iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I'm working on an article about moves that wrestlers continue to use despite them being ineffective or backfiring consistently I'd love to have a big pile of examples to use so please let me know what comes to mind #wrestling

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Forgot to post over here for a while But I wrote about the most recent @progresswrestling.bsky.social show and you can read it here mattfromthemat.substack.com/p/progress-c...

mattfromthemat.substack.com

PROGRESS Chapter 197: Wrestling Over Everything

Some new directions form

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

I am trying to use this platform more, this year I'm writing about everybsingle @brucespringsteen.net album, one a week Should be really exciting open.substack.com/pub/mattlaur...

open.substack.com

The Springsteen Project: Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J.

Some brimstone, baritone, anticyclone, rolling stone

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Reposted by Matt from The Mat

Catch:Pro-Wrestling @catchprowres.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

Full show hits Patreon at 18:30

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

Anyone who knows about these things know why people in Facebook are insistent that Smoky Mountain Wrestling is still around?

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

I always forget to post things here but I wrote about Forbidden Door and I think its a pretty good piece and that you should go and read it 🤷‍♂️ open.substack.com/pub/mattfrom...

open.substack.com

AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2025

The fourth annual blurring of boundaries

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 24/08/2025

I've seen 6 people on the Forbidden Door card in the Bread Shed Two of them this year That's why supporting your local independent promotions is so cool

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 09/08/2025

Saturday afternoon retro wrestling show, chosen for me by a first vote wins poll Great show open.substack.com/pub/mattfrom...

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

Masterfully good book A level to aspire to

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

If your heart wasn't warmed by Dustin Rhodes getting that moment in his home state even just a little bit then I don't know what to say

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Pez Whatley getting a shout out at All In

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Something about imitation and flattery

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

Working in a field that's quite reliant on word of mouth is very hard when your work doesn't get shared around

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

My project to listen to every UK Number One single continues with 1955 A year dominated by a cowboy that also saw a new genre appear open.substack.com/pub/mattlaur...

open.substack.com

The Number One Project: 1955

There's a rumbling in the distance

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

Part two of what will end up being 70+ Please have a read so this mad idea I had doesn't prove wasted open.substack.com/pub/mattlaur...

open.substack.com

The Number One Project: 1954

More ballads, with added light opera

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 29/06/2025

I would tell you in great detail what I felt about Progress but I genuinely dont think anyone cares at this point

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 28/06/2025

Starting off my project to listen to every UK number One right at the beginning (where else) So please, have a read of what I thought about 1952 and 1953s biggest hits Anyone know the superstar below? open.substack.com/pub/mattlaur...

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

Launched a new music newsletter today, would mean a lot if you'd take a look I'm about to embark on a mission to listen to all 1400+ UK no.1 singles and if you sign up (it's free) you can read all about it And there'll be loads more as well open.substack.com/pub/mattlaur...

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

In 'Let's get ready to Rhumble' Ant & Dec I teoduce themselves as such, but the song is credited to PJ & Duncan Why?

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

About to embark on a ridiculous project to listen to (and comment on) every single UK number one single from the birth of the charts to the present day I will go insane at some point, probably before the 1950s are out 🤷‍♂️

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Reposted by Matt from The Mat

EVE Riot Grrrls of Wrestling @evewrestling.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

We reeaallly wish we got more traction here so we could stop having to the use the other place so much. Please do us a solid and spread the word to your followers. EVE is one of the longest running all-women's promotions in the world, 15 years strong, and produced by Will Ospreay Next show...

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

I keep seeing pieces proclaiming the pipebomb as a turning point, so I figured I'd evaluate it near its 14th anniversary this month open.substack.com/pub/mattfrom...

open.substack.com

You're Remembering It Wrong - The Pipebomb

The promo that changed the world?

