Kyle Matthews

American professional wrestler from Austell, Georgia known for his work for a variety of promotions under his own name and for his brief run in CHIKARA in 2012 as 17, the leader of GEKIDO. Debuted in 2005 for Pro Wrestling Evolution in Georgia and went on to compete for NWA Anarchy Wrestling (Georgia), NWA Prime Time (Georgia), Rampage Pro Wrestling (Georgia), CHIKARA (a loss to Lince Dorado at "CHIKARA Young Lions Cup VI Night II" on June 14, 2008), Premiere Wrestling Xperience (North Carolina), Ring of Honor, Dragon Gate USA, ZERO-1 and several other promotions. At "CHIKARA A Death Worse Than Fate" on February 25, 2012, the Throwbacks (Dasher Hatfield and "Mr. Touchdown" Mark Angelosetti) defeated the Colony (Fire Ant and Soldier Ant) by disqualification when a guy in a Green Ant mask ran out and pushed Hatfield off the top turnbuckle. The following night at "CHIKARA Caught in the Spider's Den," Mike Quackenbush (Mike Spillane), Jigsaw (Ed McGuckin) and the Colony (Fire Ant and Soldier Ant) defeated the BDK (Tim Donst and Jakob Hammermeier) and the Batiri (Obariyon and Kodama) by disqualification when the man in the Green Ant mask appeared again, with Green Ant himself following to show that it wasn't him, and the man attacking Quackenbush. This man was followed by a man in a purple and black mask (the Shard (John Silver)), who attacked Jigsaw, and three ants (the Swarm), one blue (assailANT (Nelson Ortiz), one yellow (combatANT), and one purple (deviANT), who attacked the Colony. The man in the Green Ant mask removed it to reveal a blue and yellow mask. This was 17, and this was the debut of GEKIDO. GEKIDO were presented as evil counterparts to those five tecnico (face/good guy) wrestlers, with 17 claiming that his name represented the "17 forgotten holds" that he knew that Quackenbush, "The Master of a Thousand Holds," didn't know. GEKIDO went on a rampage, injuring people left and right. CHIKARA posted videos on its YouTube channel promoting the debut of a wrestler named Tianlong. At "CHIKARA Hot Off the Griddle" on April 28, 2012, Tianlong debuted in a match with 17. 17 not only squashed him in a mere 1:05, he also legitimately injured him, leaving him with a torn rotator cuff, meaning that his debut was his only match ever. At "CHIKARA Aniversario: A Horse of Another Color" on May 19th, 2012, GEKIDO defeated the Spectral Envoy (UltraMantis Black and Hallowicked), Icarus (Ronald Grams), Mister Zero (Bradley Fry) and Dragonfly, with 17 forcing Dragonfly to submit to a Lateral Crab, injuring him and sending him into retirement. At "CHIKARA The Ring of Wax" on August 18, 2012, GEKIDO (17 and the Shard) defeated Mike Quackenbush and Jigsaw when referee PJ Drummond disqualified Quackenbush for Castigo Excesivo ("Excessive Punishment.") This would be Matthews' last appearance as 17. He made one more appearance for CHIKARA, as himself in a loss to Ace Haven in an NWA Pro South showcase match at "CHIKARA Deep Freeze" on October 6th, 2012. Because of CHIKARA's strict enforcement of Kayfabe, it was not acknowledged that Matthews had been 17. Continues to compete for a variety of promotions, mainly in the South. Among his in-ring achievements, he is a former AIWF (Allied Independent Wrestling Federations in North Carolina) World Heavyweight Champion, a former GCW (Great Championship Wrestling) Heavyweight Champion, a former GCW Interstate Champion, a former GCW Tag Team Champion with Bobby Moore, NWA PSW (Peach State Wrestling) Heavyweight Champion, a former NWA PSW All-Out Champion and a former NWA PSW Tag Team Champion.