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Matt Riddle
Matt Riddle
Matt Riddle
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Matthew Fredrick Riddle (born January 14, 1986) is an American professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist. He is signed to Major League Wrestling (MLW) and also makes appearances on the independent circuit. He is best known for his tenure in WWE.[4]

Key Information

As a professional mixed martial artist from 2008 to 2014, Riddle made a name for himself by appearing on SpikeTV's The Ultimate Fighter 7 and went on to hold a four-fight winning streak in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) before being released upon testing positive for marijuana in February 2013 (that being his second drug test failure). He also fought for Titan FC and compiled a career record of 8–3 (2).

In 2014, Riddle began training at the Monster Factory for a career in professional wrestling and made his debut in February 2015. Readers of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter recognized him as the Rookie of the Year and Most Improved wrestler of the year in 2016. Between 2015 and 2018, he worked on the independent circuit, wrestling for promotions such as Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, World Wrestling Network/Evolve, and others. He is a former Evolve Champion, WWN Champion, PWG World Tag Team Champion (with Jeff Cobb), and two-time Progress Atlas Champion.

Riddle signed with WWE in July 2018 and portrayed a stereotypical carefree, barefoot surfer valley boy. He was assigned to the NXT brand, where he was a one-time NXT Tag Team Champion with Pete Dunne as "The BroserWeights". He was promoted to the main roster in May 2020, where he won the United States Championship in February 2021. In April, Riddle began teaming with Randy Orton as RK-Bro, holding the Raw Tag Team Championship twice. After Orton incurred a back injury in May 2022, which eventually led to RK-Bro's disbandment, Riddle continued his run as a singles competitor until he was released from WWE in September 2023.

Early life and education

[edit]

Matthew Fredrick Riddle was born on January 14, 1986, in Allentown, Pennsylvania.[8] He later moved to Saratoga Springs, New York, where he attended Saratoga Springs High School and was a New York state wrestling champion in 2004. Riddle would face and beat future UFC champion Jon Jones twice in high school wrestling.[9]

Riddle later attended East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania on an athletic scholarship, where he was a member of its wrestling team for two years and won many championships. After his head coach was fired, Riddle lost his wrestling scholarship and began his transition into mixed martial arts.[10]

Mixed martial arts career

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

The Ultimate Fighter

[edit]

Riddle holds a perfect amateur record of 1–0. During this career, he worked as a roofer and trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu in the evenings. Riddle credits B.J. Penn's book, Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge, in helping him learn during his early years in MMA.[11]

Riddle then fought Dan Simmler, an understudy of Matt Serra, to get into The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) house. Riddle knocked out Simmler in the opening seconds of the second round and struck him three times in the jaw after losing consciousness, breaking Simmler's jaw into two places.[12] Riddle was picked second overall for Team Rampage.[13] During his involvement on show, Riddle was given the nickname Chipper after Rampage noticed him always smiling.[14]

Riddle's second match was against Tim Credeur. Credeur defeated Riddle in the second round, causing him to be knocked out of the tournament.[15] After the fight, Credeur bought Riddle an Xbox 360 with his earnings.[16]

Ultimate Fighting Championship (2008–2013)

[edit]

At The Ultimate Fighter 7 Finale, which was held on June 21, 2008, Riddle made his UFC and professional debut defeating fellow Ultimate Fighter castmate, Dante Rivera, via unanimous decision (29–28, 30–27, 30–27). During The Ultimate Fighter 7, Riddle was shown arguing with the older and more experienced Rivera multiple times. Dante, on more than one occasion, stated that he would retire if Riddle defeated him - a commitment which he didn't follow through with after his loss.

Riddle was then scheduled to fight Ryan Thomas at UFC 91, but a knee injury forced Riddle out of the fight and got pinned. The knee injury's recovery was scheduled to take about 6–8 weeks.[17]

After his recovery, Riddle fought and defeated Steve Bruno in a unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) at UFC Fight Night: Lauzon vs. Stephens.

In his third bout, Riddle defeated another one of his former Ultimate Fighter 7 castmates, Dan Cramer, via a unanimous decision on the undercard of UFC 101.

He next faced The Ultimate Fighter 9 alumni Nick Osipczak on November 14, 2009, at UFC 105. The fight was held in Osipczak's home country of England.[18] Riddle lost the fight by TKO in the third round.

After his loss to Osipczak, Riddle faced newcomer Greg Soto on March 27, 2010, at UFC 111.[19] After a dominant first two rounds for Riddle, Soto landed an illegal upkick to Riddle's head in the third round which rendered him unable to continue, giving Riddle the victory by disqualification.

Following this victory, Riddle faced another TUF alumni in DaMarques Johnson on August 1, 2010, at UFC on Versus 2.[20] The fight was a catchweight bout after Johnson weighed in at 172 lbs and Riddle would go on to win the fight via TKO due to punches near the end of the second round.

Riddle was expected to face TJ Waldburger on December 11, 2010, at UFC 124.[21] However, Waldburger was forced from the card with an injury[22] and replaced by newcomer Sean Pierson.[23] Pierson defeated Riddle via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) and the bout was dubbed by president Dana White as the real Fight of the Night.

Riddle was expected to face Ultimate Fighter castmate, Matt Brown, on March 3, 2011, at UFC Live: Sanchez vs. Kampmann, replacing an injured Mark Scanlon.[24] However, Riddle was also injured, resulting in the Brown fight being removed from the card altogether.

Riddle was expected to face T. J. Grant on June 26, 2011, at UFC on Versus 4.[25] However, Riddle was forced from the bout with an injury and replaced by Charlie Brenneman.[26]

Riddle faced undefeated welterweight prospect Lance Benoist who had made his Octagon debut on September 17, 2011, at UFC Fight Night: Shields vs. Ellenberger.[27] He lost the fight via unanimous decision in a bout that had earned Fight of the Night honors.

Riddle was expected to fight Luis Ramos on December 30, 2011, at UFC 141. However, the fight was called off as Riddle became ill and had to only pull out moments before the fight took place.[28]

Riddle was expected to face Jorge Lopez on February 4, 2012, at UFC 143, replacing an injured Amir Sadollah.[29] However, Lopez was also forced out of the bout and replaced by newcomer Henry Martinez.[30] Riddle won the fight via a split decision.

The bout between Riddle and Ramos was rescheduled for June 22, 2012, at UFC on FX 4.[31] However, Riddle was forced from the bout with another injury, and was replaced by Matt Brown.[32]

Riddle stepped in for Siyar Bahadurzada on short notice to fight Chris Clements at UFC 149.[33] Riddle won the match after catching Clements in a standing arm-triangle choke, forcing him to submit at 2:02 in the third round. Riddle won a $65,000 Submission of the Night bonus. This also marked the first submission win of his professional career.[34] On October 20, 2012, it was announced that Riddle had failed his post-fight drug test, testing positive for marijuana. Riddle was subsequently fined and suspended for 90 days, retroactive to July 21, 2012. His win over Clements was changed to a no contest.[35]

Riddle was originally expected to face Besam Yousef on November 17, 2012, at UFC 154, replacing an injured Stephen Thompson.[36] However, Yousef was forced out with an injury and replaced by John Maguire.[37] Riddle defeated Maguire via a unanimous decision.

Riddle faced Che Mills on February 16, 2013, at UFC on Fuel TV: Barão vs. McDonald.[38] Riddle defeated Mills via split decision. On February 26, 2013, Riddle revealed that he had tested positive for marijuana. This was his second failed drug test within a year, and Riddle was subsequently released from the promotion.[39] He had finished his UFC career ranked 3rd in UFC history for takedown defense (89.3%) and 8th for the total of strikes that have been landed (1350),[40] and without positive marijuana tests would have held an octagon record of 10–3 with a streak of five consecutive victories.

