Nicole Matthews

Nicole Matthews
Nicole Matthews is the current Femmes Fatales Champion
Birth name	Lindsay Miller
Born	(1987-01-15) January 15, 1987 (age 37)[1] Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada[1]
Alma mater	Simon Fraser University
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Hope[2] Nicole Matthews Nicole[3] Nikki Matthews[4]
Billed height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[5]
Billed weight	190 lb (86 kg; 14 st)[5]
Billed from	Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada[6]
Trained by	Michelle Starr[4] Scotty Mac[4] Vance Nevada[4] Aaron Idol[4] Halo[4]
Debut	February 2006[5]

Lindsay Miller (born January 15, 1987) is a Canadian professional wrestler better known by her ring name Nicole Matthews. Matthews regularly wrestles for Shimmer Women Athletes and Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling among other independent promotions. She regularly teamed with fellow Canadian wrestler the now retired Portia Perez as the Canadian NINJAs, and the pair former two-time Shimmer Tag Team Champions.

Professional wrestling career

Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling / Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling (2006–2020)

Matthews was originally convinced to try a career in professional wrestling by her friend, male wrestler Sid Sylum. She made her professional wrestling debut in February 2006 alongside fellow trainee Veronika Vice.^[4][5] In March and September 2006, Matthews began wrestling for SuperGirls Wrestling, part of NWA: Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling. On October 27, 2007, she defeated Nattie Neidhart and Vice in a three-way match for the SuperGirls Championship.^[5] She defended the championship against Vice and Aurora in the following weeks. Vice, however, defeated Matthews for the title on April 21, 2007.^[5] During this time, Matthews also formed a partnership with Sid Sylum, wrestling with him in mixed tag team matches and occasionally acting as his valet. Matthews continued to feud with Vice for the remainder of the year. In March 2008, Matthews regained the SuperGirls Championship in a match against Penni Lane.^[5] She, however, lost the title to Veronika Vice on February 7, 2009.^[5]

On October 29, 2010, Matthews defeated Tenille Tayla in a Tables match to win the SuperGirls Championship for the third time.^[7] She lost the title nearly a year later, on October 28, 2011, to KC Spinelli.^[7] In early 2012, Matthews formed a new stable known as The Riot in ECCW, alongside Ravenous Randy Myers, Alex Plexis and Andy "The Dreadful" Bird.^[7]

Shimmer Women Athletes (2007–2019)

The Canadian Ninjas - Portia Perez (left) and Nicole Matthews (right) in 2012

Matthews sent a demo tape to Shimmer Women Athletes in December 2006, but was not signed to the promotion.^[4] In October 2007, however, Matthews was called to join the company when Portia Perez needed a tag team partner.^[4][1] Matthews teamed with Perez in Shimmer Volumes 15 and 16.^[4] After three singles matches with Shimmer, Matthews once again began teaming with Perez as the Canadian NINJAs (National International Nation of Jalapeño Awesomeness).^[4] On October 19, 2008, on Volume 22, the NINJAs challenged Ashley Lane and Nevaeh for the Shimmer Tag Team Championship, but were unsuccessful.^[8] On Volume 23, taped on May 2, 2009, she fought Daizee Haze to a 20-minute time limit draw, before losing to her in a rematch on Volume 24.^[9] On May 3, at the tapings of Volume 26, Matthews and Perez defeated Ashley Lane and Nevaeh to win the Shimmer Tag Team Championship.^[4] On November 8, Matthews came back as a singles competitor by losing to Cheerleader Melissa as part of Volume 27, but winning against Allison Danger as part of Volume 28. After a reign of 692 days, Matthews and Perez lost the Shimmer Tag Team Championship to Hiroyo Matsumoto and Misaki Ohata on March 26, 2011.^[10]

