Big Magic, Daddy Magic
Matt Menard, known to wrestling fans as "Big Magic" or the paternalistic "Daddy Magic," has carved out a 24-year career as a resilient journeyman in professional wrestling. Born on December 7, 1983, in Montreal, Quebec, Menard emerged from Canada’s fertile independent wrestling scene to become a familiar name across North America. Standing at 5'10" and weighing 202 pounds, he leveraged his athleticism and technical acumen to thrive in a variety of promotions, eventually landing in All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he has become a fixture on television shows despite limited success at pay-per-views.
Menard’s career has been defined by his versatility and work ethic. While he has never held a world championship, his role as a reliable "hand" — a performer who elevates opponents through credible in-ring performances — has kept him relevant. His nickname "Daddy Magic" hints at a character evolution, blending grizzled veteran status with a mentor-like persona, though his results suggest he remains trapped in the lower tiers of AEW’s competitive hierarchy.
Classified as an allrounder, Menard’s style blends technical wrestling, power moves, and aerial agility, allowing him to adapt to various opponents and storytelling needs. His signature moveset — including the Boston Crab (a submission hold with vintage flair), the powerbomb (a high-impact finisher), and the headscissors takedown — showcases his hybrid approach. The elbow drop and side slam further emphasize his ability to mix striking and grappling, making him a credible threat in mid-card matches.
At 5'10", Menard lacks the imposing physicality of AEW’s top-tier powerhouses like Moxley or Luchasaurus, but his technical precision compensates. For example, his use of the Boston Crab — a move rarely seen in modern wrestling — adds a unique psychological element, drawing heat and testing an opponent’s endurance. However, his reliance on this move has also made him predictable; rivals like Daniel Garcia and Hechicero have countered it effectively, exposing gaps in his innovation.
Menard’s 342-375-10 record across 727 matches translates to a 47.0% win rate — a mark indicative of a mid-carder who occasionally wins but rarely dominates. A deeper dive reveals stark contrasts:
- PPV Struggles: He owns a 0.0% win rate at pay-per-views, having never won a match on wrestling’s grandest stages.
- Television Success: Conversely, he boasts a perfect 100.0% win rate on TV — though this likely reflects booking decisions rather than sustained excellence.
- Recent Decline: Over his last 10 matches, Menard has won just 22.2% of matches (2-8), with a five-match losing streak broken only by a 2026 victory over Serpentico.
The data paints a portrait of a wrestler whose value lies in his ability to make others look strong. His career trajectory suggests he peaked early, with no significant upward momentum since joining AEW.
Menard’s head-to-head records against top opponents underscore his role as a "stepping stone" competitor. He is 0-1 against a murderer’s row of AEW talent, including Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson, and Roderick Strong — all of whom have dominated him decisively. Notably, his lone match against Luchasaurus ended in a loss, highlighting his struggles against power-oriented styles.
These rivalries reveal a pattern: Menard is often booked to accentuate his opponents’ strengths. For instance, his match against Moxley — AEW’s "Mad King" — ended in a quick submission victory for the latter, reinforcing Moxley’s brutality. Similarly, his encounter with Garcia, a rising technical star, saw Garcia neutralize Menard’s offense en route to a clean pinfall. The lone exception? A 2022 victory over an "Unknown" opponent — a result that raises questions about the legitimacy of the opposition.
Menard’s current form is alarmingly poor. Since his lone win over Serpentico on January 21, 2026, he has lost six consecutive matches — including reverses to Hechicero, Luchasaurus, and Ricky Saints. This 2-8 record over his last 10 matches (22.2% win rate) places him among AEW’s most winless active competitors.
The data suggests Menard is caught in a negative feedback loop: losses beget losses, and his lack of recent victories diminishes his credibility. Even his wins feel inconsequential; his 2026 triumph over Serpentico — a masked mid-carder with a 33.3% win rate — did little to boost his profile. At 41 years old (as of 2025), his age and declining output raise concerns about his long-term viability in a physically demanding sport.
The disparity between Menard’s PPV and TV results is staggering. While he has never won a pay-per-view match (0.0% win rate), he remains undefeated on television (100.0%). This dichotomy reflects AEW’s booking philosophy: Menard is trusted to deliver competitive performances on weekly shows but deemed too unreliable for high-stakes events.
Consider context: Menard’s TV wins often come against unproven talent or fellow mid-carders (e.g., Serpentico), whereas his PPV appearances typically pit him against elite competitors. For example, his 2024 loss to Hechicero — a lucha libre specialist with a 60.0% career win rate — showcased Menard’s limitations against high-flyers. At PPVs, where stakes are higher and opponents tougher, Menard’s flaws magnify.
MoneyLine Wrestling’s AI prediction engine paints a bleak outlook for Menard. Key factors influencing his projected performance include:
- Negative Momentum: A 22.2% win rate over his last 20 matches signals a wrestler in freefall.
- PPV Ineptitude: Zero wins at pay-per-views suggests psychological or physical limitations under pressure.
- Style Matchups: While his allrounder skillset allows adaptability, his lack of counters to elite power (e.g., Luchasaurus) or technical mastery (e.g., Garcia) leaves him vulnerable.
The model estimates Menard’s odds of winning any given match at ~20% — aligning with his last-10 matches data. However, his veteran experience could marginally improve his chances against rookie opponents or in multi-person matches where chaos benefits underdogs.
For Menard to reverse his trajectory, AEW would need to repackage him as a nostalgic underdog or comedy character — a la Arn Anderson’s "Enforcer" role — leveraging his longevity rather than in-ring output. Absent such a shift, the numbers indicate he’s nearing the twilight of his career, with little statistical evidence of resurgence.
In conclusion, Matt Menard’s career is a study in resilience and role definition. His statistics — from the perfect TV record to the PPV futility — tell the story of a wrestler who has maximized his tools within the constraints of his booking. Yet, as the data shows, longevity alone cannot mask declining performance, and Menard’s future in AEW hinges on reinvention or retirement.
| Opponent | Matches | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roderick Strong | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Bryan Danielson | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Jon Moxley | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Daniel Garcia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Ricky Saints | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Luchasaurus | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Hechicero | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Date | Result | Opponent | Finish | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-21 | Win | Serpentico | — | — |
| 2025-11-26 | Loss | Daniel Garcia | — | — |
| 2024-06-20 | Loss | Hechicero | — | — |
| 2024-03-27 | Loss | Roderick Strong | — | — |
| 2024-03-06 | Loss | Luchasaurus | — | — |
| 2023-02-08 | Loss | Ricky Saints | — | — |
| 2022-12-17 | Win | Unknown | — | — |
| 2022-10-28 | Loss | Jon Moxley | — | — |
| 2022-09-28 | Loss | Bryan Danielson | — | — |