Post by Billy the Kid on Jun 29, 2013 7:05:55 GMT -5
I will share my personal experience with a man who eventually became my friend, Matt Borne.
I had the pleasure of being Matt Borne's "personal assistant" for the weekend during Wrestle Reunion 2005 in King of Prussia. I started off by picking him up from the airport and taking him to the hotel. He barely said a word except for hello and a little bit of small talk. He asked me if I am a wrestler or just a mark who wants to be one. I told him I was currently training and working as a part of the street team for a New Jersey promotion. He asked me who my trainer is/was and I told him I started off at Chikara under Mike Quackenbush and Chris Hero. He claimed to not know who they were.
At first I just thought Matt Borne was a complete dick. He was not nice to me at first and just bossed me around. I kept my mouth shut, listened, and did what I was told. The second day, during the convention itself, Matt was signing and taking pictures ALL day. He asked me to get him some food and water. Unfortunately, he had forgotten his wallet (conveniently) and asked if I wouldn't mind paying for his stuff. I was a little upset, because I was doing this for free and using my own money for myself. I got him what he asked for and at the end of his signing session, he said he was going to take a bit before the matches. He had given me a key to his room at this point and asked me to wake him up at whatever time. I woke him up by knocking on his door, I was afraid of just going in. He got prepared by putting his make-up on and actually had a real conversation with me about wrestling and life in general. I called him Mr. Borne numerous times and he told me to call him Matt. He payed me back for the food I had gotten for him and then offered me $20 for my "services." I declined politely and told him I was just glad to be around someone with his experience and knowledge. He smiled and seemed very happy, either because he didn't have to pay me or because he was genuinely happy with what I said.
It was at this point that I felt we really bonded. Matt had either forgotten or ran out of his white make up for his "The Original Evil Clown" gimmick (he was not allowed to play Doink at this convention). I had to go and ask The Blue Meanie if he had any spare make-up, which he did not. I wasn't sure who else to ask so I ended up having to go to a costume shop and got some Halloween paint for him. When I returned, Matt told me that I did not have to go out of my way like I did for him. He asked me for my phone number and email address and I gave it to him not thinking I would ever hear from him again. This would be the last time I would see him because he was leaving the morning after the matches and I was assigned to take Rhino, Matt Hardy, and the Dudleys to the airport the next day(story for another time). Matt shook my hand and thanked me for helping him all weekend. He told me to keep on the path I am going. He said to thank my trainers for teaching me right because a lot of students he has met have been very ignorant and disrespectful. That was the last time I saw him, but he emailed me a few months later and asked me how my training was coming along. We exchanged emails back and forth for about two years or so after that and I never heard from him again.
Even though I was only presently with him for two days, Matt Borne had a tremendous effect on me and my "wrestling career." He had a great mind for the wrestling business and definitely had the ability to make any gimmick work. I regret not reaching out to him more in the past few years. I consider him a mentor to me, just based off of his advice and general life advice as well. He was a true professional and I will miss him.
I had the pleasure of being Matt Borne's "personal assistant" for the weekend during Wrestle Reunion 2005 in King of Prussia. I started off by picking him up from the airport and taking him to the hotel. He barely said a word except for hello and a little bit of small talk. He asked me if I am a wrestler or just a mark who wants to be one. I told him I was currently training and working as a part of the street team for a New Jersey promotion. He asked me who my trainer is/was and I told him I started off at Chikara under Mike Quackenbush and Chris Hero. He claimed to not know who they were.
At first I just thought Matt Borne was a complete dick. He was not nice to me at first and just bossed me around. I kept my mouth shut, listened, and did what I was told. The second day, during the convention itself, Matt was signing and taking pictures ALL day. He asked me to get him some food and water. Unfortunately, he had forgotten his wallet (conveniently) and asked if I wouldn't mind paying for his stuff. I was a little upset, because I was doing this for free and using my own money for myself. I got him what he asked for and at the end of his signing session, he said he was going to take a bit before the matches. He had given me a key to his room at this point and asked me to wake him up at whatever time. I woke him up by knocking on his door, I was afraid of just going in. He got prepared by putting his make-up on and actually had a real conversation with me about wrestling and life in general. I called him Mr. Borne numerous times and he told me to call him Matt. He payed me back for the food I had gotten for him and then offered me $20 for my "services." I declined politely and told him I was just glad to be around someone with his experience and knowledge. He smiled and seemed very happy, either because he didn't have to pay me or because he was genuinely happy with what I said.
It was at this point that I felt we really bonded. Matt had either forgotten or ran out of his white make up for his "The Original Evil Clown" gimmick (he was not allowed to play Doink at this convention). I had to go and ask The Blue Meanie if he had any spare make-up, which he did not. I wasn't sure who else to ask so I ended up having to go to a costume shop and got some Halloween paint for him. When I returned, Matt told me that I did not have to go out of my way like I did for him. He asked me for my phone number and email address and I gave it to him not thinking I would ever hear from him again. This would be the last time I would see him because he was leaving the morning after the matches and I was assigned to take Rhino, Matt Hardy, and the Dudleys to the airport the next day(story for another time). Matt shook my hand and thanked me for helping him all weekend. He told me to keep on the path I am going. He said to thank my trainers for teaching me right because a lot of students he has met have been very ignorant and disrespectful. That was the last time I saw him, but he emailed me a few months later and asked me how my training was coming along. We exchanged emails back and forth for about two years or so after that and I never heard from him again.
Even though I was only presently with him for two days, Matt Borne had a tremendous effect on me and my "wrestling career." He had a great mind for the wrestling business and definitely had the ability to make any gimmick work. I regret not reaching out to him more in the past few years. I consider him a mentor to me, just based off of his advice and general life advice as well. He was a true professional and I will miss him.
