Matt Knowles
Encyclopedia
Matthew "Matt" Knowles (born October 8, 1974) is an American
professional wrestler
, better known by his ring name
, HC Loc. He is perhaps best known for his tenure in Ring of Honor
, where he is a one time World Tag Team Champion
with Tony DeVito
as a part of The Carnage Crew
.
After taking part in several tag team
matches and battle royal
s, he wrestled his first singles match on August 8, 1996 against Steve Corino
in Bailey's own promotion. Knowles originally wrestled under his own name, but later renamed himself to HC Loc. The "HC" stood for "Hard Core" (as in hardcore music
, not hardcore wrestling
).
From 1996 to 1999, Knowles wrestled on the independent circuit
in the northeast
, appearing on occasion as an enhancement talent
with World Championship Wrestling
and the World Wrestling Federation
. Knowles also competed in the WWF's first-ever intergender match on the April 6, 1998 edition of Raw
against Luna, but lost.
in Ocala, Florida
. Funk arranged for Knowles to have a try-out match with Extreme Championship Wrestling
, which he wrestled the next week in Queens, New York
. Knowles was hired by ECW on the basis of the match, and originally worked as a member of the ECW ring crew, constructing and dismantling the ring before and after shows. He also acted as a referee who wrestled on occasions. Like many other ECW employees, Knowles received several bounced
paycheck
s as owner Paul Heyman
's debt
s began to spiral out of control.
Knowles debuted on the inaugural ROH show, Era of Honor Begins, on February 23, 2002 as a referee (a nod to his referee gimmick in ECW). On April 27, Knowles formed a tag team with his long time friend DeVito
known as The Carnage Crew
. The Carnage Crew was later expanded to include Masada
and then again to include Justin Credible
. Credible left ROH in 2004, while Masada turned against Knowles and DeVito on May 22, 2004. After briefly feuding
with Special K
, the Carnage Crew began feuding Dan Maff
and B.J. Whitmer
. After Maff left ROH, they began feuding with Whitmer and his new partner Jimmy Jacobs
. On July 9, 2005, The Carnage Crew defeated Whitmer and Jacobs for the Tag Team Championship
. Only a few weeks later at The Hoemcoming, the Carnage Crew lost the title back to Whitmer and Jacobs on July 23. On August 20 at Night of the Grudges II, the Carnage Crew wrestled their final match in ROH and lost to The Ring Crew Express
. After leaving ROH, Knowles took a hiatus from wrestling.
territory NWA Upstate announced that after a three year long hiatus, Knowles, under his HC Loc ring name, would be returning to their promotion on February 23, 2008 to compete at their event February Fallout. At the event, Loc teamed with Eric Everlast to defeat Super Assassin and Triple X. Later on in the year, he teamed with Cody Deaner
to defeat Kid Justice and Rik Matrix on the September 7 episode of Pier 6 Wrestling's Shakedown television show. On April 4, 2009, Loc lost to Nunzio
at an Independent Superstars of Professional Wrestling event.
On July 10, 2010 at Acid-Fest: A Tribute to Trent Acid
, Loc and DeVito reunited and reformed the Carnage Crew and wrestled in a four-way tag team match also involving the H8 Club
and Da Hit Squad
, which was ultimately won by The S.A.T.
.
fan, and has a tattoo
to that effect on his left forearm.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
, better known by his ring name
Ring name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
, HC Loc. He is perhaps best known for his tenure in Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor ' is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2002 by Rob Feinstein and Gabe Sapolsky. From 2004 to 2011, the promotion was under the ownership of Cary Silkin before being sold to the Sinclair Broadcast Group in May 2011...
, where he is a one time World Tag Team Champion
ROH World Tag Team Championship
The Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship contested for in the American professional wrestling promotion Ring of Honor. The championship is generally contested in professional wrestling matches, in which participants usually execute...
with Tony DeVito
Tony DeVito
Anthony "Tony" DeVito is an American professional wrestler, best known for working in Extreme Championship Wrestling and Ring of Honor...
as a part of The Carnage Crew
The Carnage Crew
-History:The Carnage Crew of Loc and DeVito had their first ROH match together at Night of Appreciation defeating The Ring Crew Express. They were very hard hitting and used many high impact moves. At the time, there were two other similar teams in ROH: Da Hit Squad and the Natural Born Sinners...
.
