The eWrestling Encyclopedia
The eWrestling Encyclopedia
Advertisement
Erick Matthews
Image of Erick Matthews
Statistics
Real name {{{realname}}}
Ring Names Erick Kennylz
Karnage
Height {{{height}}}
Weight {{{weight}}}
Date of birth Januray, 25th, 1983
Place of birth Somerville, Massachusetts Flag of the United States
Date of death {{{death_date}}}
Place of death {{{death_place}}}
Resides Boston, Massachusetts Flag of the United States
Billed from {{{billed_from}}}
Trainer {{{trainer}}}
Current
federation(s)
VWA
Previous
federation(s)
{{{previous_efeds}}}
Handled by {{{handler}}}
Win/Loss Record {{{winloss_record}}}
Debut July 16th, 2005
Retired {{{retired}}}

Erick DeLarge (born Erick Matthews on January 25, 1985) is an American professional wrestler from Boston, Massachusetts currently competing as Erick Kennylz for the Volatile Wrestling Alliance, where he is the reigning VWA World Heavyweight Champion. Before that he was best known for his time in United States Wrestling Federation under the ring name Karnage.

Career[]

Too Extreme Wrestling[]

Erick Kennylz made his debut in the small independent promotion known as Too Extreme Wrestling under the ring name Karnage. While in TEW, Karnage went on to have a lengthy feud with the monstrous giant Quake culminating in a Hell in a Cell match which saw Karnage hurl the big man through the cell roof and thus winning his first taste of wrestling gold, the TEW Television Title. His success was short lived however, as TEW quickly foreclosed in late 2005

United States Wrestling Federation[]

After the TEW closed, Erick headed to Japan and where he adapted a hardcore and stiff wrestling style. After a few months of training, he got the call from one of the top independent promotions: United States Wrestling Federation.

Upon his debut for the company, Karnage attacked J.C. Thunder in what many have come to known as the first USWF Blood Feud. Karnage and Thunder would trade blows for months, leading to a brutal Barbed Wire Match at Total Destruction 2005. Thunder managed to sneak the win, but Karnage would walk out on his own, leveling Thunder with a barbed wire bat and then planting him with a Bitte

Mak

Erick Matthews as "Karnage"

r Peace.

Soon after his hardcore match, the company saw him as a bookable hardcore mainstay, despite dropping the hardcore act years ago. Karnage however, once again enjoyed the rush of blood flow and decided to remain hardcore. Even going as far as to attacking then USWF X-treme Champion, Agro during one of his matches. He lost it seconds after, but he started a feud that would go down in history. The following week, Karnage and Agro met one on one with the title on the line. Agro won, but with interference from his posse, The Menace Society. TMS destroyed Karnage and cost him his shot.

Karnage would rebound, and extract revenge on the foursome. Knowing he couldn’t do it alone, Karnage issued a petition to anyone who also felt oppressed by TMS. The petition was answered by Rick Talant, Shawn Evans, and Jackal. The four began calling themselves, The Revolution. The Revolution and TMS would battle for months. Karnage eventually stole the Tag-Titles away from The Menace Society with his partner, Shawn Evans. At Autumn Assault all eight men met in a War Games Match. The surprising defection of two TMS members lead to Karnage and the Revolution getting the victory. In the process, giving Karnage the USWF X-Treme Championship.

Karnage would hold the title for over 6 months. Defending it in matches such as a Light Tube Match, A Stretcher Match, and An Ambulance match. He also made his own match, called the Karnival of Kaos match, which was a 2/3 Falls Match with the hardcore stipulations decided upon by the fans. Karnage would be robbed of his title by USWF Owner Mark McBrian and former TMS member Miester. Karnage disappeared from USWF for months following.

After being humiliated, Karnage would come back stronger than ever and with a whole nre frame of mind. Karnage would preach that the “Day of the Underdog” was approaching. The Day of the Underdog, would be mark the first time Karnage held a World Championship.

Karnage and the rest of his Revolution members(now consisting of Mick Mercury, Jake Jameson and Shawn Evans) all sought the same thing, The USWF Heavyweight Title. The four met in a King of the Mountain Match at Final Judgment. Karnage beat his allies and got the world title shot that he had always worked hard for.

