An Interview with Cameron: Part 2 (The BG East Era)

After a long break, Cameron has finally responded to my second series of questions. You can find part one of our interview here.

We look back at Cameron's run at BG East from beginning to end. I ask Cameron about his opponents and experiences there. I hope you all enjoy it.

Picking up from where we left off... Soon after you came of age, you started wrestling at BG East. How did that come about? 

Some of the full details are lost to time. The basic story is that a dude I met online (through AOL Instant Messenger) mentioned that I should reach out to NHB Battle & BG East about some wrestling videos. I shot an email to Kid Leopard at BG East. I believe it said something like "we've heard of you and we wanna make you champion of BG East" or something of the affect. haha. 

We set a time to come down to Massachusetts to do some matches in January (shortly after my 19th birthday). I was so eager that I showed up the night before to say hello. I'm not sure they knew how to take me. Who shows up the night before work (or school or anything) to check out the place. I spent a long weekend (I think - definitely 3 or 4 days) in Massachusetts crashing at friend's places and wrestling. LIVING THE DREAM!

Cameron vs Kid Vicious: Ultra Heels 5

The first match you filmed was against Kid Vicious (released in 2011). It's clear from the very beginning that you had a lot of poise in the ring and clearly understood selling. What are your memories from this match? 

I'm not sure that was my first actual match but it definitely was from those first 3 or 4 days at BG East. I believe my first match was actually either Brad Rochelle or Aryx Quinn (or I could be way off.)

Kid Vicious is a good dude. We've actually done some training together at the BG East house, exchanging knowledge and holds. I think Kid Vicious comes alive when he steps into that role and character. 

Cameron vs Brad Rochelle: The Contract 5

Another early match, and the first to be released was against Brad Rochelle. It was another long, spirited match but there was a point where Brad seemed legitimately pissed. Do you remember what happened?

I think Brad is probably a good actor as I don't recall anything but smiles before and after the match. At least what I saw being filmed. I know Kid Leopard and he had a little meeting after I left so maybe he was nervous about that or upset. 

I was happy to be involved in the storyline of The Contract. 

In my opinion, your gear in those early BGE matches (white varsity trunks, blue pads, white striped socks and boots) has become iconic. How did you come up with that look?

I wish I could take credit...or maybe I can. I don't recall exactly who came up with the look. I wanna say Kid Leopard & Kid Vicious. They seemed to have the idea in mind and maybe I just came in at the right time and the gear fit haha. Isn't it wild that some kid from nowhere got an "iconic look" at a wrestling company like BG East. A lot of guys came and went. They'd wear whatever gear they picked out or fit in, but few actually got "a look" that was theirs. I remember being told I couldn't wear stuff because that's so-and-so's look. Aryx Quinn, Brooklyn Bodywrecker, Jaxx O'Doul.  

Maybe I need to bring "iconic looks" back. Definitive gear and costumes for particular wrestlers.

Wrestler Spotlight: Cameron Matthews vs Jaxx O'Doul

To me, your first Wrestler Spotlight is one of the best underground wrestling DVD's of all time. Your matches with Paul Hudson, Jaxx O'Doul & Joshua Goodman were all classics. Personally, my favorite match of the three would be your match with Jaxx. The reason is that it showcased your amateur skills as well as your pro skills before turning into a brutal squash. What are your thoughts on these matches?

Jaxx was great to wrestle. I remember seeing him pro wrestling on local TV. This is again where BG East knows how to do a match and I miss it. They are very thought-filled. They take a little while to film but it definitely shows. 

Joshua Goodman was a character. He actually took me with him to some stripping gigs he was doing when I was thinking about becoming a male dancer.

Wrestler Spotlight: Cameron vs Joshua Goodman

Paul is one-of-a-kind. He was WAY better than me at this time. He was a better amateur wrestler and pro wrestler. This was just like a video recorded version of what we were doing all over New England at the time. We've always paired well against one another. The. MOST MEMORABLE part of our match is when he forearms me in the nose and I think my nose is broken. 

I had forgotten that he is left-handed so when he threw his shot, I expected it to come from the other side so I looked right at one of the most brutal strikes I've ever taken. 

The quote before the strike has been joked about for years by Paul, Donnie Drake, Shannen Embry and myself. "Do you wanna try it?

