Matt Striker

At 49 years old, Matt Striker has this physical status:

Matthew Kaye (born June 26, 1974) is an American professional wrestler, academic wrestling analyst, and former high school coach, who uses the ring name Matt Striker.

He provides English commentary for Lucha Libre AAA World Wide (AAA) pay-per-view (PPV) events in Mexico.

He also competes on the national level.

He is best known for his time as both a wrestler and commentator in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

He has also contributed to Lucha Underground and Major League Wrestling.

He was once ranked #166 in Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 500 wrestlers in the world. Before embarking on a career in professional wrestling, Kaye began working as a high-school teacher.

In mid-2005, he joined WWE for the first time.

His wrestling character was inspired by his previous work as Kaye, who now refers to himself Matt Striker, who subsequently developed the image of a heel (villainous) teacher.

Striker first started working as a colour commentator for WWE's ECW brand in 2008 and then as a SmackDown brand.

He began working on the independent circuit before joining Lucha Underground as a commentator after leaving WWE in 2013.

Personal life

Kaye is Jewish.

Kaye obtained a bachelor's degree in History and went on to earn a master's degree in educational psychology with distinction (3.9GPA or higher). He began teaching high school after college.

He has three sisters, one of whom died.

Kaye has played semi-pro hockey, and has studied jiu-jitsu, catch wrestling, and boxing.

He served part-time as a substitute, filling in when other teachers were on leave. He was hired full-time as a social studies instructor at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School in Queens, New York, but he struggled part-time during his vacation time and weekends.

Kaye devotes a large portion of his time to animal rescue and charities for special needs children.

Kaye was one of three investors in the $10 million dollar Long Island Watershed Protection Program in late 2020, according to public records.

On air from many sacred texts, including Torah, Quran, and the Vedas, he has quoted scriptures from Torah, Quran, and the Vedas.

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Professional wrestling career

Kaye began working on the American independent circuit after being trained with Johnny Rodz. He continued to wrestle during his vacation time and weekends while still using sick days when working full-time as a teacher in 2004. Striker began with Pro Wrestling Zero1 in December 16, 2004 and was later invited back for a protracted tour in early 2005. After resigning from teaching, he continued to wrestle in New York, and he claimed the New York Wrestling Connection (NYWC)'s Heavyweight Championship on April 30, 2005, defeating Mike Mondo. Joey Braggiol defeated the NYWC Interstate Championship a few weeks later on May 21, but the Heavyweight Champion later lost the title to Braggol on June 4. In mid-2005, he made a few appearances for Ring of Honor before returning to NYWC to lose the Heavyweight Championship to Jerry Lynn on July 30, after being banned for four months. Until he decided to fight for independent promotions beginning in mid-2005, he continued to wrestle for independent promotions until he was hooked on WWE.

In an invitational match on February 24, 2005 edition of SmackDown, Kaye, using the name Matt Martel, wrestled Kurt Angle. In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, we found this man. Kaye made a WWE second appearance on Raw to Face Angle for the second time following the revelation that Kaye was a teacher in mainstream news outlets. Angle, who defeated Kaye once more, was able to raise his news coverage. Angle defeated him for the third time in a row this week. Kaye, now known as Matt Striker, went on to compete on Heat and appear in WWE's emerging sport, Deep South Wrestling.

Striker developed a sarcastic teacher persona and hosted Matt Striker's Classroom on Raw, beginning on December 12. During the segments, he ridiculed the audience and branded the audience as intellectually deceitful. He was defeated by Carlito, Rob Van Dam, and Charlie Haas in a six-man tag team match on April 24, in which he, Chris Masters and Shelton Benjamin were defeated by Shelton Benjamin, Dennis and Shelton Benjamin. Striker hosted an edition of his Classroom segment, which ended when Eugene, who was emotionally impaired, assaulted Striker. The following night, the Striker, a retaliation, struck Eugene with a dictionary. Eugene's feud with Striker came as he found a mentor in "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan and defeated Striker. Striker appeared on Raw seldom throughout June and July, and his last match for the brand was played on July 31, where he was swiftly defeated by John Cena.

Striker joined ECW at the end of August 2006, making his debut on August 23. He continued his Classroom segment on ECW, which resulted in a squabble with The Sandman after Striker insulted him. Striker made his in-ring debut for the brand on September 19, 2006 as Test was disqualified for pushing the referee. Striker continued his rivalry with The Sandman until he was defeated by The Sandman in an ECW episode on October 17th.

Striker, Elijah Burke, Kevin Thorn, and Marcus Cor Von all allied themselves with Mr. McMahon's New Breed stable on February 6, including Marcus Cor Von, Elijah Burke, Kevin Thorn, and Marcus Cor Von. The New Breed immediately joined the ECW Originals in a feud with the ECW Originals (Rob Van Dam, Tommy Dreamer, Sabu, and The Sandman). The New Breed was defeated by the ECW Originals in an 8-man tag team match at WrestleMania 23, but they gained a rematch in the following episode of ECW. After Striker and Cor Von were defeated by the debuting Major Brothers, tensions began to develop between Elijah Burke and Striker. Striker began to revenge the Big Brothers' loss and defeated Brett Major on the May 22 episode of ECW. The feud with the Originals lost steam as Sabu was fired from his WWE deal in mid-May, and the feud came to an end at One Night Stand pay-per-view, when Striker, Cor Von, and Burke lost to Dreamer, Sandman, and Burke in a table match.

