Keith 'the Destroyer' Mathews 20/06/13
The first in a series of CCW interviews focuses on Keith the Destroyer Mathews! A graduate of the CCWA (Conwy County Wrestling Academy), Keith is a determined, focused and very capable up-and-coming wrestler. He recently won his debut match against two seasoned professionals in the despicable Mason Tombs and the sensation El Acosador. Of late, he has had some disturbing run-ins with the dangerous new formation, the 'Golden Embassy' of Mr Sweeny, Tommy Hayden and Ace Jordan. Lets see what The Destroyer had to say!
Why did you start Wrestling? What made you want to start?
I started wrestling due to the fact that I was such a big fan growing up as a youngster and I was immediately hooked. I grew up with Trent Adams, one of the guys on the CCW roster and we used to have this concrete slap with steel bars around it and that was our 'wrestling ring', but luckily there wasn't any bumps taken on it. We also watched loads of videos and stayed up late to watch PPVs and make championship belts out of cardboard too!
When did you start Wrestling
I've been wrestling for little over a year now when I found out that Trent Adams was taking up training and I started from there really. Learnt to do spots, take bumps, run the ropes and I knew then that my hunger and love for wrestling grew more and more.
Who were your favourite Wrestlers growing up and currently?
This is a tough one cause I'm a fan of quite a few wrestlers. So from the old school class I'd have to say 'Macho Man' Randy Savage, Bret Hart, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels. With the stars of today, I'm a huge fan of CM Punk, Chris Jericho and Daniel Bryan.
What is your favourite finishing move?
There's a lot of moves that I really like, some that I wouldn't like to be on the receiving end of. I would have to choose two, Stone Cold Steve Austin's 'Stunner' and Shawn Michaels' 'Sweet Chin Music', due to the fact that both manoeuvres are brutal, effective, quick and come at you at any time and not expect it to happen.
What’s the most painful move you’ve ever been in?
If I had to pick one then it would be the 'Cattle Mutilation' submission that another CCW wrestler, Ashton Richards, put on me during a training match. I tapped within seconds!
The first in a series of CCW interviews focuses on Keith the Destroyer Mathews! A graduate of the CCWA (Conwy County Wrestling Academy), Keith is a determined, focused and very capable up-and-coming wrestler. He recently won his debut match against two seasoned professionals in the despicable Mason Tombs and the sensation El Acosador. Of late, he has had some disturbing run-ins with the dangerous new formation, the 'Golden Embassy' of Mr Sweeny, Tommy Hayden and Ace Jordan. Lets see what The Destroyer had to say!
Why did you start Wrestling? What made you want to start?
I started wrestling due to the fact that I was such a big fan growing up as a youngster and I was immediately hooked. I grew up with Trent Adams, one of the guys on the CCW roster and we used to have this concrete slap with steel bars around it and that was our 'wrestling ring', but luckily there wasn't any bumps taken on it. We also watched loads of videos and stayed up late to watch PPVs and make championship belts out of cardboard too!
When did you start Wrestling
I've been wrestling for little over a year now when I found out that Trent Adams was taking up training and I started from there really. Learnt to do spots, take bumps, run the ropes and I knew then that my hunger and love for wrestling grew more and more.
Who were your favourite Wrestlers growing up and currently?
This is a tough one cause I'm a fan of quite a few wrestlers. So from the old school class I'd have to say 'Macho Man' Randy Savage, Bret Hart, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels. With the stars of today, I'm a huge fan of CM Punk, Chris Jericho and Daniel Bryan.
What is your favourite finishing move?
There's a lot of moves that I really like, some that I wouldn't like to be on the receiving end of. I would have to choose two, Stone Cold Steve Austin's 'Stunner' and Shawn Michaels' 'Sweet Chin Music', due to the fact that both manoeuvres are brutal, effective, quick and come at you at any time and not expect it to happen.
What’s the most painful move you’ve ever been in?
If I had to pick one then it would be the 'Cattle Mutilation' submission that another CCW wrestler, Ashton Richards, put on me during a training match. I tapped within seconds!
What does Wrestling training involve for you?
It involves improving your craft whether its practicing bumps, improving moves in your own set, improving on ring positioning and even your own fitness when running the ropes, to help make me better at doing what I do.
What is your favourite memory from Wrestling? (It could be a match, a spot, interview a crowd, whatever stands out!)
Again this a tough one cause there is so many to choose from. I think it would have to be the 'Icon vs Icon' Match at Wrestlemania 18, Hulk Hogan vs The Rock. It was such a huge match for both participants, as well as it being a huge match for the WWE as a company and the WWE Universe.
If you could wrestle in a triple threat match, who would you pick as your opponents and why?
