William Regal
A wrestler's wrestler from Blackpool whose technical mastery and aristocratic villain persona masked one of the business's sharpest minds.
Born 1968 (age 58)·English professional wrestler·Birthday: May 10·Generation X
Biography
William Regal's career is a tapestry of brutal in-ring realism, personal turmoil, and ultimate redemption as a mentor. Hailing from the working-class seaside town of Blackpool, he crafted a persona of sneering, tea-sipping aristocracy—a brilliant contrast to his legitimately tough, catch-wrestling foundation. His early years were a global odyssey through wrestling's trenches, building a reputation for stiff, technical excellence. Stints in WCW and WWE brought him wider fame, but his battles outside the ring, including addiction, nearly ended his life and career. His comeback was a testament to his will, evolving into a beloved authority figure and commentator. Today, his true legacy is being written behind the scenes. As a scout and coach, his keen eye for talent and deep understanding of the craft have made him instrumental in shaping the next generation of WWE performers, respected not for gimmicks, but for genuine knowledge.
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.
William was born in 1968, 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 William Was Born
The biggest hits of 1968
#1 Movie
2001: A Space Odyssey
Best Picture
Oliver!
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
William's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1968Born
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1973Started school
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1981Became a teenager
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Could drive
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1986Could vote
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Turned 21
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1998Turned 30
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 40
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 50
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 58 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as the final Commissioner of WCW before its purchase by WWE in 2001.
- Won the WWE Intercontinental Championship four times and the European Championship four times.
- Held the WWE Tag Team Championship with Lance Storm as part of the 'Un-Americans' faction.
- Named the 2008 King of the Ring, solidifying his 'Lord' William Regal persona.
Did You Know?
He is a noted collector of antique coins and historical artifacts.
Regal is a trained amateur wrestler and studied catch wrestling under the legendary Billy Robinson.
He was the first-ever NXT General Manager when the show rebranded in 2014.
His real name, Darren Matthews, is rarely used in wrestling circles; he is almost universally known as Regal.
“I've never done anything in this business to be popular. I've done it to be good at it.”