On October 2, 2011, the Ninjas failed in their attempt to win back the championship, losing to Ayumi Kurihara and Ayako Hamada, but later that evening, Matthews attacked Cheerleader Melissa from behind after Melissa had won the Shimmer Championship from Madison Eagles.^[11] As a result, Matthews received a championship match against Melissa on March 17, 2012, at the Volume 45 tapings but was unsuccessful.^[12] The following night, at the tapings of Volume 48, The NINJAs participated in a four-way elimination tag team match, but were the final team eliminated by Courtney Rush and Sara Del Rey, who won the Shimmer Tag Team Championship.^[13] On July 7, The NINJAs defeated Rush and Del Rey at an NCW Femmes Fatales (NCW FF) event to win the Shimmer Tag Team Championship for the second time.^[14] They lost the title to the Global Green Gangsters (Kellie Skater and Tomoka Nakagawa) on April 14, 2013, at the tapings of Volume 57.^[15] After drawing with Madison Eagles in a number one contender's match at Volume 67, both progressed to a four-way championship match at Volume 68 also involving Cheerleader Melissa and Athena. On October 18, Matthews won the match to become the new Shimmer Champion, making her the first Canadian to have held the title.^[16][17] She successfully defended the championship against Evie at the Volume 69 tapings, and retained the championship by disqualification against Tomoka Nakagawa at Volume 70 when Perez interfered.^[18] On October 10, 2015, on Volume 77, Matthews lost the Shimmer Championship to Madison Eagles in a No Disqualification match.^[19]

Other promotions (2009–present)

In early 2009 Matthews took part in the first season tapings of Wrestlicious, which began airing in March 2010. In the promotion she uses the ring name Hope and forms the tag team The Naughty Girls with partner Faith, played by Portia Perez. She debuted on the fifth episode on March 31, teaming with Faith in a losing effort against the team of Charlotte and Paige Webb.^[2]

On May 30, 2010 it was announced that Matthews was to make her debut for NCW Femmes Fatales (NCW FF) as a participant in the tournament to declare the first ever NCW FF Champion, replacing the injured Kacey Diamond in a match against Cheerleader Melissa.^[20] Matthews, however, wasn't able to get the win in her debut on June 5, and Melissa advanced to the semi-finals.^[6][21] She continued to compete for NCW FF, facing wrestlers including Mercedes Martinez in singles competition, while continuing to team with Perez.^[7]

International excursions (2011–present)

Matthews has wrestled in both Australia and Japan. In Australia she faced competitors including Madison Eagles and Jessie McKay in Pro Wrestling Women's Alliance. She toured Japan with her Canadian NINJAs partner Portia Perez, with the duo facing opponents including Hiroyo Matsumoto and Saya.^[7]

WWE (2018)

On July 30, 2018, WWE announced that Matthews would compete in the 2018 Mae Young Classic tournament. She defeated Isla Dawn in the first round, but was eliminated by Tegan Nox in the second.^[22]

On September 27, 2018, Matthews was caught using a travel visa instead of a work visa to book independent shows and has been banned from working within the United States. She was banned from entering the country for five years.^[23][24]

Personal life

Matthews played volleyball and swam in high school.^[4] She attends Simon Fraser University, where she is studying kinesiology part-time.^[4][7] She previously taught swimming and worked as a lifeguard, before becoming a full-time Aquatic Program Supervisor.^[4][7]

Championships and accomplishments

• Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling / Elite Canadian Championship Wrestling
  • ECCW Championship (3 times)^[25]
  • ECCW Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Alex Plexis, Andy Bird and Randy Myers^[a]
  • SuperGirls Championship/ECCW Women's Championship (5 times)^[5][7]
  • Pacific Cup (2017)
• Femmes Fatales
  • Femmes Fatales Championship (1 time, current)^[26]
• Nation Extreme Wrestling
  • NEW Women's Championship (1 time)^[27]
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • Ranked No. 16 of the top 50 female wrestlers in the PWI Female 50 in 2015 and 2016
• Pure Wrestling Association
  • PWA Elite Women's Championship (1 time)^[28]
• Shimmer Women Athletes
  • Shimmer Championship (1 time)^[16]
  • Shimmer Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Portia Perez^[7][14]
• Westside Xtreme Wrestling
  • Femmes Fatales Tournament (2023)^[29]

Notes

1. Matthews defended the title with either Alex Plexis, Andy "The Dreadful" Bird or "Ravenous" Randy Myers under the Freebird Rule.