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 22/06/2025

Strange day for weirdly insistent people arguing falsehoods First the Bull Nakano wrestled at Wembley Stadium people Now someone insistent that Fabulous Moolah wrestled at SummerSlam 92, he was there and everything

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 22/06/2025

If you're booking learning difficulties as a gimmick in 2025 you need your head wobbling RevPro can do better than that, much better

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Almost impossibly good at his best The word genius is easy to apply to a lot of people, it's rarely easier than attaching it to Brian Wilson

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

I'd love to watch some fantasy booking videos (slash videos generally discussing narrative techniques through that structure) But there only seems to be one person who does them 🤷‍♂️

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

What happens when I watch Money in the Bank with not even sleep behind me? Apparently the references get more obscure and I begin to contemplate writing about roller derby instead 🤷‍♂️ who knew open.substack.com/pub/mattfrom...

open.substack.com

WWE Money in the Bank 2025

Everything is sponsored

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

Honestly I'm shocked I can't think of any other time someone associated with 'punk' sold out their apparent values Oh, wait...

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Reposted by Matt from The Mat

Silent Fiend @silentfiend.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

Oh here we go

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Reposted by Matt from The Mat

Catch:Pro-Wrestling @catchprowres.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

Next show is 📆 16 June 2025 🏢 The Bread Shed 🚪 19:00 🎟 wegottickets.com/CATCHProWres... 🎫 Available at the Flour and Flagon and Grand Central, Manchester

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Probably the only connective tissue between these two is they passed on the same day but for very different reasons I'm grateful for the work they left us with

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 08/06/2025

There is an episode of South Park where the US Government starts the rumours that they caused 9/11 because people who believe that will then think the US government are cleverer and more powerful than they are This But R-Truths release/rehire

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 08/06/2025

When is cross promotion not cross promotion? When Worlds Collide, maybe? #wrestlesky #wrestling #worldscollide open.substack.com/pub/mattfrom...

open.substack.com

WWE/AAA Worlds Collide 2025

WWE goes Lucha Libre

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 08/06/2025

It was exactly what I expected People love him (rightly so in my opinion) But remember this when you hear "comedy doesn't belong in wrestling" takes from those same people

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

Weird but true story FKA Aiden English has an instagram where he reviews whiskey and he reviewed Conor McGregors I asked him (genuinely) if he was aware of what McGregor has done and if he's happy having his brand associated with that And he removed the comments

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

Will he very interesting to see the online reception to Mr Iguana Because everything he does feels like the stuff that WWE hardcores would denounce if they saw it outside their walls (I love it by the way)

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

The former Mojo Rawley has "Former WWE Champion" in his bio as a talent agent That's where capital letters become important He's a former WWE champion (7x24/7 champ) but not a WWE Champion (ie a holder of the WWE Championship)

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

If you ever called Mariah May 'Temu Tiffany Stratton' or something similar, it will be noted when you suddenly think she's awesome now she's in NXT

media.tenor.com

a woman in a santa hat is pointing at another woman in a wrestling ring .

ALT: a woman in a santa hat is pointing at another woman in a wrestling ring .

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

I think R-Truth getting released is super sad but can people stop saying he got a main event on his way out (especially saying it was a PLE) The match with Cena wasn't the main event (and SNME is TV)

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

If you ever need to know about editorial standards (and how hard Alfred Konuwa works) this write up says Brodie Lee returned and hasn't been edited yet 🤷‍♂️

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

In general the "just because a podcaster once theorised" line is relevant to a lot of the stupid discourse we get in wrestling

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

I can't even escape wrestling references when I go out for food [The restaurant is called Tamatanga, it's very good]

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

Wrestling companies Please proof read your announcements I can even do it for you 🤷‍♂️

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 25/05/2025

Don't have the time today to do a full piece about Saturday Night's Main Event but I have thoughts...

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

There is a really interesting history of the "ECW Reunion show" subgenre that I'd love to dig into Has any other company had so many tribute shows?

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

Important context being that 1000 people were polled The population of the USA is 340 million

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

I used to think being a social media manager was one of those stupid jobs that didn't really require much But seeing how many errors people make on basic levels, still I have a new respect Unrelated, am now taking work as a social media manager

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Matt from The Mat @mattfromthemat.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

Ready to get really in the weeds with my writing now I've got my work space sorted I would say "let's get ready to rumble" but I'm not paying the license fee to Michael Buffer so I won't

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