Matt Ashburn

Matthew Conor Ashburn, better known as Matt Ashburn is an American e-wrestler that competed in OWW Takedown from summer 2007 to summer 2008 and then again briefly in early 2009. He is a former Takedown Challenge Champion and Tag Team Champion with Jose Ricardo. Currently Ashburn is inactive in the wrestling business.

He is widely considered to be one of the best wrestlers in Takedown history despite never having reached the main event. Ashburn's potential was and is seemingly limitless with many believing if he had been active for the full extent of the three years since his debut, he would have won the Takedown World Title at least once. He remains a feared figure in Takedown despite his absence, numerous victories over top stars like Schizjosenic and Ryan Evans have confirmed his ability is to be respected and revered.

Early life
Only sporadic details are known about Ashburn's early life although through his own anicdotes, some rough history is able to be pieced together. Ashburn was born December 25th, 1986 in New York City, America to Irish-American parents. He has described his childhood as very difficult, failing to fit in with social crowds at school and facing a drunken, abusive father at home. He was physically bullied and this pushed Ashburn to work out, one day striking out against his tormentors and putting one into intensive care. He left home at age eighteen.

The Smoking Youth
Matt Ashburn debuted in Takedown alongside Jose Ricardo as the Smoking Youth. They represented a new generation of exciting athletic wrestlers and soon gained a great deal of support with fans. After finishing third in an open gantlet, The Smoking Youth next defeated The X-Factor Rebels, Neon Hardy and The Sound. They then went on to defeat the East-West Connection, Ramon and Khali, for the Takedown Tag Team Titles. They held these titles for a few months, defending against teams like Big Brian and Jack Storm. Ashburn made impact in solo competition also, defeating Lojax, Seth Omega and Dash Blade in a Ladder match to guarantee a Challenge Title match at any time.

The Sickness
During the Smoking Youth's title match with Shock Carnage, Chris Shocker and Carnage Creed, Ashburn abandoned Jose Ricardo. The two-on-one odds were too much for Ricardo and he was pinned, making Shock Carnage the new Tag Team Champions. Later that night, Ashburn cashed in his Challenge Title shot after champion Stevo had beaten Steve Ace in a gruelling two out of three falls match. Ashburn quickly pinned Stevo to lift his first singles belt and then was joined in the ring by Johnny Hardcore, forming The Sickness. They went on to win the Crisis Cage bout against Ryan Evans & Derek Levy, Jose Ricardo & Joey Idol and Jack Storm & Zaib. Ashburn retained his Challenge Title in a singles match with Stevo but dropped it to him in their final bout, Ashburn's own creation, the Playground of Pain match. Ashburn abruptly quit Takedown after this summer PPV, citing backstage problems with management.

Return
Ashburn made his long-awaited comeback to Takedown as a fan favourite in early 2009 seeking revenge on all who had forced him out of the company and slurred his name in his absence. His first target was Bolton Stevens, forcing him out of action and sending a message to Derek Levy. In his first match in over half a year, Ashburn defeated Levy's friend Ryan Evans in a singles bout despite lashings of interference from Levy himself and Johnny Hyde. This non-title win over the Challenge Champion led many to believe this would be the start of Ashburn's push to the main event but later that night, multi-millionaire Takedown World Champion Shawn Stevens revealed he had bought Takedown. He started out by firing several wrestlers including Ashburn and Levy - those next in line for World Title shots. Matt has claimed this was done by Stevens to protect himself from legitimate threats to his belt.

Ashburn has not been heard from or seen since.

Wrestling details

 * Finishers
 * Headcase (Double underhook piledriver)
 * Closure (Arm-trap crossface)
 * Signature Moveset
 * Backhand slap to an opponent's face
 * Brainbuster
 * DDT variations
 * Inverted
 * Spike
 * Discuss clothesline
 * Double underhook backbreaker
 * Running lariat
 * Stuff of Legend (Death Valley driver)
 * Suplex variations
 * German
 * Release tiger
 * Snap
 * Twisted Visions (Twisting neckbreaker)


 * Managers
 * Ella Perez
 * Belle


 * Signature Weapon
 * Kendo stick


 * Nickname
 * The New Breed
 * The Angel of Death


 * Entrance Music
 * "Choke" by Kazy


 * Trained
 * PG Hewson

Championships and accomplishments

 * OWW Takedown
 * TD Tag Team Championship - with Jose Ricardo
 * TD Challenge Championship

Personal life
Matt Ashburn's 2008 romance with Belle, the seventeen year old daughter of bitter Takedown rival Stevo, created a great deal of controversy. Belle turned eighteen during the relationship and Ashburn made it very clear to Stevo what he'd be doing to his daughter on her birthday night. She also began wearing grungy gothic clothing like Ashburn. The romance ended during Ashburn's Playground of Pain match against Stevo when she turned on Ashburn, reuniting with her father and helping him escape the structure.

Ashburn's current relationship status is unknown.

Ashburn has drug problems which started in 2007 as he struggled to deal with the pressure of wrestling and fame. He has been addicted to cocaine and heroin in the past although whether he has managed to quit or not has not been reported.