References

1. "Nicole Matthews". GLORY Wrestling. January 1, 2009. Archived from the original on January 29, 2009. Retrieved April 1, 2009.
2. Byers, Ryan (April 2, 2010). "411's Wrestlicious Take Down Report 03.31.10". 411Mania. Retrieved April 2, 2010.
3. Radican, Sean (September 6, 2010). "Radican's 9/10 DGUSA "Enter the Dragon 2010" PPV review – Insane 4 Way, Chikara-Kamikaze USA 8 Man Tag, Hulk-Mochizuki". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
4. Kamchen, Richard (May 28, 2009). "Nikki Matthews vaulting to the top". Slam! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on January 1, 2013. Retrieved May 28, 2009.
5. "Nicole Matthews". Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling. Archived from the original on April 20, 2009. Retrieved April 1, 2009.
6. "Nicole Matthews". NCW Femmes Fatales. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
7. Byer, Matthew (June 11, 2012). "Nicole Matthews keeps soaring higher". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
8. beckingham, Anthony (August 19, 2011). "SHIMMER Vol. 22 DVD Review: Del Rey vs. Deeb III, MsChif defends Shimmer Title, Wesna vs. LuFisto, Kong, Daffney, Melissa". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
9. beckingham, Anthony (October 5, 2011). "SHIMMER Vol. 24 DVD Review: Melissa & MsChif vs. Del Rey & Kong, Danger vs. Perez street fight, Serena Deeb, Wesna, LuFisto II". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
10. Martin, Adam (March 28, 2011). "Indy News #2: SHIMMER Vol. 37, 38, 39, 40 results". WrestleView. Retrieved March 28, 2011.
11. Namako, Jason (October 3, 2011). "Second report of the SHIMMER 43, 44 tapings". WrestleView. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
12. Cooper, Chad (March 18, 2012). "3/17 SHIMMER Vol. 45 and Vol. 46 results". WrestleView. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
13. Namako, Jason (March 19, 2012). "Second report of SHIMMER Vol. 47 and 48 results". WrestleView. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
14. Namako, Jason (July 8, 2012). "Indy News #4: ROH Newswire, NCW Femme Fatales". WrestleView. Retrieved July 8, 2012.
15. Namako, Jason (April 14, 2013). "4/14 Shimmer #57 Results: Berwyn, Illinois (Allison Danger's retirement match)". WrestleView. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
16. Bentley, Martin (October 19, 2014). "New Shimmer Champion crowned and more: 10/18 Shimmer results from Berwyn, IL". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
17. Murphy, Dan (October 19, 2014). "Showing fire, Nicole Matthews wins SHIMMER title". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on October 20, 2014. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
18. Namako, Jason (October 20, 2014). "10/19 SHIMMER Results: Berwyn, Illinois (8-Woman Tag)". WrestleView. Retrieved October 21, 2014.
19. Murphy, Dan (October 10, 2015). "Madison Eagles becomes a two-time Shimmer champion with win over Matthews". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
20. "Nicole debuts for NCW FF". NCW Femmes Fatales. Retrieved April 2, 2010.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
21. "Résultats du 5 Juin 2010: Femmes Fatales III" (in French). NCW Femmes Fatales. June 5, 2010. Archived from the original on March 13, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
22. https://www.wwe.com/shows/maeyoungclassic/article/ashley-rayne-priscilla-kelly-xia-brookside?sf194543706=1 Ashley Rayne, Priscilla Kelly and Xia Brookside join Mae Young Classic 2018
23. http://www.mandatory.com/wrestlezone/news/1002887-mae-young-classic-competitor-banned-from-u-s-for-five-years Mae Young Classic Competitor Banned from US for Five Yeara
24. "411Mania".
25. Laprade, Pat (August 31, 2014). "Nicole Matthews' big ECCW win reignites men vs. women debate". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
26. Hillhouse, Dave (June 26, 2023). "Smash, Defy, Femmes Fatales, and Progress Open Their Own Forbidden Doors in Toronto Show". Slam Wrestling. Archived from the original on June 27, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
27. Lambert, Jeremy (October 29, 2022). "NEW 10 Results (10/27): Davey Richards, Rachael Ellering, Nicole Matthews in Action". Fightful. Archived from the original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
28. "Pure Wrestling Championship History". Archived from the original on July 15, 2011.
29. Halliwell, Don (September 25, 2023). "The Week in Women's Wrestling 9/18/23 – 9/24/23". PWPonderings. Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved September 26, 2023.

External links

• Nicole Matthews's profile at Cagematch.net , Wrestlingdata.com , Internet Wrestling Database