Karnage

Erick Matthews in USWF

Karnage and his hardcore background came into fire during the time of his title push. Many speculated whether or not he could truly adapt. At Spring Break, Karnage pushed himself to the limit and narrowly lost to The Jackal, his former Revolution mate. Karnage wouldn’t stop there and pressed on. People still questioned his hardcore attributes, so instead of fighting them, he decided to run with it. Karnage invented a match called a Prison Break Match. The rules were simple, break out any way you can. The match featured two cages, one inside the ring, and the other covering the ringside area, topped off with Barbed Wire. Karnage fought through blood and barbed wire and escaped, winning the title and his glory, proving that if you can’t beat them once, beat them with your advantage. His dream was shattered instantly. Just after winning the title, the World Cup kicked off, immediately breaking up his celebration.

The World Cup was in full effect and Karnage was enlisted on Team USA. During this time he went on to retain his title against Team Australia’s Matt Razor multiple times. Team USA, led by Firecracker, looked to be sure to win the cup, but a reuniting TMS stole it. Karnage’s reign was over shadowed yet again, by the on going war of UPW/USWF. During this time, Karnage successfully defended his Title again against Mike Britain. Karnage held the title for a while longer, ironically at Total Destruction, where he again met Matt Razor, who was cashing in his Money in the Bank contract. During the mat, Razor brought an illegal barbed wire covered chair and tried to use it. Karnage fought back however and used the chair himself, causing a DQ. McBrian hit the ring and promptly stripped Karnage of his title, and awarded it to Matt Razor. For the second time, Karnage was screwed by McBrian.

Karnage would not take this lying down. He again fought against the power and just one year after his War Games Match against TMS, he was thrown in a War Games Match with TMS. He got the winning fall after a Shooting Star Press through a table and sent McBrian out of USWF for good.

From there, Karnage would forge one of the greatest alliances in the history of the world, when he teamed With Vasher Graybane to form the comedy tag-team, Double Negative. Double Negative used their strange and eccentric behavior and backstage antics to take USWF by surprise. Very renowned for their often absurd promos which feature little to no actual connection to wrestling. Some of their most famous include searching for an ancient mystical Three-Headed and Three Bodied Dog named the RexFidoBuster while fighting off Dick Cheney with a shotgun, Sasquatch and even having a rap battle with the Prince of Darkness himself, Satan. On another occasion, “D-” ravaged most of Boston by placing glow in the dark Lite Brite panels that were mistaken to be bombs. There off beat and colorful moments have left smiles on the faces of many and even earned the duo Tag Team Championships on two occasions. Te fun and games however were short lived as in early 2007, USWF would unexpectedly close it’s doors. Vasher and Karnage then jumped ship to Unleashed Pro Wrestling.

Unleashed Pro Wrestling[]

After the closure of USWF, Double Negative exploded into UPW, a place where Karnage had already achieved success (He won the UPW Anarchy Championship). The duo went on to feud with Caedite Eos over the UPW tag-team Championship, but were denied thanks to interference from Caedite Eos' manager, Mr. Torment. Folllowing another loss to Caedite Eos at Chaos Theory, Vasher Graybane began to show interest in conquering the UPW Heavyweight Title. Backstage problems between the two began to rise, and before Vasher could get his title shot UPW closed it's doors later that year

Royalty in Exile[]

After his release from the USWF, Erick Matthews, along with his one-time manager and full-time fiance Julia, moved back to Boston. Working several little known promotions for very little money, Erick floundered for the two years since leaving the USWF. Obsessed with getting back to where he was, Erick was relentless in pursuing his dream and getting both himself, and Julia out of the city once and for all, or as Erick would come to call it, Exile.[]

However on a cold February day, tragedy struck when Julia was killed by a drunk driver while waiting for Erick at their usual meeting spot, a small but busy corner on Boylston St. Erick was late meeting her, busy celebrating what he dubbed his "retirement" match, finally deciding to take Julia's advice and leave the business before it destroyed him. Though when Erick learned of Julia's death, he was destroyed.