CM Punk and Chris Jericho, without a shadow of a doubt. They are two of my favourite wrestlers and you could learn so much from both competitors, not saying you couldn't learn off someone else, but if you were giving the opportunity to compete in a match with someone that inspires you to do what you do, you'd take it!
Tell us about your signature move and why you prefer it!
My signature is the Go To Sleep, which is a move that my favourite wrestler, CM Punk uses as his own signature and the move was originally from Japan from a wrestler called Kenta, a Japanese legend. You get your opponent on your shoulders and then you throw them up and as they come down you throw your knee into the face, knocking them out initially, why it gets the name, the Go To Sleep. It's a very brutal move and very effective too, I used it on Mason Tombs in my debut match and didn't get up after a while!
It involves improving your craft whether its practicing bumps, improving moves in your own set, improving on ring positioning and even your own fitness when running the ropes, to help make me better at doing what I do.
What is your favourite memory from Wrestling? (It could be a match, a spot, interview a crowd, whatever stands out!)
Again this a tough one cause there is so many to choose from. I think it would have to be the 'Icon vs Icon' Match at Wrestlemania 18, Hulk Hogan vs The Rock. It was such a huge match for both participants, as well as it being a huge match for the WWE as a company and the WWE Universe.
If you could wrestle in a triple threat match, who would you pick as your opponents and why?
CM Punk and Chris Jericho, without a shadow of a doubt. They are two of my favourite wrestlers and you could learn so much from both competitors, not saying you couldn't learn off someone else, but if you were giving the opportunity to compete in a match with someone that inspires you to do what you do, you'd take it!
Tell us about your signature move and why you prefer it!
My signature is the Go To Sleep, which is a move that my favourite wrestler, CM Punk uses as his own signature and the move was originally from Japan from a wrestler called Kenta, a Japanese legend. You get your opponent on your shoulders and then you throw them up and as they come down you throw your knee into the face, knocking them out initially, why it gets the name, the Go To Sleep. It's a very brutal move and very effective too, I used it on Mason Tombs in my debut match and didn't get up after a while!
If you could run in and change the outcome of one match from history, which would it be?
To be perfectly honest with you, I can't really think of any situation that I'd change because history is what you would like to make and want to be a part of. I wouldn't want to take that from anyone cause it's their moment, their history.
Do you live by any motto or philosophy?
One Life, Live It, No Regrets
What’s your favourite part of being a CCW Wrestler?
That I could live a childhood dream of mine and be a wrestler. That might sound cheesy and people usually say that a lot, but I never once thought that I could become a wrestler, truthfully. But when the opportunity came to me, I jumped straight at the chance. So I need to take this moment and thank the guys at CCW for letting me live a dream of mine. Winning my debut match in a triple threat versus Mason Tombs and El Acosador, two very experienced wrestlers, was a great moment in my life and career. The one goal I am looking at fulfilling now is to become the CCW Heavyweight Champion, maybe one day it'll happen.
What do you do when you’re not beating people up inside a Wrestling ring?
Beating people up outside a wrestling ring! Ha! No, seriously now, I enjoy chilling at home watching films and enjoy spending time with some of my friends. I also enjoy going on walks and doing various sports such as football and rugby.
Do you have any tips for prospective Wrestlers looking to join CCWA?
I would say that if you're not serious about being a wrestler, then don't bother coming to training! I've seen people come to training that see it as a hangout spot being with friends and not take the wrestling seriously, saw it as a funny thing once a move was done on them. One example, Trent Adams gave a guy a knife edge chop and the one that took it just looked at a friend of his and laughed. This guy even did this during a show! So if you're serious about wrestling and want to become a wrestler, then I would say good luck and take any advice and criticism you get because that is what helps you improve, to make you better in and out of the ring. Even go to the gym to improve on your fitness and strength because if your meant to be out there for a 10 minute match and your blown out by 4, then how the hell do you finish your match?
If you could Powerbomb one CCW Wrestler through a table, who would it be and why?
Ace Jordan of the Golden Embassy, hell, all three of the Golden Embassy will do! Reason being the Golden Embassy paid the CCW chairman off to take my spot in the Super 8 tournament on the past PPV that CCW had put on June 1st of this year (2013) and gave it to Ace Jordan. He managed to cheat his way through to the final and eventually lost to a buddy of mine, Syd Philips, which felt great to see and be in the ring with Syd, personally handing him the Super 8 Trophy, which Ace saw and I could clearly see that he didn't like.
Thanks for your answers! As a final, slightly more silly (sillier, perhaps!) question, Rihanna or Beyonce?
Haha! Can't it be a WWE diva? Or a TNA knockout? Ha! I'd pick Rihanna
Great stuff from The Destroyer there, in keeping with his usual, no-nonsense, pull-no-punches style! To find out more about Keith the Destroyer Mathews, or indeed any of the awesome CCW wrestlers, check out www.ConwyCountyWrestling.com.