Matt Stryker | |
---|---|
Birth name | Brian Woermann |
Born |
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States |
July 21, 1979
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Matt Stryker |
Billed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
Billed weight | 217 lb (98 kg) |
Trained by | Les Thatcher |
Debut | November 7, 1998 |
Retired | October 14, 2005 |
Brian Woermann (born June 21, 1979) is a former American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Matt Stryker.
Brian Woermann attended Milford High School, where he played basketball and Diving. After graduating, Woermann obtained a job selling cars while trying to pursue a career in Law Enforcement through one of his brothers with the Village of Terrace Park Police Dept. After various run-ins with the law and some convictions, Brian's Law Enforcement career was abruptly cut short.
In 1998, Woermann began focusing on wrestling and started training under Les Thatcher, proprietor of the Main Event Pro Wrestling Camp in Evendale, Ohio, much to the chagrin of his mother. He trained under Thatcher for five months, suffering a knee injury in the course of his training. On November 7, 1998, Woermann wrestled his first match, facing "Bad Boy" Bobby Kane. He then chose the ring name Matt Stryker and began working for Thatcher's Heartland Wrestling Association.
Stryker defeated Pepper Parks for his first title, the vacant HWA Cruiserweight Championship, on March 16, 2001. He lost the title to Parks on June 26, but regained the title on August 9 at the 2001 Brian Pillman Memorial Show. Stryker's second reign lasted until September 2, 2001, when he lost to Jamie Knoble.
In May 2002, Stryker's tag team partner, Dean Baldwin, reportedly burnt his eye with a cigar. Stryker immediately sought revenge, which led to Baldwin suing him for $55 million and imposing a restraining order on him for assault, stalking and defamation of character. After feuding with Baldwin throughout June 2002, Stryker set his sights on the HWA Heavyweight Championship.