Spike Dudley

Spike Dudley
Spike Dudley in 2005
Birth name Matthew Jonathan Hyson
Born (1970-08-13) August 13, 1970
Providence, Rhode Island,
United States[1]
Spouse(s)
Vikki Hysony (m. 1992)
Children 2
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Brother Runt
Matt Hyson
Spike Dudley
Billed height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Billed weight 150 lb (68 kg)
Billed from New York City
Trained by Ric Thompson
Tazz
Debut 1994[1]

Matthew Jonathan Hyson (born August 13, 1970)[1] is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his tenures with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment under the ring name Spike Dudley and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Brother Runt.

In ECW, he was a two-time World Tag Team Champion. In WWF/E, he was a one-time Cruiserweight Champion, a one-time Tag Team Champion with Tazz, a one-time European Champion and an eight-time Hardcore Champion.

Professional wrestling career

Early career

In May 1993, Hyson entered All Pro Wrestling's "Boot Camp" in Hayward, California to train as a referee and manager. He quickly began training to be a wrestler as well, and spent the next three years wrestling for independent California promotions.

Extreme Championship Wrestling

Feud with Dudley Boyz (1996–1999)

Hyson debuted in Extreme Championship Wrestling on September 21, 1996 as a fan favorite under the ring name "Little" Spike Dudley, as a part of the Dudley family.[2] In his debut match, Spike teamed with his storyline brother Buh Buh Ray Dudley to defeat The Erotic Experience (GQ Gorgeous and Pat Day). He made his televised debut in ECW on the October 1 episode of Hardcore TV. His in-ring persona was that of the "runt" of the family.[2] His initials LSD and finishing move, the Acid Drop were both drug references and, at times, he would stare at his hands waving in front of him as if he were on a trip. At Crossing the Line Again on February 1, 1997, Buh Buh turned on the Dudley family by aligning with D-Von Dudley and hitting a Dudley Death Drop on Spike and forming the tag team The Dudley Boyz. This also resulted in Spike becoming the first recipient of the Dudley Death Drop or 3D.[3] As a result, Spike began a lengthy on-and-off scripted rivalry with them which continued for two years.[2]

Spike would lose to Dudley Boyz' ally Axl Rotten on a few occasions at Winter Blowout[4] and CyberSlam.[5] During the summer of 1997, Spike teamed with Mikey Whipwreck and got involved in a mini feud with PG-13, which resulted in Dudley and Whipwreck defeating PG-13 at Heat Wave.[6] Dudley's first high-profile feud began with Bam Bam Bigelow when Dudley defeated Bigelow to score an upset win at Born to be Wired.[7] He quickly gained the nickname "The Giant Killer", as he would be booked to score quick wins against larger and heavier opponents. Dudley lost to Bigelow in a rematch in his pay-per-view debut at Hardcore Heaven. At As Good as it Gets, Dudley lost to Bigelow in a match. The match was notable for a very interesting moment in not only Hyson's career but in ECW history in general, in which Bigelow threw him from the ring over the top rope and into the crowd. The fans caught him and proceeded to body surf him around the ECW Arena.[8][9] This incident was incorporated into the Hardcore TV introduction for years.

Teaming with multiple people, including Tommy Dreamer, The Sandman, New Jack, and Nova, he defeated them to win the ECW World Tag Team Championship with his partner Balls Mahoney on two occasions in 1999.[2][10]

ECW Commissioner and various feuds (2000–2001)

He was also in the main event on some occasions, such as the 2000 Guilty as Charged pay-per-view, where he faced Mike Awesome for the ECW World Heavyweight Championship, in a losing effort.[11] During the match, however, he injured his knee, and after aggravating the injury in subsequent matches with Awesome and Lance Storm was forced to take several months off to recuperate.[2] He returned in June 2000[2] as the ECW Commissioner and returned to in-ring action at the November to Remember event of that year, relinquishing his role as commissioner. Hyson stayed with ECW until it folded in 2001.[8]

World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (2001–2005)

Dudley joined the WWE in 2001, aligning with his half-brothers, Bubba Ray and D-Von. With his brothers in the middle of a three-way feud for the WWF Tag Team Championship with the Hardy Boyz and Edge & Christian, Dudley frequently battled with Lita and Rhyno to try and help their respective team win (Lita managed The Hardy Boyz while Rhyno managed Edge & Christian). Notably all three interfered in the Tables, Ladders and Chairs (TLC) match at WrestleMania X-Seven.[12]

After WrestleMania, The Dudley Boyz began a feud with The Holly Cousins. During this time, Dudley began a relationship with Molly Holly, which led to the Dudleys turning on him and putting Holly through a[13] table. On June 14, 2001, Dudley was given his first opportunity at a World Heavyweight Championship, in a losing effort against Stone Cold Steve Austin.[14] During The Invasion, Dudley remained loyal to WWF, despite being an ECW Original. It was during The Invasion that his relationship with Molly came to an end when she turned on him, aligning herself with The Alliance.

