Taylor Matheny
Encyclopedia
Taylor Ann Matheny is a retired American professional wrestler who competed in North American independent promotions including Ohio Valley Wrestling
, a developmental territory of World Wrestling Entertainment
. She is best known, however, as a contestant on MTV
's Tough Enough
in 2001, making it to the finals before losing out to Nidia Guenard
.
, she became interested in professional wrestling during the late 1990s and, seeing a commercial for WWE Tough Enough
during Monday Night Raw
, auditioned for the reality television series. Originally one of thirteen contestants, she eventually reached the finals with Chris Nowinski
, Maven Huffman
, Josh Mathews and Nidia Guenard
.
In November 2001, Soon after the finale of the show, Matheny made her professional wrestling debut in New England's World Wrestling Alliance
in November 2001. Within a short time, she appeared on the independent wrestling circuit
across the United States.
During the next year, Matheny appeared in numerous independent promotions. She defeated Frost in an intergender match at Alaska Superslam II in Anchorage on February 17. While competing for New Era Wrestling, she teamed with Rory Fox to defeat Gage Octane and Vixen in a mixed tag team match on April 6. She also faced April Hunter
at a Universal Wrestling Federation event in Oxford, Pennsylvania on April 19, 2006; this was one of two matches during which Hunter made her professional debut.
After making an appearance in Liberty All-Star Wrestling defeating Danny Rose
& Allison Danger in a mixed tag team match on April 20, Matheny began competing for the Nova Scotia-based Mainstream Wrestling. She defeated Kyle Kruze in a series of intergender matches and teamed with Lincoln Steen
to defeat Flexx Falcone & Morgan Storm in mixed tag team matches during late April. She defeated Morgan Storm in two subsequent "Ladies" matches on April 28 and 29, 2002.
After wrestling against Allison Danger at Jersey All Pro Wrestling
's Memorial Day Massacre supercard on May 26, Matheny accepted an invitation by the Japanese female wrestling promotion ARSION for a three and a half month tour in Japan. During the tour, she teamed with Bionic J and Cheerleader Melissa in a 6-man tag team match to defeat Mariko Yoshida
, Kaori Yoneyama and Baby A on June 23. She also faced Baby A and Rie Tamada in singles matches before losing to Ai Fujita in a match for the WWWA Super Lightweight Championship on August 25, 2002.
After facing Rena Takase, Mika Nishio and MARU
in a 6-man tag team match with Bionic J and Cheerleader Melissa on September 12, Matheny returned to the United States. Inactive during late 2002, she briefly feuded with Cheerleader Melissa in Live Action Wrestling in January 2003. Later that month, she appeared at a LAW event with B.G. James
, Disco Inferno, Norman Smiley
, Buff Bagwell
and the Road Warriors
.
Although scheduled to debut in the Carolina Wrestling Federation at the BattleCade III supercard on December 28, Matheny canceled her appearance, and by the latter part of 2003, Matheny became tired of the wrestling business and retired. However, on September 2, 2005, she made a surprise appearance with her boyfriend Brian Kendrick
at a show for Full Impact Pro
.
Matheny was, at last word, pursuing a career as a Hollywood make-up artist, working on the 2005 film The Last Will.
Ohio Valley Wrestling
Ohio Valley Wrestling is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Louisville, Kentucky. OVW is run by owner Danny Davis and was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance from 1997 until 2000...
, a developmental territory of World Wrestling Entertainment
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...
. She is best known, however, as a contestant on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
's Tough Enough
WWE Tough Enough
WWE Tough Enough is a professional wrestling reality television program produced by WWE wherein participants undergo professional wrestling training and compete for a contract with WWE. There were two winners per season for the first three seasons, all of which aired on MTV...
in 2001, making it to the finals before losing out to Nidia Guenard
Nidia Guenard
Nidia Guenard better known simply Nidia is a former professional wrestler who worked for World Wrestling Entertainment...
.
Career
Growing up in Maple Valley, WashingtonMaple Valley, Washington
Maple Valley is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 22,684 at the 2010 census.-History:The area was first settled in 1879 by three men who were improving a trail and brought their families in. When a name for a future community was proposed, the names Vine Maple...
, she became interested in professional wrestling during the late 1990s and, seeing a commercial for WWE Tough Enough
WWE Tough Enough
WWE Tough Enough is a professional wrestling reality television program produced by WWE wherein participants undergo professional wrestling training and compete for a contract with WWE. There were two winners per season for the first three seasons, all of which aired on MTV...
during Monday Night Raw
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
, auditioned for the reality television series. Originally one of thirteen contestants, she eventually reached the finals with Chris Nowinski
Christopher Nowinski
Christopher John Nowinski is an author and a former professional wrestler with World Wrestling Entertainment. Nowinski is renowned for being WWE's first Harvard alumnus, as he graduated with an A.B. in sociology. He is also recognized as the youngest Hardcore Champion in WWE history...
, Maven Huffman
Maven Huffman
Maven Klint Huffman is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment between October 2001 and July 5, 2005 under the name Maven. In 2008 he became a guest expert on the Home Shopping Network.-Early life:Maven was born to an African-American...
, Josh Mathews and Nidia Guenard
Nidia Guenard
Nidia Guenard better known simply Nidia is a former professional wrestler who worked for World Wrestling Entertainment...
.
In November 2001, Soon after the finale of the show, Matheny made her professional wrestling debut in New England's World Wrestling Alliance
World Wrestling Alliance
The World Wrestling Alliance is used by several regional and independent professional wrestling promotions, which include:*World Wrestling Alliance , an American independent promotion based in Springdale, Arkansas and owned by retired wrestler Dr. X.*World Wrestling Alliance , an American regional...
in November 2001. Within a short time, she appeared on the independent wrestling 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...
across the United States.
