Matt from The Mat

The Springsteen Project: Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. Some brimstone, baritone, anticyclone, rolling stone

I am trying to use this platform more, this year I'm writing about everybsingle @brucespringsteen.net album, one a week

Should be really exciting

open.substack.com/pub/mattlaur...

Great to see BAP together, even if it was last night 😂

Full show hits Patreon at 18:30

☝️ @davidbix.bsky.social this feels like something you might be able to light on?

Anyone who knows about these things know why people in Facebook are insistent that Smoky Mountain Wrestling is still around?

AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2025 The fourth annual blurring of boundaries

I always forget to post things here but I wrote about Forbidden Door and I think its a pretty good piece and that you should go and read it 🤷‍♂️
open.substack.com/pub/mattfrom...

And Mike Bailey was the first wrestler I ever bought merch from in person, at the Temple of Boom in Leeds

Little moments sure but an illustration of why the indies give you experiences you can't replace

Same thing with Gabe Kidd, he was in the first match I ever watched in person
I sat behind his family during his homecoming match in Nottingham in 2022

Really cool seeing his journey

I've seen 6 people on the Forbidden Door card in the Bread Shed
Two of them this year

That's why supporting your local independent promotions is so cool

Saturday afternoon retro wrestling show, chosen for me by a first vote wins poll

Great show

open.substack.com/pub/mattfrom...

Masterfully good book

A level to aspire to

Great Muta vs Brad Armstrong, 2 out of 3 falls, from April 92

Liam Slater actually trained Leon Slater

It's better for Kyle Fletcher to start his reign by beating a beloved veteran than by winning a four way for a vacant title anyway

And everyone else in that match has 20 or 30 years left in them

Kyle Fletcher will get his moment in the sun

He probably shouldn't be holding those two ROH titles as well but that's a different issue

If your heart wasn't warmed by Dustin Rhodes getting that moment in his home state even just a little bit then I don't know what to say

Pez Whatley getting a shout out at All In

Something about imitation and flattery

Working in a field that's quite reliant on word of mouth is very hard when your work doesn't get shared around

The Number One Project: 1955 There's a rumbling in the distance

My project to listen to every UK Number One single continues with 1955

A year dominated by a cowboy that also saw a new genre appear

open.substack.com/pub/mattlaur...

The Number One Project: 1954 More ballads, with added light opera

Part two of what will end up being 70+

Please have a read so this mad idea I had doesn't prove wasted

open.substack.com/pub/mattlaur...

I would tell you in great detail what I felt about Progress but I genuinely dont think anyone cares at this point

Starting off my project to listen to every UK number One right at the beginning (where else)

So please, have a read of what I thought about 1952 and 1953s biggest hits

Anyone know the superstar below?

open.substack.com/pub/mattlaur...

Launched a new music newsletter today, would mean a lot if you'd take a look

I'm about to embark on a mission to listen to all 1400+ UK no.1 singles and if you sign up (it's free) you can read all about it

And there'll be loads more as well

open.substack.com/pub/mattlaur...

In 'Let's get ready to Rhumble' Ant & Dec I teoduce themselves as such, but the song is credited to PJ & Duncan

Why?

Making the playlists as preparation

The early 2000s are definitely going to do me in...

About to embark on a ridiculous project to listen to (and comment on) every single UK number one single from the birth of the charts to the present day

I will go insane at some point, probably before the 1950s are out 🤷‍♂️

We reeaallly wish we got more traction here so we could stop having to the use the other place so much.

Please do us a solid and spread the word to your followers.

EVE is one of the longest running all-women's promotions in the world, 15 years strong, and produced by Will Ospreay

Next show...

You're Remembering It Wrong - The Pipebomb The promo that changed the world?

I keep seeing pieces proclaiming the pipebomb as a turning point, so I figured I'd evaluate it near its 14th anniversary this month

open.substack.com/pub/mattfrom...