"The Bulldozer" Matt Tremont

A few months ago, streamers rained down on Matt Tremont as he clutched the CZW World title and with tears in his eyes, realized his dream of winning the top prize of Combat Zone Wrestling, one of the top independent organizations in the United States. After the moment set in, Tremont left the ring and hopped the guard rail to celebrate with the fans chanting his name, which provided an ironic scenario as it was the same place it all started for him.

Over a decade before the referee counted three and declared him champion, the competitor known as "The Bulldozer" discovered Combat Zone Wrestling through VHS tapes, and was memorized with the violent spectacle he saw on screen. After ECW closed, there was an opening in the Philadelphia wrestling market and dozens of promotions tried to capitalize on it, but Combat Zone Wrestling was one of the few to survive the wave of alphabet soup organizations that ran shows in the north east in the early 2000s. CZW found it's own niche within the independent scene mostly because instead of trying to replicate ECW, they created their own brand and raised the bar from hardcore to ultraviolent wrestling. The death match style originated in Japan and commonly features light tubes, barbed wire, and other dangerous objects. Along with CZW, the country of Japan provided Matt with an inspiration to purse professional wrestling when he saw a bootleg tape of the famous IWA Japan King of the Death Match 1995 event, which featured Cactus Jack and Terry Funk in the finals. Matt wanted to see the violent art form live and was provided the opportunity to do so when he went to a building he knew very well from dozens of wrestling tapes, the ECW arena, but it was Combat Zone Wrestling that drew him there. Inspired from CZW legend, Nick Gage and the die hard CZW fan base, Tremont and a group of friends regularly attended CZW events to cheer for their ultraviolent heroes.

However, the thrill of being in attendance wasn't the only goal for Tremont and he set his sights on joining the CZW grapplers in the ring. A native of Atlantic City, New Jersey, he searched for a training facility to learn the craft and found it through  AWFR in Philadelphia. A year later, Matt Tremont made his pro wrestling debut and within a few months, he began an ultraviolent journey. His performances in hardcore matches caught the eye of underrated independent veteran, Devon Moore, who took Matt under his wing and would ultimately help get him a job in CZW. In 2011, Tremont was booked in a death match at a smaller show with one of the top competitors in the style, Danny Havoc and the contest was a breakout performance for Matt, as he finally got noticed by CZW management. Just a few months later, Matt was behind the railing for a CZW event, but this time he wasn't there to rally the performers he looked up too. Instead, Tremont jumped the rail and made his CZW debut in a violent match with Pinkie Sanchez, and the anticipation of his arrival in the Combat Zone was audible, as the fans chanted "Bulldozer!" during the contest. His performance earned him an invitation to participate in the the Tournament of Death, an event he bought a ticket to watch just a few years earlier. Matt worked two matches at the event and his performances solidified his popularity with the CZW fan base. As the year progressed, he was booked for a match with the late independent star, Brain Damage and it was featured as the main event at the ECW Arena, which he considers a career highlight, but was also a sign of major things for him at the Combat Zone in the future. The following year, Matt Tremont was one of the main reasons that the death match genre was still relevant and he was rewarded for his efforts when he won his first death match tournament, the IWA East Coast Masters of Pain event. However, that was only one of six death match tournaments that he has won in his career, including CZW's tournament this past June.

Matt has been a featured draw in all of the premier events on the CZW calendar, but he has paid a price for the ultraviolent legacy he continues to create each time he steps into a squared circle. A road map of scar tissue decorates his forehead as an example of the blood he spilled and the sacrifices he made for the sport of pro wrestling. From nearly getting his leg impaled on a bed of nails at the ECW arena to cracking his head violently on the edge of a table during a "tangled web" match, there seems to be few risk The Bulldozer won't take, but he isn't too concerned saying, "I have encountered a hospital on many occasions because of the death matches only for stitches, thankfully in almost 9 years in the business, no serious injuries that have required any surgery."

In 2014, Tremont's stock began to rise as his brawling style was noticed by promoters throughout the independent scene and as a result, he has worked for nearly two dozen promotions, including an organization in Germany. When asked about wrestling internationally, Matt said, "My only international travel in wrestling thus far as been to Germany for WXW in late 2012. It was a tremendous experience. Looking forward to returning in the near future as well as the UK. My main personal goal left in wrestling for myself is to go to Japan either for Zero 1 or Big Japan or even FMW."

So, what's the driving force behind the organic draw to Matt Tremont for so many fans? Quite simply, the fans can identify with him because he has as much passion for pro wrestling as they have when they pack the building. Matt sat in the same seats, cheering for the same icons, and he gives the fans 100% as a way to repay them for their support. Some of the highlights of Tremont's journey were the subject of the "Bleeding Black and Yellow" documentary, which you can purchase directly from him through social media.

When asked about winning the CZW world title, Matt's response spoke volumes about his dedication to the sport as he said, "Anyone who knows my story knows I've been a life long fan of the Combat Zone.Went to my first live CZW event in 2002. Always was my goal in wrestling to make it to CZW. In 2011, I did just that and the platform and opportunities have been humbling and I'm very appreciate of those. The big one of course would be wining the CZW World Championship this past August 8th, 2015 at "Retribution," my biggest Accomplishment to date and most meaningful for me. It was a moment I'll never forget and now almost two full months as champion I look to defend it proudly everywhere I go and represent CZW to the best of my abilities in and out of the ring."

The ultraviolent style isn't for everyone, but nobody can deny the passion, the work ethic, and the sacrifice. Matt gives 100% for every match he has, which speaks volumes to his dedication to the wrestling business. Despite the success and admiration of the CZW fans, Matt remains a humble and polite competitor that strives to prove himself every time he competes. While death match wrestling has its critics, Matt Tremont is a credit to the wrestling business. Matt Tremont idolized the performers he saw while sitting behind the guard rail and he persevered through the trails and tribulations of the industry, which is why it made for a perfect setting that he celebrate with the fans behind the guard rail, where it all started for him over a decade ago.