After her death, court proceedings and seeing the man who killed her walk, Erick completely shut down. What little humanity that was left, was left for dead on that corner and so he decided to do what she did, and wait on that corner. Every night he could be seen standing there, leaving only in the morning when his watch was over. Waiting for a moment that would never come. It was here that Erick started to lose his grip. It was here that Erick decided he would stop waiting and do. Erick decided to pick up where he left off, the business that was destined to destroy him in a form of suicide. Waiting for the moment when his pain would be over, he decided then and there, that pain is all he was willing to give. A king rose on that corner.

Erick had become Royalty in Exile.

USWF: The Return[]

It was announced in mid-2008, that USWF would be making it's return. With no hesitation, the man formerly known as Karnage signed on to show his former "friends" just how much he's changed. He has vowed to show them the way. He made his return at Collision Course 3: The Final Fight in the main event elimination match on team USWF. In the match, he made it to the final three, as well as breaking UPW Alumni Tony Maestro's arm. At the end of the show, the card for Total Destruction 2008 was announced, and DeLarge again found himself in the main event Elimination Chamber Title Match. After a few weeks off from USWF television, Kennylz reemerged, to issue one of the biggest challenges in USWF history, in a quintessential dream match. During this time period, Kennylz began using a new finisher: the Revolting Knee, a jab at Rick Talant's "Roaring Knee". At Redemption, it was Erick Kennylz vs. Rick Talant, the match was deemed a draw, as Erick Kennylz made Rick Talant tap at the same time as Rick Talant had Erick in a pin. No rematch is tentatively scheduled, but both men will once again work alongside each other, in a rematch from their classic Autumn Assault encounter with The Menace Society in The Amazing Firecracker's last match.The team was victorious, and USWF once again closed thereafter.


268532365 JPu76-M

Matthews making his VWA debut

Volatile Wrestling Alliance[]

Matthews made his VWA debut in a pre-show dark match consisting of nine other men under the new name, Erick Kennylz. Todd Quality, DeAngelo Williams, WSG, Jason Pain & Erick Kennylz defeated Jenova Aran, Drew, 13, Skyler Evans & Aedan Cahan after Erick Kennylz hit WSG with a Boston Massacre. It was announced shortly after that Kennylz will report to VWA's developmental system, Volatile Origins Wrestling.

Volatile Origins Wrestling[]

In the debut edition of VOW, Erick Kennylz lost to Jason Rolento in the first round of the championship tournament. The following week, Erick Kennylz defeated Brian Kennedy and Doug Foster in a Triple Threat Match. On the 4/14/08 edition of Evolution, Erick Kennylz defeated Brian Kennedy after a Boston Massacre. The following week, Erick Kennylz defeated Chris Lethal with a Boston Massacre, earning himself a shot at the VOW Evolution Title. On the April 28th edition of Evolution, Erick Kennylz became the VOW Evolution Champion after making David Fireson submit to the Exile Vice. His victory was short lived, as the debuting Story Teller rushed to the ring and attacked him. Erick retained his VOW Evolution Title against the former, David Fireson at Method of Sacrifice, making not only his PPV debut, but VOW's PPV debut. After the match, Erick made his way to the back, where he was met with VWA Owner, Shane Lawson. Lawson congratulated him on his victory, but informed him that he was no longer VOW Evolution Champion, because there was no longer a VOW. Erick reluctantly relinquished the title, and was promoted to the Chaos brand

Volatile Wrestling Alliance - Chaos[]

Upon being stripped of The VOW Evolution Championship, Shane Lawson has decided that it's only fair to compensate Erick Kennylz for all of his hard work, so the winner of The X-Treme Title Tournament, will be facing Erick Kennylz at VWA Memento Mori, for the vacated VWA X-Treme Championship. In his Chaos Debut, Erick defeated VWA regular Frostbite, putting him on ice with a "Hard Goodbye" and effectively sending him out of the company. Within the weeks that followed, Erick had retired everyone he had faced, calling them "sacrifices to his movement". The following week, Jay Williams was the next to fall. The streak continued with another win, this time against one time rival, James "Thirteen" Marsh-Asher. Erick suffered his first loss in over four months to Krystian Kavella at Chaos Theory. Later that night, after months of speculation, it was announced Kennylz will face Steven Sands for the X-treme Title at Memento Mori. In a grueling contest that so both men bleeding and broken, Steven Sands narrowly outfoxed Erick Kennylz to win the X-Treme Title.

