Matt Taven gets no respect. Echoing the famous catchphrase of self-deprecating comedian Rodney Dangerfield, Taven has garnered international acclaim, winning titles in ROH, NJPW and CMLL yet still has vociferous detractors.
Despite those sentiments, there is no denying that Taven is the only international star in recent memory who will have the distinction of being part of the main event at CMLL’s 85th Anniversary show on September 14th.
Taven is no stranger to success in CMLL, having had successful tours dating back to 2015. Weeks after recovering from knee surgery,Taven traveled down to CMLL for the first time, eventually competing in the company’s Gran Prix tournament as part of the international contingent.
Since then,Taven has continued his string of success, winning the CMLL Historic NWA Welterweight championship in April from Volador Jr. Upon his return to Mexico, Taven dropped the belt to the former champion but added an ally in the process. After their match, Rush came to the ring and attacked both men, giving both a reason to unite against him.
After weeks of needling, Rush and his partner Barbaro Cavernario will confront Taven and Volador Jr in the main event, with both sides putting their coiffes on the line in an apuesta match. Ahead of the marquee match, Taven spoke to Pro Wrestling Ponderings about the event, the possibility of losing his hair and his time in Mexico.
Once again we’re together here to talk about your time down in Mexico City and specifically working for CMLL. Last time we spoke you actually had won the NWA historic welterweight title from Volador Jr. Unfortunately, on your trip back down you just you did lose it back to him. But in the process formed a partnership with him.
It’s kind of like a crazy journey down here. It’s like I come down here between Ring of Honor dates and just think I’m swept like into this huge storm out of nowhere and I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to wrestle for the title last time I was here. And you know unexpectedly this time I find myself in the main event of the biggest show of the year, much of that dismay of all the Internet fans and people that probably won’t even watch the show but want to get online and say something and make them feel important like they know something. But you know I was saying this to you earlier you know off the air, I’m the Rodney Dangerfield of professional wrestling No matter how many places I go and win titles and sellout shows that main event I get no respect. But that’s to me it’s kind of- I love Rodney Dangerfield, so it’s the best schtick going.
Obviously you’ve been successful down there, winning the CMLL NWA Welterweight championship,you’ve been successful in Ring of Honor but now you’re poised for what could be one of the biggest matches of your career in that you’re not just putting a title on the line, but you’re going to put your hair on the line in a tag team match in the main event of the 85 Aniversario show. How do you feel going into this match?
Well I mean I kind of feel like this is you know what my goal was from day one of being here the first time I came down here was the week after the 83rd anniversary show and it was it was one of those things where I was watching it before I came down it was like I need to be the main event of the show. Then once I came down here and experience the arena in Mexico and you know you’ve been here before you know like that crowd, that arena-there’s something about it that is just so special and now it’s like well my goal since then has been to be in this position. It took me two years to get here and also I’m in the main event where my hair on the line and it’s a little nerve-racking. I’ve had long hair for the last decade now but I’m pretty confident with the fact that Volador Jr. is my tag partner and I’ve been in the ring with Cavernario so many times and Rush so many times it’s like this is where I’m meant to be and this is why I take so much pride and let everyone know that I’m that Tavan because I was built for main events like this.
Speaking of main events, you recently got to main event Arena Mexico with Ultimo Guerrero again. You guys have had a storied history. Unfortunately, that one was not aired on CMLL’s YouTube channel. What was that like?
You know Arena Mexico- it’s just, I can’t explain the atmosphere of arena Mexico unless you come down here and been here and felt it for yourself. It’s hard to put your finger on it, but wrestling all over the world has its different feeling to it. There’s nothing like wrestling in arena Mexico from just enjoying the whole thing alone. You just know you’re in this historic place and the passion of the fans just brings it to the next level. So to wrestle Ultimo Guerrero in Mexico again-this time it was the main event and this time I ended up winning in arena Mexico which was know something I was waiting for. I’ve beaten him in the U.S. but never here on his own turf. And for the people to shower us money at the end it’s just it’s one of those things that you’re like ‘this is how I picture it going. This is you know how I kind of almost dream about it taking place.’ You know you’re that kid in the driveway. Three two one and you chuck up a shot to win the game. For it to happen it’s just man it is just one of those things where again, as much as you want to doubt Matt Taven, you can’t deny him. You know Rodney Dangerfield man, I get no respect.
