History Wrestling / WilliamRegal

* DemotedToExtra: Is today hardly seen on TV, for a while he appeared on NXT as the "match coordinator" and announcer. He had brief moment of spotlight when Sheamus feuded with TheBigShow and he got in the middle.

* OddFriendship: With {{Sheamus}}. Yup, the face Irish guy and the tweener/heel Britt. Apparently William is a mentor of sorts to Sheamus.

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: On NXT where he's been put in charge by Matt Striker.
* RetiredBadass: He seems to be trying to get out of the wrestling game, and stick to announcing, but jackass young punks keep challenging him to fights. And he seems to be very happy to oblige them, as shown by his response to Jacob Novak on NXT, Dean Ambrose in FCW.

* ArmorPiercingSlap: Gave one to {{Wrestling/Sting}} during a contract signing segment in WCW around 1995-1996, sometime before Sting became Crow!Sting. (The contract was for the Television Title.) Legitimately stiff, it caused Sting to shout "SON OF A BITCH", which got bleeped out. (To view the slap, go onto YouTube, search using the phrase "Lord Steven Regal Sting", and click on the first video with the thumbnail showing a brunette Sting and Regal in a room and sitting in comfy-looking chairs. The slap comes in at around 1:23 into the video.)
** This troper won't post the actual link to the YouTube video because WWE is very picky about its copyrighted videos on YouTube and '''does''' own the WCW library.

* DemotedToExtra: Is today hardly seen on TV, mainly appears on NXT as the "match coordinator" and announcer.

* RetiredBadass: He seems to be trying to get out of the wrestling game, and stick to announcing, but jackass young punks keep challenging him to fights.
** He seems to be very happy to oblige them, as shown by his response to Dean Ambrose in FCW.
* SmugSnake

'''WilliamRegal''' (born Darren Kenneth Matthews on May 10, 1968 in Codsall Wood, Staffordshire, England) is an English professional wrestler working for the '''WWE''' and arguably the biggest British wrestling star since the heyday of Wrestling/DaveyBoySmith. With a career spanning three decades all over the world, he gained the most fame and success initially in {{WCW}} in the mid-1990s as Lord Steven Regal and later the Wrestling/{{WWE}}, which he had joined in the last year of the famed AttitudeEra and has been there since, first (and briefly) as Steven Regal the "Real Man's Man", and later (and since then) William Regal. He is currently the most senior member of the full-time talent roster, going by ring experience, having been in the business longer than several prominent WWE Superstars (such as CodyRhodes) have been ''alive''.

* ZettaiRyouiki: Maybe not in a sexual way, but when he wears his [[UnderwearofPower ring gear]], his boots and knee pads put him between Grade A and Grade B.

* HairstyleInertia: Maybe not from childhood to adult, but from the mid-1990s to around 2007, he had the same very short, buzzed, slicked-back ShowtheForehead hairstyle. Later on, he grew it out about several inches or so.

* ArmorPiercingSlap: Gave one to Sting during a contract signing segment. Legitimately stiff, it caused Sting to shout "SON OF A BITCH", which got bleeped out.

* MeanCharacterNiceActor: Known for being one of the friendliest wrestlers in fan circles, having an all-or-nothing approach when it comes to autograph signings: Everyone gets one or no one does, and he happily gives advice to younger wrestlers and those looking to become wrestlers.

'''WilliamRegal''' (born Darren Kenneth Matthews on May 10, 1968 in Codsall Wood, Staffordshire, England) is an English professional wrestler working for the '''WWE''' and arguably the biggest British wrestling star since the heyday of Wrestling/DaveyBoySmith. With a career spanning three decades all over the world, he gained the most fame and success initially in {{WCW}} in the mid-1990s as Lord Steven Regal and later the {{WWE}}, which he had joined in the last year of the famed AttitudeEra and has been there since, first (and briefly) as Steven Regal the "Real Man's Man", and later (and since then) William Regal. He is currently the most senior member of the full-time talent roster, going by ring experience, having been in the business longer than several prominent WWE Superstars (such as CodyRhodes) have been ''alive''.

* AffablyEvil

* HairstyleInertia: Maybe not from childhood to adult, but from the mid-1990s to around 2007, he had the same very short, buzzed, slicked-back [[ShowtheForehead Show the Forehead]] hairstyle. Later on, he grew it out about several inches or so.