During the next year, Matheny appeared in numerous independent promotions. She defeated Frost in an intergender match at Alaska Superslam II in Anchorage on February 17. While competing for New Era Wrestling, she teamed with Rory Fox to defeat Gage Octane and Vixen in a mixed tag team match on April 6. She also faced April Hunter
April Hunter
April Hunter is an American professional wrestler, professional wrestling valet and fitness and glamour model. She has appeared in many publications, from MuscleMag International to Playboy Magazine and even has her own comic book series, Code Red by Pickle Press.-World Championship Wrestling :In...
at a Universal Wrestling Federation event in Oxford, Pennsylvania on April 19, 2006; this was one of two matches during which Hunter made her professional debut.
After making an appearance in Liberty All-Star Wrestling defeating Danny Rose
Danny Rose (wrestler)
"Doomsday" Danny Rose is an American professional wrestler and trainer. A mainstay on the East Coast and Mid-Atlantic region since the mid-1990s, he has worked for a number of independent promotions including Combat Zone Wrestling, the Future Wrestling Alliance, Bad Crew's Hardway Wrestling,...
& Allison Danger in a mixed tag team match on April 20, Matheny began competing for the Nova Scotia-based Mainstream Wrestling. She defeated Kyle Kruze in a series of intergender matches and teamed with Lincoln Steen
Lincoln Steen
Ryan Mader is a Canadian professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Lincoln Steen, who has competed in Canadian independent promotions since October 27, 2000...
to defeat Flexx Falcone & Morgan Storm in mixed tag team matches during late April. She defeated Morgan Storm in two subsequent "Ladies" matches on April 28 and 29, 2002.
After wrestling against Allison Danger at Jersey All Pro Wrestling
Jersey All Pro Wrestling
Jersey All Pro Wrestling is an independent wrestling promotion based in New Jersey.-1997:Jersey All Pro Wrestling is an independent wrestling promotion that was founded by "Fat" Frank Iadeavia on April 19, 1997. This promotion was born out of a dream of "Fat" Frank. He wanted to take the promotion...
's Memorial Day Massacre supercard on May 26, Matheny accepted an invitation by the Japanese female wrestling promotion ARSION for a three and a half month tour in Japan. During the tour, she teamed with Bionic J and Cheerleader Melissa in a 6-man tag team match to defeat Mariko Yoshida
Mariko Yoshida
, is a Japanese professional wrestler best known for her work with the ARSION wrestling promotion, where she was also head trainer.-Professional wrestling career:...
, Kaori Yoneyama and Baby A on June 23. She also faced Baby A and Rie Tamada in singles matches before losing to Ai Fujita in a match for the WWWA Super Lightweight Championship on August 25, 2002.
After facing Rena Takase, Mika Nishio and MARU
Maru
Maru can refer toNames* Maru - surname found in people of Kutch & Saurashtra region of Gujarat, India, mainly found in Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas & Kadia Kshatriyas communities. The surname is also found in Rajput community of Rajasthan....
in a 6-man tag team match with Bionic J and Cheerleader Melissa on September 12, Matheny returned to the United States. Inactive during late 2002, she briefly feuded with Cheerleader Melissa in Live Action Wrestling in January 2003. Later that month, she appeared at a LAW event with B.G. James
Brian Gerard James
Brian Gerard James is an American professional wrestler, currently signed to WWE as an agent and producer. He is best known for his tenure with the World Wrestling Federation as "The Road Dogg" Jesse James or simply Road Dogg...
, Disco Inferno, Norman Smiley
Norman Smiley
Norman Anthony Smiley is a British professional wrestler best known for his appearances in World Championship Wrestling...
, Buff Bagwell
Buff Bagwell
Marcus Alexander Bagwell is an American professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name, Buff Bagwell. He is best known for his tenure with World Championship Wrestling between 1991 and 2001, where he was a five time World Tag Team Champion.-Professional wrestling career: Bagwell...
and the Road Warriors
Road Warriors
The Road Warriors were a professional wrestling tag team composed of Michael "Hawk" Hegstrand and Joseph "Animal" Laurinaitis. They performed under the name "Road Warriors" in the American Wrestling Association, the National Wrestling Alliance, and World Championship Wrestling, and the name Legion...
.
Although scheduled to debut in the Carolina Wrestling Federation at the BattleCade III supercard on December 28, Matheny canceled her appearance, and by the latter part of 2003, Matheny became tired of the wrestling business and retired. However, on September 2, 2005, she made a surprise appearance with her boyfriend Brian Kendrick
Brian Kendrick
Brian David Kendrick is an American professional wrestler currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under his real name. Before joining TNA he spent several years wrestling for World Wrestling Entertainment, where he wrestled under his name, as Spanky, and finally as "The" Brian Kendrick...
at a show for Full Impact Pro
Full Impact Pro
Full Impact Pro is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Florida. Their shows are taped and then sold as DVDs. Full Impact Pro was the sister promotion of Ring of Honor until 2009...
.
Matheny was, at last word, pursuing a career as a Hollywood make-up artist, working on the 2005 film The Last Will.
Championships and accomplishments
- 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 Rookie of the Year (2003, 3rd runner up)
Media
- Tracy Matheny Shoot Interview. Perf. Tracy Matheny. 2003. DVD. Highspots.com.
- Women of the Independents. Perf. Tracy Matheny. 2004. DVD. RF Video.