AshC Posted May 2 Posted May 2 So I'm in Newport and have just watched Newport County secure survival and it was wonderful, but my heart aches for my good friend Matthew Jones AKA Moj, who I had learned passed away today. He was a great man. He didn't suffer fools. He was as blunt as James doing 'You're Beautiful'. It didn't matter. We loved him. The last few months, it was wonderful to be in contact with Matt, talking about Newport County's rollercoaster season and seeing him at Overdrive Pro Wrestling in Cwmbran, Slammasters Wrestling and, lastly, Attack! Pro Wrestling's anniversary show He was always great conversation. I had committed to doing his next wrestling project, which was interesting and I am gutted he won't be able to realise it. But, his beloved Newport stayed up today. He'd have loved it. He sent me a free ticket to a recent game. "Do you want any money for it?". No, just a couple of pints, next time we catch up. And we never caught up again, it was weeks ago and he'd seemed in good nick when I last spoke with him properly. Am really gutted. All the photos I have with him, Fit Finlay or Dick Togo or Hakushi are also it, which is bonkers, but that's wrestling. I literally joined the UKFF to argue with him and we stayed friends for 20+ years. His podcast with Stew Allen, 'S&M', was also *years* ahead of its time. Am gutted. Quote
Paid Members herbie747 Posted May 2 Paid Members Posted May 2 Aw man, horrible news. I only knew him from here and the RIM forums, but did briefly meet him at an FWA show in 2004. RIP Moj. Quote
Paid Members tiger_rick Posted May 4 Paid Members Posted May 4 That's sad to hear. Rest easy, Moj. Wonderful post, mate. Quote
AshC Posted May 4 Author Posted May 4 Thank you mate, it hit me for six on Saturday, this; as mentioned, we'd been in touch a fair bit lately. It was a joy running into him at that Cwmbran show and having this half-hour conversation before the show got going about 'the old days', that weren't all that long ago in my mind! He was a big advocate of a lot of the indy wrestling now as well, though, apparently he was at New Wave in Cardiff this last month, still making the dates. I hope this isn't inappropriate, but here are some of the things people have written about Moj on Facebook, for those who haven't seen them. Paints a pretty accurate picture. "Shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden and much too early death of Matthew Jones. In thinking about it he was probably my oldest friend in this crazy wrestling fandom after we just happened to be in the same chatroom at the same time one random day when I was at uni in 2000. We just clicked and were friends ever since. One of the good ones and he will be sorely missed as he goes off to join Stew upstairs. RIP, Brothers." - Steve McCullagh "I was just made aware of the sad news of the passing of Matthew Jones, known to many, including myself, as Moj. Defining himself as an angry Welshman, he was part of our initial quartet who travelled from the UK to Chicago in 2008 to watch SHIMMER: Women Athletes, making the trip twice in that year. With a razor sharp, almost instinctual wit, he had a love of great wrestling and a greater love for terrible wrestling... My deepest condolences to his immediate and extended family, as well as his friends, who I'm sure will miss him dearly. Rest easy, Moj - hopefully you'll have been reunited with Stewart so there will be more episodes of the $&M show forthcoming." - Lee Burton "Shocked and saddened to hear of the untimely passing of Matthew Jones, aka Moj. A diehard wrestling fan, an MC at shows and a man with a razor sharp wit and a twisted sense of humour. No wonder we were friends. Farewell my friend, and give the much missed Stewart Allen a big hug up there from me." - Dean Ayass "Just reading posts and felt the need to post something was a pleasure knowing you fella I met you in person for the first time in Portsmouth at the Pyramids at an old FWA show you were life and soul of the party. Rest in peace bud." - Andrew Maddock "Today I learned of the passing of Matthew Jones (aka MOJ) and I don't know how you can sum him up. It seems inappropriate to say he was incredibly offensive online and often drunkenly loud in person, but if you described him without saying that, he'd call you out on talking shit. That said, he'd also probably not be too happy if you called him warm, kind or loyal to his friends, but it's still entirely true. I have no doubt he made many other people's lives better in far more important ways, but for me, it's as simple as the fact that him being at a wrestling show made being at that wrestling show better." - John Lister "My turn to pay tribute to the fabulous Matthew Jones, always ready with appropriate inappropriateness but kind, warm, funny and genuine a friend as I could ask for. Thoughts are with his family. I'll miss you x" - Gemma Long "Matthew Jones RIP You were one of a kind. Funny, loyal, passionate, angry sure sometimes but always at the right people. You stood up for the underdog you were kind and caring too. Had loads of fun laughing at idiots, playing video games and eating food from around the world. Will miss you heaps. Love to your family and wonderful kids." - Christopher Searle Quote
AshC Posted June 8 Author Posted June 8 A bunch of us attended Moj's funeral in Newport today. Here's a load of his podcasts with $tew from the best part of 20 years ago now, ahead of the curve for sure. Cheers Moj. https://drive.google.com/drive/mobile/folders/1t_ztjIsTn1dfObI_sJBGaPMAuHQB69k1?fbclid=IwdGRzaASTu_ZjbGNrBJO782V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHqKeILlk7S6iO-W0VuIkEEjaxjQej3SYxh9qBzQxZCN884-4QmDhOjFqoyip_aem_ZXcHYXRlUjaLKfN7XBgaoA Quote
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