Early career
After watching a television advertisement for "Crunchers Gym", a professional wrestling school operated by Bob Bailey, Knowles decided to enroll in order to become a professional wrestler. Despite being uncertain as to whether or not he would be accepted into the school, given that he was exceptionally small for a professional wrestler in the mid-1990s, Knowles contacted Bailey and was admitted to the school. He would then train under Bailey and T.C. Reynolds for six days a week over the course of fifteen months.After taking part in several tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
matches and battle royal
Battle royal (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a battle royal is a multi-competitor match type in which wrestlers are eliminated until one is left and declared winner...
s, he wrestled his first singles match on August 8, 1996 against Steve Corino
Steve Corino
Steven Eugene "Steve" Corino is a Canadian professional wrestler, who currently works for Pro Wrestling Zero1, Ring of Honor and numerous other independent promotions. Corino is a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion and ECW World Heavyweight Champion.-Early years :Corino began wrestling in 1994...
in Bailey's own promotion. Knowles originally wrestled under his own name, but later renamed himself to HC Loc. The "HC" stood for "Hard Core" (as in hardcore music
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
, not hardcore wrestling
Hardcore wrestling
Hardcore wrestling is a form of professional wrestling that eschews traditional concepts of match rules in favor of matches that take place in unusual environments, using foreign objects that are not normally permitted...
).
From 1996 to 1999, Knowles wrestled on the independent circuit
Independent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...
in the northeast
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...
, appearing on occasion as an enhancement talent
Job (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling slang, the term job describes a losing performance in a wrestling match. It is derived from the euphemism "doing one's job", which was employed to protect kayfabe. As professional wrestling is scripted, inevitably a wrestler will be required to lose to an opponent.The term...
with World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
and the World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
. Knowles also competed in the WWF's first-ever intergender match on the April 6, 1998 edition of Raw
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
against Luna, but lost.
Extreme Championship Wrestling (1999–2001)
In the summer of 1999, Knowles attended a training seminar held by Dory Funk, Jr.Dory Funk, Jr.
Dory Ernest Funk Jr. known professionally as Dory Funk, Jr. is a professional wrestler and wrestling trainer. He is the son of Dory Funk Sr. and brother of Terry Funk. He is credited with the invention of the Texas cloverleaf submission hold and runs the Funking Conservatory, a professional...
in Ocala, Florida
Ocala, Florida
Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 53,491. It is the county seat of Marion County, and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2007 population of 324,857.-History:Ocala...
. Funk arranged for Knowles to have a try-out match with Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
, which he wrestled the next week in Queens, New York
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
. Knowles was hired by ECW on the basis of the match, and originally worked as a member of the ECW ring crew, constructing and dismantling the ring before and after shows. He also acted as a referee who wrestled on occasions. Like many other ECW employees, Knowles received several bounced
Non-sufficient funds
Non-sufficient funds is a term used in the banking industry to indicate that a demand for payment cannot be honored because insufficient funds are available in the account on which the instrument was drawn. In simplified terms, a cheque has been presented for clearance, but the amount written on...
paycheck
Payroll
In a company, payroll is the sum of all financial records of salaries for an employee, wages, bonuses and deductions. In accounting, payroll refers to the amount paid to employees for services they provided during a certain period of time. Payroll plays a major role in a company for several reasons...
s as owner Paul Heyman
Paul Heyman
Paul Heyman is an American entertainment producer, best known for his career in professional wrestling as a promoter, manager, commentator and journalist. He is also an occasional actor in film....
's debt
Debt
A debt is an obligation owed by one party to a second party, the creditor; usually this refers to assets granted by the creditor to the debtor, but the term can also be used metaphorically to cover moral obligations and other interactions not based on economic value.A debt is created when a...
s began to spiral out of control.
Ring of Honor (2002–2005)
Tony DeVito
Anthony "Tony" DeVito is an American professional wrestler, best known for working in Extreme Championship Wrestling and Ring of Honor...
known as The Carnage Crew
The Carnage Crew
-History:The Carnage Crew of Loc and DeVito had their first ROH match together at Night of Appreciation defeating The Ring Crew Express. They were very hard hitting and used many high impact moves. At the time, there were two other similar teams in ROH: Da Hit Squad and the Natural Born Sinners...