Striker was defeated by The Boogeyman in a singles match on June 12, and The Boogeyman was assaulted two weeks later in a Piper's Pit version. Striker welcomed Boogeyman to the ring on July 10, allowing the debuting Big Daddy V to attack him. Striker then formed a friendship with Big Daddy V's that lasted until March 2008, with him as the boss and regularly accompanying him to the ring. Striker and Big Daddy Vinci began a feud with Kane in November after Kane attacked Striker. In a handicap match, Striker and Big Daddy V wrestled Kane, and the two even met briefly with Mark Henry. On the November 27 episode of ECW, Henry helped Big Daddy V win a match against Kane, and Striker refereed a match between Henry and The Undertaker in exchange, refusing to count a pinfall against Henry.

Striker was drafted back to the Raw brand in June 2008 as part of the 2008 WWE Supplemental Draft. Striker returned to ECW to take over as color commentator after a brief period, debuting on August 5. For 2008, Striker and his commentary partner, Todd Grisham, were named Announce Team of the Year. Grisham's in April 2009 had been rebranded as the SmackDown brand, but Josh Mathews debuted as the new play-by-play commentator. Striker and Mathews portrayed the ECW brand on WWE Superstars every week in addition to reporting on ECW on SyFy and ECW pay-per-view matches.

Striker would go from commentary on ECW to SmackDown, reuniting with Grisham on October 27, 2009. Jim Ross, who had been taking time off to deal with the latest Bell's palsy attack, was pushed to help. Striker and Grisham were joined by Michael Cole on SmackDown in October, creating a three-man announce team. Striker was first replaced by Booker T. in early February 2011.

In early 2010, Striker announced that he would begin hosting NXT. He wrestled his first match in three years on the NXT's August 2, 2011, teaming with Titus O'Neil in a thrilling battle against Derrick Bateman and Darren Young in a tag team match. Young was defeated in the first two weeks by the young, but Young emerged victorious both times. Striker and Regal were unable to face Young and JTG later in the week, but Striker and Regal were dissatisfied. Striker's "kidnapping" on the March 21 episode of NXT Redemption by unknown people was later revealed to be Hawkins and Reks, while Reks, the NXT host, was regularly bullied by Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks. Striker continued to speculate on Superstars during this time, with the explanation that WWE recruited a body double to cover Striker's duties. On the 11th episode of NXT Redemption, Striker was later "rescued." Following the completion of NXT Redemption, the Striker ceased his duties as the NXT host.

Striker began interviewing WWE employees on Raw and SmackDown after hosting NXT. Striker became the host of WWE Afterburn for international broadcastings in the summer of 2012. Striker tried to interview Team Hell No (Kane and Daniel Bryan), but they were both beaten him on the October 12 SmackDown. Striker begged for an apology but was instead forced to face Kane in his final WWE match on September 15, which Striker lost. Striker resigned from WWE after the company decided not to renew his deal on June 20, 2013.

Striker made his first post-WWE appearance on Family Wrestling Entertainment iPPV, FWE Rumble in Queens, New York, as a color commentator, on June 21. In the House of Madness of New York, Striker was defeated by Justin Credible on October 21, 2013. Striker nailed Credible, causing him to bleed after the match. Striker tried to apologize but Credible cursed him out in the locker room and stormed off. Striker, the current champion of MAVTV, was announced in July 2013. Striker made his in ring debut for the CWFH on November 2, 2013, defeating Scorpio Sky in the CWFH Heritage Heavyweight Championship.

Striker took part in the German promotion Westside Xtreme Wrestling's 16 Carat Gold weekend on March 14, 2014.

On March 15, Striker and Trent?

The wXw World Tag Team Championship was won by Hot & Spicy (Axel Dieter Jr. and Da Mack). The following day, they lost the title to Hot & Spicy. Striker participated in Pro Wrestling Noah's 2014 NTV G+ Cup Junior Heavyweight Tag League from July 18 to August 2, 2014, where he and partner Super Crazy finished with a total of two victories and two losses, but not advancing to the finals.

Striker, according to Vampiro, had signed Lucha Underground as the lead English language announcer. Striker and Vampiro provided English language commentary from the show's debut in 2014 to its conclusion in 2018.

Striker and Vampiro appeared in one of AAA's English language commentators for AAA's Lucha Libre World Cup internet pay-per-view on May 24, 2015. Striker returned to AAA English language commentary alongside Hugo Savinovich for AAA's Tripleman's XXIII pay-per-view on August 9, 2015.

Striker and Jim Ross served as the English language commentators for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW)'s Wrestle Kingdom 9 in Tokyo Dome's pay-per-view on January 4, 2015. Striker returned to NJPW on October 12 to offer English commentary on King of Pro-Wrestling, this time alongside long-time Ring of Honor commentator Kevin Kelly. Striker returned to NJPW English commentary at Wrestle Kingdom 10 in Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2016, alongside Kelly and NJPW wrestler Yoshitatsu.

Striker and D'Lo Brown both started working as a commentator for Impact Wrestling in January 2021. In January of next year, he resigned from the service.

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