Mat Diamond
Backyard wrestling has often been derided as unsafe or "garbage" but it has also been the entry point for some incredible talents. For example, guys like WWE Hall Of Fame member Mick Foley, the current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Will Ospreay & the current AEW World Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) all started in the backyard. Here in Australia guys like Robbie Eagles, CJ Phoenix & Mat Diamond had similar beginnings, & even captured the attention of guys like Will Ospreay & Ricochet with their exploits online.
Speaking with Pario ahead of his featured match at Newcastle City Hall for Newcastle Pro Wrestling, Mat Diamond reflected on those days wrestling in backyards & the surreal moments of teaming with fellow backyard wrestling alumni Robbie Eagles & CJ Phoenix in a professional setting today.
"Whenever the 3 of us wrestle as Team HVWA [an ode to their roots wrestling for backyard group, Hunter Valley Wrestling Alliance] I have to pinch myself," said Diamond. "I think about being in a backyard with these guys at 16 trying to emulate stuff that we'd seen in videos. So to fast forward 15-16 years later to us in main event matches against really good wrestlers is surreal."
These 3 men along with the rest of the crew from HVWA & other backyard wrestling groups around Australia never wanted to be viewed in the same light that many other backyard wrestling groups were.
"A lot of people associate 'backyard wrestling' with the shitty deathmatch style but my generation just wanted to emulate the stuff we saw from Ring Of Honor, the indies, & the cruiserweights," Diamond explained. "We just wanted to do nice, crisp wrestling that wouldn't be looked at in that derogatory way."
Once Diamond graduated to the professional ranks he had to overcome one major hurdle, a debilitating back injury that forced him to step away from wrestling for almost 4 years.
During a match in Adelaide in 2011 Diamond felt a "searing pain" run down his right leg following a bump, which then led to him not being able to put weight on his leg after the match. Roughly 4 months later, after a talk with then-tag team partner Robbie Eagles, it was decided that Diamond needed to see a doctor to diagnose & rectify the injury.
"After a bone scan, the doctors found that I had pretty seriously sprained my SI (Sacroiliac) joint which connects your pelvis to your spine. That's where you bump so it would have been impossible to continue wrestling without injuring it more. The only option was to take time & let it heal, which the doctor said could happen in 2 weeks or 2 years. I never thought it would take 2 years but that little hiatus ended up lasting 3.5 years."
Now that Diamond is back in the ring he has set his sights on working with the best Australia has to offer, both as a mentor for Speed Force (Jude London, Paris De Silva, Mat Rogers, and himself) & as an opponent.
"I enjoy the mentor role because I'm a big tag team guy... Robbie & I got to wrestle Paris & Jude at a PWA Green Label event & that is one of my favourite matches ever."
When it comes to opponents Diamond said he'd love to wrestle, "Slex, Adam Brooks, or Royce Chambers - I've been pushing for that one at every opportunity I get. Also throw Ritchie Taylor in there because he is another old guy that we used to backyard wrestle with, so that would be another surreal moment."
Follow Mat on Instagram @MatDiamondPro or support him at www.wrestlermerch.com/collections/mat-diamond
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