As if the holiday season couldn’t be any more depressing, some sad news emerges from the wrestling world Saturday.
Professional wrestler Jon Huber, better known as Brodie Lee, passed away after a battle with lung disease. This is according to an Instagram post from his wife Amanda Huber. The post stated that Huber was “surrounded by loved ones after a hard-fought battle with lung disease.” It was also made known that it was an ongoing issue and that Huber did not have COVID-19 at the time of his death.
Huber’s early foray into wrestling
Huber would initially get into the wrestling business as part of backyard wrestling federations. He would perform under the ring name Huberboy #2. His matches would usually be alongside Colin Delaney and his real-life brother, who worked as Huberboy #1.
Huber would eventually receive formal training by Kirby Marcos and Rik Matrix in Rochester, N.Y. He would also receive additional training from Tony Mamaluke in Schenectady, N.Y.
In 2003, Huber would debut in Roc City Wrestling working under Huberboy #2 in a mask. Later in the year, he would debut unmasked as Brodie Lee for Rochester Pro Wrestling (RPW). Huber would attribute the ring name to the movie Mallrats, combining the names of actor Jason Lee and his character Brodie Bruce. In contrast, his style and appearance have brought forth comparisons to Bruiser Brody. As a result, it was brought forth mistaken assumptions that the name was based on Bruiser.
RPW would later become NWA Upstate and then NWA New York, but Lee would move onward to winning multiple championships. This would include Kayfabe Dojo, the NWA Upstate/NY Heavyweight and Television championships. Lee would also win the Tag Team Championship alongside Freddie Midnight during his tenure
Moving on to Chikara as Brodie Lee
Huber would make his debut at Philadelphia-based promotion Chikara on March 24, 2007, as part of theย Time Will Prove Everything event. He would lose in his debut match to Equinox. However, he was originally not on the card to wrestle. Actually, he was supposedly meant to visit backstage with friends. A no-show from Reckless Young would force booker Mike Quackenbush to offer Lee a chance to get into the ring.
Two months later, he would return for a rematch against Equinox, winning the match. As a result, he would start a streak of not getting pinned or submitted until the end of the year.
During this time, Lee would align himself with the Olsen twins (Colin and Jimmy). They would enter the 2008 King of Trios tournament as Team Dr. Keith. However, there was a slight problem: Colin Olsen (fka Colin Delaney) would sign a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), leaving the team one man short.
While a random draw would pick Retail Dragon as the replacement, dropping the deciding fall in their opening round match would result in Lee turning on him and Jimmy Olsen.
Eventually, in April 2008, Lee’s bullying of smaller wrestlers would lead Claudio Castagnoli to issue a challenge. This would result in a multiple-month feud, ending in September. The first match was on April 20, which would end with a disqualification. Castagnoli would accidentally kick the referee during the match. The May 24 match would result in a similar fashion, only with Lee accidentally kicking the referee. A no-DQ match would take place on July 13, with Lee securing the win via interference by Shayne Hawke and Mitch Ryder. Hawke and Ryder had a grudge against Castagnoli after disbanding their stable The Kings of Wrestling. The feud would end in September, during the promotion’s first-ever steel cage match. Castagnoli would emerge as the winner.
Lee would move on to various other Chikara alignments featuring the likes of Eddie Kingston. After several other appearances, Lee would make his final appearance in March 2012 after signing a developmental contract with the WWE. His final match was against Kingston for the Chikara Grand Championship.
Even while active in Chikara, Lee would wrestle for other promotions. Those promotions would include Squared Circle Wrestling, Ring of Honor, Evolve, Dragon Gate USA, Dragon Gate Japan, and Jersey All Pro Wrestling.
In the WWE as Luke Harper
Huber would make his debut in WWE through its developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). His first FCW appearance was during a house show on May 18, 2012 under the new ring name of Luke Harper.
Three months later, FCW would experience a rebrand, becoming NXT. Harper would make his TV debut on the November 7 broadcast alongside Bray Wyatt. This would be the early days of “The Wyatt Family”. Wyatt would consider Harper the “first son” of the faction. The faction would later include “second son” Erick Rowan. As a result, Harper and Rowan would wrestle as a tag team.
