 Dudley in 2005 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Matthew Jonathan Hyson (1970-08-13)August 13, 1970 (age 55) Buffalo, New York, U.S.[2] |
| Alma mater | Skidmore College |
Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Spike Dudley Matt Hyson Brother Runt |
| Billed height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)[1] |
| Billed weight | 150 lb (68 kg)[1] |
| Billed from | Dudleyville New York City |
| Trained by | Ric Thompson Taz |
| Debut | 1994[2] |
| Retired | 2023 |
Matthew Jonathan Hyson (born August 13, 1970) is an American semi-retiredprofessional wrestler best known for his tenure inWorld Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) asSpike Dudley. Prior to WWE, Hyson began performing as Spike Dudley in the 1990s withExtreme Championship Wrestling (ECW); the Spike Dudley character being a member of TheDudley Brothers. As part of a storyline, fellow membersBubba Ray Dudley andD-Von Dudley betrayed the faction to form a separateDudley Boyz tag team; resulting in Hyson and members being involved in a subsequentfeud with the duo.[3]
The Dudley Boyz would eventually leave ECW for theWorld Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1999. Meanwhile, Hyson remained in ECW, and during his time held two reigns asECW World Tag Team Champion alongsideBalls Mahoney. The promotion fell into bankruptcy in 2001, which led Hyson to join the WWF, where he reconciled with Ray and D-Von. Hyson would appear with hiskayfabe brothers on-and-off, as well as capturing theWWF Tag Team Championship withTazz. Hyson also held theEuropean Championship once andHardcore Championship eight times in 2002. He would go on to team with Ray and D-Von following this, and would then have a singles career in the promotion from 2004 to 2005, notably holding theCruiserweight Championship.[4]
In 2005, Hyson was released from his WWE contract. After a brief stint on the independent circuit and becoming a trainer at The Lock-Up Wrestling School, Hyson would joinTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) changing his ring name toBrother Runt due to WWE retaining the Dudley trademark. He once again teamed with Ray and Devon who had joined the promotion a few months prior to him; as well as feuding withAbyss. Following his release from TNA in the summer of 2007, Hyson continued to work as a trainer, and would continue to compete on the independent circuit simply asMatt Hyson until 2010 where he stopped training and performing on a full-time basis, with his final match occurring in 2015.
In May 1993, Hyson enteredAll Pro Wrestling's "Boot Camp" inHayward, California to train as areferee andmanager. He quickly began training to be a wrestler as well and spent the next three years wrestling forindependentCaliforniapromotions.
Hyson debuted inExtreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) on September 14, 1996, atWhen Worlds Collide II.[5] He was introduced as afan favorite under the ring name "Little" Spike Dudley, as one of theDudley Brothers.[6] In his debut match, Spike teamed with hisstoryline brotherBubba Ray Dudley to defeat The Erotic Experience (GQ Gorgeous and Pat Day). He made his televised debut in ECW on the October 1 episode ofHardcore TV. Hisin-ring persona was that of the "runt" of the family.[6] His initials LSD and finishing move, theAcid Drop were both drug references and, at times, he would stare at his hands waving in front of him as if he were on atrip.
AtCrossing the Line Again on February 1, 1997, Bubbaturned on the Dudley family by aligning withD-Von Dudley and hitting aDudley Death Drop on Spike and forming thetag teamThe Dudley Boyz. This also resulted in Spike becoming the first recipient of theDudley Death Drop or3D.[7] As a result, Spike began a lengthy on-and-offscripted rivalry with them which continued for two years.[6]
Spike would lose to Dudley Boyz' allyAxl Rotten on a few occasions atWinter Blowout[8] andCyberSlam.[9] During the summer of 1997, Spike teamed withMikey Whipwreck and got involved in a mini feud withPG-13, which resulted in Dudley and Whipwreck defeating PG-13 atHeat Wave.[10] Dudley's first high-profile feud began withBam Bam Bigelow when Dudley defeated Bigelow to score an upset win atBorn to be Wired.[11] He quickly gained thenickname "The Giant Killer", as he would bebooked to scorequick wins against larger and heavier opponents. Dudley lost to Bigelow in a rematch in hispay-per-view debut atHardcore Heaven. AtAs Good as It Gets, Dudley lost to Bigelow in a match. The match was notable for a very interesting moment in not only Hyson's career but in ECW history in general, in which Bigelow threw him from the ring over the top rope and into the crowd. The fans caught him and proceeded tobody surf him around theECW Arena.[12][13] This incident was incorporated into theHardcore TV introduction for years.
