Buddy Matthews has the talent to shine as a singles performer

There are several talented performers on the AEW roster. Playing the game of “who should be champion” will create endless lists of performers worthy of getting a shot. Yet, there’s one interesting name that has not only never been a singles champion during his stint in the company, but also seems far away from getting any singles momentum at all. That individual is Buddy Matthews, a talented man who many thought would get at least some semblance of a run on his own when he joined All Elite Wrestling.

Matthews joined AEW in 2022 after being released from the WWE. When he was a part of the WWE, he was one of those individuals who fans knew was better than his booking. His run 183-day run as Cruiserweight Champion put him on the map for those who weren’t too sure of his abilities. He put out some of the best matches in wrestling during that time. Yet, that would be the first and only time he’d hold a singles championship in any major promotion in the business.

Fast forward to signing with AEW, and there was an immediate interest in his position on the card. Matthews sided with Malakai Black and Brody King to become the third member of the House of Black. While the group found some success as a trio, there was truly nothing of note to come from that reign. In many ways, it cemented Matthews as a sort of “enhancement” guy when he was needed to get someone over.

As a part of the AEW roster, he’s had 12 singles matches, leading to a 3-9 record according to wrestling database, Cagematch. That’s well below what Matthews fans would hope to see, but it has become so commonplace that he’s infrequently discussed as a threat in the singles division. And don’t think that Matthews doesn’t have the talent to thrive in that department. Think about what it would look like if he were given an opportunity to chase after and hold titles like the International or TNT Championship. He could even do well with a stint in Ring of Honor to be the champion there. Tony Khan opted to pay Matthews a hearty sum to reportedly keep him away from WWE, and it’s unfortunate that investment hasn’t returned more fruit in the ring. Not for Matthews who is lacking anywhere in the talent department.

There are so many ways and opportunities that Matthews could contribute as a singles performer. Allowing him to step out of the shadow of the House of Black would give AEW yet another singles performer that would elevate the moniker of “Where The Best Wrestle.” Buddy Matthews has all the tools and he checks all the boxes. Unfortunately, he’s found himself on a stacked roster that doesn’t quite need him to stand out in that fashion.