Matt Striker | |
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Striker in August 2008
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Birth name | Matthew Kaye |
Born |
Queens, New York City, New York, United States |
June 26, 1974
Residence |
Ossining, New York, United States |
Spouse(s) | Claire Gold (m. 2016-present) |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Matt Lachey Matt Martel Tyler Max Matt Striker Muscles Marinara Stryker The Ultimate Striker |
Billed height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
Billed weight | 224 lb (102 kg) |
Billed from | Bayside, New York |
Trained by | Johnny Rodz |
Debut | 2000 |
Matthew Kaye (born June 26, 1974) is an American professional wrestler, producer, actor, director, English language professional wrestling commentator and former school teacher, working under the ring name Matt Striker. He is currently an English language commentator primarily for Lucha Underground but also frequently provides English commentary for Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA) PPV events in Mexico and New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) PPV events in Japan. He also wrestles on the United States independent circuit and works as a producer and director for Paragon Pro Wrestling (PPW) in Las Vegas. He is best known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as both a wrestler and commentator. He is also a sporadic actor in film and a former high school teacher.
After obtaining a Master's degree in educational psychology, Kaye began working as a high-school teacher. He also began a career in professional wrestling, and made his debut in 2000 after being trained by Johnny Rodz. In early 2005, Kaye quit his full-time teaching job at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School, to pursue his wrestling career.
Kaye signed a contract with WWE in mid-2005, calling himself Matt Striker, and quickly developed a persona of a heel (villainous) teacher. He started out on the Raw brand, where he hosted a segment known as Matt Striker's Classroom, before moving to the ECW brand in 2006. There he joined the New Breed alliance and was involved in a feud with the ECW Originals. After this, he began managing wrestler Big Daddy V until 2008. In August 2008, Striker began working as the color commentator on ECW and, alongside his commentary partner Todd Grisham, won the 2008 Slammy Award for Announce Team of the Year. Striker was then moved to the SmackDown brand where he commentated from October 2009 to January 2011. He then served as color commentator on Superstars until his departure from the company in 2013.