Luther Reigns
A hulking WWE enforcer turned character actor, he brought a menacing physical presence from the ring to film and television.
Born 1971 (age 55)·American actor and professional wrestler·Birthday: September 22·Generation X
Biography
Born Matthew Robert Wiese, the man who would become Luther Reigns took a circuitous route to the spotlight. Before his wrestling days, he served in the United States Navy and later worked as a bodyguard for celebrities, a background that lent authentic grit to his performances. Signed by WWE in the early 2000s, he was molded into the silent, shaven-headed heavy Luther Reigns, often appearing as a hired muscle for bigger stars on SmackDown. His intimidating look and sheer size made him a memorable part of the era's landscape. After leaving wrestling, he smoothly transitioned into acting, leveraging his distinctive physique for roles in major films like 'The Scorpion King' and TV series such as 'Arrested Development,' carving out a niche as a reliable on-screen tough guy.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Luther was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Luther Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Luther's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Performed as a featured WWE Superstar on the SmackDown brand during the mid-2000s.
- Appeared in over 20 film and television projects, including a role in the blockbuster 'xXx: State of the Union'.
- Served as an on-screen bodyguard for WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle during a prominent storyline.
Did You Know?
He served as a personal bodyguard for musician Michael Jackson prior to his wrestling career.
He is a trained martial artist, holding a black belt in Taekwondo.
His first acting role was in the 2002 film 'The Scorpion King' alongside Dwayne Johnson.
“This isn't a performance; it's a warning.”
