Matt Barela (born January 1980) carved out a unique career in professional wrestling, remembered most prominently for his run in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) under the name Anarquia, as part of the rebellious Mexican Americastable. Though his in-ring career was relatively brief compared to some of his peers, Barela’s mix of charisma, intensity, and adaptability left a mark on both the independent and televised wrestling circuits.
Early Career and Ohio Valley Wrestling (1999–2011)
Barela made his professional debut in 1999, starting out on the American independent circuit. By 2004, he had joined Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW)—then WWE’s developmental territory—under the ring name Ramón, forming a tag team called Los Locos with Raúl Loco. The duo captured the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship twice, cementing themselves as a highlight in OVW’s tag scene.
After Los Locos split, Barela reinvented himself as Low Rider, a fiery singles competitor who blended English and Spanish promos with a hotheaded but crowd-pleasing demeanor. His passionate style resonated with fans, and he climbed to main event status in OVW. He would go on to hold the OVW Heavyweight Championship twice, with victories over Apoc and James “Moose” Thomas, proving he could thrive as both a tag specialist and a solo act.
TNA Wrestling – Rise as Anarquia (2011–2012)
Barela’s biggest mainstream exposure came in TNA Wrestling, where he debuted at Victory Road 2011. Initially appearing as a “planted fan,” he interfered in a First Blood match between Hernandez and Matt Morgan, aligning himself with Hernandez and helping him secure victory. Shortly after, Barela was officially introduced as Anarquia, the newest member of the anti-American faction Mexican America, alongside Hernandez, Rosita, and Sarita.
The group’s edgy, defiant presence fit the shifting tone of TNA at the time. On July 14, 2011, Anarquia and Hernandez defeated The British Invasion (Doug Williams & Magnus) to earn a title shot at the TNA World Tag Team Championship. Though unsuccessful in their first attempt at Hardcore Justice, they rebounded on the August 18 episode of Impact Wrestling, defeating Beer Money, Inc. (Bobby Roode & James Storm)—with an assist from Jeff Jarrett—to capture the TNA World Tag Team Titles.
As champions, Mexican America defended the gold against teams like D’Angelo Dinero & Devon and Ink Inc. (Jesse Neal & Shannon Moore), bolstered by the constant interference of Rosita and Sarita. They held the titles until November 2011, when they lost to Crimson & Matt Morgan, ending their reign at just over three months.
By early 2012, Anarquia’s presence on TV diminished. After a brief return in March, he made his final appearance on the April 26, 2012 episode of Impact Wrestling, losing to Kurt Angle. Days later, his departure from the company was confirmed, bringing his TNA run to an end.
Late Career and Retirement (2012–2015)
Following his TNA departure, Barela wrestled sporadically, including a return stint in OVW, which by then had become TNA’s developmental partner. By 2015, he officially retired from in-ring competition, closing out a 16-year career that had seen him work both as an independent standout and a national television performer.
Acting Career
After retiring from wrestling, Barela pursued acting. He appeared in the action-comedy film Overtime alongside fellow OVW alumni Al Snow, Rudy Switchblade, and Ted McNaler. He also had a role in the critically acclaimed film Sicario(2015), starring Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro, adding Hollywood credentials to his post-wrestling résumé.
Legacy
While not a household name in wrestling history, Matt Barela’s career reflects the path of a versatile and hardworking performer who succeeded in multiple roles: tag team wrestler, singles champion, national TV heel, and later, actor. As Anarquia, he brought attitude and intensity to TNA’s tag team division, and as Low Rider in OVW, he proved himself as a charismatic main-eventer.
In stepping away from the ring to explore acting, Barela became another example of wrestlers who transition from the squared circle to the screen, carrying with them the larger-than-life presence that professional wrestling demands.