Dudley during a match in Australia

Between May 2001 and January 2002, Dudley formed short-lived tag teams in an attempt to defeat his brothers. On the January 7, 2002 edition of Monday Night RAW, Dudley and Tazz defeated The Dudleys for the tag team championship,[15] and successfully retained them at the Royal Rumble. Dudley next entered the Hardcore Championship picture, winning the championship eight times, including at WrestleMania X8 (though he never held the championship for more than a day, due to the "24/7 rule.") He also defeated William Regal for the European Championship on April 8, 2002, and held the championship for a month before losing it back to Regal.[16]

As 2002 went along, Spike and Bubba began to team together again and feuded with The Un-Americans while also pursuing the tag team championship. By the end of the year, D-Von had rejoined his brothers, and they feuded with 3-Minute Warning. Dudley was injured after a missed spot during a 10-man tag match on Raw in September 2003. La Résistance threw Dudley to the outside but Dudley missed the table that he was supposed to crash through. After some time away from the ring, Spike returned and defeated René Duprée to get revenge for the injury.[2]

In 2004, Dudley was drafted to the SmackDown! brand, where he immediately began challenging for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.[17] On July 27, 2004, he defeated Rey Mysterio for the championship with interference from his brothers, thus turning into a heel. He then began to wrestle as the "boss" of the Dudley Boyz.[2] The Dudleys defeated Mysterio, Billy Kidman and Paul London in a six-man tag team match at Summerslam. He continued to defend his championship throughout the year, before eventually losing the Cruiserweight Championship to Funaki at Armageddon.[18]

He made his last appearance with WWE at ECW One Night Stand on June 12, 2005, helping the Dudleys win their tag team match.[19] At the event, Spike was dressed like his old ECW character (tie-dyed shirt and overalls) but still portrayed his WWE "Boss" character. Dudley was released from his WWE contract on July 5, 2005 along with seven other wrestlers in what was thought to have been a cost-cutting measure by the company.[20] Bubba and D-Von also departed the company after ECW One Night Stand.

Independent scene (2005–2006)

Upon leaving WWE, Hyson renamed himself Matt "LSD" Hyson. Hyson went on to wrestle at Shane Douglas' Hardcore Homecoming and competed regularly for both the New York Wrestling Connection, Top Rope Promotions, and 2CW Squared Circle Wrestling.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2006–2007, 2009-2013)

Hyson debuted in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling on the April 13, 2006 episode of TNA Impact!, preventing Eric Young from driving Brother Devon through a table and attacking each member of Team Canada.[21] Hyson then celebrated with Brother Devon and Brother Ray, with him identifying him as "Brother Spike" and then "Brother Runt".[2] at Lockdown (2006), Runt and Team 3D defeated Team Canada in a Six Sides of Steel Anthem match. Brother Runt continued to be a part of Team 3D during feud with Abyss and the James Gang and at Victory Road (2006), Runt and Team 3D lost a six-man tag to The James Gang and Abyss and at Hard Justice (2006), Runt lost to Abyss. on the August 31 episode of TNA Impact, Runt lost to Abyss in a 10,000 Thumbtacks match.

At UFW's "Hardcore War" show, Spike stated that he had been sent a contract to compete at WWE's One Night Stand. Spike took out the contract and tore it into pieces in front of the live crowd stating that he was remaining loyal to TNA.

