Matt Riddle Appears At NJPW New Year Dash

Matt Riddle is heading to New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

NJPW held their New Year Dash event on January 5 at Sumida City Gymnasium and the opening contest saw Hiroshi Tanahashi successfully defend the NJPW World Television Championship against Ryusuke Taguchi. Just as the NJPW President was making his way backstage, though, a video of a long-haired man kickboxing played on the titantron. The man then emerged from a car in a suit and flip-flops, revealing themselves moments later to be Matt Riddle.

The former WWE talent then challenged Hiroshi Tanahashi to a future NJPW World Television Title match. Tanahashi accepted the challenge, while also noting he didn't know who Riddle was so the NJPW President plans to carry out some research. 

Matt Riddle has never wrestled for New Japan Pro-Wrestling in Japan but he has appeared on two RevPro/NJPW Global Wars shows in 2017. He has also faced a number of NJPW talents, including Minoru Suzuki and Tomohiro Ishii. 

Riddle was a part of WWE from 2017 until he was released in September 2023. He was let go as part of post-UFC merger cuts as Riddle had simply run out of chances after accusing a police officer of sexual assault. 

Riddle will make his MLW return on January 6 to face Jacob Fatu.