Matthew Marinelli (born March 20, 1985) is an American professional wrestler and trainer, currently competing for All Elite Wrestling and Ring of Honor (where he's best known for most time in his career) as Matt Taven. He also competed for New Japan Pro-Wrestling, CMLL, Impact Wrestling and National Wrestling Alliance.
Trained by the ECW Original Spike Dudley, he made his wrestling debut in March 7, 2008 and competed mainly for Top Rope Promotions and Northeast Wrestling, but it's not until May 8, 2009 when he joined ROH as a jobber competing in dark matches, and after winning the Top Prospect Tournament in 2013, he become part of the roster for the company.
At November of the same year, he began teaming up with Mike Bennett, joining The Kingdom, led by Adam Cole at the time. Both Taven and Bennett won the ROH World Tag Team Championship by defeating The Addiction (Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian) and The Young Bucks, and through ROH's partnership with NJPW, they won the IWGP Tag Team Championship against Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows. However, things didn't last for The Kingdom as he suffered a legitimate knee injury, while Bennett (alongside with the latter's wife and manager Maria Kanellis) left ROH in favor of TNA and Cole joining Bullet Club.
Having already turned on Cole in the process, Taven recovered from his injury and assembled his own version of The Kingdom with Vinny Marseglia and TK O'Ryan as his new teammates. Taven, Marseglia and O'Ryan themselves are the inaugural ROH Six Man Tag Team Champions, and they won the titles in three different occasions.
During a match for the ROH World Championship against Jay Lethal, he acheived the three count, but the referee didn't look and instead, Lethal retained. At Death Before Dishonor XVI, Taven unveiled a copy of the ROH World Heavyweight Championship but with the straps colored purple, proclaiming himself as the "Real World Champion", and demanded a rematch with Lethal for the title at ROH 17th Anniversary Show, but didn't succeed as the match ended in a 60-minute draw.
It's not until the joint ROH/NJPW PPV G1 Supercard in 2019 where he actually won the ROH World Heavyweight Championship for real in a three-way ladder match against Lethal and Marty Scurll in the sold out Madison Square Garden, and with that, he becomes the second ROH Grand Slam winner. Opinions have varied regarding his victory, with only a few sector of fans enjoying his celebration while the majority wanted the then-fan favorite Scurll to win. With 174 days, he lost the title against Mexican powerhouse and leader of La Facción Ingobernable: Rush.
The Kingdom was dismantled when O'Ryan suffered an injury that forced the latter to step away from the ring, and Vinny Marseglia turned on Taven in a brutal attack, and that becomes the basis for his Redemption Quest, turning Face for the remainder of his run with Ring of Honor.
When ROH returned to produce the shows once again in 2020 after putting in hiatus in the middle of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Matt Taven unveils his current gimmick: "The Trend", inspired in social media, showing that he finally got serious as a wrestler in a feud against his former ally Vinny, now known as Vincent, but that doesn't mean that he often slips into his usual bad boy self by mocking his opponents like a high school jock, calling them "Melvins". Taven and Vincent feuded in an epic rivalry that even allowed both to revisit their roots in a Cinematic Match that took place in the Police Athletic League Hall of Fame during the ROH 19th Anniversary Show and concluded in Glory by Honor XVIII.
During his feud with Vincent, who led The Righteous with Bateman and Dutch, a good friend of his returned to ROH on November 21, 2020: Mike Bennett. They reunited and as a result, they reform The Kingdom, now known as The OGK. Taven and Bennett won the ROH Tag Team Championship for the second time before losing to The Briscoes in Final Battle 2021. With his wrestling skills unleashed in that match, Taven completed his redemption in the eyes of the Honor Nation.
Love him or hate him, there's no doubt that Matt Taven is a wrestler that worked hard to become one of the most decorated mainstays of Ring of Honor, through to be fair, different factors in the decline of the Sinclair Era of ROH such as The Elite leaving and not having enough main eventers during the mass exodus has made him as the only choice to carry the company with little-to-no avail, but it's not during the 2020 relaunch that he actually improved as a wrestler for the better and it helps that they found a more suitable "Face of the Company" in Jonathan Gresham. However, Ring of Honor released him from his contract but remained until December 31, 2021. During his time as a free agent, he returns to the independent scene with the knowledge he got from his time on ROH.
That is... until he, Bennett, Vincent (who unexpectedly joins him), PCO and Maria start invading the Impact Zone by attacking the winners of the 10-Man Hardcore War in Hard to Kill 2022 between Team Impact and Violent By Design. These actions have been noticed by the Impact Wrestling management, and as a result, the ROH renegades are assembled. Together, they are known as: Honor No More. Eight months later, he and Bennett won the Impact Tag Team Championship from The Good Brothers. However, they lost the championship to Heath and Rhino at the October 8, 2022 episode of Impact Wrestling. After that, PCO turned on the entire group, followed by Scott D'Amore firing both him and Mike Bennett from Impact, thus dismantling Honor No More.
