Tyler Breeze
He turned vanity into a wrestling virtue, using a selfie stick and mirror to craft one of NXT's most memorable personas.
Born 1988 (age 38)·Canadian professional wrestler·Birthday: January 19·Millennials
Biography
Mattias Clement, known to the world as Tyler Breeze, carved a unique path in WWE by fully committing to a character of hilarious, self-obsessed vanity. Emerging from the Canadian independent scene, he signed with WWE in 2010, but it was his 2014 reinvention as the fashion-obsessed, phone-wielding 'Prince Pretty' on the NXT brand that made him a standout. The gimmick was a perfect satire of the selfie generation, and his matches were far better than the frivolous character suggested, showcasing real athletic craft. Though his main roster run never reached the same heights, his legacy is secure as a key part of NXT's rise to prominence. Today, he remains a beloved figure within WWE, contributing behind the scenes as a writer and on the popular UpUpDownDown gaming channel, proving his understanding of the business extends far beyond the ring.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Tyler was born in 1988, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Tyler Was Born
The biggest hits of 1988
#1 Movie
Rain Man
Best Picture
Rain Man
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Tyler's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1988Born
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1993Started school
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
2001Became a teenager
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
2004Could drive
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2006Could vote
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Turned 21
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2018Turned 30
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 38 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the NXT Tag Team Championship once, teaming with Fandango as 'Breezango'.
- Became a central figure in the critically acclaimed 'NXT Takeover' era during the brand's explosive growth.
- Successfully transitioned into a WWE backstage role as a writer and digital content creator after his in-ring career.
- His 'Tyler Breeze' character is consistently cited as one of the most fully realized and entertaining gimmicks of the 2010s.
Did You Know?
He is a trained martial artist with a background in Taekwondo.
He and his wife, former WWE wrestler Leah Van Dale (Carmella), are both second-generation performers; his father was a professional wrestler in Canada.
He co-owns a wrestling school, the 'Flatbacks Wrestling Academy', in Florida with fellow WWE alumnus Shawn Spears.
“Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the most gorgeous of them all?”
