Adam Birch

] Hardcore Holly and Charlie Haas, [cite news | author = PWI Staff | title = Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts | work = "Wrestling’s historical cards" | publisher = Kappa Publishing | year = 2007 | pages = 117-118 | language = English] Legion of Doom, Rey Mysterio and Batista, [cite news|title=SmackDown - January 6, 2006 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/060106.html |work= |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |accessdate=2007-07-08 ] and Paul London and Brian Kendrick. [cite news |title=SmackDown - February 10, 2006 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/060210.html |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |accessdate=2007-07-08 ] Together they captured the WWE Tag Team Championship on three occasions, all in their rookie year on the brand. [cite news |title=SmackDown - April 21, 2005 Results| url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/050421.html |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |accessdate=2007-07-08 ] [cite news |title=SmackDown - December 30, 2005 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/051230.html |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 ]

On May 21 2006 at Judgment Day pay-per-view, where MNM lost the tag team title to London and Kendrick, Nitro and Melina suddenly turned on Mercury, breaking up the group. Later that night they were (kayfabe) fired from the "SmackDown!" brand [cite news | author = PWI Staff | title = Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts | work = "Wrestling’s historical cards" | publisher = Kappa Publishing | year = 2007 | pages = 121 | language = English] and reappeared on the following "Raw". The legit reason for the team's sudden split was later revealed to be Mercury failing a WWE Wellness Policy drug test and being forced to serve a 30 day suspension.

Mercury actually stayed off WWE television for six months. In that time he went through a drug rehabilitation in College Park, Georgia at a facility that has an exclusive contract with the WWE. Afterwards was sent back to OVW. He made a surprise return on the November 27, 2006 "Raw", temporarly reforming MNM with Nitro and Melina to take up the also recently reunited Hardys (Matt and Jeff) "open challenge" for ECW December to Dismember. [cite news |title=SmackDown - November 27, 2006 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/061127.html |publisher=Online World of Wrestling |date= |accessdate=2007-07-08 ]

The Hardys went on to win the match, [cite news | author = PWI Staff | title = Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts | work = "Wrestling’s historical cards" | publisher = Kappa Publishing | year = 2007 | pages = 122 | language = English] but the feud continued across all three brands, [cite news|title=ECW on SciFi - November 28, 2006 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/ecw-wwe/061128.html |publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2007-07-08 ] [cite news |title=SmackDown - December 1, 2006 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/061201.html |publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2007-07-08 ] [cite news |title=RAW - December 4, 2006 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/061204.html |publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2007-07-08 ] and in a fatal-four way ladder match at December's Armageddon - also involving London and Kendrick, and Dave Taylor and William Regal - Mercury suffered a (legit) medical injury when he was struck in the face with a ladder, breaking his nose. He immediately left the match and was rushed to an emergency room where he received 5 stitches to the inside of his nose and 15 to the outside. [cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/armageddon/exclusives/38575801 |title=Update on Joey Mercury |accessdate=2007-03-26 |quote=I have four fractures on the inside of my nose; I have 5 stitches on the inside of my nose and my cheek and 15 stitches on the outside of my nose and cheek. My left eye is swollen shut and I have continual internal bleeding from my nose and my eye. |publisher=WWE.com ] [cite news | author = PWI Staff | title = Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts | work = "Wrestling’s historical cards" | publisher = Kappa Publishing | year = 2007 | pages = 122 | language = English] As a result, Nitro continued the match all by himself in behalf of his team.

After missing a few weeks, Mercury returned wearing a protective face mask and his injury was worked into the angle, with both he and Nitro attempting to injure the Hardys in various ways for revenge. On his return he continued to wrestle, both as a singles competitor on "SmackDown!" [cite news | author = PWI Staff | title = Pro Wrestling Illustrated, May 2007 | work = Arena Reports | publisher = Kappa Publishing | year = 2007 | month= May | page = 130 | language = English] and with Nitro on "Raw" [cite news |title=SmackDown - March 12, 2007 Results |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/070312.html|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2007-07-08 ] until he was released from his WWE contract on March 26, 2007. [cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2007/03/26/3843758.html|title=Mercury released by WWE|accessdate=2008-03-01|last=Waldman|first=Jon|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling]

All American Wrestling and Ring of Honor (2007-2008)

Birch appeared in All American Wrestling in July 2007, where he lost to Eric Priest. He made another appearance on September 29, 2007, reuniting with Christian York, in a losing effort against the AAW Tag Team Champions, the Motor City Machine Guns.

On January 25, 2008, Matthews returned to Ring of Honor as the newest member of The Age of the Fall. He teamed with Jimmy Jacobs in a losing effort against Roderick Strong and Rocky Romero of the No Remorse Corps. The following night, Matthews lost to Mark Briscoe. Matthews continued to make appearances with ROH until he was apparently written out of the company at Battle For Supremacy, as Austin Aries was shown attacking him and slamming him in a car door.