Teaming with multiple people, includingTommy Dreamer,The Sandman,New Jack, andNova, he defeated them to win theECW World Tag Team Championship with his partnerBalls Mahoney on two occasions in 1999.[6][14]
He was also in themain event on some occasions, such as the2000 Guilty as Charged pay-per-view, where he facedMike Awesome for theECW World Heavyweight Championship, in a losing effort.[15] During the match, however, he injured his knee, and after aggravating the injury in subsequent matches with Awesome andLance Storm was forced to take several months off to recuperate.[6] He returned in June 2000[6] as the ECW Commissioner and returned to in-ring action at theNovember to Remember event of that year, relinquishing his role as commissioner. Hyson stayed with ECW until it folded in 2001.[12]
Dudley joined the WWF in 2001, aligning with his half-brothers, Bubba Ray and D-Von. With his brothers in the middle of a three-way feud for theWWF Tag Team Championship with theHardy Boyz andEdge & Christian, Dudley frequently battled withLita andRhyno to try and help their respective team win (Lita managed The Hardy Boyz while Rhyno managed Edge & Christian). Notably all three were heavily involved in theTables, Ladders and Chairs (TLC) match atWrestleMania X-Seven. Although Dudley inadvertently saved Lita from being taken out by Rhyno, Dudley later took a hard chair shot to the head from Lita (who was later taken out by Bubba Ray and D-Von) and was then taken out by Jeff Hardy when he performed a Swanton Bomb off a 20-foot ladder and landed on 2 parallel tables with Rhyno on one and Dudley on the other with Jeff mostly landing on Dudley's table.[16]
After WrestleMania, The Dudley Boyz began a feud withThe Holly Cousins. During this time, Dudley began a relationship withMolly Holly, which led to the Dudleys turning on him and putting Holly through a table.[17] On the June 14 episode ofSmackDown!, Dudley was given his first opportunity at theWWF Championship, in a losing effort againstStone Cold Steve Austin.[18] DuringThe Invasion, Dudley remained loyal to WWF, despite being an ECW alumnus. It was during The Invasion that his relationship with Molly came to an end when she turned on him, aligning herself withHurricane Helms and joiningThe Alliance.
Between May 2001 and January 2002, Dudley formed short-lived tag teams in an attempt to defeat his brothers. On the January 7, 2002, edition ofRaw, Dudley andTazz defeated The Dudley Boyz for the WWF Tag Team Championship,[19] and successfully retained them at theRoyal Rumble. They dropped the titles toBilly and Chuck on the February 21 episode ofSmackDown!.[20] Dudley next entered theHardcore Championship picture, winning the championship eight times, including atWrestleMania X8 (though he never held the championship for more than a day, due to the "24/7 rule.") He also defeatedWilliam Regal for theEuropean Championship on the April 8 episode ofRaw, and held the championship for a month before losing it back to Regal.[21]
As 2002 went along, Spike and Bubba began to team together again and feuded withThe Un-Americans while also pursuing the WWE Tag Team Championship. By the end of the year, D-Von had rejoined his brothers, and they feuded with3-Minute Warning. Dudley was injured after a missedspot during a 10-man tag match onRaw in September 2003.La Résistance threw Dudley to the outside but Dudley missed the table that he was supposed to crash through. After some time away from the ring, Spike returned and defeatedRené Duprée to get revenge for the injury.[6]
In 2004, Dudley was drafted to theSmackDown! brand, where he immediately began challenging for theWWE Cruiserweight Championship.[22] On the July 29 episode ofSmackDown!, he defeatedRey Mysterio for the championship with interference from his brothers, thus turning into aheel. He then began to wrestle as the "boss" of the Dudley Boyz.[6] The Dudleys defeated Mysterio,Billy Kidman andPaul London in a six-man tag team match atSummerSlam. He continued to defend his championship throughout the year, before eventually losing the Cruiserweight Championship toFunaki atArmageddon.[23]
He made his last appearance with WWE atECW One Night Stand on June 12, 2005, helping the Dudleys win their tag team match.[24] At the event, Spike was dressed like his old ECW character (tie-dyed shirt and overalls) but still portrayed his WWE "Boss" character. Dudley was released from his WWE contract on July 5, 2005, along with seven other wrestlers in what was thought to have been a cost-cutting measure by the company.[25] Bubba and D-Von also departed the company after ECW One Night Stand.
