Matt Riddle's First Post-WWE Match Revealed
Matt Riddle will face an obvious opponent in his first post-WWE match
Nov 1, 2023
Matt Riddle's first post-WWE booking has been confirmed.
Bobby Fulton (one-half of The Fantastics) has announced that Riddle will go one-on-one with Rob Van Dam in Riddle's first booking since his WWE release. The match will take place on Saturday, March 9 at The Reunion 3 from the OU-Shoemaker Center in Chillicothe, Ohio. The show is presented by Double D's Auction House and Big Time Wrestling.
Riddle has been out of WWE since his release on September 22 as part of major post-UFC merger cuts. Riddle was believed to have run out of chances in WWE after he accused a police officer of sexual assault at JFK Airport after officers spoke to Riddle for being allegedly intoxicated following a flight. The former United States Champion previously missed months of WWE TV after being sent to company-mandated rehab following a failed drug test.
Riddle and RVD have previously interacted in WWE and they are known for having a fondness for April 20. They first met at the Playboy Mansion at a Medical Marijuana Policy Project fundraiser.
Van Dam said about Riddle's release earlier this year:
"I met Matt Riddle at the Playboy Mansion at a party years ago after the Ultimate Fighter. This was a Medical Marijuana Policy Project fundraiser, which they used to have annually at the Playboy Mansion, and then eventually Hugh quit having parties at the mansion for outsiders and then it just went all downhill after that, but that's where I had met him so a lot of people think that's a pretty cool story and he seems to not be able to stay out of trouble.
"He'll get another chance I'm sure, but I feel like he got so many chances that they felt like they're not going to be taken seriously unless some consequences are shown. I think they'll be temporary and that could be by the Universe, not necessarily by the company, but he'll definitely go somewhere productive from here and hopefully he'll quit sending di** pics or whatever it is that he's doing on his off time that gives him so much heat."
Despite his recent issues, there is plenty of interest in Riddle. His representatives have reportedly already held talks with a number of pro wrestling, MMA, and boxing companies. Organisations known to be interested are PFL and Bare Knuckle Boxing.