TIMELINE
Childhood: His grandfather was a carnie wrestler. This is where Matthews got his first taste of wrestling.
Growing up: He trained in judo and boxing to make up for the lack of wrestling clubs.
First match: Against Magnificent Maurice, a carnie wrestler who beat the crap out of him. Despite this loss and many others, Matthews kept coming back.
Training: Matthews trained under Bobby Barron, a wrestler turned promoter who was impressed with his determination.
1984: Went to work for Barron's wrestling promotion, only to be beaten and humiliated by some of the older wrestlers.
1986: Started working for Dale Martin Promotions only to be forced out over an argument about career direction. After that he went to work for another promoter named Brian Dixon and began to acquire success under the name "Steven Regal".
1992: WCW management exec Bill Watts asks Matthews to work for WCW.
1993: Steven Regal debuts in WCW. He added "Lord" to his name because of a much-needed change in character. He wrestled with Paul Levesque(aka HHH)as part of the "Blue Bloods" tag team.
1995: Started traveling to Japan to wrestle for New Japan Pro Wrestling. He injured his right knee in a match with Chris Benoit and began taking painkillers. Unfortunately, Matthews became addicted to painkillers. Alcohol and sleeping pills only made matters worse.
1996: Injured his neck and gained weight due to drug addiction. Won his third WCW tv title, but got into a car accident while driving to a show with Benoit.
1998: Dismissed from WCW and signed to WWF. Caught pneumonia and was still fighting addictions while training. He fractured his left foot and ankle in a match with Rhyno. WWF sent him to drug rehab for an assessment.
1999: Enrolled in a 14-week drug treatment program. WWF released him but paid for his rehab. Soon he was working for WCW again.
2000: Asked and received release from WCW, began training for work in the WWF again.
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