Ohio Valley Wrestling (2008-present)

Matthews works for Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) as a trainer for the intermediate class. He returned to in-ring competition on March 5 at OVW's television taping. He later defeated Jamin Olivencia for the OVW Television Championship on the March 15 edition of OVW. He lost it to Tommy McNaler on April 16.

In October 2008, Matthews allegedly refused to turn up for a show held by AAWrestling, claiming he had quit wrestling. Details surrounding his apparent retirement are not known. [http://aawrestling.com/main.html]

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves
**Snap Double Underhook DDT
**Frankensteiner
**Hangman's neckbreaker
**Dropkick
**Diving crossbody
**Flapjack
**Front facelock twisted into a falling reverse DDT
**Jumping leg drop
**Lariat takedown
**Northern Lights suplex
**Russian legsweep
**Swinging neckbreaker
**Inverted atomic drop - 2008

*With Johnny Nitro
**"Snapshot" (Flapjack DDT)
**Double baseball slide dropkicks
**Simultaneous leg drops to an opponent's leg and throat

*With Christian York
**"Double Rebel Yell" / "Double Rebel Yelp" (Frankensteiner by Matthews followed by a diving elbow drop by York)
**"Full Effect" (Double facebreaker)
**"Future Shock" (Double powerbomb)
**Double enzuiguri

*Managers
**Candie
**Joel Gertner
**Jillian Hall
**Alexis Laree
**Luxurious Lynne
**Melina
**Dave Prazak
**Allison Wonderland

*Entrance music
**"The Haunted" by Walls of Jericho (ROH; Used while as a part of Age of the Fall)
**"Superstar" by Saliva (OVW)

Championships and accomplishments

*Atlantic Terror Championship Wrestling
**ATCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Christian York

*American Wrestling Council
**AWC Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

*Delaware Championship Wrestling
**DCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Christian York

*Five Star Wrestling
**Five Star Light Heavyweight Champion (1 time)

*Independent Professional Wrestling Alliance
**IPWA Light Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
**IPWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mark Shrader

*Maryland Championship Wrestling
**MCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
**MCW Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)
**MCW Rage Television Championship (1 time)
**MCW Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Christian York
**Shane Shamrock Memorial Cup winner (2001)

*Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation
**MEWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Christian York

*National Wrestling Alliance
**NWA Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
**NWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Christian York

*New York Wrestling Connection
**NYWC Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

*Organization of Modern Extreme Grappling Arts
**OMEGA Light Heavyweight Championship (2 times, final)

*Ohio Valley Wrestling
**OVW Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Johnny Nitro
**OVW Television Championship (1 time)

*Phoenix Championship Wrestling
**PCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Christian York

*Pro-Pain Pro Wrestling
**3PW Heavyweight Championship (1 time) [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/3pw/040417.html | title=3PW The Future is Now|accessdate=2008-07-06|publisher=Online World Of Wrestling]

*Pro Wrestling Illustrated
**Tag Team of the Year award (2005) – with Johnny Nitro [cite web|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwittoty.htm|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners - Tag Team of the Year|accessdate=2008-05-04|publisher=Wrestling Information Archive]

*Southern Championship Wrestling
**SCW Junior Heavyweight Championship (3 times)

*Steel City Wrestling
**SCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Christian York

*Ultimate Championship Wrestling
**UCW Heavyweight Championship

*Virginia(now Vanguard) Championship Wrestling
**VCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Christian York

*World Wrestling Entertainment
**WWE Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Johnny Nitrocite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwetag/329952|title=History Of The WWE Tag team Championship - MNM(1)|date=2005-04-21|accessdate=2008-03-02|publisher=WWE] cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwetag/32995211|title=History Of The WWE Tag Team Championship - MNM(2)|date=2005-10-28|accessdate=2008-03-02|publisher=WWE] cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwetag/1871854|title=History Of The WWE Tag Team Championship - MNM(3)|date=2005-12-30|accessdate=2008-03-02|publisher=WWE]

Personal life

He had a three and a half year relationship with current WWE Diva Mickie James, living together in Virginia before splitting up.cite web|url=http://www.rfvideo.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=3561|title=Shoot with Joey Matthews|author=RF Video|year=2008|publisher=RF Video.com] He also briefly dated Christy Hemme.

During an interview, Birch revealed that he had been using drugs at age 15, using cocaine, crack and heroin, and mixing it with alcohol.cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2007/10/11/4567941.html|title=Joey Matthews addresses his addictions|date=2007-10-12|last=Hillhouse|first=Dave|accessdate=2008-08-05|publisher=SLAM sports] As a result of this, Birch has overdosed three times, and wrecked ten cars. Birch entered rehab in 2006, and missed 6 months of work. After his return, Birch became addicted to painkillers, due to the facial injury he suffered at the Armageddon pay-per-view in December 2006. After a direct intervention by WWE owner, Vince McMahon, Birch was released, and credits this with him beating his addictions.

Birch has two wrist ring designed tattoos on his wrist.fact|date=August 2008

References

External links

* [http://grapplelist.b1.jcink.com/index.php?showtopic=61&st=0&#entry111 Grapple List: Joey Matthews Profile]
* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/j/joey-matthews.html Profile] at Online World Of Wrestling