Volatile Wrestling Alliance - Rapture[]

Following the events of Memento Mori, a small draft was held in which Erick was drafted to the Rapture brand once again. Now situated, he has made his intentions known: He wants Aaron Rupp's Bloodsport Title. After weeks of back and forth between Rupp, Nate Redman and Kennylz, Royalty in Exile defeated "The Blackheart" to become the new Bloodsport Champion. Also during Primrose Path was the annual Royal Rumble match. Erick entered in at number 20 and made it to the final 5 before being eliminated. During this match "The Judas Factor" Elijah James made a shocking return and placed second, making him the number one contender to the Bloodsport Title at Crisis of Faith. Over the next few weeks, a war of words between the two got violent so VWA Booker Jude Lawson declared the match would be a Falls Count Anywhere Match. In what could only be described as dominant brutality, Erick Kennylz destroyed Elijah James, taking him from the The Judas Factor's locker room, all the way to the streets of Las Vegas. Highlights of the match included Erick throwing Elijah through a mirror, a vending machine, eight windows of a stretch limousine and even torturing him with a soda shot up his nose. The onslaught concluded when Erick took the broken Elijah James, and made him "bite the curb"; Breaking his jaw, teeth and ending his career for the foreseeable future. Also during Crisis of Faith, the former Bloodsport Champion Nate Redman made a shocking return and choked Erick out with a lead pipe. Erick got a measure of revenge a few weeks later as he cost Redman a shot at Pat Laba's VWA World Title. The feud continued until Chaotic Confirmation, where Erick defeated Redman in decisive fashion, ending the rivalry with yet another vicious Curb stomp. The following week at VWA's premier event Pandora's Box, Erick made yet another successful title defense when he thwarted "Generation Next" Blake Mason. It was announced shortly after the PPV, that Erick had once again been drafted to the Chaos brand, taking the Bloodsport Championship with him.

Return to Chaos; "The Most Dangerous Man in VWA"[]

260794521 ufDkP-M

Erick Kennylz

Kennylz made his re-debut for the Chaos brand on March 27 in a match against Dustin Adams. A match which will also took place in his hometown of Boston. Erick thwarted the Inmate with a Boston Massacre. The following Chaos, Erick took on another VWA Legend in Nate Static and the end result was the same; a Boston Massacre and a three count. Erick has since set his sights on taking the next step in his career, proclaiming himself to be The Most Dangerous Man in VWA History. After nearly a seven month long reign, the second longest in history, Erick Kennylz finally lost the VWA Bloodsport Championship to "Nothing Special" Travis Daniels on the April 24th edition of Chaos. Later that night, Erick was announced as a participant in the annual 7th Circle of Hell Match, contending for a VWA World Title shot. At Method of Sacrifice, Royalty in Exile was successful in outlasting the 5 other individuals in the cage. He last eliminated Steven Sands by threat of a Curb Stomp to hundreds of shards of broken glass. Sands finally surrendered, and Erick instead opted to Curb Stomp him on the steel platform. He ended the night with a face to face from Shane Lawson, who, one year earlier, stripped Erick of his first championship. Erick surprisingly thanked him and left the building a bloody, broken, mess. The week after Method of Sacrifice, Erick faced the new champion Michael Black in a one on one contest and surprisingly pinned him with a Boston Massacre. Throughout the following weeks he would continue to play mind games with the champion, faking cashing in his title shot. After weeks of speculation Erick looked to finally be ready to take the gold.After laying Black out with a Boston Massacre once more while Black was preoccupied with a contract signing and Pat Laba. As he called for a referee, Pat Laba unsuspectingly laid him out with a vicious clothesline and put a stop to it.At Chaos Theory, Kennylz destroyed Jude's private enforcer Jesus Christ in a No DQ match. Post match saw Steven Sands lay Royalty in Exile out with a Golden Reality Check. Jude then announced the two would meet in a rematch from a year ago at Memento Mori. During Memento Mori, Jude Lawson stripped Pat Laba of his High Voltage Championship and decided to make the scheduled I Quit Match between Sands and Kennylz for it. In a truly violent affair that put their previous encounters to shame, Erick Kennylz defeated Steven Sands after throwing him into a flaming dumpster, earning the High Voltage Championship.

