Major Interest In Matt Riddle Following WWE Release

After an initial round of roster releases last week, WWE also released Matt Riddle from his contract, with the former Raw Tag Team Champion’s run with the company ending after five years.

Riddle’s erratic behaviour outside of the ring is believed to have played a major part in his release, but he may not be out of work for long, with Dave Meltzer reporting in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that there is major interest in Riddle throughout the combat sports world.

Meltzer reports that there has been interest ‘by a number of companies’ in both the pro wrestling and MMA worlds. On the wrestling front, ‘most’ promotions ‘of any size’ are believed to have immediately expressed interest in signing Riddle, whilst PFL and Bare Knuckle Fighting are both believed to be interested in Riddle due to his WWE name value, as well as his UFC career.

Riddle shot to fame through UFC’s Ultimate Fighter reality show, but after getting cut from the company due to drug offences Riddle switched focus and settled into the independent wrestling scene in 2014, most notably working with EVOLVE before signing a WWE deal in 2018.

A return to MMA would certainly be difficult as Riddle is now 37 and hasn’t fought in over nine years. However, Meltzer suggests that a big money offer would be the only wise route back into the sport for ‘The Original Bro’.