. The Carnage Crew was later expanded to include Masada
Masada (wrestler)
Not to be confused with Kazuhiko Masada, who also wrestles under the ring name MASADA.Brigham Paul Doane , better known by his ring name MASADA, is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances in Ring of Honor, Combat Zone Wrestling, Full Impact Pro, NWA Wildside, and his...
and then again to include Justin Credible
Peter Polaco
Peter Joseph Polaco is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name Justin Credible. He is also known for his earlier stint with the WWF under the ringname Aldo Montoya...
. Credible left ROH in 2004, while Masada turned against Knowles and DeVito on May 22, 2004. After briefly feuding
Feud (professional wrestling)
A professional wrestling feud is a staged rivalry between multiple wrestlers or alliances of wrestlers. They are integrated into ongoing storylines, particularly in events which are televised...
with Special K
Special K (professional wrestling)
Special K was a heel professional wrestling stable in Ring of Honor. They were billed as "rich kid ravers" from Webster Hall, New York City who had everything handed to them by their rich families. They had a spotfest style, performing many high flying and high risk moves with no regards to their...
, the Carnage Crew began feuding Dan Maff
Dan Lopez
Dan Lopez is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Dan "Danny" Maff. He retired in March 2005 following an as yet undisclosed incident involving his trainer, Homicide, and remained inactive until returning in June 2008....
and B.J. Whitmer
B.J. Whitmer
Benjamin Whitmer is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, B.J. Whitmer. He is best known for his appearances with Ring of Honor between January 2003 and March 2008...
. After Maff left ROH, they began feuding with Whitmer and his new partner Jimmy Jacobs
Jimmy Jacobs
Chris Scobille is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Jimmy Jacobs. He is best known for his time in Ring of Honor , where he is a four-time World Tag Team Champion...
. On July 9, 2005, The Carnage Crew defeated Whitmer and Jacobs for the Tag Team Championship
ROH World Tag Team Championship
The Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship contested for in the American professional wrestling promotion Ring of Honor. The championship is generally contested in professional wrestling matches, in which participants usually execute...
. Only a few weeks later at The Hoemcoming, the Carnage Crew lost the title back to Whitmer and Jacobs on July 23. On August 20 at Night of the Grudges II, the Carnage Crew wrestled their final match in ROH and lost to The Ring Crew Express
The Ring Crew Express
The Ring Crew Express is the professional wrestling tag team of Kevin Dunn and Kirby Marcos, better known simply as Dunn and Marcos. They are best known for their work in Ring of Honor but have also wrestled for other promotions, such as Full Impact Pro, Chikara, Buffalo Championship Wrestling,...
. After leaving ROH, Knowles took a hiatus from wrestling.
Return to wrestling (2008–present)
On January 25, 2008, the National Wrestling AllianceNational Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
territory NWA Upstate announced that after a three year long hiatus, Knowles, under his HC Loc ring name, would be returning to their promotion on February 23, 2008 to compete at their event February Fallout. At the event, Loc teamed with Eric Everlast to defeat Super Assassin and Triple X. Later on in the year, he teamed with Cody Deaner
Cody Deaner
Chris Grey , better known by his ring name Cody Deaner, is a Canadian professional wrestler, who worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.-Independent wrestling :...
to defeat Kid Justice and Rik Matrix on the September 7 episode of Pier 6 Wrestling's Shakedown television show. On April 4, 2009, Loc lost to Nunzio
James Maritato
James Maritato is an American professional wrestler, of Italian origin, currently working on the independent circuit. He is best known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment and Extreme Championship Wrestling under the ring names Little Guido Maritato and Nunzio.-Starting out:While...
at an Independent Superstars of Professional Wrestling event.
On July 10, 2010 at Acid-Fest: A Tribute to Trent Acid
Acid-Fest: A Tribute to Trent Acid
Acid-Fest: A Tribute to Trent Acid was an interpromotional professional wrestling memorial event co-produced by the Combat Zone Wrestling and Jersey All Pro Wrestling promotions, which took place on July 10, 2010 at the Viking Hall in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
, Loc and DeVito reunited and reformed the Carnage Crew and wrestled in a four-way tag team match also involving the H8 Club
H8 Club
The H8 Club is a professional wrestling tag team in Combat Zone Wrestling. The current team consists of Nick Gage and Nate Hatred.-History:The H8 Club has been around since the beginning of Combat Zone Wrestling. The original team was made up of Wifebeater, Justice Pain, Justin Kase, Ed O' Mac,...
and Da Hit Squad
Da Hit Squad
Da Hit Squad was a professional wrestling tag team in Ring of Honor, Jersey All Pro Wrestling and many other independent promotions. The members were Monsta Mack and Mafia. They were known as the Hardest Hitting tag team in ROH. This duo of Repeat Offenders brutalized their opponents with...
