Two of a Kind
by: Kevin Kelly
They fit together like a hand and glove. Their natural chemistry and friendship proved no team was stronger than they. The bond formed between Matt Bloom and Darren Drozdov, when they first faced each other on the collegiate gridiron, was strong. And, that bond was renewed the minute Prince Albert and Droz met at the Federation's training facility. They were together the night Droz broke his neck.
For Bloom, the emotions he feels in watching his friend endure this tragedy, have been overwhelming. "To be honest, I tried to move from it with no success. I tell myself all the time that there is nothing I can do about it," said Bloom.
Living with the memory of what happened to Droz is just as difficult for Bloom as having lived through it the first time. "Ever night I see his face looking over and saying 'I can't move! I can't move!' when the accident happened. Then I slide into the ring and Darren's saying to me 'Tell Julie (Droz' new bride) I love her. I'm going to be paralyzed.'" said Bloom, "I keep saying 'No, you're not! No, you're not!' He was so scared; he was white, and he couldn't swallow. It was so vivid. The next thing I knew the doctors were in the ring."
The friendship between Droz and Prince Albert runs deep. However, like many best friends, their relationship got off to ales than auspicious start. They first met on the gridiron during college, when Bloom as Guard for the University of Pittsburgh Panthers squared off against Darren Drozdov of the University of Maryland...and Drozdov threw up on him.
"Whoever you play [football] against, you have to have mutual respect," said Bloom. "When I was trying out at the [Federation's training] camp, we recognized each other right away and started talking about out past experiences. After that, we kept in touch, Darren started up [full time for the WWF] and I went to Memphis [to continues training with Power Pro Wrestling]," said Bloom. "At one time, I was going to do this thing with George Steele but they [the Federation's creative team] weren't sure which way to go. While I always thank people like George Steele and Tim McNeaney for gettng me into wrestling, Darren was the person who gave me my chance, because the Federation saw the chemistry between us. They didn't know what to do with me, but because of Darren, an idea popped into their heads. He was the gateway for me to make it, and where I eventually hope to end up."
There aren't too many guys like Bloom and Drozdov, who have as much in common inside as well as outside the squared circle. "He's a tattoo freak; I'm a piercing freak. He went to college and got a degree; I went to college and got a degree. He played football; I played football. We both come from strong family backgrounds," said Bloom. "It's almost like we are brothers, even though we look nothing alike."
A close bond like the one shared by Matt and Darren is relatively rare in sports-entertainment. "One thing I was taught in this business is: don't trust anyone. Things are going well right now so everyone is good to each other. From the stories I've heard, when things aren't going so well, things get tight and you have to worry about so-called "friends,'" said Bloom. "Darren is a friend who I can trust. I know that he would never stick me in the back and vice versa. 'Trust' would be a great way to sum up our friendship."
The week after Droz' injury, Prince Albert was back inthe ring, competing against Stevie Richards. That first night back, Prince Albert had the word "Droz," written on the tape on his wrists. And Bloom still carries thoughts of Droz with him into the ring every night. "Before I go out [into the arena] I pray that he'll be able to walk again. No matter what happens, he'll make the most out of life because he is Droz. He doesnt' quit," said Bloom. "I want him to be able to walk again. I want him to pullback a bow. I want him to take a walk wiht his wife. I want him to be happy in the new house that he's building."
Anyone who has ever gotten to know Darren Drozdov knows that he is mentally tough and can handle anything thrown his way. In speaking of Droz, Bloom used the oft-quoted military mantra, "That which doesn't kill me, makes me stronger." Darren's resolve, many believe, will allow him to go beyond medical expectations and resume full function. But, it won't be easy.
"I speak to Darren on the phone, and he has his tough days like anyone else. But he is an inspiration for me because he is a fighter," said Bloom.
Professional wrestling can be a dangerous business. The risks are great and the rewards can be fleeting. Since his partner's injury, each time Prince Albert steps through the curtain, he thinks about the risks he is taking. But there was a time immediately following the accident to his tag team partner when Matt Bloom considered giving it all up. "I went home that week and looked at myself in the mirror and wondered "Do I really want to do this? Do I want to take the chance of, God forbid, this happening to me?'" said Bloom, "I did, because what happened to Droz was a freak accident, and accidents happen everywhere. I do my little prayer before I go out, and I think of him and I hope to God that me, my opponent and all the boys that are working that night don't have to suffer the same thing that happened to Darren."
The strong bond between Matt Bloom and Darren Drozdov will exist throughout their lives regardless of what happens to them in the future. This shouldn't be a surprise to either of them...if they could forge a lasting friendship after their initial encounter on the college football field...in the long run as best friends, they both know it's what's inside that counts.