Hyson debuted inTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling on the April 14, 2006, episode ofTNA Impact!, preventingEric Young from driving Brother Devon through a table and attacking each member ofTeam Canada.[26] Hyson then celebrated with Brother Devon and Brother Ray, with him identifying him as "Brother Spike" and then "Brother Runt".[6] AtLockdown, Runt and Team 3D defeated Team Canada in a Six Sides of SteelAnthem match. Brother Runt continued to be a part of Team 3D during feud withAbyss and theJames Gang and atVictory Road, Runt and Team 3D lost a six-man tag to The James Gang and Abyss. AtHard Justice, Runt lost to Abyss. On the August 31 episode ofImpact!, Runt lost to Abyss in a 10,000 Thumbtacks match.
In June 2006, Hyson represented TNA in Japan with theHustle federation, where he, alongside Ray and Devon, defeatedKouhiro Kanemura,Masato Tanaka andTomoaki Honma twice in 3-on-3 tag-team matches.
At UFW's "Hardcore War" show, Spike stated that he had been sent a contract to compete at WWE'sECW One Night Stand. Spike took out the contract and tore it into pieces in front of the live crowd stating that he was remaining loyal to TNA.
Through the rest of the year, Brother Runt continued to feud with Abyss and several other heavyweight wrestlers while having a short-lived alliance withRaven (Raven saved Brother Runt from being smashed through two stacked tables covered in thumbtack-covered boards from Abyss, before throwing Abyss in himself), before he turned on Raven on September 15, 2006.[27] In September and October 2006 Hyson had formed a new look, very similar to Travis Bickle in the hit 1976movieTaxi Driver complete with Bickle's trademark green army jacket andmohawk. AtNo Surrender, Brother Runt competed in a No Disqualification 3-Way Dance which was won by Abyss, AtBound for Glory, Brother Runt competed in a fatal four way Monster's Ball match which was won bySamoa Joe. On the December 21 episode ofImpact! Brother Runt made his first TNA appearance in a while dressed up as Santa Claus, and was subsequently beaten down byThe Latin American Xchange (LAX) until being saved by Eric Young,Sonjay Dutt,Jay Lethal, andPetey Williams.[28] On the January 4 episode ofImpact!, Runt lost toHomicide in a Mexican Street Fight.
AtFinal Resolution on January 21, 2007, a drunk Brother Runt cost his Team 3D teammates theirNWA World Tag Team Championship match against LAX (Latin American Exchange) by jumping onto Homicide.[29] Runt soon returned to the April 12 episode ofImpact! after being attacked by LAX backstage. He was mocked byKonnan who fired ataser gun at him causing Brother Runt to roll around in pain.[30] On August 15, 2007, Runt was released from TNA after several months of inactivity.