'''WilliamRegal''' (born Darren Kenneth Matthews on May 10, 1968 in Codsall Wood, Staffordshire, England) is an English professional wrestler working for the '''WWE''' and arguably the biggest British wrestling star since the heyday of DaveyBoySmith. With a career spanning three decades all over the world, he gained the most fame and success initially in {{WCW}} in the mid-1990s as Lord Steven Regal and later the {{WWE}}, which he had joined in the last year of the famed AttitudeEra and has been there since, first (and briefly) as Steven Regal the "Real Man's Man", and later (and since then) William Regal. He is currently the most senior member of the full-time talent roster, going by ring experience, having been in the business longer than several prominent WWE Superstars (such as CodyRhodes) have been ''alive''.

'''WilliamRegal''' (born Darren Kenneth Matthews on May 10, 1968 in Codsall Wood, Staffordshire, England) is an English professional wrestler working for the '''WWE''' and arguably the biggest British wrestling star since the heyday of Davey Boy Smith. With a career spanning three decades all over the world, he gained the most fame and success initially in {{WCW}} in the mid-1990s as Lord Steven Regal and later the {{WWE}}, which he had joined in the last year of the famed AttitudeEra and has been there since, first (and briefly) as Steven Regal the "Real Man's Man", and later (and since then) William Regal. He is currently the most senior member of the full-time talent roster, going by ring experience, having been in the business longer than several prominent WWE Superstars (such as CodyRhodes) have been ''alive''.

'''WilliamRegal''' (born Darren Kenneth Matthews on May 10, 1968 in Codsall Wood, Staffordshire, England) is an English professional wrestler working for the '''WWE''' and arguably the biggest British wrestling star since the heyday of Davey Boy Smith. With a career spanning three decades all over the world, he gained the most fame and success initially in {{WCW}} in the mid-1990s as Lord Steven Regal and later the {{WWE}}, which he had joined in the last year of the famed AttitudeEra and has been there since, first (and briefly) as Steven Regal, the "Real Man's Man", and later (and since then) William Regal. He is currently the most senior member of the full-time talent roster, going by ring experience, having been in the business longer than several prominent WWE Superstars (such as CodyRhodes) have been ''alive''.

'''WilliamRegal''' (born Darren Kenneth Matthews on May 10, 1968 in Codsall Wood, Staffordshire, England) is an English professional wrestler working for the '''WWE''' and arguably the biggest British wrestling star since the heyday of Davey Boy Smith. With a career spanning three decades all over the world, he gained the most fame and success initially in {{WCW}} in the mid-1990s as Lord Steven Regal and later the {{WWE}}, which he had joined in the last year of the famed AttitudeEra and has been there since, first (and briefly) under the name the Real Man's Man and later (and since then) William Regal. He is currently the most senior member of the full-time talent roster, going by ring experience, having been in the business longer than several prominent WWE Superstars (such as CodyRhodes) have been ''alive''.

* MyNameIsNotDurwood: Mispronounces wrestler names like Youmanga (Umaga) and Triple Haitch (TripleH).

* MeaningfulNameChange: When he returned to the WWF in 2000, he went from Steven Regal to William Regal to honour his recently passed grandfather, who helped him get into the business.

* TheMentor: While he hasn't trained that many wrestlers, those he has trained have gone on to have excellent careers, CMPunk, BryanDanielson, SamoaJoe and [[RingofHonor Chris Hero]] being the top of the heap.

** He's not alone. JohnCena, anyone?

'''WilliamRegal''' (born Darren Kenneth Matthews on May 10, 1968 in Codsall Wood, Staffordshire, England) is an English professional wrestler working for the '''WWE'''. With a career spanning three decades all over the world, he gained the most fame and success initially in {{WCW}} in the mid-1990s as Lord Steven Regal and later the {{WWE}}, which he had joined in the last year of the famed AttitudeEra and has been there since, first (and briefly) under the name the Real Man's Man and later (and since then) William Regal. He is currently the most senior member of the full-time talent roster, going by ring experience, having been in the business longer than several prominent WWE Superstars (such as CodyRhodes) have been ''alive''.

* {{Calvinball}}: ''WWE Backlash 2001''. Duchess of Queensbury match. Regal versus Jericho. Jericho tries to pin Regal? Math is divided into two rounds, and round one just ended. Jericho gets a submission? No, submissions aren't allowed. Yep, Regal (then as commissioner) tried to change the rules to screw Jericho out of a win. [[spoiler:Regal]] won the match.