Taven, in the middle of rumors of going to WWE, debuts for AEW instead alongside with Bennett and Maria, challenging FTR for the ROH World Tag Team Championship.
"These Tropes are I, I am the Tropes and I'mmmm Matt Taven!":
- Alpha Bitch: Claimed he never hung out with Hanson despite them coming from the same town because he was too pretty to be associated with Hanson. He never grew out of it, as he made it his mission to let The Young Bucks know they'd never be able to date the girls he takes home.
- Arch-Enemy: Rush has become a notorious eyesore for him on personal levels, be it in both ROH or CMLL. In addition, he and Bennett are at odds with Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows.
- ROH Heel Run: The Addiction (Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian), Adam Cole, Jay Lethal, Michael Elgin, Cody Rhodes, The Young Bucks, Marty Scurll.
- ROH Face Run: The Righteous (Vincent [his former teammate], Bateman and Dutch), Brian Milonas and Beer City Bruiser.
- NWA: The Fixers, La Rebelión.
- Honor No More member: Josh Alexander, Rhino and Heath, Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin), Bullet Club (specifically the US Division leader Jay White, and Ace Austin).
- AEW: FTR, Wardlow and Samoa Joe.
- Current ROH Run: Top Flight (Dante and Darius Martin).
- Ascended Extra: Prior to teaming with Bennett he was only in dark matches and even afterwards he was a jobber who lost his chance at a contract to QT Marshall. Then came the Top Prospect Tournament and ROH Television Title.
- Badass in a Nice Suit: Calling him badass is quite an understatement (through he can be one once he's in the ring), but he actually does look good in a purple suit.
- Badass Teacher: Taven has trained notable independent circuit talents ranging from Love, Doug, the team of Waves and Curls, to name few.
- Berserk Button: Whatever you do, please don't tell him that his ROH World Heavyweight Championship victory in the Madison Square Garden "put the company out of business", if Josh Alexander saying it is any indication.
- Borrowed Catchphrase: On the basis Raymond Rowe was a "jailbird" Taven said he "wouldn't believe his tongue if it was notarized."
- Call-Back: In one Impact Wrestling backstage segment, Taven invoked the Code of Honor to the guards, but because they are not paying attention, he and the rest of Honor No More simply left the scene. This is an obvious reference to how ROH starts and finishes the matches.
- The Cameo: Given he announced it as Ghostbusters Featuring Matt Taven he seems to think he was more along the lines of a Guest Star. He was also on Creepshow.
- Catchphrase: "He's I, and I'm him and I'mmmm Matt Taven!", often shortened to just "I'mmmm Matt Taven!".
- Catchphrase Insult: Often says "Melvins" to anyone he doesn't like. For those curious, "Melvin" means either "dork", "ugly" or "uncoool". It can be also referred as a frontal wedgie, given his Jerk Jock gimmick. Even as a Face, he still manages to say this, but exclusively to Heels. This is pretty much his schtick:Matt Taven: "Don't be a Melvin!"
- Casanova Wannabe: Besides the "official" Hoopla Hotties, Taven was often seen with many different women on his arm. It turned out there were so many because they kept dumping him and being replaced by new women Seleziya Sparx found to hook up with him.
- Combat Commentator: Spent many a show on at the commentary table in between his injury, the breakup of The Kingdom and finding replacements for the group.
- The Conspiracy: An inverted example. Instead of leading it, the ROH Management actually "conspired" against him, Vinny and O'Ryan during their Kingdom run, according to him anyway. It took his ROH World Heavyweight Championship win to stop it.
- It happened again in Impact Wrestling as a member of Honor No More, again as the conspiracy target of Scott D'Amore.
- Defeating the Undefeatable: During his run as the ROH World Heavyweight Champion, he managed to end the streak of Jeff Cobb clean, while retaining the title.
- The Ditz: He lectures Kevin Kelly on the intricacies of American Football, assuming that Kelly never played it, while failing to realized Kamaitachi, whose name he's confused and blended with Tamagotchi, doesn't have a football gimmick (nor an electronic gaming one, for that matter).
- Enemy Mine: A possible explanation for why Taven and Vincent teamed up as members of Honor No More in Impact Wrestling, especially since both feuded with each other in the Sinclair Era ROH.
- Face–Heel Turn:
- The first time he turned Heel in ROH (he debuted first as a Face) is when he joined Truth Martini after winning the Top Prospect Tournament in 2013.
- He and the rest of the former ROH stars, desperate after the temporal hiatus of the promotion, invaded the Impact Zone in Hard to Kill 2022, becoming the very opposite of what they represented in ROH (save for Vincent who was always dishonorable). This turn only applies in Impact, as he's still a Face in NWA.
