Backstage Reaction To Buddy Matthews Joining AEW Revealed
Newest signee has made a good impression from the jump, was long rumored to join AEW.
When Buddy Murphy was released in June 2021, most fans believed it was only a matter of time before he landed in All Elite Wrestling and hopefully got the chance to shine that he never did in WWE.
Now that he's landed in AEW, Fightful Select has a report on how the newcomer has been received by his new colleagues. It turns out Buddy Matthews had discussions with AEW as far back as the fall, but he only debuted last week. During that time, Matthews has competed for New Japan Pro Wrestling, Major League Wrestling, PWG, and Battleground Championship Wrestling, among other companies. IMPACT Wrestling had made overtures to Buddy, but he never appeared for them.
Fightful notes that sources in AEW said Matthews "made a good impression upon arriving" at Dynamite last week. One incident that set well with people occurred when he nixed a spot he had planned when he discovered it involved him using someone else's finishing move. Considering the only distinctive move Matthews executed was a surfboard stomp onto a chair, it could be that he originally planned a Stomp on the chair, ala his former mentor Seth Rollins -- but AEW Women's Champion Britt Baker uses the Curb Stomp as a finisher.
In case you missed it, Matthews appeared after the House of Black lost their first tag match and attacked PAC and Penta Oscuro, seemingly joining former rival Malakai Black. He stomped Penta onto the chair as part of the attack.
According to the Fightful report, several roster members knew Buddy was coming into the company and that he would join the House of Black as early as three weeks before he signed. Here's hoping that Matthews, who dazzled during his few-and-far-between opportunities in WWE, gets a better opportunity to showcase his talent in AEW.