#ThrowbackThursday

19 years ago today, on 19th March 2001, Matthew Hyson debuted in the WWF as Spike Dudley, the younger half-brother of Bubba Ray and D-Von!

Matthew Hyson was born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1970. He began his career in professional wrestling by training to be a referee, manager and wrestler at APW, before moving on to wrestle in independent California promotions.

Hyson debuted in ECW on 21st September 1996 under the name "Little" Spike Dudley. He would proceed to feud with the Dudley Boyz after they turned on him, giving him the first ever 3D. During his time in ECW, he would win the World Tag Team Championship with Balls Mahoney twice, and was given a losing match with Mike Awesome at the Guilty as Charged PPV in 2000 for the World Heavyweight Championship. He stayed with the company until it folded in 2001.

Dudley joined the WWF in the same year, once again aligning with his kayfabe brothers Bubba Ray and D-Von. He was heavily involved in the iconic Tables, Ladders and Chairs match at Wrestlemania X-Seven and was put through a table by Jeff Hardy's Swanton Bomb from the top of a 20 foot ladder. 

After Wrestlemania, the Dudley Boyz entered a feud with Crash and Hardcore Holly. During this time, Dudley began a relationship with Molly Holly which lasted until the Invasion, when Molly turned on him and aligned herself with the Alliance. He was a prolific title holder, winning the European, Cruiserweight, and Tag Team titles throughout his career. He also held the Hardcore Championship on numerous occasions due to 24/7 rules. 

Dudley made his last appearance with WWE at ECW One Night Stand on June 12, 2005. In the years following, he wrestled for TNA, 2CW, BTW and Top Rope Promotions, before becoming a teacher at the Lock-Up Wrestling School ran by the latter. He worked his last match in December 2015 and now works as a financial transition specialist with Merrill Edge.