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Dubbed the "Best Kept Secret" in WWE, former 205 Live star Buddy Murphy impressed the WWE Universe in his SmackDown Live debut this week when he faced Roman Reigns in a match fans are praising as one of the best of the TV week thus far.
Murphy might be a new face to fans of WWE SmackDown Live, but he is certainly no stranger to a WWE ring, having signed with the company back in 2013.
Murphy had early success in WWE NXT, teaming with Wesley Blake with current main roster star Alexa Bliss as their manager before the team split up and Murphy ascended to the main roster.
Given Murphy's impressive debt on WWE SmackDown Live this week, let's take a look at the 5 best-kept secrets about WWE's Best Kept Secret.
#5 He was engaged to Alexa Bliss
Buddy Murphy got his start in WWE when he signed an NXT contract back in 2013.
In November of the same year, Murphy teamed up with Sawyer Fulton and Troy McClain to face the team of Big Cass, Angelo Dawkins, and Wesley Blake. Jostling for a position on the NXT roster, Murphy teamed up with Elias, then known as Elias Samson, in May of 2014, in a losing effort to The Ascension on NXT TV.
In the summer of 2014, Murphy took his first steps towards hitting his stride in NXT when he teamed up for the first time with Wesley Blake. The two would go on to become one of the most entertaining and dominant tag teams in NXT, along with their manager, Alexa Bliss.
The professional relationship between Bliss and Murphy would carry over into real life, as the couple got engaged back in 2015. Earlier this year, however, it was revealed that the couple had called off their engagement, and have been broken up since September of 2018.
#4 Buddy Murphy had to cut 25 pounds to make 205 Live weight
Prior to making his main roster debut in WWE, Buddy Murphy was a member of the NXT roster, in a tag team with Wesley Blake.
When Murphy got the call up to WWE 205 Live, there was one major hurdle he needed to overcome - cutting 25 pounds to make the 205-pound weight limit for the show.
"At high school, I was always a very good runner," Murphy told Muscle and Fitness when asked how he was able to cut weight for 205 Live. "As a team, we came third in Australia for the 100m sprint, and second in relay. I was really into athletics...I always do cardio before a workout."
Murphy also discussed changing his eating habits, and sometimes being forced to eat right at the "wrong places".
"When I started cutting weight, I was still at home so in the initial stages I made sure to be low on calories by measuring everything out," said Murphy. "Now that I’m back on the road with WWE and everything is so hectic I can’t travel around with scales to weigh food, so I keep it simple. If I go to Denny’s for example, I’ll order egg whites and vegetables. You just have to go with whatever is the healthiest option."
#3 Buddy Murphy gets his ring name after an Australian footballer
Buddy Murphy was born Matthew Adams, and is of Australian descent, having lived much of his life in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Upon signing his contract with WWE in NXT, he was temporarily billed as Murphy, and his ring name is actually an homage to Aussie footballer Marc Murphy. Buddy Murphy is a supporter of his hometown Australian rules football club, the Carlton Football Club, for which Marc Murphy used to play.
Murphy actually competed for a number of years for the Australian promotion Melbourne City Wrestling, and he is a one-time MCW Heavyweight Champion. Murphy has also competed for Ballarat Pro Wrestling, winning the BPW Australian Championship one time during his time in BPW.
In addition to his time spent as a professional wrestler in Australia, Buddy Murphy also has a background which includes bungee jumping, rock climbing, and swimming with great whales.
It remains to be seen how much more of Murphy we will be seeing on a regular basis on WWE main roster TV, but with his impressive showing on SmackDown Live this week, it appears as if WWE fans might get to see more of the man behind the "secret".
#2 Buddy Murphy is a two-time Champion in WWE
Prior to making his in-ring debut on WWE SmackDown Live this week, Buddy Murphy was quietly moved to the main roster in the wake of WrestleMania 35, but was given little to no TV time on the brand, to the point that most fans forgot he was a blue brand roster member.
During the episode of SmackDown Live in which Shane McMahon held the show's first-ever "Town Hall Meeting", Buddy Murphy spoke out during the show on behalf of Shane's leadership. This led to Shane informing Murphy he would not be a secret in WWE for much longer, and it looks like Shane's prophecy is coming true.
Believe it or not, however, despite a prolonged TV absence before finally making his in-ring debut on SmackDown Live, Buddy Murphy won gold on two occasions in WWE.
During his time in NXT, Murphy is a one-time NXT Tag Team Champion alongside his former partner Wesley Blake.
On main roster WWE TV, Buddy Murphy enjoyed a solid run as the Cruiserweight Champion, before losing the title to Tony Nese during the WrestleMania 35 kickoff show. When he won the Cruiserweight title back in 2018, he became the first Australian born wrestler ever to do so.
#1 Buddy Murphy thought he was going to be released in 2018
Buddy Murphy's time in WWE has not been an easy ride, as he has found success along the way, but has dealt with much adversity while ascending to his current spot in the company.
After losing the WWE NXT tag team titles when he was teamed up with Wesley Blake, and losing his manager in Alexa Bliss, Buddy Murphy had only one televised match in the entirety of 2017.
In a tweet issued at the beginning of 2019, reflecting on 2018, Murphy admitted he thought he would be released from the company if it was not for his opportunity to compete on WWE 205 Live.
“As everyone expresses their feelings on 2018 I thought I would do the same," wrote Murphy. "I’m a realistic man & my 2018 probably would have been/should have been my release if it wasn’t for an opportunity in 205 Live. I gave myself the nickname of the “Best Kept Secret” so I could die on my own sword. Which came with a lot of pressure as if I didn’t deliver then I’m just another guy who says he’s the “Best” – I took my opportunity I’m 205 Live & ran with it! Every time I perform I leave it all out in the ring! I’m lucky to have some of the best athletes in the world on the 205 Live roster that make it very easy for me to want to go “Kill it” every night! 2018 closes – 2019 begins!"
