When Matt Hyson debuted in ECW as Spike Dudley in August 1996 to join the increasingly eclectic hillbilly family of the Dudleys, he quickly developed a reputation as a heroic underdog a giant killer. Well, almost anyone was a giant to Spike. The highlight of his ECW career saw him thrown bodily from the ring by Bam Bam Bigelow, only to have the hardcore faithful in the crowd catch him, and crowdsurf him back into contention again. Dudley would go on to win that match, and after his storyline brothers Bubba Ray and Devon turned on him, he would have exciting underdog matches with them too, winning the ECW tag team titles twice in 1999 while teaming with Balls Mahoney. When Devon and Bubba Ray got the call to WWF and ECW folded, Hyson was despondent until, strangely, he too got the call. Spike Dudley debuted in professional wrestlings land of the giants, a scrawny 140 pounds, and continued as if hed never left off, joining his brothers once more only to engage in further blood feuds with them on and off for the next few years. Always exciting and bloody, their gimmicked matches became a highlight for many viewers, the fearless Hyson willing to do anything to get the match over and the always-underrated Devon and Bubba Ray likewise completely committed.
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.
