A fearless first statment

The Centre Of Attention did say that they were going to expand their ranks a while back but they were looking for the right member at the right moment who fit just right. This involved squeezing in recruiting and scouting between their AWS work. Looking for a new member between matches and promos was no easy feat but the group of four, now group of five, somehow made it work by finding a new member for one of the defining teams of the Asylum Wrestling Society. Someone who not only had the AWS lunatic mentality but could harmonize well with the Centre Of Attention team. Enter Matt Goddard.

Matt Goddard was an Englishman like Xander Croft and even wrestled alongside him. They were about the same age, came up through the same wrestling school, and were both students of legendary British wrestler Andrew Croft but there were differences between them. Andrew was more composed than Matt. More swaggering and arrogant. Matt was like a miniature Mason with how he spoke. Intensely, manically, like he would pounce on you and break your arm if you looked at him wrong. He’s just the jolt that the Centre Of Attention needed. And the only reason why he hadn’t been to the Asylum Wrestling Society sooner was because he was comfortable wrestling in Japan and Europe. He didn’t want to “sell out” by coming to America. 

But then Xander went home to the UK and saw one of Matt’s matches firsthand in a show in south London. His submission technique was brutal, the  limb and joint damage would give Xander a run for his money, and he wasn’t afraid to bite or choke an opponent. Testing the referee’s patience.

Xander Croft: Oi. Where I wrestle at you won’t be selling out Matty. You’ll be buying in. This place is made for you damn near. Let's talk…

Those were the fateful words of Xander to Matt after that match when they met up at a nearby pub. And after Matt sent his match footage directly to AWS’s easy to contact yet never seen on camera management. He was asked for a physical, an interview, both of which he aced just days later.

Welcome to the Asylum Matt Goddard! 

This led Matt to meeting up with the rest of the Centre Of Attention in Toronto. Mason Hurst, Olympia Waybright, and Desiree Forte. Mason was a soft spoken big man, Olympia was self-assured but respectful, and Desiree may have appeared to be vain but she had talents and tried to make Matt feel comfortable in the clubhouse so he could get used to her. Which was good because Matt didn’t need any problems between training with his teammates on the way to his very first match. He was facing off against Miseria Bones. 

There wasn’t anything to scout as far as AWS goes as they were both newcomers here. Miseria just had the well-known borderline unstable demeanor that was common in the Asylum Wrestling Society. Wild, borderline unhinged but chose pro wrestling as an outlet because there was no other option due to his circumstances. AWS didn’t care if you were worthy of a straitjacket and a handler as long as you could wrestle but that was fine for Matt. Hell, the whole point of the tournament was to let the new breed shine. And that just meant he had no reason to hold back at AWS Black Out where they’d be fighting.

This all led to Matt's very first promo. His awaited first statement to the Asylum Wrestling Society. Not in the Centre Of Attention clubhouse but his cell in the Crow’s Nest for AWS Black Out with a lot on his mind about his opponent.

Matt Goddard: So I guess all of the attention is on us eh Miseria. First fight in this shortcut to the top tournament here at Black Out in this pisshole called the Crows Nest.. We’re new to the company but not the business. Especially me. I’ve been training since I was sixteen. Had absolute battles in the ring against men of every measure. Better men than you. Because of that I know that this ring tells no lies. If you are a professional wrestler it doesn’t fucking matter how crazy you are or how terrible your past is your opponent doesn’t care in the slightest. Or at least they shouldn’t if they give a damn about winning like I do. And that’s something that the rest of the lunatics in this tournament have to realise. I have nothing to fear and everything to gain here.

Matt gave a calm and toothy smirk from his chair. Showing his canine teeth for a moment…

Matt Goddard: And am I supposed to be fucking scared of you Miseria? Talking about voices while you act like a goth kid pretending to damn Jared Leto’s Joker? Do you know the only voices that I care about? The ones in the Centre Of Attention. My team. And they’re telling me to advance in the Shortcut To The Top tournament and break Miseria Bones’ bones on the way to victory. So while you sit in that boiler room like you’re Freddy Kruger in the 1980s know that you have to leave that blighted place and I’m going to tear you apart once we get into that tonight here at Black Out.

AWS got a hold of some of Matt’s footage from wrestling overseas and the proof was in itself to why Matt was so dangerous. He didn’t just bring the technical wrestling standards like grapple moves and suplexes, armlocks and leglocks, but he did the extra things as well. He’d bite opponents, poke eyes, and most effectively target and bend back fingers. Snapping and twisting them. Making it harder to throw a punch or secure grip for a hold or grapple move. Tough to fight when your hands are fucking hurt.

Matt Goddard: And you don’t have to worry about me remembering you because I will after our first round match. I’ll remember you as my first victim in the Asylum Wrestling Society, my first victory in my career here. And with this being a hardcore match? Well that’s just bloody lovely~

Matt couldn’t help but chuckle as he looked at his fists. Imagining the pain he could inflict on Miseria’s body with the aid of a weapon. Unlike the rest of the Centre Of Attention he had no qualms about using weapons to inflict more pain to win a match.

Matt Goddard: So see you in the ring tonight Miseria. Let's see how you’ll be laughing as I break you apart. And the AWS medical team please pay attention to this match. You’ll be tending to Miseria after I make him submit to will…

Then the last thing people got to see was Matt give a toothy grin to the camera before it faded to black. Followed by the Centre Of Attention eyeball logo filling the centre of the screen. Marking the official end of the promo.