Nicole Matthews Takes Pride In Her Chops, Being An Influence On Canadian Wrestlers
Former Mae Young Classic competitor and current independent superstar Nicole Matthews recently sat down with Spencer Love for a wide-ranging conversation covering the current wrestling scene in the Pacific Northwest among various other topics. Check out the highlights below:
On what differentiates her as a trainer from other trainers:
You know, I think the four of us a are pretty good mix because we all have very similar fundamentals. We all have similar philosophies on training, but we all like doing different things and different aspects of wrestling. So, you know, Tony Baroni is really good about talking about psychology, and doing that type of – you know, [we] kind of keep taking him there. I’m not much of a talker at training honestly, which might shock some people because, like, I can talk all the time. So, I don’t really love talking about that, and so that’s great that Tony loves talking about it.Suede’s great at the fundamentals and kind of focusing – and he kind of has that like 80s, 90s style of wrestling a little more so. I love just like doing spots at training, like go-go-go kind of chain wrestling, roll off-type of spots. I just like doing a lot of action in my training. And, you know, Artemis does all the hard stuff like lucha techniques and like catch wrestling techniques. I’m a student when I go to his classes still, because, like, lucha wrestling is not my specialty, but it’s a really good – he’s a great trainer, and it’s good to learn from him.
On being a positive influence and role model for other Canadian superstars:
It’s pretty crazy. It’s cool, like I am flattered. [It] makes you feel a little old sometimes. No, I’m kidding. I’m kidding. It’s really cool. Especially, you know, with Spinelli, I was really young still when she was training, so like I don’t think – I know she’s very complimentary towards me when I get brought up, but like I don’t think I really trained her. I was just kind of there when she was training full out, and same with Chelsea. Like, Chelsea’s Chelsea. She did her own bit. The hustler to the extreme, right? She had great training with Storm, obviously. But I’m glad that she thinks that I helped her out in the beginning. That’s really nice to hear. Voros, yeah, I was there since the beginning for them, and I’m really proud of them and how good they are. Yeah, it’s really flattering.
On the changing landscape up in the Pacific Northwest:
I think just – well, the internet has helped . Kind of wrestling going towards more of that stream type of environment. But I think slowly but surely – there was a group of us when I was younger where it was me, Artemis [Spencer], Kyle O’Reilly El Phantasmo, you know, the Bollywood Boyz. We all came from the same place at the same time, basically. I trained with Harv from the Bollywood Boyz and like Kyle O’Reilly and ELP, right, and all those guys. We didn’t, like, all come up together successful at the same time. Like, it was kind of in spurts [that] we did it, but it was that work ethic and that you, you know, of like having a chip on your shoulder and wanting to be the best and all that.
On taking pride on her chops in the ring:
I’ve chopped a lot of people very hard! You know who’s – okay. I do take pride in my chops. I think I have a very good chop. The best chopper I’ve ever been in the ring with where I almost was like, I think I might quit professional wrestling when they chopped me was Cat Power. She basically does this running chop like Finn Balor does, like run into the corner, and, like, I have to like keep my arms because I’m like, I’m gonna pussy out if I don’t like force myself to hook my arms. Yeah, I’m trying to think of who else. I’ve had girls who did not like me chopping them, and they just quit. I don’t know if anyone’s ever laughed, though! That was a good question. I’m trying to think!
You can watch the entire interview below.
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