Wrestler Spotlight: Cameron vs Paul Hudson

You're one of the few wrestlers to get a second Wrestler Spotlight DVD. In one of those matches you face Dick Rick (the guy who says "YEAH" on TV). How was that experience?

You knew Dick Rick was a big deal when he was in the room. My favorite memory of a Dick Rick match and this will show how juvenile I am, but they did a match where the other guys sat ringside chanting for and against the wrestlers in the ring. I'm not sure who started it or encouraged it (maybe Jonny Firestorm) but everyone started chanting "You Suck, Dick....Rick" 

I've wrestled Dick Rick a few times since then. It's cool to finally see him getting his time.

Wrestler Spotlight 2: Cameron vs Dick Rick - Does Dick look familiar? YEAH!

Your red transparent trunks that you wore vs. Dick Rick and Alexi Adamov is another standout look. How did that look come about? (Your mom didn't actually make those trunks, did she?)

Is that the story they said? That my mom made those trunks? That'd be awesome if they did. I remember having to take red tape to tape my dick and balls down so they wouldn't accidentally pop out of those trunks. 

Babyface Brawl: Alexi Adamov vs Cameron

Your match with Eli Black was intense (he was rock hard all over) but apparently you two didn't get along off camera. I don't think it affected the match quality, but how do you look back on it?

My buddy loves bringing this up as he's a big Eli Black fan. 

Anyway, the story goes. Eli Black is the hot new kid on the block and he comes in a little bit full of himself. It's not a problem as I've been around wrestlers and wrestler types my whole life. He tells everyone how great a mixed martial artist he is and how tough he is. That's fine and dandy. We're not really wrestling. We're putting on a show for the camera.

Mat Hunks 9: Cameron vs Eli Black

We do the first segment of our match, Kid Leopard helped put the idea together. In my opinion, we're having an excellent match. He's got some good skills and we're sweating up a good workout. So after this first segment is filmed or maybe even after the whole match is done, he says something like "if this was a real match I would've beat you." 

With that being the atmosphere of my interaction with him, I thought he was an idiot.

Another classic match was against Austin Cooper. Two babyfaces in peak condition wrestling a long, intense match. I don't think we could ask for much more.

How awesome is that match to look at? I know Austin and I have discussed this. Sometimes you couldn't tell who was who in the video. I was super impressed at Austin's athleticism. The match was fun as hell.

Babyface Brawl 2: Austin Cooper vs Cameron

Aside from the people I've mentioned, are there any other matches you had at BG East that stand out to you?

I liked the Lon DuMont match. It was a fun challenge and I think at that point in time, I was looking to show and get acceptance as being an equal with my pro wrestling trainer. 

Wrestlefest 3: Cameron vs Lon Dumont - Photo edited by W.R.

You've wrestled a who's who of BG East in that time period but there's a few you haven't faced. Is there anyone you would have liked to wrestle but didn't have the chance to?

Kid Leopard is the biggest regret in my underground wrestling career. It was mentioned early in our meeting and I thought it'd be cool to face the boss. Maybe even be the guy to give him a real run in the ring. We would tease one another with the idea a few times of the years but it never came to work out before Kid Leopard got into his bad health battles. 

I could only imagine a prime Cameron Mathews versus the legendary Kid Leopard. 

Hunkbash 2: Kid Leopard vs Wade Cutler

How do you look back on your BG East experience overall? Do you have any relationship with them these days?

I had a great time at BG East and learned a lot there. I credit it for a lot of my growth as a wrestler and becoming good at this video wrestling scene to what I saw and was taught at BG East. I actually think I may go back into producing that style of video. I miss what it was while I was there and the legacy before. It's definitely one of the big two for me. The other being Can-Am/Cyberfights. 

I haven't talked much to Kid Leopard or Kid Vicious in years. I used to see Kid Vicious once a month. I send Kid Leopard a text message every now and then. I think he's a bit sour (or was a bit sour) about me starting my own thing, but to be honest, I think he's just putting time into stuff he enjoys and handling his health.

I'm great friends with Jonny Firestorm who I thought was going to take over at BG East. He's got a great mind and the wrestling skills to take BG East into the future. I saw him in August and hoping to see him before snowfall. We text often and still giggle like little girls when we hang out.

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This is the end of Part 2. Obviously there's still a lot of ground to cover in Cameron's career. We'll see if there's a part 3. Thanks to Cameron for taking the time to answer my questions.