Through the rest of the year, Brother Runt continued to feud with Abyss and several other heavyweight wrestlers while having a short-lived alliance with Raven (Raven saved Brother Runt from being smashed through two stacked tables covered in thumbtack-covered boards from Abyss, before throwing Abyss in himself), before he turned on Raven on September 15, 2006.[22] In September and October 2006 Hyson had formed a new look, very similar to Travis Bickle in the hit 1976 movie Taxi Driver complete with Bickle's trademark green army jacket and mohawk. At No Surrender (2006), Brother Runt competed in a No Disqualification 3-Way Dance which was won by Abyss, At Bound for Glory (2006), Brother Runt competed in a fatal four way Monster's Ball match which was won by Samoa Joe. On the December 21 episode of Impact! Brother Runt made his first TNA appearance in a while dressed up as Santa Claus, and was subsequently beaten down by The Latin American Xchange (LAX) until being saved by Eric Young, Sonjay Dutt, Jay Lethal, and Petey Williams.[23] on the January 4 episode of TNA Impact, Runt lost to Homicide in a Mexican Street Fight.

At TNA's Final Resolution on January 21, 2007, a drunk Brother Runt cost his Team 3D teammates their NWA World Tag Team Championship match against LAX (Latin American Exchange) by jumping onto Homicide.[24] Runt soon returned to the April 12 episode of Impact! after being attacked by LAX backstage. He was mocked by Konnan who fired a taser gun at him causing Brother Runt to roll around in pain.[25] On August 15, 2007, Runt was released from TNA Wrestling after several months of inactivity.

On April 16, 2009, Brother Runt and Balls Mahoney appeared on TNA Impact! to wish Team 3D luck in their match at Lockdown. They later were attacked by Beer Money, Inc.. On March 15, 2010's episode of Impact! in a six-man tag team match, he and Team 3D were defeated by The Nasty Boys and Jimmy Hart.[26] On August 4, 2010, it was confirmed that Hyson would be taking part in TNA's ECW reunion show, Hardcore Justice.[27] At the event Hyson, was defeated by Rhino in a three-way match, which also included Al Snow.[28]

On January 17, 2013, Hyson made an appearance on TNA Impact Wrestling as one of Bully Ray's groomsmen during his wedding to Brooke Hogan. He was assaulted by Aces & Eights after they crashed the ceremony.[29] On March 19, 2013, Runt appeared at TNA Hardcore Justice 2, teaming with Jeff Hardy to defeat Team 3D (Bully Ray and Devon) in a tag team tables match, which aired on July 5, 2013.[30]

Independent circuit and other appearances (2007–present)

Hyson, as Spike Dudley posing on the turnbuckle at a Squared Circle Wrestling (2CW) live event in Watertown, New York on January 13, 2014

After he parted ways with TNA, Hyson worked for different independent promotions such as Top Rope Promotions (where he was a trainer), Squared Circle Wrestling (2CW), and Big Time Wrestling (BTW).[1] He reverted to his ECW and WWE name Spike Dudley.

Hyson held the BTW (Massachusetts) heavyweight title from January 2010 – August 14, 2010 when he lost the title to Shane Douglas in Webster, Massachusetts after Douglas hit Hyson with a chain. Hyson wrestled a match on September 11, 2010, losing to Shane Williams at Real Action Wrestling's September 2 Remember in St, Albans, Vermont. Hyson decided that he would retire from making frequent wrestling appearances after this bout, and would only work occasional shows. He had a two-year hiatus, before returning to the indie scene in 2012 for 2CW.[31]

He wrestled his most recent match in December 2015 for a 2CW show, defeating Jason Axe and Jimmy Olsen, and appeared as a guest on the WWE "Straight Outta Dudleyville" DVD set in 2016.

Personal life

Hyson was a third grade teacher's assistant in San Francisco, California before getting into the wrestling business.[32] In mid-2006, Hyson trained professional wrestlers at Top Rope Promotions in Fall River, Massachusetts[33] until 2010. Hyson works as a financial transition specialist with Merrill Edge.[8] He and his wife, Vikki, have a daughter and son together.[8] Prior to his wrestling career, Hyson received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York. In the documentary Beyond the Mat, a heavily-bleeding Hyson delivers the line "I shall, I do," (Henry IV of England's response to a request by Sir John Falstaff in the Shakespearean play Henry IV, Part 1) when questioned regarding his favourite quote from Shakespeare.

