Matt Striker

Striker, using the name **Matt Martel**, wrestled Kurt Angle in an invitational match on the February 24, 2005 episode of *SmackDown!* in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After the revelation that Martel was a teacher, he made a second appearance in the WWE on the July 11, 2005 episode of *Raw* to face Angle for a second time. The following week, Angle defeated him for the third consecutive time. Martel, now known as **Matt Striker**, went on to compete on *Heat*.

Striker developed a heel teacher persona and beginning on December 12, hosted a segment called *Matt Striker's Classroom* on *Raw*. During the segments, he ridiculed the audience and treated the crowd as intellectual inferiors. On April 24, he participated in a six-man tag team match, in which he, Chris Masters and Shelton Benjamin were defeated by Carlito, Rob Van Dam, and Charlie Haas. During the Backlash pay-per-view, Striker hosted an edition of his *Classroom* segment, which ended when Eugene, who in storyline was mentally impaired, attacked Striker. Striker, in retaliation, attacked Eugene with a dictionary the following night on *Raw*. The feud between the two ended when Eugene gained a mentor in "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan and defeated Striker. Striker appeared only rarely on *Raw* throughout June and July, and his final match for the brand was on July 31, when he was quickly defeated by John Cena.

At the end of August 2006, Striker left the *Raw* brand to join *ECW*, making his debut on August 23. He continued his *Classroom* segment on *ECW*, which provoked a feud with The Sandman after Striker insulted him. Striker made his in-ring debut for the brand on the September 19, 2006 episode of *ECW*, when his team of Mike Knox and Test were defeated by Tommy Dreamer, Sabu, and The Sandman when Test was disqualified for pushing the referee. Striker continued his feud with The Sandman until the October 17 episode of *ECW*, when The Sandman defeated him in a Singapore Cane on a Pole match.

On February 6, Striker aligned himself with Mr. McMahon's New Breed stable, along with Elijah Burke, Kevin Thorn, and Marcus Cor Von. The New Breed immediately engaged themselves in a feud with the ECW Originals (Rob Van Dam, Tommy Dreamer, Sabu and The Sandman). At WrestleMania 23, the New Breed was defeated by the ECW Originals in an 8-man tag team match, but won a rematch on the following episode of *ECW*. In the midst of the feud, tension began to appear between the leader Elijah Burke and Striker, after Striker and Cor Von were defeated by the debuting Major Brothers. As a result, Striker began trying to avenge the loss to the Major Brothers and defeated Brett Major on the May 22 episode of *ECW.* The feud with the Originals lost momentum, however, as Sabu was released from his WWE contract in mid-May, and the feud ended at the One Night Stand pay-per-view, when Striker, Cor Von, and Burke lost to Dreamer, Sandman, and CM Punk in a tables match.

On June 12, Striker was defeated by The Boogeyman in a singles match, and two weeks later, The Boogeyman attacked him during an edition of *Piper's Pit*. On July 10, Striker invited Boogeyman to the ring, allowing the debuting Big Daddy V to attack him. Striker then formed an alliance with Big Daddy V that lasted until March 2008, acting as Big Daddy V's manager and regularly accompanying him to the ring. In November, Striker and Big Daddy V started a feud with Kane, after Kane attacked Striker. Striker and Big Daddy V wrestled Kane in a handicap match, and the pair also aligned briefly with Mark Henry. Henry helped Big Daddy V win a match against Kane on the November 27 episode of *ECW*, and in return, Striker refereed a match between Henry and The Undertaker, refusing to count a pinfall against Henry.

As part of the 2008 WWE Supplemental Draft in June 2008, Striker was drafted back to the *Raw* brand. After a brief stint, Striker returned to *ECW* to take over duties as color commentator, debuting on August 5. Striker and his commentary partner, Todd Grisham, won the 2008 Slammy Award for the Announce Team of the Year for 2008. In April 2009, however, Grisham was moved to the *SmackDown* brand, and Josh Mathews debuted as the new play-by-play commentator. In addition to commentating on *ECW on SyFy* and *ECW* pay-per-view matches, Striker and Mathews represented the *ECW* brand on *WWE Superstars* every week.

On October 27, 2009, it was announced that Striker would move from commentary on *ECW* to *SmackDown*, reuniting with Grisham. The following October, Striker and Grisham were joined by Michael Cole on *SmackDown*, forming a three-man announce team. Striker, however, was replaced in early February 2011 by Booker T.

Striker began hosting *NXT* in early 2010. He wrestled his first match in three years on the August 2, 2011 episode of *NXT*, teaming with Titus O'Neil in a winning effort against Derrick Bateman and Darren Young in a tag team match. He fought Young in the next two weeks, but Young emerged victorious both times. Striker later teamed up with William Regal to face Young and JTG, but Striker and Regal were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, as *NXT* host, Striker was frequently bullied by Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks, The storyline included his "kidnapping" on the March 21 episode of *NXT Redemption* by unknown persons, later revealed to be Hawkins and Reks. During this time, Striker also continued to commentate on *Superstars*, with the explanation given being that to keep his kidnapping a secret, WWE hired a body double to assume Striker's duties. Striker was later "rescued" on the April 11 episode *NXT Redemption*. Striker ceased his role as *NXT* host with the conclusion of *NXT Redemption*.

After hosting *NXT*, Striker began interviewing WWE employees on *Raw* and *SmackDown*. During the summer of 2012, Striker became the host of *WWE Afterburn* for international broadcasts. On the October 12 *SmackDown*, Striker tried to interview Team Hell No (Kane and Daniel Bryan), but they both attacked him. On the October 15 episode of *Raw*, Striker demanded that he receive an apology and was instead forced to face Kane in his final WWE match, which Striker lost. On June 20, 2013, Striker departed WWE after the company opted to not renew his contract.