Matt Riddle Reveals Why He Doesn't Want To Join AEW

All Elite Wrestling have signed a number of former WWE Superstars since Tony Khan's promotion was founded in 2019, including the likes of Bryan Danielson, Swerve Strickland, Adam Cole, Kyle O'Reilly, Keith Lee, Toni Storm, and Jeff Hardy. 

WWE carried out their latest set of releases in September 2023 but one of the released talents in Matt Riddle won't be AEW-bound anytime soon.

Riddle explained to Signed By Superstars why he doesn't want to sign with Tony Khan's promotion, at least not yet.

"Yeah, honestly, I feel like a lot of the talent when I got released, were going to try to do that. I wanted to think outside the box and maybe not rush right back into doing TV matches. TV is a lot different than wrestling on ppl or the indies. There are commercials, they cut times, they change things. For me, right now, New Japan, MLW, the indies, I can display my art and I'm not under such a crunch of time or requirement. I have a lot more freedom. TNA isn't out of the picture either. There are certain things I wanted to do. I really wanted to work in Japan and I made that a priority," Riddle said.

Instead of an AEW run, Riddle recently made his in-ring return in Major League Wrestling which sparked controversy following comments from Matt Striker. Riddle will challenge Hiroshi Tanahashi for the NJPW World Television Championship at New Beginning in Sapporo on February 23. Before that, Riddle will make his NJPW debut at Battle in the Valley on January 13 when he teams with a mystery partner against Zack Sabre Jr. and Bad Dude Tito. 

H/T Fightful