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Spike Dudley Profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Milner, John M.; Powell, John. "Spike Dudley". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
  3. ↑ Bob Colling. "ECW Crossing The Line Again 1997 2/1/1997". Wrestling Recaps. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  4. ↑ "ECW Winter Blowout". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  5. ↑ Chris Fothergill-Brown. "ECW CyberSlam 1997 2/22/1997". Wrestling Recaps. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  6. ↑ "Heat Wave 1997 results". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
  7. ↑ Arnold Furious. "Born To Be Wired 1997 8/8/1997". Wrestling Recaps. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Melok, Bobby (July 25, 2012). "Where Are They Now?: Spike Dudley". WWE. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  9. ↑ "ECW As Good As It Gets 1997 9/20/1997". Wrestling Recaps. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  10. 1 2 "History of the ECW Tag Team Championship". WWE. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
  11. ↑ Powell, John (January 10, 2000). "Overbooking convicts Guilty As Charged". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
  12. ↑ Powell, John (2001-04-02). "Austin turns heel at WM X-Seven". SLAM! Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
  13. ↑ Molly Holly and Spike Dudley Get a Table For Two
  14. ↑ 411’s WWF Smackdown Report 6.14.01
  15. ↑ WWF tag team title match: The Dudley Boyz v. Tazz & Spike Dudley
  16. ↑ Spike Dudley's first reign
  17. 1 2 "History Of The Cruiserweight Championship – Spike Dudley". WWE. July 24, 2004. Retrieved February 16, 2008.
  18. ↑ Plummer, Dale; tylwalk, Nick (December 13, 2004). "WWE survives its own Armageddon". SLAM! Sports. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
  19. ↑ "One Night Stand Results". WWE. June 12, 2005. Retrieved February 16, 2008.
  20. ↑ "WWE releases several Superstars". WWE. July 8, 2005. Retrieved February 16, 2008.
  21. ↑ Sokol, Chris (April 14, 2006). "Impact: A thoroughly thrilling Thursday". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
  22. ↑ Sokol, Chris (September 15, 2006). "Impact: Everyone jobs for Jarrett". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
  23. ↑ Sokol, Chris (December 2, 2006). "Impact: Santa, pogo sticks and an ankle lock". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved April 5, 2009.
  24. ↑ Sokol, Chris (January 15, 2007). "Cage, Angle on top after Final Resolution". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved April 3, 2009.
  25. ↑ Sokol, Chris (April 13, 2007). "Impact: The return of Double J". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved April 3, 2009.
  26. ↑ Caldwell, James (March 15, 2010). "Caldwell's TNA Impact Report 3/15: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of Spike TV show – A.J. Styles vs. Jeff Hardy". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved March 16, 2010.
  27. ↑ Nemer, Roy (August 4, 2010). "New names announced for HardCORE Justice PPV". WrestleView. Archived from the original on May 4, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  28. ↑ Caldwell, James (August 8, 2010). "Caldwell's TNA Hardcore Justice PPV results 8/8: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of ECW-themed PPV headlined by RVD vs. Sabu". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  29. ↑ Keller, Wade (January 17, 2013). "KELLER'S TNA IMPACT REPORT 1/17: The Bully Ray-Brooke Hogan Wedding Episode – What happened? Did Hulk accompany Brooke? Did the wedding end without a hitch?". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  30. ↑ Namako, Jason (March 19, 2013). "Spoilers: TNA Hardcore Justice 2 PPV taping". WrestleView. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  31. ↑ https://en-gb.facebook.com/2CWWrestling/posts/10151313510750856
  32. ↑ Williams, Scott E. (2006). Hardcore History: The Extremely Unauthorized Story of ECW. Sports Publishing L.L.C. p. 105. ISBN 978-1-59670-021-5.
  33. ↑ "The Lock Up: School of Professional Wrestling – Contact". The Lock Up School of Professional Wrestling util 2010. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  34. ↑ "Indy Wrestling News : Big Time Wrestling – 2006-01-27 – Newark, California". Indy Wrestling News. Retrieved March 2, 2010.
  35. ↑ "Chaotic Wrestling Title Histories". titlehistories.com. Retrieved July 11, 2008.
  36. ↑ "ECW World Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved May 6, 2008.
  37. ↑ "New York Wrestling Connection". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved July 7, 2008.
  38. ↑ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2004". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
  39. ↑ "PWI 500 of the PWI Years". Willy Wrestlefest. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  40. ↑ "History Of the European Championship – Spike Dudley". WWE. April 8, 2002. Retrieved February 16, 2008.
  41. ↑ "History Of The Hardcore Championship". WWE. Retrieved February 16, 2008.
  42. ↑ "History Of The World Tag Team Championship – Tazz & Spike Dudley". WWE. January 7, 2002. Retrieved February 13, 2008.
  43. ↑ Meltzer, Dave (January 22, 2007), "2006 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards", Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Campbell, CA, pp. 1–12, ISSN 1083-9593
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