He's Ready To Rumbbbbbble

SPORTS EDWIN PEREZ • CRONKITE NEWS One day he is studying accounting at HE’S READY TO RUMBBBBBBLE FORMER ASU WRESTLER LEVI COOPER EMBRACES THE WWE NCAA Championships. Success continued throughout his senior year and he was ranked 18th Arizona State. The in the nation during the 2012-13 next he is hitting his season. He led the team in dual wins “business” partner and points and advanced to the with a briefcase. NCAA championship.

Welcome to the world of former ASU assistant wrestling coach ASU wrestler Levi Cooper, better Lee Pritts points to Cooper’s many known as “Tucker,” a WWE contributions to the program. performer on “Monday Night Raw.” “I remember him being a good

“I love ASU and always will,” leader and was a great presence in Cooper says. “Tempe has a very big the locker room for the whole team,” spot in my heart.” Pritts says. “He was always upbeat

It was the place he found success and always competed at top level.” at the collegiate level. And the ASU was a special place for springboard for an unlikely career. Cooper. Not only did he succeed at

After finding success at Oregon’s wrestling, he met his wife, a former North Marion High School in ASU athlete, there. Carey School of Business with a he says. football, wrestling, and track “ASU will always be a big part of degree in accountancy, he seemed It led to his fi rst televised main and field, Cooper made stops at our lives and we will represent the destined for a career with numbers. roster appearance at the 2018 Portland State, which discontinued Sun Devils forever, and there is no But he also had tried out for Greatest Royal Rumble. A few its wrestling program, and Cal taking that away from us,” Cooper a spot with WWE, the popular months later, his dream of appearing State Bakersfield before landing at says. organization that blends sports with as a superstar on the main roster ASU. One of the biggest lessons he took scripted entertainment. A month came true when it was announced

He made an immediate impact, away from ASU? later, in July 2013, the company Heavy Machinery would appear securing All-American honors “Not having my ego attached to called and offered him a contract. on the January 14, 2019, episode of his fi rst competitive season at 285 the results,” he said. “I chose WWE because it gave me “Raw.” pounds and fi nishing eighth in the After graduating from the W.P. the best opportunity to continue The duo would be part of big my athletic endeavors and I matches throughout 2019 and 2020, looked at it like a new, exciting taking part in multiple pay-per-view athletic challenge,” Cooper says. “I and tag-team title matches.

INVITE YOU TO A SPECIAL ADVANCE SCREENING OF enjoy those kinds of tests where Now, he is on a singles run on I would have to use my will and “Monday Night Raw” after splitting determination to be successful.” with Otis. During the broadcast He started his journey at the of “Money in the Bank,” he hit his WWE Performance Center in partner with a briefcase to make the Orlando, Florida, and soon learned breakup offi cial. the transition from college to Despite COVID-19 outbreaks that professional competition is not an have impacted talent availability, easy one. WWE has not missed any television “In wrestling, you are out there or pay-per-view events during the by yourself and you want to go out pandemic. It recently launched the there to ignite the crowd and put on ThunderDome, a virtual experience a show,” Pritts says. with fans appearing on video boards. “As far as it goes to technique The large fan support for WWE and most other things, there are has given Cooper a platform. Outside not many correlations, except the of the ring his focus is on spreading physical pounding you put your messages he believes strongly in, body through in wrestling may including making mutual respect a prepare you for WWE as well.” priority. Tucker Knight, Cooper’s full “Whether you have a R or a D ring name, made his debut in 2015 next to your name, you are an against Tye Dillinger and made American,” Cooper says about his television debut against Baron political affi liations. “Everybody To enter for a chance to win a spot to watch the free, Corbin. loves America the same, even if virtual advance screening on Monday, February 8th at 6pm, The following year was a pivotal we disagree the way it should go email AlliedGlobalPHX@gmail.com with the subject line one, as he formed a tag team with down. We need to have civilized ALWAYS AND FOREVER “Otis” — known away from the ring conversations.” Only winners will be notified via email. as Nikola “Niko” Bogojevic — and the What’s next for Cooper? It Please note: Virtual screening spots are limited and will be given away on a first come, first ser ved basis while supplies last. No phone calls, please. Limit one spot per person. pair became “Heavy Machinery.” The could be motivation speaking. His By attending the virtual screening, you agree not to record any audio or video. Any attempted use of recording devices will result in immediate removal from the virtual screening, forfeiture, and may subject you to criminal and civil liability. duo made multiple appearances on wrestling journey, from ASU to

RELEASING ON NETFLIX FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12 the TV program “WWE NXT,” and WWE, helped him fi nd his voice. #ToAllTheBoys | #ToAllTheBoys3 | #AlwaysandForever | #TATB3 it’s where Cooper truly learned the For more stories from Cronkite News, @Netflix | @NetflixFilm business, including the jargon of it, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org. CT