History.

● Induction into into the WXW Hall of Fame as a member of its inaugural

Hall of Fame Class.

​

Gene is now focused on running Priorty one surplus, in Hamburg Pa.. But

still enjoys acting, producing and wrestling. He has been in a number of

independent films, infomercials, episodes of ABC’s “What Would You Do?”

and most recently has produced his first award winning independent horror

film “100 Acres of Hell” in which he has the lead role, is an Executive

Producer, Lead Stunt Coordinator, and writer.

​

He is very active in charity events and foundations. He is the proud

spokesperson for the “Buck Autism” campaign, works closely with “Bustin’

for Autism” and the Pennsylvania wounded warriors & Keystone military

familes just to name a few.

​

In 2016 Gene won the Silver Medal in the Strict Arm Curl category at the

Arnold Classic in South Africa.

​

Gene's biggest honor was being chosen for induction into the 2018

Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.

​

Gene currently resides in Schuylkill Haven Pa. with his wife Carolyn and

St. Bernard HONDO that they rescued many years ago.