Bellator MMA (2013)

[edit]
Riddle in December 2015

Shortly after being released from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Riddle signed a multi-fight deal with Texas-based promotion, Legacy Fighting Championships.[41] However, on May 18, 2013, it was announced that Riddle instead joined the Bellator MMA roster after his Legacy contract had been purchased by the promotion.[42] Riddle was expected to compete in the Bellator's welterweight tournament during their ninth season which begins in the Fall of 2013.[43] However Riddle cracked his rib and had to pull out of the tournament, and subsequently retired from MMA fighting due to financial reasons.[44] A few weeks later Riddle came out of retirement and was expected to fight at Bellator 109.[45] Once again Riddle pulled out of that fight and was subsequently released.[46]

Titan FC (2014)

[edit]

Riddle fought fellow former UFC fighter Michael Kuiper in the co-main event of Titan FC 27 on February 28, 2014.[47] Riddle won by second round guillotine choke.[48]

Riddle was expected to face MMA legend Jose Landi-Jons for the vacant Welterweight Championship at Titan FC 29 on August 22, 2014.[49] However, Landi-Jons was forced out of the bout due to visa issues, and was replaced by UFC veteran Ben Saunders.[50] However, Riddle was forced out of the bout due to injury and was replaced by the man he was originally scheduled to face, Jose Landi-Jons.[51]

Professional wrestling career

[edit]

Independent circuit (2014–2018)

[edit]

On October 29, 2014, it was reported that Riddle was training for a career in professional wrestling.[52] Riddle made his debut on February 7, 2015, at the Monster Factory in Paulsboro, New Jersey.[6] In July, he won the Monster Factory Heavyweight Championship. On September 15, it was announced that Riddle had signed with the World Wrestling Network (WWN) to work the October Evolve events,[53] which he later confirmed after taking part in a WWE tryout.[54] On January 24, 2016, Riddle won Evolve's Style Battle tournament.[55] On April 8, Riddle signed a contract with Evolve's parent company WWN.[56] On September 3, Riddle made his debut for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), entering the 2016 Battle of Los Angeles tournament, from which he was eliminated in his first round match by Kyle O'Reilly.[57] In October, Riddle faced Cody Rhodes at New York promotion House of Glory's show titled Unbreakable in a losing effort.

On January 15, 2017, Riddle defeated Rampage Brown to win the Progress Atlas Championship.[58] Riddle debuted for Revolution Pro Wrestling on January 21, challenging Katsuyori Shibata for the British Heavyweight Championship in a losing effort.[59] On February 11, at CZW 18, Riddle faced David Starr in an inter-promotional champion vs champion match, with Riddle defending Progress Wrestling's Atlas Championship and Starr defending wXw's Shotgun Championship.[60] The match ended in a double disqualification, and neither championship changed hands.[61] On April 1, Riddle defeated five other men in an elimination match to become the inaugural WWN Champion.[62] On October 20, Riddle and Jeff Cobb, known collectively as "The Chosen Bros", defeated the Lucha Brothers (Rey Fenix and Penta el Zero M) to win the PWG World Tag Team Championship.[63] On April 20, 2018, they lost the titles to The Rascalz (Zachary Wentz and Dezmond Xavier).[64]

Riddle locks up with Wheeler Yuta during a May 2018 match
Riddle placing Yuta in a Kimura lock in May 2018

On April 5, 2018, Riddle was the host of the first edition of Game Changer Wrestling's shoot-style event, Bloodsport, and also wrestled in the main event, losing to Minoru Suzuki.[65] On the same day, Riddle defeated Zack Sabre Jr. at Evolve 102 to win the Evolve Championship.[66] On August 4, Riddle lost the Evolve Championship to Shane Strickland at Evolve 108.[67]

WWE (2018–2023)

[edit]

Early years in NXT (2018–2020)

[edit]

On July 31, 2018, it was reported by Uproxx that Riddle had signed a contract with WWE.[68] On August 18, Riddle appeared at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn IV and was identified by the event's commentators as WWE's newest signing.[69]

Riddle made his in-ring debut on the October 31 episode of NXT, defeating Luke Menzies.[70] At NXT TakeOver: WarGames II on November 17, Riddle began a feud with Kassius Ohno, who interrupted him during an interview on the pre-show. When the show started, Riddle challenged Ohno to an impromptu match and defeated him in 6 seconds, marking the fastest match in NXT history.[71] He then defeated Ohno in a rematch on the January 2 episode of NXT.[72] At NXT TakeOver: Phoenix on January 26, 2019, Riddle defeated Ohno for a third time after making him submit with a series of elbow strikes to the head, ending their feud.[73] The following month, WWE Network released a documentary on his wrestling career and entry into NXT entitled Arrival: Matt Riddle.[74][75] At NXT TakeOver: New York on April 5, Riddle challenged Velveteen Dream for the NXT North American Championship in a losing effort, ending his undefeated streak in NXT.[76]

In July, Riddle started a feud with the returning Killian Dain.[77] On the August 7 episode of NXT, Riddle was set to face Dain, but they brawled before the match happened.[78] Three days later, the two brawled at NXT TakeOver: Toronto and faced each other on the August 21 episode of NXT, where Dain was victorious, but Riddle attacked Dain after the match.[79][80] This set up a Street Fight between the two on NXT's debut on the USA Network, which ended in a no contest.[81][82] On the September 25 episode of NXT, Riddle again fought Dain in a Street Fight where the winner would face Adam Cole for the NXT Championship the following week. Riddle defeated Dain to end their feud, but failed to win the title from Cole.[83][84]

On the November 1 episode of SmackDown, Riddle and Keith Lee were one of the many NXT wrestlers to invade the show, confronting and attacking Sami Zayn. Later that night, Riddle joined Triple H and the rest of the NXT roster as they declared war on both Raw and SmackDown, and vowed to win the Survivor Series brand warfare.[85] On the November 13 episode of NXT, Finn Bálor insulted the NXT roster as "all boys who can't take a beating", specifically mentioning Johnny Gargano and Riddle, who attacked Bálor before he retreated.[86] Riddle was originally part of Team Ciampa for NXT TakeOver: WarGames, but was taken off the team due to having a match against Bálor at the event on November 23, which he lost.[87] The following night, at Survivor Series, Riddle was part of Team NXT in a losing effort to Team SmackDown also involving Team Raw; during the match, Riddle eliminated Randy Orton with a roll-up pin before being laid out with an RKO, which caused him to be eliminated by King Corbin.[88] On January 26, Riddle participated in the Royal Rumble match at the namesake pay-per-view and entered at #23, but was eliminated by Corbin in 41 seconds.[89]

Championship reigns (2020–2021)

[edit]

On January 1, 2020, Riddle and Pete Dunne were announced as surprise participants in the 2020 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic; they would later take on the name of The BroserWeights, a portmanteau of Riddle's "Original Bro" nickname and Dunne's "Bruiserweight" nickname.[90] They defeated Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan Webster in the first round, Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel of Imperium in the semifinals, and Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake and Zack Gibson) in the finals to win the tournament and earn a match against Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly of The Undisputed Era for the NXT Tag Team Championship at NXT TakeOver: Portland.[91][92][93][94] At the event on February 16, Riddle and Dunne defeated Fish and O'Reilly to win the titles, marking Riddle's first title win in WWE.[95] When Dunne couldn't travel to the United States because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he picked Timothy Thatcher as his replacement for Riddle's partner. Riddle and Thatcher lost the titles to Imperium (Aichner and Barthel) on the May 13 episode of NXT after Thatcher walked out on him.[96] On the May 27 episode of NXT, Riddle faced Thatcher in a Fight Pit match with WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle as the special guest referee, but lost in what would be his last match in NXT.[97][98]

