Matt Taven

Matt Taven Bio

Matthew Marinelli, known by his ring name Matt Taven, is an American professional wrestler and wrestling trainer. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling and its sister promotion, Ring of Honor, where he forms one-half of The Kingdom with Mike Bennett. Taven has established himself as a decorated champion across multiple promotions, holding titles in ROH, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre.

Throughout his career, Taven has achieved the status of ROH Grand Slam winner by capturing the ROH World Championship, ROH World Television Championship, ROH World Tag Team Championship, and ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship. His journey from independent wrestling to international prominence has made him a recognizable figure in professional wrestling.

Early Life and Background

Matthew Marinelli was born on March 20, 1985, in Derry, New Hampshire. He developed an interest in professional wrestling during his formative years and pursued training to enter the industry. Taven made his professional wrestling debut on March 7, 2008, marking the beginning of his career in the northeastern independent circuit.

During his first year as a professional wrestler, Taven worked primarily for Top Rope Promotions and Collision Pro Wrestling in Massachusetts. He quickly gained experience competing against established wrestlers and challenging for regional championships. This early period helped him develop the skills and reputation that would eventually lead to opportunities with larger promotions.

Path to Professional Wrestling

Taven’s early career on the independent circuit laid the foundation for his future success. He competed in various matches for TRP and CPW, including a six-way ladder match for the vacant TRP Interstate Championship. Although he did not win that particular match, these opportunities allowed him to showcase his abilities and gain valuable ring experience.

In 2009, Taven had his first match with Ring of Honor, appearing in a dark match against Jaleel Patel. While he initially lost several tag team matches in ROH, he persevered and earned a contract by winning the 2013 Top Prospect Tournament. This victory proved to be a turning point in his career, launching him into the upper echelon of ROH’s roster.

Matt Taven Career

Early Career (2008-2013)

After his debut in 2008, Matt Taven spent several years honing his craft on the independent wrestling scene. His perseverance paid off when he entered Ring of Honor’s 2013 Top Prospect Tournament. Winning this tournament earned him a full-time ROH contract and an opportunity to compete for the ROH World Television Championship against Adam Cole.

Taven capitalized on this opportunity at the 11th Anniversary Show, where he defeated Adam Cole to win the ROH World Television Championship. This victory marked his first major championship in ROH. He went on to have a successful title reign, successfully defending against notable competitors including Matt Hardy, A.C.H., Mark Briscoe, and Jay Lethal.

Ring of Honor Breakthrough (2013-2021)

Matt Taven’s reign as ROH World Television Champion became the longest in the company’s history at 287 days. He completed 12 successful title defenses during this period, solidifying his status as a top competitor in the promotion. His reign eventually came to an end in December 2013 when he lost the championship to Tommaso Ciampa at Final Battle.

In 2014, Taven began teaming with Michael Bennett as part of The Kingdom. The duo found success in the tag team division, winning the ROH World Tag Team Championship at All Star Extravaganza VII in 2015. However, Taven suffered a significant knee injury at Final Battle 2015, tearing his ACL and meniscus, which required surgery and kept him sidelined for nine months.

Upon his return in 2016, Taven became the leader of a new version of The Kingdom with T.K. O’Ryan and Vinny Marseglia. The group won the tournament to become the first ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champions. Taven continued to pursue singles glory and eventually won the ROH World Championship at G1 Supercard in April 2019, defeating Jay Lethal and Marty Scurll in a ladder match. This victory made him only the second ROH Grand Slam winner in history. His reign lasted 174 days until he lost the title to Rush in September 2019.

All Elite Wrestling Era (2022-Present)

Matt Taven made his All Elite Wrestling debut on the October 14, 2022, episode of Rampage, appearing alongside Mike Bennett and Maria Kanellis. Shortly after, he also appeared in Impact Wrestling as part of the Honor No More faction, where he and Bennett won the Impact World Tag Team Championship in September 2022. However, they left Impact Wrestling the following month.

Taven returned to Ring of Honor, now under AEW’s ownership, and continued his tag team partnership with Bennett. In December 2023, competing as masked men, they defeated MJF in a handicap match to win the ROH World Tag Team Championship for a third time. After revealing their identities, they formed the Undisputed Kingdom stable with other AEW stars. The Kingdom held the titles until August 2024 when they lost to Dustin Rhodes and Sammy Guevara.

Style and Strengths

Matt Taven is known for his versatility as both a singles and tag team competitor. His ability to adapt to different match types has made him effective in ladder matches, steel cage matches, and traditional wrestling contests. Taven’s partnership with Mike Bennett has been one of the most consistent tag team combinations in ROH history, demonstrating strong chemistry and teamwork.

Notable Events and Milestones

One of Taven’s career-defining moments came at G1 Supercard in April 2019, when he won the ROH World Championship in a ladder match against Jay Lethal and Marty Scurll. This victory completed his ROH Grand Slam, a rare achievement in the company. His record-breaking 287-day reign as ROH World Television Champion also stands as a significant milestone in his career, showcasing his ability to consistently defend a major championship.

Matt Taven Career Wins

Matt Taven has accumulated championships across multiple promotions throughout his career. His title victories include major championships in Ring of Honor, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, establishing him as an internationally decorated wrestler.

Ring of Honor Highlights

Taven’s success in Ring of Honor includes winning the ROH World Championship once, the ROH World Television Championship once, the ROH World Tag Team Championship twice, and the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship three times with The Kingdom. His ROH World Television Championship reign remains the longest in company history, and his ROH World Championship victory made him only the second Grand Slam winner in ROH history.

Other Wins & Performances

Beyond ROH, Taven found success in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he and Mike Bennett won the IWGP Tag Team Championship in April 2015. In Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre, he captured the NWA World Historic Welterweight Championship in March 2018. He also briefly held the Impact World Tag Team Championship with Bennett in 2022.

Matt Taven Family

Personal Life

Matt Taven and Mike Bennett have operated a wrestling school in West Warwick, Rhode Island, helping train the next generation of professional wrestlers. Their partnership extends beyond the ring, as they have worked together consistently throughout much of their careers in various promotions.

2025 Season Performance

Matt Taven continues his career in All Elite Wrestling and Ring of Honor as part of The Kingdom with Mike Bennett. Following the dissolution of the Undisputed Kingdom stable, Taven and Bennett have reverted to their tag team partnership under The Kingdom banner. The team remains active on AEW programming, competing in the tag team division.

In late 2024, Taven and Bennett returned to New Japan Pro-Wrestling for the first time since 2015, competing at Fighting Spirit Unleashed. As they move into 2025, The Kingdom looks to regain championship gold in ROH and continue their presence in AEW’s tag team division. Their experience and proven track record make them consistent contenders for tag team titles across both promotions.