Erick the Worm King; Return to Rapture[]

Before he could get too attached to the High Voltage title, Kennylz was booked in a Handicap Match against both Steven Sands and Krystian Kavella. Jude Lawson decided to make the match for tite title, with whoever getting the pin, leaving as Champion. Kennyls fought valiantly, but couldn't overcome the numbers and surrendered his High Voltage title to Steven Sands. Within the next few weeks, Kennylz unleashed his wrath upon men such as Edward Aryan and Eddie Masterson, destroying both men and taking them out of VWA permanently. Following his actions, Jude made it a mission to force Erick to use his "Anywhere, Any time" title shot, against his will. After weeks of threats, and sneak attacks, Jude gave him an ultimatum, cash it in before Purgatory or forfeit it. Kennylz tried to cash it in on Chaos, but was thwarted by one of Jude's lackeys, Shane Fenix. The following Rapture, two weeks before Purgatory, Jude gave Laba the night off, seeing to it that there was no way Kennylz could cash in. When an enraged Kennylz confronted Jude in his office, Jude informed him that he will get his title shot but it would not be on his own terms, it would be on Jude Lawson's.  Jude booked Kennylz for the main event at Purgatory against Pat Laba, using his title shot for him. At Purgatory, Laba and Kennylz met in an epic clash that resulted in a Boston Massacre and pinning the Violent Saint for the three count, winning the VWA World Heavyweight Championship. A few hours later, it was announced that Kennylz would once again be traded to the Rapture brand. In his first match back, he defeated Kaji Fireson with a Boston Massacre. Right after the match, Jude Lawson hit the ring and gave Kaji Fireson an offer he couldn't refuse: Join his army, and he'll be granted a World title match at Crisis of Faith. The following week, Fireson accepted. Also during that show, Kennylz defeated Blood Reign. On the November 28th edition of Chaos, Kennylz was set to go one on one with former World Champion Jamie Lockheart. Earlier that night Jude Lawson made that match a Cage match, but he wasn't through. Jude also put Erick's World title on the line. In a highly physical contest, Kennylz would not give up and he retained his championship...but not before Kaji Fireson laid him out with a Blazing Kick. Erick defeated Kaji Fireson at Crisis of Faith on December 20, 2009 with the man formerly known as Krystian Kavella acting as the special guest referee. Several weeks later he once again faced off against his rival Steven Sands with not only the VWA World title on the line, but also Steven Sands' career. After a hard fought battle which saw both men exhaust every trick in their playbook, Erick unveiled a new finisher, the Black Light Ending, to defeat Sands and putting an end to his career once and for all. Post match saw Mike Omen, Kaji Fireson and Kryst, the three men known as Jude's Army hit the ring and beat down Kennylz, until Shane Lawson made the save. The two sides came ahead at the third anniversary of VWA, Chaotic Confirmation, where Shane Lawson and Erick Kennylz defeated Jude's Army in a three on two handicap match for the VWA Tag-Team Championship after Kennylz made Kryst tap out to the Exile Vice. Although, Kennylz has made it abundantly clear that he is not fighting for anyone else but himself. At Pandora's Box, Kennylz destroyed Kryst in the main event of the show, forcing Jude Lawson to end the match after six consecutive Curb Stomps, with the World Heavyweight Championship around his face, onto a steel chair.

Legends Aren't Born; They're Created Tournament[]

In early 2009, a tournament was held in similar fashion the Crimson Star Tournament of 2008. The tournament saw men and women from all over the wrestling world compete to be named a wrestling legend. In the first round, Erick easily dispatched of Brian Gun. The next round saw Kennylz go one on one with the VWA World Champion Mike Omen and in a surprising upset, Erick was victories. I round three Erick faced the man he met in the Crimson Star Tournament and just like last year, he defeated Billy Hush. Round four is where he picked up arguably the biggest win in his career, when he defeated who many have regarded as the best in the world today, Pat Laba. Erick defeated Babbatunde Balogun in the finals of the tournament, earning the right to officially call himself a "Legend".