On April 16, 2009, Brother Runt and Balls Mahoney appeared onTNA Impact! to wish Team 3D luck in their match atLockdown. They later were attacked byBeer Money, Inc. On March 15, 2010's episode ofImpact! in a six-man tag team match, he and Team 3D were defeated byThe Nasty Boys andJimmy Hart.[31] On August 4, 2010, it was confirmed that Hyson would be taking part in TNA's ECW reunion show,Hardcore Justice.[32] At Hardcore Justice Hyson, was defeated byRhino in a three-way match, which also includedAl Snow.[33]
On January 17, 2013, Hyson made an appearance onTNAImpact Wrestling as one ofBully Ray'sgroomsmen during his wedding toBrooke Hogan. He was assaulted byAces & Eights after they crashed the ceremony.[34] On March 19, 2013, Runt appeared at TNAHardcore Justice 2, teaming withJeff Hardy to defeat Team 3D (Bully Ray and Devon) in atag teamtables match, which aired on July 5, 2013.[35]
Hyson appeared during the entrance of Team 3D atBound for Glory (2025), billed as "Brother Runt", but also credited as "Spike Dudley", as TNA were allowed to use the Dudley trademarks due to their partnership with WWE.[36]
Upon leaving WWE, he billed himself as Matt Hyson and performed at independent shows, mainlyTop Rope Promotions inMassachusetts. He also joined the roster for Squared Circle Wrestling (2CW) inSyracuse, New York and the New York Wrestling Connection inDeer Park, New York. Hyson also went on to wrestle atShane Douglas'Hardcore Homecoming, as well as guest featuring at shows with large amounts of talent fromTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), mainly theUWF (UWF Live); this building speculation that Hyson would be signing with the TNA promotion.[37] Whilst under contract with TNA, Hyson was permitted to continue his work for independent wrestling companies, and would use his TNA ringname Brother Runt instead of Matt Hyson.
In mid-2006, Hyson trained professional wrestlers at Top Rope Promotions inFall River, Massachusetts[38] until 2010.
After he parted ways with TNA, Hyson became a teacher at The Lock-Up Wrestling School, run by Top Rope Promotions, as well as performing with Big Time Wrestling (BTW).[2] He would be billed as Spike Dudley, Brother Runt or Matt Hyson depending on the promotion.[39]
Hyson notably reunited with Ray and Devon on the independent circuit in June 2008 for a one-off match inDanbury, Connecticut for Big Time Wrestling. This was the first time he would partner with Ray and Devon since his departing from TNA, and the penultimate time he would partner with them before the trio teamed together for the last time in 2010 on an episode ofTNA Impact.[40]
Hyson held the Big Time Wrestling Heavyweight Title from January to August 2010 when he lost the title toShane Douglas inWebster, Massachusetts after Douglas hit Hyson with a chain. Hyson wrestled at a Real Action Wrestling event inSt. Albans, Vermont on September 11, 2010, where he lost to Shane Williams. Hyson decided that he would retire from making frequent wrestling appearances after this bout, and would only work occasional shows. He had a two-year hiatus, before returning to the indie scene in 2012 for 2CW.[41]
Hyson wrestled his last match to date in December 3, 2023, at LIVE Pro Wrestling's Whaling City Rumble event, where he and tag team mates Little Mean Kathleen and Teddy Goodz defeated the Cosmic Cuties (Aaron Rourke, Ava Everett and LSG).[42]
He appeared as a guest on the WWE "Straight Outta Dudleyville" DVD set in 2016.[citation needed]
In the documentaryBeyond the Mat, a heavily bleeding Hyson delivers the line "I shall, I do," (Henry IV of England's response to a request by Sir John Falstaff in the Shakespearean playHenry IV, Part 1) when questioned regarding his favorite quote from Shakespeare.
Hyson made his video game debut inECW Hardcore Revolution. He would also appear inECW Anarchy Rulz,WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It,WWF Raw,WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth,WWE Raw 2,WWE WrestleMania 21 andWWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006.[43]
Prior to his wrestling career, Hyson received a bachelor of arts degree fromSkidmore College inSaratoga Springs, New York. Hyson was a third-grade teacher's assistant in San Francisco, California before getting into the wrestling business.[44] He works as a financial transition specialist.[12]
He and his wife, Vikki, have a daughter and son together.[12]
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