- Fanboy: He thinks Hiroshi Tanahashi is the coolest man in the world, even cooler than Mike Bennett.
- Finishing Move: An arm trap headlock driver, appropiately called Climax.
- From Nobody to Nightmare: Started as a lovable babyface in his first years with ROH, but after joining Truth Martini when he won the Top Prospect Tournament in 2013, he then becomes an obnoxious Jerk Jock Casanova Wannabe, and later, the leader of his own version of The Kingdom who stopped a conspiracy against his group when he won the ROH World Heavyweight Championship in 2019.
- Green-Eyed Monster: Towards Michael Elgin for being Hiroshi Tanahashi's tag team partner.
- Heel–Face Turn: Even though he competed mainly as a Heel for most of the time in ROH, being betrayed by Vincent is what allowed him to become Face for the remainder of his run.
- Heterosexual Life-Partners: With Mike Bennett.
- Long-Haired Pretty Boy: A good way to set Taven off is to get something in his hair, preferably something sticky. He can talk for a little while about the effort he puts into his "beautiful" mane. Subverted when he got partially shaven and then spots short hair.
- Mean Character, Nice Actor: Matt Taven, the wrestler, is an obnoxious and arrogant Jerkass, especially as a Heel (not so much as a Face). However, Matthew Marinelli, the person, is actually nice out of character.
- Mr. Fanservice: What he is, acccording to him anyway, especially during his Sexual Taven moments. He does have a section of purple wearing, Taven-loving Fangirls in the ringside who attend the ROH, and later, Impact Wrestling events just to see him, to his credit.
- No Indoor Voice: The way he says his aforementioned catchphrase often gets into the nerves of anyone he meets.
- Perma-Stubble: Recently, he spots facial hair between his last years with ROH and his debut with Impact Wrestling.
- Power Trio:
- He and Bennett teamed up with "Savage Gentleman" Victor Benjamin as The Savage Kingdom in NWA. It only lasted a few months because Benjamin ended his duties with the promotion.
- As part of Honor No More in Impact, he, Mike Bennett and Eddie Edwards frequently team up, representing the state of Boston.
- Purple Is Powerful: All of his wrestling costumes have purple all over it and is a competent wrestler, when he actually does it.
- Put on a Bus: His contract with ROH was suddenly terminated (alongside with the rest of the roster) in 2021, although he remained until December 31, completing his 12 years of career with the company.
- Red Baron: The self styled "Bad Boy from Boston", "Must See TV" and recently "The Trend".
- Redemption Quest: After losing the ROH World Heavyweight championship to Rush and being betrayed by Vinny, now known as Vincent, he admitted being an uncaring and selfish person during the time he led The Kingdom and promised himself to be better from now on, which led Taven to exile himself until he's ready to return. This is the basis of his 2019-2021 Face run in Ring of Honor.
- The Rival: He and Bennett have a long history with The Briscoes, to the point of seeing them as Worthy Opponents, especially in their match in Final Battle 2021.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Taven apparently left ROH in August 2014, after a defeat from Jay Lethal due to an interference from his former mentor Truth Martini, but he returned in October, as his exit turned out to be a Work.
- Signature Move: The most notable are Just the Tip: A running knee strike to a sitting opponent, and Kick of the King: A jumpspring Enzuiguiri from the middle rope.
- Sitcom Archnemesis: Often pokes fun of commentator Ian Riccabonni, to the point of calling him "Riccaboner".
- Smug Snake:
- After becoming the ROH Television Champion he insisted on being announced as "The Only Super Duper Star".
- Taven made is ring return in Mexico for CMLL, claiming he was the most decorated wrestler in ROH history. He did alright, but after failing to win The NWA World Historic Middleweight belt from Ultimo Guerrero, Taven stormed back to the US and started using the Guerrero Special, daring Ultimo Guerrero to come to the US and do something about it.
- Technician vs. Performer: He's the Performer to Mike Bennett's Technician. Taven is a charismatic wrestler specializing in high flying spots, flashy moves and is quite an attraction (to the ladies at least).
- Took a Level in Badass: In his second ROH Face run, Taven has demonstrated that he's actually capable to fight back. This is demonstrated when he gets a Roaring Rampage of Revenge towards his former ally Vincent for turning against him.
- True Companions: Taven and Bennett have become loyal to each other since they first met in the independent circuit. While their friendship is notorious during the first incarnation of The Kingdom, their bond is strenghtened to each other as the reformed OGK.
- Undying Loyalty: Arguably, with Ring of Honor, the company that made him a top talent for 12 years.
- Ur-Example: Matt Taven is one third of the inaugural ROH Six Man Tag Team Champions with Vinny Marseglia and TK O'Ryan.
