Matt Taven

Taven in November 2015

###

Derry, New Hampshire, U.S.

**Matthew Marinelli** (born March 20, 1985), or better known by his ring name **Matt Taven**, is an American professional wrestler.

Taven has competed in Ring of Honor since 2012, most recently as a member of The Kingdom, as well as performing across the Northeastern United States independent circuit. Taven was the winner of ROH's 2013 Top Prospect Tournament, is a former one-time World Television Champion, and held the ROH World Tag Team Championships with Michael Bennett. Taven has also worked for the Dragon Gate USA, Family Wrestling Entertainment, National Wrestling Alliance, New Japan Pro Wrestling, Top Rope Promotions, and World Wrestling Alliance.

Taven and Bennett operate a wrestling school in West Warwick, Rhode Island.

## Professional wrestling career

### New Japan Pro Wrestling (2014–2015)

Through ROH's relationship with NJPW, from November 23 to December 5, 2014, Taven and Michael Bennett took part in New Japan Pro Wrestling's 2014 World Tag League. The team finished their round-robin block with a record of four wins and three losses, failing to advance to the finals. Taven and Bennett returned to NJPW on April 5, 2015, at Invasion Attack 2015, where they defeated Bullet Club (Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson) to win the IWGP Tag Team Championship. On July 5 at Dominion 7.5 in Osaka-jo Hall, The Kingdom lost the IWGP Tag Team Championship back to Bullet Club in their first defense. Taven and Bennett returned to NJPW in November to take part in the 2015 World Tag League, where they finished with a record of two wins and four losses, failing to advance from their block.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ *Climax* (Arm trap headlock driver)
	+ Frog splash
* **With Michael Bennett**
	+ **Double-team finishing moves**
		- *Hail Mary* (Aided piledriver)
* **Managers**
	+ Kasey Ray
	+ Maria Kanellis
	+ The Hoopla Hotties (Scarlett Bordeaux, Valerie Malone and Seleziya Sparx)
	+ Truth Martini
* **Nicknames**
	+ "The Chaotic Idol"
* **Entrance themes**
	+ "Fire Guitar" by Fabio Codega

## Championships and accomplishments

* **New Japan Pro Wrestling**
	+ IWGP Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Michael Bennett

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 CageMatch . CageMatch. Retrieved on 2012-09-11.
2. ↑ ROH TV RESULTS: 2/23/13 . *ROHwrestling.com*. Retrieved on 2013-03-01.
3. ↑ Caldwell, James 2015-09-18. Caldwell's ROH ASE PPV report 9/18: Complete "virtual-time" coverage of All-Star Extravaganza - Jay Lethal defends two titles, ANX, more . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Retrieved on 2015-09-19.
4. ↑ New ROH PPV bout, Omega-ROH update and more . *Pro Wrestling Insider*. Retrieved on 2016-04-23.
5. ↑ 『World Tag League 2014』出場チーム＆公式戦が決定！ 棚橋はヨシタツとタッグ結成！ 桜庭、AJ、柴田、ROH、NWAも参戦!  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling* (2014-11-11). Retrieved on 2014-12-05.
6. ↑ World Tag League 2014  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2014-12-05.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Invasion Attack 2015  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2015-04-05.
8. ↑ Show results - 4/5 NJPW "Invasion Attack" in Tokyo, Japan: A.J. Styles defends IWGP World Title in main event, ROH tag teams win both Tag Titles, Bullet Club in action, more . *Pro Wrestling Torch* (2015-04-05). Retrieved on 2015-04-05.
9. ↑ Meltzer, Dave 2015-07-04. New Japan Dominion live coverage from Osaka Jo Hall - Styles vs. Okada for IWGP title, Nakamura vs. Goto for IC title and notes on biggest event since the Tokyo Dome, plus all G-1 main events . *Wrestling Observer Newsletter*. Retrieved on 2015-07-05.
10. ↑ NJPW World Tag League Results & Standings . *Pro Wrestling Torch*. Archived from the original on 2015-12-09. Retrieved on 2015-12-06.
11. ↑ ROH TELEVISION REPORT: CIAMPA IN ACTION; CORINO WANTS ANSWERS; BRISCOES VERSUS WOLVES; AND MORE By Richard Trionfo .
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 RING OF HONOR TELEVISION REPORT: IS STEEN DONE WITH SCUM?; TELEVISION TITLE MATCH; BENNETT/STRONG; THE ANTE HAS BEEN UPPED FOR BORDER WARS By Richard Trionfo .
13. ↑ KEVIN STEEN'S RING OF HONOR FAREWELL: 7/19 ROH IN DEARBORN, MI REPORT By Jason Harper .
14. ↑ YOUNG BUCKS VS. HARDYS: 8/2 NORTHEAST WRESTLING IN FISHKILL, NY RESULTS By Walter Price .
15. ↑ World Tag League 2014  (in Japanese). *New Japan Pro Wrestling*. Retrieved on 2014-11-28.
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Matt Taven and Kasey Ray . Chaotic Wrestling. Retrieved on 2012-09-11.
17. ↑ SPOILERS FROM NEW JAPAN INVASION ATTACK By Richard Trionfo .
18. ↑ I HEART WRESTLING 2: LOOKING AT RING OF HONOR By Jilly J. .