On May 29, Kurt Angle announced that Riddle would move to the SmackDown brand.[99] On the June 19 episode of SmackDown, Riddle made his main roster debut, interrupting Intercontinental Champion AJ Styles before defeating Styles in a non-title match.[100] Riddle received an opportunity at the title on the July 17 episode of SmackDown, where he lost to Styles. After the match, he was attacked by King Corbin.[101] Riddle defeated Corbin at Payback on August 30,[102] but lost in a rematch on the September 25 episode of SmackDown, ending their feud.[103]

As part of the 2020 Draft, Riddle was drafted to the Raw brand.[104] On October 29, his ring name was shortened to Riddle.[105] At Survivor Series on November 22, Riddle was a part of Team Raw in the men's traditional elimination tag team match, pinning Corbin on route to a clean sweep for Team Raw.[106] On the January 4, 2021 episode of Raw, Riddle defeated United States Champion Bobby Lashley in a non-title match, earning a title match the following week in a losing effort.[107][108] On the January 25 episode of Raw, Riddle defeated The Hurt Business (Cedric Alexander, MVP, and Shelton Benjamin) in a gauntlet match to earn another title opportunity against Lashley.[109] At Royal Rumble on January 31, Riddle entered at #16 and helped eliminate Lashley before being eliminated by Seth Rollins.[110] Riddle received his title match the following night on Raw, where he defeated Lashley by disqualification but did not win the championship.[111] At Elimination Chamber on February 21, Riddle defeated Lashley and John Morrison in a triple threat match to win the United States Championship, his first title on the main roster and his first singles title in WWE.[112] He successfully defended the title against Mustafa Ali at the Fastlane pre-show on March 21.[113] At Night 2 of WrestleMania 37 on April 11, Riddle lost the title to Sheamus, ending his reign at 49 days.[114]

RK-Bro (2021–2022)

[edit]
Main article: RK-Bro
Riddle with the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship in 2022.

On the April 19 episode of Raw, Riddle interrupted a backstage interview by Randy Orton and suggested a tag team formation, with Orton dismissing the idea by leaving. A match was made later on in the night between Orton and Riddle, which Riddle won with a roll-up.[115] The following week on Raw, Orton was backstage with Riddle when he suggested the team be given a try; the newly labeled RK-Bro defeated Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin, and in a backstage interview afterwards, Orton suggested to Riddle they take the team "a day at a time".[116]

After a seven-week absence, Orton returned on the August 9 episode of Raw, where he initially discontinued his team with Riddle at the beginning of the show. Later that night, Orton defeated AJ Styles in a match following assistance from Riddle and afterwards pretended to hug him but instead hit him with an RKO as a sign of gratitude.[117] The following week, Orton officially reunited the team after Riddle saved Orton from an attack at the hands of Omos and Styles.[118] At SummerSlam on August 21, RK-Bro defeated Styles and Omos to win their first WWE Raw Tag Team Championship, both individually and as a team.[119] On October 21, at Crown Jewel, RK-Bro defeated Styles and Omos in a rematch to retain the titles.[120] At Day 1 on January 1, 2022, RK-Bro retained their titles against The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford).[121]

On the January 10 episode of Raw, RK-Bro lost the titles to Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis), ending their reign at 142 days.[122] On January 29, Riddle participated in the Royal Rumble match at the namesake event before being eliminated by eventual winner Brock Lesnar.[123] Riddle competed in the WWE Championship Elimination Chamber match at the namesake event on February 19, but was again eliminated by Lesnar.[124] On the March 7 episode of Raw, RK-Bro won their second Raw Tag Team Championship after defeating Alpha Academy and Kevin Owens and Seth "Freakin" Rollins in a triple threat tag team match.[125] At Night 2 of WrestleMania 38 on April 3, RK-Bro successfully defended their titles in another triple threat tag team match against Alpha Academy and the Street Profits.[126] Following WrestleMania, SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso) challenged RK-Bro to an unification match at WrestleMania Backlash on May 8, which RK-Bro accepted.[127][128] The match at the event, however, was changed into a six-man tag team match, where The Bloodline (Roman Reigns and The Usos) defeated RK-Bro and Drew McIntyre.[129][130] The unification match later took place on the May 20 episode of SmackDown, where RK-Bro lost their titles to The Usos, ending their second reign at 74 days.[131]

Feud with Seth Rollins and departure (2022–2023)

[edit]

After Orton was sidelined with a back injury,[132] Riddle continued to feud with The Bloodline, teaming with Shinsuke Nakamura to unsuccessfully challenge The Usos for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship on the June 3 episode of SmackDown following a distraction from Bloodline associate Sami Zayn.[133] The following week on SmackDown, Riddle defeated Zayn to earn a match against Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, with the added stipulation that Riddle would be barred from challenging for the title again if he lost.[134][135] On the June 17 episode of SmackDown, Riddle failed to win the title from Reigns, barring him from challenging Reigns for the title again.[136]

Riddle at Clash at the Castle in September 2022

He then began a feud with Seth "Freakin" Rollins, setting up a match between the two at SummerSlam.[137] However, the match was postponed after Riddle suffered a storyline injury following an attack by Rollins on the July 25 episode of Raw.[138] Despite this, both Riddle and Rollins appeared at SummerSlam on July 30, engaging in a brawl which saw Rollins come out on top.[139] At Clash at the Castle on September 3, Riddle lost to Rollins.[140] On the September 19 episode of Raw, it was announced that Riddle and Rollins would have a rematch in a Fight Pit match on October 8 at Extreme Rules in which Daniel Cormier would serve as special guest referee.[141] At the event, Riddle defeated Rollins by submission.[142] Riddle failed to win the United States Championship from Rollins on the October 17 episode of Raw, ending their feud.[143]

On the December 5 episode of Raw, after he and Kevin Owens failed to win the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship from The Usos, WWE wrote Riddle off television by having Solo Sikoa "injure" him during a brawl in the ring.[144] On December 12, it was reported that the segment was done after Riddle had been suspended for 60 days after failing WWE's wellness policy for a second time.[145] In a 2024 interview with Ariel Helwani, Riddle revealed that he had tested positive for cocaine, which caused his suspension.[146] Riddle returned on the April 3, 2023, episode of Raw, attacking The Miz.[147] He resumed feuding with The Bloodline by joining forces with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn,[148] but they lost to The Bloodline in a six-man tag team match at Backlash on May 6.[149]

At Money in the Bank on July 1, Riddle unsuccessfully challenged Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship.[150] Following this, Riddle began teaming with Drew McIntyre, feuding with The Viking Raiders (Erik and Ivar).[151][152] Riddle was involved in an incident at John F. Kennedy International Airport on August 21st, 2023 involving Port Authority Police.[153] On the September 4 episode of Raw, Riddle and McIntyre lost to The Viking Raiders in a tornado tag team match, which marked Riddle's final appearance for the company.[154] On September 22, 2023, Riddle announced his departure from WWE on Twitter, and RK-Bro was officially disbanded immediately.[155]

Major League Wrestling (2024–present)

[edit]

Riddle returned to Major League Wrestling (MLW) at Kings of Colosseum on January 6, 2024, defeating Jacob Fatu.[156] On February 24, at Intimidation Games, Riddle successfully defended his NJPW World Television Championship against Bad Dude Tito.[157] On March 29, at War Chamber, he successfully defended the title against Kosei Fujita.[158] On June 1, Riddle won the Battle Riot VI.[159]

