Profile of Darren Matthews on Famous Like Me

Darren Matthews aka William Regal (born May 10, 1965 in Staffordshire) is an English professional wrestler performing in World Wrestling Entertainment on the SmackDown! brand. Matthews made his ring debut wresting on the piers of Blackpool at the age of fifteen.

Career

Matthews started wrestling in carnivals in England at a young age. He also wrestled professionally in the United Kingdom, where he regulary teamed with Robbie Brookside, before going to the United States in 1992.

Matthews started in WCW as Steven Regal, beginning as a face. He was turned into the heel Lord Steven Regal in 1993. He was given a manager, Sir William and he won the Television title four times. He formed The Blue Bloods with Alabama-born Bobby Eaton and had some hilarious vignettes where he tried to teach Eaton the finer points of dining and the proper usage of the Queen's English. He renamed him "Earl Robert Eaton" and soon added "Squire" David Taylor too. They came close to winning the WCW Tag Team Titles, but never did. Among his feuds in WCW were Ricky Steamboat, Johnny B. Badd, Ultimo Dragon and the team of Dick Slater and Bunkhouse Buck. He was fired from WCW after no-selling Goldberg's Jackhammer and for using chain wrestling moves that showed Goldberg's limited knowledge of such holds.

In the WWF (now WWE), British born William Regal (as he was now known) was a heel to start out with. He was later the commisioner and turned face by engaging in a rivarly with the WCW/ECW Alliance. Later he turned heel again by betraying then baby face, Kurt Angle and joining the WCW Alliance. He was fired as commisioner by Linda McMahon, but Shane McMahon who was the then heel owner of the WCW Alliance hired him as the Alliance Commissioner. After the Alliance broke up he remained a heel but was forced to kiss Vince McMahon's ass (literally) so he could keep his job. He would later join with Lance Storm's Team Canada, and the team was renamed the "Un-Americans". On the September 30, 2002 episode of RAW, every member of The Un-Americans lost their matches, causing the group to separate later in the night and pair off into tag teams: Storm/Regal & Christian/Test. Storm and Regal would go on to win tag team gold but Regal would later have to give up his title due to an injury.

Eugene, the "mentally challenged" nephew of RAW General Manager Eric Bischoff, was placed in the care of Regal during his return to WWE, and the pair went on to feud with his "Uncle Eric." Since Regal befriended Eugene he became a face again.

William Regal teamed with Eugene to win the World Tag-Team Championship from La Résistance on the November 15, 2004 edition of RAW. Later, Eugene injured himself at New Year's Revolution after botching a dropkick.

This would ultimately cost them the World Tag-Team Championship, as Regal unsuccessfully attempted to defend the titles with annoucer Jonathan Coachman as his tag team partner. The pair wrestled against La Résistance and went on to lose the match at a RAW-brand house show, crowning La Résistance with their third reign.

On February 4, 2005, Regal and new tag team partner Tajiri defeated La Résistance to win the World Tag Team Championship on an episode of RAW, broadcast live from Tajiri's home country of Japan.

La Résistance repeatedly attempted to regain the gold (mainly on Sunday Night Heat) from Regal and Tajiri in many different matches, but just fell short during each one. During the "last shot" for Regal and Tajiri's gold, La Résistance thought they had won back the titles, only to have the decision reversed by referee Mike Chioda due to La Résistance not pinning the legal man. After winning this match Regal issued an open challenge to any tag team in the world to come after their belts. On the following episode of RAW, Regal and Tajiri successfully defended the belts against the debuting Romeo and Antonio, known collectively as "The Heart Throbs."

On May 1, 2005, at Backlash, Regal & Tajiri participated in a "Tag-Team Turmoil" match in which four teams competed for the World tag team titles. Regal & Tajiri were eliminated by La Résistance who, in turn, were eliminated by Hurricane and Rosey, who became the new champions.

Shortly before ECW One Night Stand, Regal announced that he was joining Eric Bischoff's anti-ECW faction to invade the pay-per-view, and told Tajiri he had to make a choice-- to join with Regal or join with ECW. Tajiri responded by chanting, "EC-Dub! EC-Dub!" Regal did indeed invade the ECW pay-per-view, along with many other WWE performers. Not long after this Regal was sent to SmackDown! in an 11-person trade as part of the draft on June 30, 2005, leaving his tag team partner Tajiri behind.

Regal's first match on Smackdown! was scheduled for July 7, 2005 against Matt Morgan, in what was to be Morgan's final WWE match. It was interrupted before Regal was even able to enter the ring by the Mexicools. His first actual match on Smackdown! was a loss to Chris Benoit in a lengthy chain wrestling match on the July 16, 2005 episode of WWE Velocity. His autobiography Walking a Golden Mile came out in July 2005.

On August 4th, 2005 Regal was supposed to go one on one with Scotty 2 Hotty, but the Mexicools came in and attacked both men. Two weeks later Regal and Scotty 2 Hotty teamed up on Smackdown! in a tag team match against Psicosis and Super Crazy with Juventud Guerrera in their corner. In the middle of the match Regal turned heel once more by betraying Scotty by refusing to tag him plus walking out of the ring with a smirk on his face, allowing the Mexicools to pick up the win. On Velocity Regal cut a promo telling the crowd that he had returned to his former self a Britsh snob refering to himself as a "scoundrel" and a "rogue," this promo ended when Scotty ran to the ring and attacked Regal.

On the episode of WWE Velocity which aired on 27 August 2005, a match between William Regal and Scotty 2 Hotty was cut short when another Englishman, the debuting Paul Burchill, interrupted the match to aid his countryman in attacking Scotty.

Profile

• Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
• Weight: 247 lb (112 kg)
• Dominant hand: Left
• Professional debut: 1980
• Previous promotions: All Star Wrestling, Dale Martin Promotions
• Pevious identities: Lord Steven Regal, "Real Man's Man" Steven Regal, William Regal
• Previous managers: Sir William, Jeeves, Lady Ophelia
• Signature illegal objects: Brass knuckles, Union Jack flag pole

Finishing and signature moves

• Power Of The Punch ((Brass knuckles punch)
• Regal Stretch (Cross leg STF variation)
• Running high knee
• Regal Cutter / Union Jack Neckbreaker (Arm trap shoulder neckbreaker)
• Double underhook powerbomb
• European uppercut
• Double knee lift
• Regal Roll (Rolling fireman's carry slam)
• Exploder suplex

Job titles

• WWE Manager
• WWE Road Agent
• WWE Commissioner
• Alliance Commissioner

Trivia

• Matthews has battled alcoholism and a pain killer addiction in his career.
• His pets include two snakes, eight lizards and a tortoise.

Championships and accomplishments

World Wrestling Entertainment

• 1-Time WWE Intercontinental Champion
• 4-Time WWE European Champion
• 5-Time WWE Hardcore Champion
• 4-Time World Tag-Team Champion (2-time with Lance Storm, 1-time with Eugene, 1-time with Tajiri)

World Championship Wrestling

• 4-Time WCW World Television Champion

Memphis Championship Wrestling

• 1-Time MCW Southern Heavyweight Champion

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

• PWI ranked him # 196 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.

Books

Matthews, Darrin and Chandler, Neil (2005) Walking a Golden Mile, Pocket Books (ISBN-10:0-7434-7634-4)

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