Well speaking of no respect, you’ve become kind of a pro being on CMLL Informa. This week you got a chance to actually be part of the press conference. How do those go for you it seems as I’m watching it seems that you’re picking up most of what they’re saying and both I think Rush and Carvenario had some words for you.
Well, here’s the thing is that you know the more and more I come here, the more you I hear people speak. So I’ll hear something from Juan Carlo you and I think “OK, I got this” and the translator will translate and “I’m thinking I don’t think that’s what he said”. And also I’m like second guessing myself. But you know I didn’t know that we could you know drop F bombs. And you know and use curse words during the press conference that was going to be all over the place or aired all over the place.I knew that I would have let it rip a little bit more. But it’s it’s just like you know, I’m behind the 8-ball there. I’m like you know trying to translate everything in my head and I’m like this mother just called me a bitch, didn’t he?It’s a little bit rough. Those are only such that experience, but like you know like most things in life for me, I throw myself in the fire and I’m just up for the adventure and at the end of the day you just kind of have to laugh at it like ‘how did I get myself here? How did this happen? Eh, whatever. Here we go.
I will tell you that there are times and I don’t know your expertise- but I know that they’ll say something and the translator completely changes it.
Oh totally. And I mean it’s like it’s happened to a bunch of times. And I’m always just like I. I thought I knew what he saying and now they’re questioning my Spanish. I’m trying to translate what was being said and think of my answer at the same time. It’s craziness. But that’s why I am Matt Taven, because I can handle stuff like that.
Going into this match one of the things that happened at the press conference actually and I don’t know how you feel about it was that Rush did not sign the contract.
He’s so tough man he really took it out on that piece of paper. That piece of paper put up such a fight against that like Rush was like Tyson out there. He took a paper man- I believe he avoided those paper cuts. What a tough guy.
Is there any concern that you know he gave his word that if he loses he will he will allow his hair to be his hair to be cut. Are you concerned at all that maybe he’ll go back on his word especially since he’s a Rudo.
Well you know I grew up before the everyone gets a participation medal time that we’re living in. In high school football and college athletics and all that stuff, you have a little bit of what they call a hazing period and every once in a while you have to take the new guys and hold them down and shave their eyebrows or something for a good laugh. So having to hunt Rush down, drag them out to the middle of the ring in Arena Mexico and hold him down and shave his head it’s like I hope that happens. That will almost make my day and make the experience even better.
Are you concerned about the possibility that Tirantes could be the referee?
It’s one of those things where you can’t really worry about it because now your mind’s on your opponent and your mind’s on the ref. He was a pain the in the ass during my match with Ultimo Guerrero but I was able to pull that off. And that guy’s easily coerced, so maybe I’ll have some extra pesos in my pocket I can I can slip into ying yang suspenders but I can’t focus too much on him with guys like Rush and Carvernario across the ring.
Granted. And now that you’re down there are kind of switching gears a little bit, have you been able to visit any more sites for Travel Taven?
Yeah, I actually went to a place that I’m going to have to go back to because the footage didn’t come out the way I wanted to. But you know from being down here how religious you know everyone is and it’s kind of part of the culture. Well,that kind of all stems from the Lady of Guadalupe and that church and Basilica and the shrine to the Lady of Guadalupe is not too far from my hotel. I’ve already had it over there once. It’s amazing. But again I need to head back over there and kind of finish the footage I was shooting. But besides that I mean there’s so much-so many cool things in Mexico City and it’s like you go from one historic spot to like a cool abandoned spot and I’ve just been trying to film so much it’s going to take me forever to edit which is my own dumb self just told me everything but I’ve been able to squeeze in some sightseeing in my free time even though the schedule has been pretty go go go. So I haven’t got too much free time.
Thanks for joining us tonight. Again congratulations on being announced for the main event and good luck. Hopefully you don’t come back scalped.
Hey, you know what I mean-I think I’ve got this one in the bag so I’m looking forward to it.
CMLL’s 85th Anniversary show takes place Friday, September 14th from Arena Mexico in Mexico City, Mexico.