Adams was trained by Carlo Cannon.[5] He made his debut on 8 September 2007 as "Matt Silva", at Professional Championship Wrestling (PCW), where he teamed with Jacko Lantern to defeatAdam Brooks and Diaz.[9] He won the PCW State Championship by defeating Danny Psycho on 3 December 2010.[10][11] He was also a mainstay inMelbourne City Wrestling (MCW), where he won theMCW World Heavyweight Championship by defeating Slex on 28 January 2012.[12] He held the championship for 293 days.[13]
In August 2014, Murphy formeda tag team with Wesley Blake. On 14 August episode ofNXT, they were defeated in the first round of a number one contender tag team tournament by TheLucha Dragons (Kalisto andSin Cara).[15] For the rest of 2014, they lost multiple matches to The Lucha Dragons and TheVaudevillains (Aiden English andSimon Gotch).[16][17][18][19] Also in October 2014, they lost a number one contender tag team battle royal, being eliminated by The Ascension.[20]
On 21 January 2015 episode ofNXT, Blake and Murphy defeated The Vaudevillains and quickly challenged The Lucha Dragons to a title match. On 28 January episode ofNXT, Blake and Murphy defeated the champions to win theNXT Tag Team Championship, making Murphy the first Australian to hold a championship in WWE.[21] AtNXT TakeOver: Rival, Blake and Murphy, now billed simply by their surnames, defeated the Lucha Dragons in a rematch for the title.[22] Following that in March, Blake and Murphy began a feud withEnzo Amore and Colin Cassady, who were intent on capturing the tag titles.[23] Blake and Murphy attempted to wooCarmella on several occasions.[24] On 13 May episode ofNXT, Blake and Murphy distracted Carmella during her match withAlexa Bliss, causing her to lose.[25] AtNXT TakeOver: Unstoppable, during Amore and Cassady's NXT Tag Team Championship match against Blake and Murphy, Alexa Bliss came out mid-match and attacked Carmella and Amore, ensuring the win for Blake and Murphy.[26] After making several successful title defences, Blake and Murphy lost the championships to the Vaudevillians atNXT TakeOver: Brooklyn, ending their reign at 219 days.[27][28]
On 18 May 2016 episode ofNXT, after losing toAustin Aries andShinsuke Nakamura, Bliss and then Blake walked away from Murphy, teasing a split for the team.[29] On 1 June episode ofNXT, his ring name was reverted to Buddy Murphy, where he was defeated byTye Dillinger.[30] On 15 June episode ofNXT, Blake and Murphy reunited, but after a miscommunication between the two, they were defeated byTM-61 (Nick Miller andShane Thorne).[31] The following week, Murphy announced himself as a singles competitor by interrupting Shinsuke Nakamura, leading to a match with Nakamura, which Murphy lost.[32] On 4 January 2017 episode ofNXT, Murphy teamed with Tye Dillinger to defeatBobby Roode and Elias Samson, and this turned out to be Murphy's last televised appearance in NXT, before being called up to main roster.[33]
In early 2018, Murphy lost about 25 pounds and asked to compete on the205 Live brand.[34] On 20 February episode of205 Live, he made his debut as a participant in theCruiserweight Championship tournament, defeatingAriya Daivari in the first round but lost toMustafa Ali in the quarterfinals.[35] On 27 March episode of205 Live, Murphy defeatedTJP,Akira Tozawa,Kalisto in a fatal four-way match for a future shot at theCruiserweight Championship. On 10 April episode of205 Live, Murphy attacked new WWE Cruiserweight ChampionCedric Alexander from behind, starting a feud between the two.[36] However, Murphy failed his mandatory weigh-in and was removed from the match and the205 Live roster until he met the weight requirement. On 8 May episode of205 Live, Murphy defeated Ali in a rematch from their Cruiserweight Championship tournament quarterfinal match.[37]
He started a storyline where he had to lose weight, challenging Alexander for the title on 29 May episode of205 Live, where he failed to win the title.[38] The following week, he had a match with Mustafa Ali that ended in a no-contest after both men were attacked byHideo Itami,[39] who won a triple threat match against both men the following week.[40] On 3 July episode of205 Live, he lost to Ali in aNo Disqualification match.[41] He then went on to form a tag team withTony Nese and they subsequently feuded with Lucha House Party (Gran Metalik,Lince Dorado andKalisto).[42] On 6 October atSuper Show-Down in his hometown of Melbourne, Murphy defeated Alexander to win the Cruiserweight Championship, his first singles title in WWE, the first Australian man to accomplish this feat.[43]
Murphy subsequently retained the title against Mustafa Ali atSurvivor Series and Alexander atTLC, respectively.[44][45] On 27 January 2019, Murphy successfully defended his title in a fatal four-way match against Akira Tozawa, Kalisto andHideo Itami at theRoyal Rumble Kickoff Show after pinning Itami.[46] On 17 February, Murphy retained his title against Tozawa atElimination Chamber.[47] At theWrestleMania 35 Kickoff Show, he lost his title to former partner Tony Nese, ending his reign at 183 days. Prior to this loss, Murphy had been undefeated in televised singles matches dating back to July 2018.[48] On 9 April episode of205 Live, Murphy was again defeated by Nese in a rematch for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship.[49]