Showing dominance as a faction for the first several months of 2013, WWE would air vignettes promoting the upcoming debut. Harper would remain with the faction until 2014, when he split off on his own.
Harper would win the WWE Intercontinental Championship for a brief stint, winning it off of Dolph Ziggler. He would later lose the title to Ziggler at a later pay-per-view.
Rejoining The Wyatt Family, the Bludgeon Brothers, and his departure from WWE
However, Harper would rejoin The Wyatt Family in 2015, with a third addition to the faction in the form of Braun Strowman. However, despite winning tag team gold on Smackdown, the faction wasn’t exactly like old times.
Like all things, factions come and factions go. This would again be the case in 2017, as Wyatt pursued different creative plans for his character.
From 2017 until 2019, Harper would align with Rowan as a tag team known as The Bludgeon Brothers. They would win tag team championships together and even fought for individual titles as well.
Harper was last seen on a WWE televised broadcast in a losing bout on October 31, 2019, at WWE Crown Jewel.
He would file a trademark on Brodie Lee, his former ring name, on November 26. Harper would receive a release from his WWE contract on December 8.
Huber is All Elite as “Mr.” Brodie Lee
There was much speculation regarding where Huber would go after his release from WWE. All Elite Wrestling was one of those rumored promotions.
Despite an early signing, he was supposed to debut during an AEW Dynamite broadcast, live from his hometown of Rochester in New York. However, complications relating to the COVID-19 pandemic would delay his debut to March 18 of this year.
Huber would debut on this broadcast, revealing himself as the mysterious leader of the Dark Order faction, attacking members of SoCal Uncensored (Scorpio Sky, Frankie Kazarian, and Christopher Daniels).
Following an undefeated streak for several weeks, he would make an unsuccessful bid for the AEW World Championship against Jon Moxley.
In the following months, Lee would recruit new members to the faction, including Colt Cabana and Anna Jay.
Lee would defeat Cody Rhodes on August 22, becoming the second champion of the TNT Championship. He would defeat several contenders for the championship until October 7, losing the title to Rhodes in a dog collar match. Afterward, Lee would take time off to tend to an undisclosed injury. (As we now realize, this injury was actually his bout with lung disease.)
Love and best wishes from former boss
AEW owner Tony Khan was among many offering their condolences and best wishes to Huber’s family.
Iโm devastated by the loss of Jon Huber, known to fans as Mr. Brodie Lee, formerly Luke Harper. Jon was a great man. His family came first, his loving wife Amanda & their sons Brodie + Nolan. He loved wrestling & was great at it, he loved you fans. Please keep him in your hearts.
โ Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) December 27, 2020
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Similar expressions from former co-workers
Other wrestlers, including Dustin Rhodes (fka Goldust) would express the same.
Was a true honor every time we locked horns. You were a damn great man, husband and father. This stings. You will be sorely missed Jon. I will always remember out times together. #RIPBrodie #RIPJonHuber pic.twitter.com/8o8haKexNh
โ Dustin Rhodes (@dustinrhodes) December 27, 2020
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This was my Bday, which I share with Doc. Brodie & Miro photobombed us & we all shared a great laugh.
Iโm shattered over Brodieโs passing. He was full of life with a wife & young children he loved. A devastating reminder of how fragile life is. Rest well, friend.#RIPBrodieLee pic.twitter.com/3p5BH18YIr
โ MATT HARDY (@MATTHARDYBRAND) December 27, 2020
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Similar expressions from Dark Order members
Brodie was one of the best humans Iโve ever met. We hit it off as soon as we met. He was an amazing performer, a mentor, but more importantly a dear friend. You will never be forgotten. Thank you for everything. #RIPBrodieLee https://t.co/3vbBo0K8bO
โ Pres10 (@Pres10Vance) December 27, 2020
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Jon was genuinely one of the best, honest and kindest man I’ve ever known. He was like that the very first day I met him back in 2007 and was like that the very last day I saw him. I will always only have good memories of him.
I love you man.RIP: Mr Brodie Lee pic.twitter.com/zvCkN9STFs
โ Stu Grayson of Dark Order (@stu_dos) December 27, 2020
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