On January 11, 2025 at Kings of Colosseum, Riddle defeated Satoshi Kojima to win the MLW World Heavyweight Championship for the first time.[160] On September 13 at Fightland, Riddle lost the title to Mads Krule Krügger, ending his reign at 245 days. On October 4 at Slaughterhouse, Riddle turned heel for the first time in his career after defeating Alex Hammerstone with a low blow and declaring himself as the "Rude Dude".[161]

New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2024)

[edit]

On January 5, 2024, at New Year Dash!!, Riddle made his New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) debut in a pre-taped vignette, challenging NJPW World Television Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi.[162] It was then announced that Riddle would be making his NJPW in-ring debut at Battle in the Valley, teaming with a mystery partner against Zack Sabre Jr. and Bad Dude Tito of TMDK.[163] At Battle in the Valley on January 13, Riddle's mystery partner was revealed to be his former Chosen Bros partner Jeff Cobb, defeating TMDK.[164] On February 23, Riddle defeated Tanahashi at The New Beginning in Sapporo to win the NJPW World Television Championship.[165] At Windy City Riot on April 12, Riddle lost the title to Sabre Jr., ending his reign at 49 days.[166]

Return to the independent circuit (2024–present)

[edit]

On February 2, 2024, Riddle made his return to the independent circuit at Adrenaline Championship Wrestling's Bromance in Hagerstown, Maryland, defeating Chris Slade. He went on to win the Combat 1 World Championship in a 3 way match at Combat 1 Wrestling's WrestleRama: Bro-Down in Brighton, Michigan on February 8, 2024.[167] However, he would be the last Combat 1 World Champion as the promotion would close its doors in October 2024. On March 9, Matt Riddle would face Rob Van Dam in a singles match ending in a no contest at World Classic Professional Big Time Wrestling's The Reunion 3: Calvacade Of Legends in Chillicothe, Ohio. The two would later team up in a tag team match, defeating America's Most Wanted (Chris Harris and James Storm). Riddle also took part in WrestleMania 40 weekend festivities during the WrestleCon Mark Hitchcock Memorial Supershow at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 4, where he teamed up with Mustafa Ali in a tag team match, defeating The Rascalz Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz. Riddle would defeat PCO the next day at Battleground Championship Wrestling's Born to Die.[168]

Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (2024)

[edit]

Riddle made his debut for Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) on August 17, 2024 at Triplemanía XXXII: Mexico City, where he defeated Komander and Laredo Kid in a three-way match for the AAA World Cruiserweight Championship.[169] Riddle had his first successful title defense against El Fiscal on October 6 at Héroes Inmortales.[170].Riddle lost the title to Laredo Kid on December 7 at Cierre De La Origenes.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2024)

[edit]

Riddle made his debut for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) at Turning Point on November 29, 2024, where he teamed with Kushida and Zachary Wentz in a losing effort to The Hardys and Ace Austin.[171]

Personal life

[edit]
Riddle and his former wife Lisa in April 2011

Riddle married Lisa Rennie in 2011. They have fraternal twin daughters and a son.[172] The couple divorced in March 2022.[173] Since November 2022, he has been dating adult film actress Misha Montana.[174] On July 7, 2023, Riddle announced that they are expecting their first child, and Riddle's fourth.[175] On December 1, 2023, they welcomed their son.[176]

Riddle is an experienced practitioner of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and was promoted to black belt in the sport by Daniel Gracie, Rolles Gracie, and David Floridia on January 28, 2022.[177]

Sexual assault allegation

[edit]

In the summer of 2020, Riddle was accused of sexually assaulting female independent wrestler Candy Cartwright.[178][179][180][181] Cartwright alleges that after an independent show in May 2018, Riddle asked her to have sex with him, and when Cartwright turned down Riddle's request, she claims that Riddle choked her and forced her to give him oral sex.[182] WWE released a statement claiming they were looking into the incident;[183] Riddle immediately denied the allegations in a video posted to his Twitter page.[184][185] Riddle stated that he had an affair with Cartwright, but sexual relations between the two were completely consensual.[186][187]

Riddle later filed for a restraining order against Cartwright, alleging that she harassed, stalked, and threatened his safety both in person and over the internet.[188] In September 2020, Riddle withdrew his petition for a restraining order.[189][190] On October 8, 2020, Cartwright filed a lawsuit against Riddle, WWE, and Evolve president Gabe Sapolsky over the incident.[191][192][193][194] In March 2021, the court dismissed WWE and Sapolsky as defendants in the suit, stating that their connection to the allegations could not be proven.[195] Cartwright dropped the lawsuit on July 13, 2021.[196]

Other media

[edit]

Riddle made his video game debut as a playable character in WWE 2K20[197] and subsequently in WWE 2K22 and WWE 2K23.[198]

Championships and accomplishments

[edit]

Mixed martial arts

[edit]

Professional wrestling

[edit]
Riddle as EVOLVE Champion in June 2018

Mixed martial arts record

[edit]
Professional record breakdown
13 matches 8 wins 3 losses
By knockout 1 1
By submission 1 0
By decision 5 2
By disqualification 1 0
No contests 2
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 8–3 (2) Michael Kuiper Submission (guillotine choke) Titan FC 27 February 28, 2014 2 2:29 Kansas City, Kansas, United States Middleweight bout.
NC 7–3 (2) Che Mills NC (overturned) UFC on Fuel TV: Barão vs. McDonald February 16, 2013 3 5:00 London, England Originally a split decision win for Riddle. Result overturned after he tested positive for cannabis.
Win 7–3 (1) John Maguire Decision (unanimous) UFC 154 November 17, 2012 3 5:00 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
NC 6–3 (1) Chris Clements NC (overturned) UFC 149 July 21, 2012 3 2:02 Calgary, Alberta, Canada Originally an arm-triangle submission win for Riddle. Submission of the Night. Result overturned after he tested positive for cannabis.
Win 6–3 Henry Martinez Decision (split) UFC 143 February 4, 2012 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 5–3 Lance Benoist Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Shields vs. Ellenberger September 17, 2011 3 5:00 New Orleans, Louisiana, United States Fight of the Night.
Loss 5–2 Sean Pierson Decision (unanimous) UFC 124 December 11, 2010 3 5:00 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Win 5–1 DaMarques Johnson TKO (punches) UFC Live: Jones vs. Matyushenko August 1, 2010 2 4:29 San Diego, California, United States 172 lb Catchweight bout; Johnson missed weight.
Win 4–1 Greg Soto DQ (illegal upkick) UFC 111 March 27, 2010 3 1:30 Newark, New Jersey, United States
Loss 3–1 Nick Osipczak TKO (elbows and punches) UFC 105 November 14, 2009 3 3:53 Manchester, England
Win 3–0 Dan Cramer Decision (unanimous) UFC 101 August 8, 2009 3 5:00 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win 2–0 Steve Bruno Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Lauzon vs. Stephens February 7, 2009 3 5:00 Tampa, Florida, United States Welterweight debut.
Win 1–0 Dante Rivera Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter 7 Finale June 21, 2008 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 1–1 Tim Credeur Submission (armbar) The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampage vs. Team Forrest April 23, 2008 (air date) 2 4:06 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States TUF 7 Quarter Final round.
Win 1–0 Dan Simmler KO (punch) April 9, 2008 (air date) 2 0:09 TUF 7 elimination round.