On 16 April, Murphy was drafted to theSmackDownbrand as part of theSuperstar Shake-up.[50] He participated in the51-Man Battle Royal atSuper ShowDown, but was unsuccessful.[51][52] On 30 July episode ofSmackDown, a stack of scaffolding fell ontoRoman Reigns backstage. Murphy was shown in the background of the event.[53] The following week, Reigns confronted Murphy about his involvement in the event. After being physically intimidated by Reigns, Murphy revealed thatRowan was Reigns' mystery attacker.[54] AtSummerSlam, Murphy defeatedApollo Crews bydisqualification, after Rowan attacked him mid-match.[55] On 19 August, Murphy was announced as one of sixteen competitors in theKing of the Ring tournament.[56] Murphy facedMustafa Ali in the first round on 27 August episode ofSmackDown Live, where he was eliminated.[57]
Starting 2020, Murphy began to work withSeth Rollins under the character of his disciple,[68] winning theWWE Raw Tag Team Championship.[69] On 7 February, his ring name was shortened back to simplyMurphy after he requested when WWE producer Michael Hayes told him the name Buddy sounds too friendly.[70][2][71] Murphy and Rollins successfully defended their titles against TheStreet Profits atSuper ShowDown on 27 February,[72] but eventually lost the titles to them in a rematch on 2 March episode ofRaw. Their reign ended at 42 days.[73] Murphy and Rollins failed to reclaim the championship from the team atElimination Chamber six days later.[74]
In May, Murphy and Rollins started a feud with Rey Mysterio and his family, as well as Aleister Black.[75][76] AtPayback, Murphy and Rollins lost to Mysterio and his sonDominik Mysterio, after Murphy accidentally kicked Rollins, costing them the match.[77] On 15 September episode ofRaw, Rollins attacked Murphy after Murphy cost Rollins in a steel cage match against Dominik,[78] leading to Murphy getting closer with Rey Mysterio's daughter, Aalyah.[79] As part of the2020 Draft in October, Murphy was drafted to the SmackDown brand.[80] The storyline continued when after Aalyah kissed Murphy.[81] On 13 November episode ofSmackDown, Murphy turned on Rollins, thus turning himface.[82] Murphy defeated Rollins the following week onSmackDown to end the feud.[83] The love storyline between Murphy and Aalyah was dropped shortly after, and Murphy was taken off television.[84] Murphy returned on 5 March 2021 episode ofSmackDown, trying to reunite with Seth Rollins againstCesaro to which Rollins rebuffed. Murphy then lost a match against Cesaro. Murphy's last WWE appearance took place on 9 April 2021, WrestleMania Edition of SmackDown in theAndré the Giant Memorial Battle Royal having been eliminated byKing Corbin. On 2 June 2021, Murphy was released from his WWE contract.[85]
In 2022, Matthews returned toMelbourne City Wrestling in the Ballroom Brawl event, winning the right to face Mitch Waterman for the MCW World Heavyweight Championship. Matthews then defeated Mitch Waterman to win his second MCW World Heavyweight Championship, at The House Always Wins event.[89]
On 1 May 2024 episode ofDynamite, Matthews unsuccessfully challengedAdam Copeland for theAEW TNT Championship.[94] On 15 June episode ofCollision, the House of Black won a #1 contenders' match forThe Patriarchy's AEW World Trios Championships. After the match, Patriarchy leaderChristian Cage appeared on the titantron and revealed that they had attacked Matthews with a con-chair-to, turning the entire House of Black stable face for the first time.[95] On 25 August at All In, the House of Black participated in the ladder match for the AEW World Trios Championships, but failed to win.[96]
On 22 January 2025 episode ofDynamite, a vignette aired of King, Matthews andJulia Hart silently kicking Black out of the group and as leader, stating "that they are done living in the shadows and that it is time to honor themselves with no leaders, no masters, no gods".[97] On 25 January episode ofCollision, the group was renamed to the "Hounds of Hell".[citation needed] On 15 February atGrand Slam Australia, Matthews unsuccessfully challengedKazuchika Okada for theAEW Continental Championship.[98] After the match, Matthews revealed that he had suffered an ankle injury during his entrance, leaving him out of action indefinitely.[99][100]
Adams was engaged to American professional wrestler Alexis Cabrera, better known by the ring nameAlexa Bliss.[104] It was reported that the two ended their engagement in September 2018, but still remain friends.[105]
He later began a relationship with fellow Australian wrestler Demi Bennett, known professionally asRhea Ripley.[106] They married in June 2024.[107]
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