Sarah Chang
A second-generation wrestler trained by his legendary cousin, he forged his own identity in TNA as the cocky and technically gifted Michael Shane.
Born 1980 (age 46)·Korean-American violinist·Birthday: December 10·Generation X
Biography
Matt Bentley entered the wrestling world with a famous blueprint: he was trained by his cousin, WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels, at Michaels's Texas Wrestling Academy. He adopted the ring name Michael Shane—a clear nod to his mentor—and even used Michaels's superkick as his finisher. But Bentley was determined to be more than an imitation. He found his niche in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in the early 2000s, where his crisp in-ring style and arrogant persona made him a standout in the competitive X-Division. As Michael Shane, and later 'Maverick' Matt Bentley, he was a constant contender for the division's title, engaging in fast-paced, high-flying rivalries that defined TNA's early identity. His career represents the journey of a talent who honored his roots while diligently carving out a distinct chapter in wrestling's alternative history.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Sarah was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Sarah Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Sarah's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Was a multiple-time contender for the TNA X-Division Championship during the promotion's formative years.
- Won the NWA World Tag Team Championship in TNA with partner Frankie Kazarian in 2004.
- Trained under and was mentored by his cousin, Shawn Michaels, at the Texas Wrestling Academy.
Did You Know?
His ring name 'Michael Shane' was inspired by Shawn Michaels's character name, 'Michael Shane,' from a 1996 episode of TV series 'Pacific Blue.'
He is married to former TNA Knockout and WWE Diva Serena Deeb.
He made a brief appearance in WWE as part of the 'Simon System' storyline on SmackDown in 2004.
“The violin is a voice, and you have to have something to say with it.”