References

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Matt Riddle

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Matthew Fredrick Riddle (born January 14, 1986) is an American professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist. Riddle began his professional MMA career in 2008, competing primarily in the division and earning a record of 8 wins, 3 losses, and 2 no contests, with appearances in the following his participation in Season 7. Transitioning to professional wrestling in 2015, he gained prominence on the independent circuit, capturing titles such as the EVOLVE Championship, with , and two Progress Atlas Championships. In 2018, Riddle signed with , initially performing in NXT where he won the , before advancing to the main roster. There, he secured the in 2021 and the Raw Tag Team Championship twice alongside as part of the team, highlighting his barefoot, laid-back "Bro" persona and submission-based style derived from his background. Riddle's WWE tenure ended with his release in September 2023, attributed to repeated wellness policy violations, unprofessional backstage behavior, and an incident involving accusations against personnel that he later retracted. Earlier, in 2020, he faced a sexual assault lawsuit from independent wrestler Candy Cartwright alleging non-consensual acts during travel in 2018, which Riddle denied as consensual; the suit was dropped in 2021 following WWE's internal review that cleared him of wrongdoing.

Early life and amateur background

Childhood and family

Matthew Fredrick Riddle was born on January 14, 1986, in . His family relocated to , sometime during his early childhood, where he spent his formative years in a working-class environment. Riddle displayed an early interest in beginning around age six, regularly watching matches and engaging in makeshift training such as wrestling a heavy bag on a . His parents expressed disapproval of this fixation, reportedly viewing him as unsuited for combative pursuits and later deeming him "too delicate" for competition. Despite this lack of familial encouragement, Riddle's self-directed engagement with wrestling activities laid the groundwork for his later athletic endeavors. Public details on Riddle's parents and precise dynamics remain sparse, with no verified records of his father's identity or specific socioeconomic influences beyond general accounts of modest circumstances. This environment fostered a pattern of independent persistence in Riddle's pursuit of physical disciplines, unprompted by structured parental support for sports.

Education and

Riddle attended Saratoga Springs High School in New York, graduating in 2004. There, he joined the wrestling team and achieved notable success in his senior year during the 2003-2004 season. Competing in the 189-pound weight class, he compiled a 28-1 record and secured the New York State High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) championship at the state tournament held in Albany. Following high school, Riddle enrolled at East Stroudsburg University in on an athletic scholarship for wrestling. He participated as a member of the university's wrestling team for two years but did not complete a full degree program, shifting focus toward intensive athletic training. His college experience involved folkstyle wrestling, the standard format in American collegiate competitions, which prioritizes control through takedowns, escapes, and riding time accumulation over submissions. This amateur background emphasized fundamental grappling skills, including chain wrestling and top-position dominance, honed through high-volume matches and drills.

Mixed martial arts career

Early professional bouts

Riddle made his professional debut on January 27, 2008, during the elimination bouts for Season 7, defeating Dan Simmler by via punches at 0:08 of the second round. The strike fractured Simmler's jaw in two places, demonstrating Riddle's capacity for powerful finishing blows despite his wrestling-oriented background. On June 21, 2008, at 7 Finale, Riddle secured his first official UFC bout—a unanimous decision victory over fellow TUF contestant Dante Rivera after three rounds. Riddle dominated with takedowns and ground control, landing 76 significant strikes to Rivera's 28 while attempting seven of nine takedowns, reflecting the efficacy of his wrestling pedigree in dictating fight pace against similarly inexperienced professionals. These initial outings yielded a 2-0 record, with one finish and one decision, underscoring Riddle's ability to leverage superior grappling for positional dominance while exposing nascent striking threats; however, both opponents were entry-level fighters in a tryout context, limiting inferences about scalability against seasoned competition.

The Ultimate Fighter appearance

Riddle participated in the seventh season of The Ultimate Fighter, a reality television series on Spike TV that aired from April to June 2008, featuring a middleweight (185-pound limit) tournament bracket coached by Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and Forrest Griffin. Despite entering professional MMA with only one prior win and naturally competing closer to the welterweight division, Riddle was selected for the cast based on his amateur wrestling background, which included national collegiate achievements. The season emphasized middleweight prospects, requiring Riddle to bulk up from his typical fighting weight near 170 pounds, though specific training camp details highlighted his reliance on grappling fundamentals over striking volume during house sessions. In the opening round on February 4, 2008, Riddle secured entry into the fighter house by defeating Dan Simmler via punches at 0:09 of the second round, landing a series of strikes that rendered Simmler unconscious and resulted in a broken jaw requiring . This victory demonstrated Riddle's opportunistic finishing ability, with the bout ending abruptly after Riddle capitalized on a grounded exchange, though official statistics from the exhibition fight were not formally tracked by UFC metrics. Riddle's run ended in the subsequent preliminary bout against , a more experienced fighter with a 10-2 record, where he lost by armbar submission at 4:04 of the second round after attempting multiple takedowns early but failing to defend a reversal and . Despite the age and experience disparity—Riddle was 22 with limited MMA seasoning—observers noted his persistent wrestling pressure, including successful shot entries that controlled position for portions of the first round, underscoring strengths in takedown execution over submission defense. This elimination prevented Riddle from advancing to the quarterfinals, with Credeur progressing further before his own exit.

UFC contract and fights (2008-2013)

Riddle secured a UFC contract following his participation in Season 7 and debuted professionally on June 21, 2008, at 7 Finale against fellow cast member Dante Rivera, securing a first-round TKO victory via punches at 1:15 after landing a takedown and ground strikes. His early success leveraged his wrestling background, as demonstrated in his next bout on April 18, 2009, at , where he submitted via arm-triangle choke in the second round at 4:06, capitalizing on a exchange to transition to the finish. Riddle followed with a win over on November 21, 2009, at (30-27 on all cards), controlling the fight with wrestling but failing to secure a finish despite dominant positions. Subsequent performances revealed limitations in striking defense and adaptation. On March 26, 2011, at UFC Fight Night 24, Riddle lost a unanimous decision to Sean Pierson (30-27 x3), where he landed fewer significant strikes (45-67) and struggled to impose his , absorbing damage in stand-up exchanges that highlighted vulnerabilities in footwork and counter-striking. A similar pattern emerged on September 17, 2011, at UFC Fight Night: Shields vs. Ellenberger, with a loss to Lance Benoist (29-28 x2, 30-27), as Riddle attempted 28 takedowns but completed only a fraction, while being outstruck 74-67 and unable to mitigate Benoist's pressure wrestling. These defeats underscored a plateau in fight IQ, where reliance on did not translate to consistent UFC-level control against opponents with comparable and superior stand-up. Riddle rebounded with a victory over Henry Martinez on February 4, 2012, at UFC 143 (29-28 x2, 28-29), outstriking his opponent 67-74 but securing the win through effective clinch work and late-round urgency. His bout against Chris Clements on July 21, 2012, at UFC 149 ended in a draw (28-28 x2, 29-28 Clements), later ruled a no-contest due to Riddle's positive marijuana test, though the fight exposed ongoing issues with pace management in a three-round war. On November 17, 2012, at UFC 154, he earned a over John Maguire (30-27 x3), dominating with takedowns and top control, but the victory relied on volume rather than finishing ability. Riddle's final UFC appearance came on February 16, 2013, at UFC on Fuel TV 7, drawing by split decision with Che Mills (28-28 x2, 29-28 Mills), later overturned to a no-contest following another failed marijuana test; UFC officials cited this as his second violation, leading to his contract termination on February 26, 2013. Over nine UFC bouts, Riddle compiled a 5-2 record with two no-contests, predominantly winning via grappling control but faltering against fighters who neutralized his takedowns and exploited stand-up deficiencies, contributing to stalled progression amid the failed drug policies. UFC president Dana White publicly criticized Riddle's repeated testing positive as irresponsible, emphasizing the organization's zero-tolerance stance on such substances despite their non-performance-enhancing nature.

