November 21, 2011 | 6:53 pm

Where Are They Now: WWE’s Albert

Posted by Jeremy Fine

Follow JewishJournal.com on

Albert or A-Train as WWE fans remember him, probably neglect that his real name is Matt Bloom. Albert arrived on the WWE scene with piercings to protect Droz and acted as his personal tattoo artist. Droz later suffered an injury and Albert was recruited by Trish Status to team with Test and form T & A. After splitting with Test, he formed a stable with Justin Credible and X-Pac called X-Factor. That eventually dissolved and Albert competed as a singles wrestler, where he became an Intercontinental Champion. But the highlight of his career was that he wrestled the Undertaker and Big Show at Wrestlemania XIX.

Unlike most American wrestlers Albert headed to Japan and more importantly has stayed there ever since. In 2005 he worked for All Japan Pro Wrestling. Then he made his way to New Japan Pro Wrestling where he has become a major player. While at New Japan he began wrestling under the name Giant Bernard. In 2006 he won the New Japan Cup. He is also a two time IWGP Tag Team Champion, once with Tyson Tomko and currently with Karl Anderson.

While it is in Japanese, click HERE for his New Japan profile.

Before he was Albert or Giant Bernard, he was Matt Bloom, as Jewish kid who attended Peabody High School and later went on to attend the University of Pittsburgh. After playing briefly in the NFL he went on to become a teacher. Eventually he fell in love with wrestling.

Us Jewish wrestling fans would love to see Albert back in the WWE or TNA, but for now he is in Japan for Hanukkah.

And Let Us Say…Amen.
- Jeremy Fine
www.TheGreatRabbino.com