Kevin Thorn

Return to OVW and departure (2004−2005) Fertig's return to OVW was also due to his involvement in a bar fight, and subsequent impending lawsuits meant that WWE decided to take Fertig off television.

Independent circuit (2005–2006) Following his WWE release, Fertig began using the Mordecai name again while working on the independent circuit. The idea behind the vignettes was that Fertig was to be part of a 'vampire' faction with Gangrel and Ariel; however, the faction did not materialise on television.

Fertig's televised in-ring debut for the brand on the July 25 episode of ECW on Sci Fi, defeating Little Guido Maritato, with Ariel acting as his valet. The next week, in another vignette, Ariel revealed his name to be Kevin Thorn. Ariel then increased her ringside presence during Thorn's matches, often interfering in his matches, and Thorn began a scripted feud with Balls Mahoney. In order to counteract Ariel's interference, Mahoney began bringing in Francine as an equalizer. The two teams feuded until early October, until Francine was released by WWE. As Ariel began to feud with Kelly Kelly, Thorn became caught up in the feud and at the December to Dismember pay-per-view, Thorn and Ariel defeated Kelly and Kelly's on-screen boyfriend Mike Knox in a mixed tag team match, after Knox walked out on Kelly.

On February 6, 2007, Thorn and Ariel joined Elijah Burke, Matt Striker, and Marcus Cor Von in forming The New Breed stable, with Thorn taking on the enforcer role and describing himself as the "muscle" of the group. The New Breed immediately engaged themselves in a feud with the ECW Originals (Rob Van Dam, Tommy Dreamer, Sabu and The Sandman). Different members of the New Breeds wrestled members of the ECW originals over several weeks, leading up to WrestleMania 23. At WrestleMania, the New Breed was defeated by the ECW Originals in an 8-man tag team match, but won a rematch on the following episode of ECW. In April, CM Punk aligned himself with the New Breed after weeks of recruiting. Just two weeks later, however, Punk betrayed the New Breed and attacked Burke after a match. The following week, Burke announced a match between Thorn and Punk, but Thorn lost. After the match, Thorn quit the New Breed, as none of the other members interfered during the match to help him.

On May 18, Ariel was released by WWE. The following week, Thorn appeared by himself, with the commentators claiming that Thorn was "flying solo". After leaving Ariel, Thorn was pushed, defeating superstars such as Tommy Dreamer and Stevie Richards. His winning streak came to an end on July 3, however, when he lost to CM Punk on ECW. Thorn then began a feud with Stevie Richards, after Richards defeated Thorn in an upset on two consecutive occasions. Following this, Thorn attacked Richards backstage. He later pinned Richards in a match, but the referee reversed the decision, and awarded the match to Richards, when Thorn attacked Richards after the match. Despite this, Thorn defeated Richards the following week, and then teamed up with Elijah Burke to defeat Richards and Tommy Dreamer in a tag team match. On the September 18 episode of ECW, Thorn along with Burke, Dreamer, and Richards involved themselves in an Elimination Chase to No Mercy to face Punk. In their first match, a fatal four-way, Thorn was victorious, eliminating Richards, but was eliminated himself the following week, due to being pinned in a triple threat match.

On November 20, 2007, Thorn debuted a new look, with shorter hair and different ring attire, while defeating Nunzio. Soon after this image change, Thorn was taken off of television and sent to the WWE developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling. On May 6, he teamed up with Atlas DaBone to defeat Afa Jr. and "The Upgrade" Tyrone Jones. His first loss in FCW was on June 3, when he was defeated by Shawn Spears, following a distraction from Sinn Bowdee.

Fertig was part of plans for a faction to feud with The Undertaker in mid-2008, however, he underwent hip surgery in September, and the plans did not proceed. In January 2009, he was offered a new contract with WWE, but turned it down. As a result, WWE announced that he had been released from his contract by request on January 9, although his contract did not technically end until April 5, preventing him from wrestling for other promotions. At the September 1, 2009, tapings of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's Impact! television show Fertig wrestled in a dark match under the ring name Serpent, losing to Kip James.

Fertig appeared at German Stampede Wrestling shows in September 2010 as Seven Thorn. He wrestles for Frontier Elite Wrestling as 'Kevin Thorn', and won the FEW Heavyweight Championship. In 2011, he took a hiatus from wrestling.

In 2015, he returned to wrestling.

Personal life Fertig married his wife in September 2005. The couple has a son and daughter. His son is committed to playing lacrosse at Robert Morris University. He also is friends with Matt and Jeff Hardy.

Championships and accomplishments Frontier Elite Wrestling FEW Heavyweight Championship (5 times) Vanguard Championship Wrestling VCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Gangrel Wrestling Observer Newsletter Worst Gimmick (2004)