Matthew Randall
Matthew Randall Elias (October 10, 1986 in Grand Rapids, Michigan) is a professional wrestler best known Matthew Randall.
Before Wrestling
Early Life
Matthew Randall Elias was born on October 10, 1986 in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Randall Louis Elias, a building contractor, and Allison Lilly Elias (née Crane), a teacher. Growing up, Matthew played halfback and cornerback for the local pee wee football team as well as wrestling in his uncle's wrestling camp.
Eventually, Matthew would become a star wrestler at Kentwood High School where he would set two records that still stand today. His future as an amateur wrestler looked promising until an injury to his left knee put him out for his Senior Season. Many of the colleges that were offering him scholarships had doubts about whether or not he would come back from this injury and stopped looking at him as a wrestler.
College
The only school interested in bringing Matthew Elias in as a wrestler was a little known school in the Sooner Athletic Conference, Oklahoma City University. While there, Matthew again shown why his was a top wrestling prospect in the country, setting school records in his weight class in his freshman year. His sophomore year though was more problematic, as the previous knee injury was aggravated in the first meet of the year.
Instead of sitting out the remainder of the year, Matthew attempted to wrestle on his injured knee. After two more meets, Matthew was in need for surgery that would knock him out the remainder of his sophomore year. The Stars wrestling coach, thinking that there may have been durability issuses with Matthew, rescinded his scholarship, forcing Matthew to leave the school.
North Texas
It didn't Matthew long to find a new venture. A group in Dallas was starting up a Professional Freestyle Wrestling organization, and Matthew travelled down to make some contacts. The teams that were forming had interest in the 19 year old, but had concerns about his knee. But the Arlington Colts took a chance on him, bringing him in as a coach for the inaugural season, and possibly as a wrestler when the second season started.
As a coach with the Colts, Matthew started to make contacts in the amateur wrestling world. Unfortunately for him, the promotion didn't last beyond the inaugural season. Matthew had banked a little bit of money, and found himself one day meeting a scout for FUSE Wrestling at a Dallas Cowboys game. The scout was somewhat knowledgeable about Matthew from his brief college stint, and offered him a chance at showing what he could do in a professional wrestling ring.
Wrestling Career
Summer of 07
During the summer of 2007, Matthew was invited for a series of tryouts with FUSE Wrestling. These tryouts were usually against local wrestlers that were brought in for the day before the doors opened for the fans.
After this series of tryouts Matthew was awarded with a contract with FUSE Wrestling and was sent home to get into better shape. He didn't know when the call would come for him to return, but he couldn't wait.
War In Washington and later appearances
Matthew made his first ever FUSE on camera appearance at the War in Washington Pay Per View. He would continue to appear on camera talking to various members of the FUSE roster and staff leading up to his first match.
Debut and Beyond
Matthew finally made his debut as Matthew Randall at the FUSE on ESPN telecast where he took on Ethan Frost in one of the first matches of the evening. It was a hard fought match, but when he went for a springboard moonsault type maneuver, but Frost avoided it and hit his Avalanche finisher for the pin.
Matthew then faced El Diablo, but once again was unable to come up with the victory.
In-Ring
- Finishing and Signature Moves
- Left Coast Choke (Dragon Sleeper)
- Michigan Tidal Wave (Springboard Moonsault Shiranui)
- Entrance Music
- "Smashing Young Man" by Collective Soul (Oct 2007-Current)