Matsuda (RLS CAS)

At a UNION event shortly before his second departure.

**Ryo Matsumoto** *(born 5th May 1985 in Osaka, Japan)* is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed with UNION Wrestling, where he performs under the name **Matsuda**, and was the final Brawl Champion before the belt was deactivated.

A veteran of the RLSverse**1**, Matsumoto has performed all over the world within it's confines and was inducted into the Japan MIGHTY! Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016. Usually content with putting other talent over and concentrating on the storytelling as a whole, Matsumoto has earned a reputation as a go-to star builder.**2**

## Career

### Training, JMW and EW: Japan (2002-2012)

Not much is known of Matsumoto's early training and career in both Japan MIGHTY! Wrestling and Exhibition Wrestling: Japan, as the shows were live-only at the time and drew only small crowds. It's known that he held both the Junior and Heavyweight Championships of JMW between 2005-2008, and the Japanese Championship of EW: Japan in 2010.

Between 2011 and 2012, he performed in several Interbrand Championship matches for EW in Mexico and Canada, and then for Fort Wayne Wrestling Championships during their partnership with EW. This exposed him to a new audience, and in 2012 he announced he would be joining BWF in England, under the name Matsuda.

### British Wrestling Federation (2012-2014)

Matsuda, already comfortable as an enhancement-style worker, was mainly used to push new talent with the BWF, notably giving a teenage Aidan Wroe his first main roster victory in late 2013, although he did challenge for the Inter Championship in early 2014 against Lunar Boy, in a losing effort.

He left in 2014 citing a need to evaluate his career.

### Return to Japan (2014-2015)

He returned to JMW a few months later, still using the Matsuda name, as a heel in the Fight for MIGHT! Tournament. He got to the Semi-Finals, losing to eventual winner Naito Yamada. He was a peripheral face for the rest of his run there, leaving in 2015 to join PWU/UNION Wrestling.

### PWU/UNION Wrestling (2015-2018)

Matsuda joined UNION Wrestling in 2015, upon it's launch, and took part in it's World Championship Tourney, losing in the first round, before losing in the same round of the Tag Team Tourney, with British Samurai, in December. He continued his style of enhancing those around him until a feud with Brawl Champion Grayson Gage beginning in July 2017 saw him win his first championship with the promotion at Open Challenge 2017.

His only defence of the belt came a month later at Heavy Metal 2017, in the dark match against Skorch, which he won. He held the title until it's official deactivation later in the year and reverted to being a mainly enhancement-orientated worker once more.

In May 2018, Matsuda's contract with UNION Wrestling was terminated with a year left to run. Though no official reason was given, and the company amicably wished him well for the future, rumours of an altercation with Eddie Hamer that may have turned physical surfaced on Squared Circle Insider.**3**

### PRIZE Wrestling League (2018-2019)

Matsuda made a surprise appearance at the PRIZE June Special 2018 in Birmingham, debuting in what was originally a Four Man Ladder Match for the Nova Championship, alongside British Samurai, to make it a Six Man Contest. He was, however, unable to win the belt, and appeared to be injured by BritSam on a ladder.

Despite still nursing a slight injury, he made it to the final two of the four-man Eliminator #1 Contenders Match for the Nova Championship, at the PRIZE July Special 2018, only for it to be exploited by the victorious Mikey Ace, who locked him in the *Ace of Spades Sharpshooter*.

Matsuda was attacked by the debuting "Bad Boy" Brent Blake following a live show loss to Mikey Ace. This set up a Grudge Match at the Bring Down The House Show, which Blake won after several moves onto the steel steps and three Midwestern Lights.

He'd quietly leave the company following the expiry of his contract.**4**

### Return to UNION Wrestling (2019-2020/2021-*present*)

After leaving PRIZE, Matsuda would return to UNION Wrestling for their live touring, being utilised mainly as an enhancer for the hometown talent of whatever city or town they happened to be in. He would pick up some impressive wins during this period, including while tagging with former partner The Cowpoke against The Cairn Brothers.

Matsuda announced intentions to return to Japan in early 2020, however the COVID-19 pandemic put paid to these plans, and he instead stayed with UNION- briefly bringing back an unofficial version of the Brawl Championship- until it ceased putting on shows due to lockdown. When asked on a podcast in 2021 if he was still with the promotion, he confirmed that he'd been uncontracted since 2020, but would happily listen to offers when it was feasible to return to wrestling.**5**

Matsuda made a surprise return in December 2021, opening the Manchester live show. However, he was prevented from making any kind of promo to the crowd by the newly re-signed Wroe, who took offence to having his "thunder stolen" by the veteran. UW confirmed, after the show, that he'd signed a new, long-term deal.

## In-Wrestling

### Signatures

**Armlock**

**Double Axe Handle**

### Finishers

**SudaBomb** *(Vertical Suplex Powerbomb)*

**SudaLock** *(Hollywood & Vine) 2018-present*

## Accomplishments

**JMW Heavyweight Championship**

**JMW Junior Championship**

**EW: Japanese Championship**

**UNION Brawl Championship**

## Trivia

* As well as wrestling, Matsumoto has a keen interest in gardening.**6**
* Despite living in Liverpool, he is a keen Manchester United supporter. He also keenly follows the J-League in his home country.**7**

## Behind-the-Scenes/Notes

1. He's one of my oldest CAWs, as I recently found an old design note from SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role for him. I'd forgotten about his early years completely!
2. This I actually attribute mostly to how various Universe Modes have booked him. A happy accident, you could say.
3. The incident that led to him "leaving" UW was purely to add flavour to the story.
4. In truth, I just wanted him free to use in whatever I ended up doing in 2K20... which ended up being not as much as I wanted.
5. This attitude in the narrative is based on my desire to immediately integrate him into whatever I do in 2K22.
6. Random fluff detail to flesh him out a bit.
7. Same as above, though also a subtle nod to the origins of his face texture (see below)

NOTE: Matsuda's face texture was originally an edited picture of the footballer (soccer) player Keisuke Honda, presumably made for FIFA or Pro Evolution Soccer, found by accident while searching for textures for some of my roster. Once I began making my own face textures in 2021, I simply used a picture of Honda because it felt like tradition at that point.