Bellator and Titan FC stints (2013-2014)

Following his release from the UFC in mid-2013, Riddle signed with to compete in the promotion's Season Nine welterweight tournament. His scheduled debut against Luis Melo at Bellator 100 on September 13, 2013, was cancelled. Riddle then agreed to face Nathan Coy at Bellator 109 on November 22, 2013, but withdrew due to injury shortly before the event, leading to his release from the promotion without recording a single fight. Riddle subsequently joined , making his promotional debut in the co-main event of Titan FC 27 against fellow former UFC fighter Michael Kuiper on February 28, 2014, in . He secured a submission victory via at 2:29 of the second round, improving his professional record to 8-3. This win positioned Riddle for a vacant title bout against Landi-Jons at Titan FC 29 on August 22, 2014. However, Riddle withdrew from the due to an undisclosed , which was replaced by Landi-Jons facing Ben Saunders instead. The repeated injuries during this period contributed to a halt in his MMA activity, as smaller promotions offered limited financial incentives compared to major leagues, effectively marking the conclusion of his competitive MMA phase with no further bouts after the Kuiper win.

Transition to professional wrestling

Initial training and indie debut (2014-2015)

Following his release from UFC in 2014 amid failed drug tests, Riddle sought a new combat sports outlet by training in at the in , starting in late 2014. There, under trainers including former wrestler , he adapted his MMA foundation—emphasizing ground control and submissions—into a suplex-centric wrestling style to test its viability for in-ring entertainment. This approach leveraged his pedigree and MMA experience for high-impact throws, aiming to bridge athletic realism with scripted performance without prior ring exposure. Riddle made his professional wrestling debut on February 7, 2015, competing barefoot to maintain tactile feedback from the mat, a carryover from his MMA habits that helped him adjust to falls and positioning errors more acutely than with footwear. Early bouts featured an emerging laid-back "bro" persona, incorporating casual mannerisms and marijuana references drawn from his , which contrasted his technical prowess and signaled a deliberate to enhance crowd engagement. Initial independent bookings in , such as regional promotions in the Northeast, highlighted Riddle's raw athleticism translating effectively to wrestling crowds, with observers noting his chains and submission holds as standout elements despite green fundamentals like pacing and selling. Promoters valued his crossover appeal from MMA, providing quick exposure that validated the shift, though critiques focused on refining to match his physicality for sustained viability.

Independent circuit rise (2015-2018)

Following his debut on February 7, 2015, at in , Matt Riddle began accumulating experience across regional promotions, including victories in events for and Boca Raton Championship Wrestling. By mid-2015, he secured his first title, the Championship, signaling initial recognition of his grappling prowess adapted from . His style emphasized high-impact aerial maneuvers like the Broton flipping senton and submission holds such as the Bromission lock, drawing crowds with athletic sequences that highlighted his foundation without reliance on scripted storylines. In 2016 and early 2017, Riddle's bookings expanded to prominent independent promotions like (PWG) and Evolve, where consistent performances against technicians fostered a reputation for match quality over gimmickry. This period marked the organic emergence of his "King of Bros" persona, originating from his habitual use of "bro" in promos—first notably directed at during a match—earning the moniker from peers for its authentic, laid-back vibe rooted in his MMA transition novelty rather than manufactured character work. Frequent tours and feuds, including standout bouts in PWG, demonstrated market demand through sold-out appearances and positive fan reception to his , flip-flop-wearing aesthetic. Riddle's ascent peaked in late 2017 and 2018 with major title victories, beginning with the Evolve Championship on December 9, 2017, when he defeated Zack Sabre Jr. at Evolve 102, holding it for approximately four months before dropping it to Shane Strickland on May 19, 2018, at Evolve 108. He followed with the Progress Wrestling Atlas Championship on March 25, 2018, submitting Walter in a highly acclaimed 28-minute main event at Chapter 64, a win that underscored his striking and grappling hybrid against rigid strong-style opponents. Later in 2018, Riddle captured the AAW Heavyweight Championship, further evidencing sustained booking interest across U.S. indies. These reigns, coupled with defenses in inter-promotional matches like his February 11, 2018, clash with David Starr under Combat Zone Wrestling, reflected growing popularity driven by verifiable in-ring metrics such as win rates exceeding 70% in key promotions and peer endorsements for elevating event cards.

WWE tenure (2018-2023)

NXT development and matches (2018-2020)

Matt Riddle signed a three-year contract with in July 2018 and was officially assigned to the NXT brand, with his signing announced during : Brooklyn IV on August 18, 2018. He made his in-ring debut at an NXT on September 21, 2018, before appearing on television for the first time on the October 31, 2018 episode of NXT, where he defeated Luke Menzies via lock submission in 1:47. This debut showcased Riddle's grappling background, emphasizing quick transitions to submissions and high-impact strikes adapted from his MMA experience, setting a tone for his NXT portrayal as a , athletic technician. Early NXT booking positioned Riddle in squash victories against local competitors and midcard talent to build momentum, including wins over Kassius Ohno on November 14, 2018, and in a non-title match on January 23, 2019. These encounters highlighted his mat-based athleticism, such as floating bromissions and Brotons, but also exposed developmental needs in promo delivery, where his laid-back "King of Bros" persona often came across as underdeveloped compared to his in-ring execution, as noted in contemporaneous reviews critiquing the segment's pacing over substance. Riddle pursued opportunities sporadically, including partnerships in the , though these efforts focused on skill refinement rather than immediate title contention. Riddle's competitive feuds underscored NXT's emphasis on elevating his technical prowess amid booking that prioritized athletic showcases over narrative depth. He engaged in a series with leader , culminating in an match on October 2, 2019, which Riddle lost via referee stoppage after a prolonged last man standing sequence, earning praise for its physicality but revealing gaps in his ability to convey stakes verbally. Interactions with Dominik Dijakovic arose in multi-man scenarios, such as build-up events where Dijakovic substituted for Riddle, highlighting Riddle's role in factional tag pursuits while critiquing his promo reliance on catchphrases amid empirically solid match performances rated around 3.5 stars by observers. Overall, this period refined Riddle's transition from indie legitimacy to structure, with strengths in submission-heavy bouts offset by noted improvements required in microphone work to sustain long-term viability.

Main roster push and United States Championship (2020)

In May 2020, amid the that forced to conduct shows without live audiences at the , Matt Riddle received a main roster call-up to SmackDown. His in-ring debut occurred on the June 19 episode, where he defeated in a non-title , showcasing his MMA-influenced and submission skills. This victory positioned Riddle as a credible midcard contender, leveraging his barefoot style and athleticism against established veterans. Riddle's early SmackDown run involved feuds with figures like King Corbin, including a loss to Corbin on the September 25 episode, amid ongoing storylines that tested his resilience in the roster's competitive landscape. The absence of crowds shifted emphasis to television presentation and virtual fan engagement via the Thunderdome setup introduced in August 2020, where Riddle's high-energy matches contributed to sustained viewer interest despite the unconventional format. On , WWE's draft selected Riddle for Raw, leading to his brand debut on October 19 against , further solidifying his push as a versatile performer capable of elevating undercard bouts. The momentum from Riddle's 2020 appearances culminated in early 2021, when he captured the United States Championship on February 21 at in a match against champion and John Morrison, pinning Morrison after countering interference. His 49-day reign included successful defenses on Raw programming, highlighting his technical proficiency in retaining the title against challengers like Lashley in rematches, though the short duration reflected 's fluid midcard booking during the pandemic era. Riddle's title win underscored his in-ring strengths, rooted in UFC-honed takedown defense and striking volume, but the "Bro" persona—characterized by casual slang and unconventional attire—drew mixed online reception, with some praising its authenticity while others critiqued it as undermining seriousness in promos.