In wrestling[]

  • Finishing Moves
    • Black Light Ending (Cut–throat backbreaker rack dropped into a piledriver) 2010–present
    • Curb Stomp (Standing reverse Indian deathlock surfboard with a head stomp) - Used rarely; 2008–present
    • Exile Vice (Guillotine Choke, usually transitioned from a Bitter Peace)
  • Signature Moves
    • Bitter Peace (Lifting Snap DDT) - Used as Finisher 2005–2007; Used as a regular move from 2007–present
    • Boston Massacre (Running knee lift to a kneeling opponent's head followed into a neckbreaker slam) Used as Finisher 2007 - 2010; Used as regular move 2010–present
    • Exile's Embrace (High Impact Lariat)
    • Revolution Rush (Roundhouse kick to the side of the head, followed by a spinning back fist, and finished with the Exile's Embrace)
    • Somerville Crab (Stretch Leg Muffler)
    • One Kill Wonder (Cross-legged STF)
    • The Ludovico Technique (Double hammerlock facebuster)
    • Danza Macabra (Cartwheel into Over The Top Rope Plancha)
    • Onslaught Of Malice (Multiple backhand chops and forearm strikes to a cornered opponent, continued with headbutts, football kicks, knee strikes, kawada kicks and then finished with an axe kick)
  • Multiple suplex variations
    • Full nelson suplex
    • German suplex
    • Northern Lights suplex
    • Tiger suplex
    • Exploder suplex
    • Head and arm suplex
    • Belly to belly suplex
    • Double underhook suplex
  • Iconoclasm
  • Side slam backbreaker
  • Running crucifix powerbomb, usually into the middle turnbuckle
  • Pumphandle reverse piledriver
  • Fireman's carry cutter
  • Facewash
  • Piledriver
  • Springboard tornado DDT
  • Inverted DDT
  • Missile dropkick
  • Moonsault
  • Russian legsweep
  • Wrist-lock seated side slam

Managers

  • Mistress Julia
  • Nicknames
    • "Royalty in Exile"
    • "The Most Dangerous Man in VWA"
    • "The Worm King"
    • "The City Street Savior"
    • "The One Man Revolution"
    • "The Hardcore Messiah"
  • Theme music
    • Numbered Days – Killswitch Engage
    • All Against All – The Haunted
    • Song of the Damned – Soilwork (As a part of Team Revolution)
    • Matter of Time – Hellyeah (As a part of Double Negative)
    • Livin' in Exile – Blood for Blood
    • Spit My Last Breath - Blood for Blood

Championships and accomplishments[]

  • Too Extreme Wrestling
    • TEW Television Champion (1 time)
    • TEW Extreme Champion (1 time)
  • United States Wrestling Federation
    • SWF World Heavyweight Champion (1 time)
      180px-Austin-Aries

      Matthews as Bloodsport Champion

    • USWF X-treme Champion (2 time)
    • USWF Tag-Team Champion (3 time)
    • USWF MVP (2005, 2006)
  • Anarchy Pro Wrestling
    • APW Heavyweight Champion (1 Time)(Only)
  • Unleashed Pro Wrestling
    • UPW Anarchy Champion (1 Time)(Only)
  • Volatile Wrestling Alliance
    • VWA World Heavyweight Champion (1 time) (Current)
    • VWA High Voltage Champion (1 time)
    • VWA Bloodsport Champion (1 Time)
    • VWA Tag-Team Championship (1 time) (current)
    • Winner of the 7th Circle of Hell (2009)
    • VOW Evolution Champion (1 Time) (Final)
    • VWA Rookie of the Year 2008
    • VWA Rookie of the Mid-Year (2008)
    • VWA Bump of the Year 2008 (Elijah James Curb Stomp)
    • VWA Person To Watch For In 2009
    • VWA Male Wrestler of The Year (2009)
    • VWA Brawler/Hardcore Wrestler of The Year (2009)
    • VWA Gimmick of The Year (2009)
    • VWA Bump of The Year 2009 (Steven Sands' Glass Curb Stomp)
  • Legends Aren't Born They're Created Tournament
    • Winner (2009)
  • All Time Career Record
    • 81 Wins / 27 Losses
  • Current VWA Record
  • 41 Wins / 12 Losses

Federations Worked For[]

  • Volatile Wrestling Alliance - Current
  • United States Wrestling Federation
  • Unleashed Pro Wrestling
  • Wrestling Fantasy Alliance
  • World Wrestling Championship
  • Too Extreme Wrestling
Advertisement