, which was ultimately won by The S.A.T.
The S.A.T.
The S.A.T. are a professional wrestling tag team mostly seen in independent promotions that consists of brothers Jose Maximo and Joel Maximo who were both born in Brooklyn, New York...
.
Personal life
Knowles is a New York YankeesNew York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
fan, and has a tattoo
Tattoo
A tattoo is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, and tattoos on other animals are most commonly used for identification purposes...
to that effect on his left forearm.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- REF – Really Effective Finisher (Full nelson wheelbarrow facebuster)
- Signature moves
- Facebreaker DDT followed by a swinging neckbreaker
- Northern Lights suplex, sometimes into the corner
- Tornado DDT
- With Tony DeVitoTony DeVitoAnthony "Tony" DeVito is an American professional wrestler, best known for working in Extreme Championship Wrestling and Ring of Honor...
- Finishing moves
- Carnage Driver (Spike piledriver)
- Signature moves
- Carnage-Plex (Belly to back suplex by DeVito into a swinging neckbreaker by Loc)
- Sitout crucifix powerbomb / Neckbreaker combination
- Finishing moves
- NicknameNicknameA nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
s- "The Extreme Referee" (ECWExtreme Championship WrestlingExtreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
)
- "The Extreme Referee" (ECW
- Entrance themesMusic in professional wrestlingMusic in professional wrestling serves a variety of purposes. The most common uses of music in professional wrestling is that of the entrance theme, a song or piece of instrumental music which plays as a performer approaches the ring...
- "Sewn Mouth Secrets" by Soilent GreenSoilent GreenSoilent Green is a grindcore and sludge metal band that hails from Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans.-Overview:Soilent Green was founded in 1988. Their début album wasn't released until 1995, when Pussysoul came out on Dwell Records...
(ROHRing of HonorRing of Honor ' is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2002 by Rob Feinstein and Gabe Sapolsky. From 2004 to 2011, the promotion was under the ownership of Cary Silkin before being sold to the Sinclair Broadcast Group in May 2011...
; Used while a part of The Carnage CrewThe Carnage Crew-History:The Carnage Crew of Loc and DeVito had their first ROH match together at Night of Appreciation defeating The Ring Crew Express. They were very hard hitting and used many high impact moves. At the time, there were two other similar teams in ROH: Da Hit Squad and the Natural Born Sinners...
) - "High Rate Extinction" by Crowbar (ROH; Used while a part of The Carnage Crew)
- "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck" by Prong (ROH; Used while a part of The Carnage Crew)
- "King of the Streets (Carnage Rules Mix)" by Boner (ROH; Used while a part of The Carnage Crew)
- "Sewn Mouth Secrets" by Soilent Green
Wrestlers trained by Matt Knowles
|
Championships and accomplishments
- Eastern States Wrestling
- ESW Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)
- New Breed Wrestling
- NBW Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)
- New Era Pro Wrestling
- NEPW North Coast Championship (1 time)
- NWA UpstateNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- NWA Upstate Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Pro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling Illustrated is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.-History:The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979...
- PWI ranked him #303 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2003
- Ring of HonorRing of HonorRing of Honor ' is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2002 by Rob Feinstein and Gabe Sapolsky. From 2004 to 2011, the promotion was under the ownership of Cary Silkin before being sold to the Sinclair Broadcast Group in May 2011...
- ROH Tag Team ChampionshipROH World Tag Team ChampionshipThe Ring of Honor World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling world tag team championship contested for in the American professional wrestling promotion Ring of Honor. The championship is generally contested in professional wrestling matches, in which participants usually execute...
(1 time) – with Tony DeVitoTony DeVitoAnthony "Tony" DeVito is an American professional wrestler, best known for working in Extreme Championship Wrestling and Ring of Honor...
- ROH Tag Team Championship
- Ultimate Wrestling
- UW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- United States Wrestling Federation
- USWF Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- World of Hurt Wrestling
- WOHW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- WOHW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Danger
- WOHW United States Championship (2 times)
- Other titles
- AWA Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)