RK-Bro tag team and titles (2021-2022)

In April 2021, Matt Riddle proposed forming a tag team with Randy Orton following Orton's on-screen interactions with him on Raw, leading to the creation of RK-Bro, an unlikely pairing blending Orton's veteran intensity with Riddle's laid-back, cannabis-referencing persona. The duo's chemistry emerged through comedic segments and impromptu alliances, culminating in their first major opportunity at SummerSlam on August 21, 2021, where they defeated Raw Tag Team Champions AJ Styles and Omos to capture the titles in Orton's and Riddle's inaugural tag team championship reigns. RK-Bro's first reign lasted 142 days, marked by successful defenses including a non-title win over SmackDown Tag Team Champions at on November 21, 2021, and a retention against Styles and at Crown Jewel on October 21, 2021. The partnership emphasized dynamic in-ring synergy, with Orton's signature RKO setups often incorporating Riddle's high-flying Broton and submission holds, contributing to elevated segments that contrasted WWE's typically serious with humorous "bro" antics. This approach revitalized interest in the Raw tag division, as evidenced by their sustained prominence in main event programming despite occasional creative tensions over Orton's reluctance to fully embrace the gimmick. The team lost the titles to ( and Otis) on the January 10, 2022, episode of Raw, ending their initial run amid feuds that highlighted RK-Bro's resilience against up-and-coming challengers like the , whom they defeated in a title defense at Day 1 on January 1, 2022. Riddle and Orton regained the championships on March 7, 2022, in a match also involving and the team of and , embarking on a 74-day second reign that included a high-profile retention in a bout against the and at on April 3, 2022. These feuds underscored RK-Bro's drawing power, with multi-team matches generating competitive spots and crowd engagement through the duo's contrasting styles—Riddle's athleticism complementing Orton's power—while avoiding dilution of Orton's established character. The reigns collectively spanned 216 days, establishing RK-Bro as one of Raw's most entertaining title acts during a period of fragmentation.

Later feuds, injuries, and contract release (2022-2023)

Following the disbandment of RK-Bro due to Randy Orton's back injury in May 2022, Riddle transitioned to singles competition on the Raw brand. His primary feud during this period was with Seth Rollins, beginning in June 2022 with verbal confrontations and escalating to matches at Clash at the Castle on September 3, where Riddle lost via pinfall after a high-impact sequence, and culminating in an Extreme Rules Fight Pit match on October 8, which Rollins won by submission following a grueling 30-minute bout involving multiple high-risk spots, including Riddle taking a significant back-first bump off the cage. This rivalry, marked by personal promos referencing Riddle's real-life family issues—which he explicitly encouraged Rollins to incorporate—highlighted Riddle's 4-6 win-loss record in key televised matches from June to October, signaling a shift from tag team success to inconsistent singles momentum amid creative pivots away from planned pushes like a potential Royal Rumble victory. Riddle's on-screen activity was interrupted in August 2022 by a 60-day suspension under WWE's Wellness Policy for a failed , his second such violation during his tenure, which sidelined him until late and contributed to a perceived dip in booking priority upon return. No major injuries were reported for Riddle himself in this timeframe, though the physical toll of matches like the Fight Pit exacerbated wear on his body, aligning with broader patterns of reduced high-profile opportunities; from November 2022 to mid-2023, his televised record stood at approximately 3-7, with sporadic appearances against midcard opponents rather than title contention, reflecting internal decisions to de-emphasize his "Bro" persona amid stagnant fan engagement metrics. WWE opted not to renew Riddle's contract on 21, 2023, citing repeated breaches of company policy, including the aforementioned Wellness violations and unprofessional conduct, such as a 2023 incident at JFK Airport where Riddle, reportedly intoxicated, clashed with security personnel in a manner deemed the "last straw" by management. This release followed a pattern of exhausted opportunities, with insiders noting that despite early potential, cumulative issues like performance inconsistencies and policy infractions outweighed retention value, especially as WWE streamlined its roster post-merger discussions.

Post-WWE career (2023-present)

Major League Wrestling resurgence and World Heavyweight Championship (2024-2025)

Riddle returned to (MLW) on January 6, 2024, at the Kings of Colosseum event, where he defeated in his comeback match after a six-year absence from the promotion. In June 2024, he won the Battle RIOT VI multi-man match, outlasting 39 competitors to earn a shot at the . Riddle captured the MLW World Heavyweight Championship for the first time on January 11, 2025, at Kings of Colosseum, defeating champion Satoshi Kojima via cash-in of his Battle RIOT opportunity. His reign lasted 245 days, during which he successfully defended the title in the 2025 Battle RIOT on April 5, eliminating Rob Van Dam last to retain while winning the match. He further retained against KENTA on June 26, 2025, at Summer of the BEASTS. The championship run ended on September 14, 2025, at Fightland, when Mads Krule Krugger cashed in his Gravity Gamble contract during Riddle's scheduled defense against Dijak, defeating him to claim the title. On October 4, 2025, at , Riddle defeated Alex Hammerstone but turned post-match, rejecting the audience and declaring an end to his "King of Bros" persona in favor of "The Rude Dude," a more abrasive character shedding his laid-back bro image. This shift, planned for several months, positioned him as a emphasizing over affability.

Appearances in NJPW, TNA, and AAA (2024)

Riddle debuted for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) on January 5, 2024, via a pre-taped vignette at New Year Dash!!, where he challenged Hiroshi Tanahashi to a match. On January 13, 2024, at Battle in the Valley, he teamed with Jeff Cobb to defeat Bad Dude Tito and Zack Sabre Jr. in a tag team match. Riddle captured the NJPW World Television Championship during his brief stint, which concluded with a title loss to Zack Sabre Jr. on April 12, 2024, at Windy City Riot in a match that highlighted his grappling submissions against Sabre Jr.'s technical holds. Overall, he competed in four NJPW matches in 2024, achieving a 2-2 record before departing abruptly in April, citing scheduling conflicts and unfulfilled bookings like the New Japan Cup. Riddle made his (AAA) debut on August 17, 2024, at Triplemanía XXXII in , defeating , Octagón Jr., and Black Taurus in a four-way match to win the vacant . He successfully defended the title on October 6, 2024, at Héroes Inmortales XVI. Riddle's grappling-heavy style adapted to AAA's high-flying format, incorporating submissions like the Bromission amid aerial exchanges, before losing the championship to on December 8, 2024. These appearances provided Riddle exposure in Mexico's premier promotion, bolstering his international credentials post-WWE. On November 29, 2024, Riddle debuted for (TNA) at in , as a surprise replacement for due to travel issues, teaming with Kushida and Zachary Wentz in a six-man match against opponents including , , and . The one-off bout showcased Riddle's bro persona and athleticism in TNA's multi-person format, receiving positive fan reception but with no immediate follow-up bookings announced as of early 2025. These sporadic international outings in 2024 demonstrated Riddle's versatility across promotions, enhancing his appeal for freelance opportunities despite limited sustained runs.

Ongoing independent bookings and persona shift (2024-2025)

In 2024 and into 2025, Matt Riddle has pursued a robust schedule of independent wrestling bookings across various promotions, positioning (MLW) as his primary anchor with consistent appearances and a world heavyweight championship reign that underscores his ongoing draw. He has claimed personal responsibility for selling out every independent event he has worked since his 2023 release, attributing this to sustained fan interest in his in-ring style and availability. Specific engagements include a scheduled main event slot at MCW Pro Wrestling's Autumn Armageddon on November 8, 2025, in Ranson, , where promoters highlighted his pedigree to promote ticket sales. Bookings have encountered disruptions tied to logistical and reputational issues, including an abrupt no-show at Global Wrestling Kingdom's "A New Kingdom Rises" charity event in , , on August 31, 2025, after accepting a deposit that has not been refunded to the promotion. Separately, SiouxperCon in , from September 19 to 21, 2025, canceled Riddle's appearance following his public statements on and , with organizers explicitly citing the remarks as incompatible with their event standards. These incidents reflect patterns of last-minute withdrawals, such as his earlier 2024 exit from after a brief stint, which he attributed to mismatched creative expectations and lack of return commitments. Amid these challenges, has evolved his on-screen persona toward a heel alignment in MLW, debuting a more confrontational and aggressive iteration in October 2025 that diverges from his prior "King of Bros" laid-back archetype rooted in MMA crossover appeal. This shift, implemented post his return to MLW at Kings of Colosseum on January 6, 2024, emphasizes unfiltered intensity over comedic bro elements, aligning with empirical trends in his booking resilience—evidenced by retained MLW commitments despite isolated indie fallout—and signaling adaptability to post-WWE market demands without venturing into unverified MMA or promotional returns.

