Currently wrestling for AAAs Lucha Underground under a mask as Son Of Havoc, Cross (whos also known under the names Matt Cross and M-Dogg 20) has wrestled some of the current biggest names in the business, and has been a friend of CM Punks since their IWA days. Well, the pair have plenty in common: Cross has the same visceral love of punk rock as Phil Brooks, and both men have identified as straight edge since their teenage years. Cross was a high school gymnast, and one of the obsessive type: hed train for four hours a day, four days a week. It was the incredible Energy by Operation Ivy that solidified his love of punk: he recalls discovering the album for the first time and going nuts, convinced that all other music was dead to him. Thats when he first heard of the straight edge movement, and began listening to bands like Minor Threat and Earth Crisis, finding overwhelming points of identification in the lyrics. As he began exploring the local hardcore scene, hed find similar points of identification with the weekly storylines being played out on ECW. The raw, in-your-face noise of it all: small, cramped venues, the smell of sweat and blood and the sheer excitement as the crowd became as much a part of the event as the performers that description could have applied to his experience of punk rock or pro wrestling. Playing drums in a Misfits covers band, Cross uses the same font as their logo on his wrestling gear and merchandise. To him, the sense of mystery and danger the classic Danzig era lineup presented are paralleled in pro wrestlings outlandish characters. Hes friends with Against Me!, and claims to have squicked out both Neville and Sami Zayn, both punk and ska fans, with his love of Japanese industrial punk revolutionaries G.I.S.M. - he played the band to the pair while driving with them and they couldnt handle it. Theres no punk fan in the world that doesnt secretly love freaking people out with some of the stuff they listen to. While others might talk the talk, Matt Cross walks the walk. Last year he won ECWAs long running Super 8 tournament, and Lucha Underground is set for a second season very soon. Oh, and his beard is bigger and gnarlier than Daniel Bryans.
Professional writer, punk werewolf and nesting place for starfish. Obsessed with squid, spirals and story. I publish short weird fiction online at desincarne.com, and tweet nonsense under the name Jack The Bodiless. You can follow me all you like, just don't touch my stuff.