Personal life

Family background and marriages

Matt Riddle married Lisa Rennie, a two-time All-American gymnast at , in 2011 while competing in . The couple welcomed fraternal twin daughters, Amy and Alison, later that year, followed by a son. Lisa supported Riddle's transition from MMA to , accompanying him during early independent bookings despite her initial unfamiliarity with the industry. The marriage lasted 11 years, ending in divorce finalized in March 2022. Riddle and Rennie share custody of their three children, with public statements indicating cooperative co-parenting arrangements post-divorce. No prior marriages or additional children from earlier relationships have been documented.

Lifestyle and recovery from addiction

Matt Riddle struggled with during his mixed martial arts career, primarily involving marijuana, which led to multiple suspensions by the UFC, including a 90-day ban following UFC 149 in July 2012. These issues culminated in his release from the promotion in 2013 after repeated failed drug tests. To address his , Riddle transitioned to in late 2013, adopting a sobriety-focused regimen that aligned with the stricter drug testing in independent promotions, enabling him to build a successful career without further violations for nearly a decade. During his WWE tenure, Riddle violated the company's Wellness Policy multiple times in 2022, testing positive for after recreational use at strip clubs, which resulted in fines and internal handling rather than public disclosure. A second failure in December 2022 led to a 60-day suspension, after which he entered a six-week rehabilitation program, completing it by late January 2023. These relapses disrupted his momentum, contributing to reduced bookings and his eventual release in September 2023, as sobriety lapses impaired consistent performance and reliability. Post-rehabilitation, Riddle has maintained sobriety through rigorous fitness routines, including full-body "gauntlet" workouts emphasizing strength and endurance, which support his in-ring athleticism. His wrestling style, rooted in MMA for enhanced grip and impact absorption, ties directly to this regimen, as he avoids boots to preserve natural foot mechanics and has cited childhood reducing toe sensation, minimizing pain during high-impact moves. This approach has correlated with sustained performance in independent promotions since 2023, where consistent has mitigated prior addiction-related setbacks.

Sexual misconduct allegations by Candy Cartwright (2020)

In June 2020, as part of the #SpeakingOut movement exposing alleged abuses in , independent wrestler Candy Cartwright (real name Samantha Tavel) accused Matt Riddle of via a series of posts. She claimed the incident occurred in 2018 during a van ride following an event, with multiple other wrestlers asleep in the vehicle, where Riddle allegedly demanded intercourse, and upon her refusal, grabbed her by the throat while saying, "what if I just made you?"—leading her to perform as a coerced alternative to avoid . Cartwright described the encounter as humiliating and non-consensual, asserting it took place under explicit threat and in a confined, public setting that heightened her fear. Riddle immediately denied the allegations on on June 20, 2020, stating, "You don’t need to be my fan/friend but try not to believe every story you hear especially with no [proof]," and framing the claims as lacking substantiation. His attorney, Daniel Rose, issued a statement calling the accusations "categorically false," claiming Cartwright had been Riddle and his family, and referencing a 2019 draft injunction in against her for harassment, including unwanted contacts that prompted phone number changes. Riddle's then-wife, Lisa Riddle, publicly labeled Cartwright a "psycho obsessed person" and corroborated the narrative, noting repeated attempts to contact them. WWE, Riddle's employer at the time, stated it was investigating the matter while affirming a "" policy for , though no immediate suspension or termination followed, and Riddle debuted on the June 19 episode of SmackDown.

Corroborating claims and lawsuit dismissal (2020-2021)

Additional female wrestlers reported instances of similar boundary-violating behavior by Riddle during the 2020 #SpeakingOut movement. Independent performer Thunderkitty alleged that Riddle entered a women's locker room at a Pro Wrestling Xtreme event, began undressing, and became combative when asked to leave, describing the incident as disrespectful and indicative of entitlement. These accounts, while lacking contemporaneous documentation or legal follow-through, aligned thematically with Cartwright's claims of non-consensual advances and physical overreach, suggesting potential patterns in interpersonal conduct under the influence of substances or . No criminal investigations or charges arose from these reports, underscoring gaps between anecdotal testimonies and prosecutable evidence. Cartwright formalized her allegations in a civil lawsuit filed on October 23, 2020, in federal court against Riddle, , EVOLVE Wrestling, and promoter , accusing them of assault, battery, , and negligence, with damages sought exceeding $150,000. The suit named and EVOLVE due to their alleged failure to intervene or warn despite prior knowledge of Riddle's behavior. Defendants , EVOLVE, and Sapolsky were dismissed in March 2021 after the court found insufficient basis for their inclusion beyond . On July 12, 2021, Cartwright voluntarily moved to dismiss the remaining claims against Riddle without prejudice, effectively ending the case. records indicated no settlement terms were disclosed, and Riddle's legal team confirmed no monetary occurred. This resolution, amid the high-profile scrutiny of #MeToo-era wrestling disclosures, empirically prioritized the absence of adjudicated liability over unproven narratives, though it did not preclude ongoing reputational impacts from the unsubstantiated multiplicity of claims. The lack of criminal pursuit by authorities further evidenced insufficient , contrasting with the movement's emphasis on belief in accusers absent rigorous verification.

Riddle's counter-allegations of assault (2023)

In September 2023, Matt Riddle publicly alleged that he was sexually assaulted by a security officer at in New York. On , Riddle posted on a photo of the officer, accompanied by the statement: "Nothing like being sexually assaulted by an officer and harassed at the jfk airport, no means no and just because i'm nice doesn't mean yes!!! They went out of there way to touch me after i said no multiple times." He framed the incident as a violation of , claiming the officer proceeded with physical contact despite his repeated refusals during a security screening. Riddle did not file formal charges or pursue legal action against the officer or airport authorities. The of New York and , which oversees JFK, launched an internal investigation into Riddle's claim following the post, which was later deleted. Reports from witnesses and airport personnel indicated that Riddle appeared heavily intoxicated prior to the screening, having caused a disturbance earlier during a flight delay by grabbing a and yelling at passengers to board a delayed plane. Critics of Riddle's account, including wrestling media outlets, questioned the allegations' in light of his documented disruptive behavior and lack of corroborating evidence beyond his post, suggesting possible amid intoxication. Riddle has maintained the self-defense narrative of non-consensual touching, aligning with broader principles he emphasized, though no independent verification of has been publicly confirmed.

Backlash from 2025 statements on assault and violence

In early September 2025, Matt Riddle responded to accusations that he had no-showed a charity wrestling event organized by Global Wrestling Kingdom (GWK) in , , on August 31, which supported domestic abuse survivors and homeless veterans. In a video rant posted online, Riddle dismissed critics' belief in the —often linked to allegations—as "MeToo BS" and labeled detractors "dumb fucking cunts" for accepting such narratives without scrutiny. These remarks, interpreted by organizers as downplaying the validity of sexual assault (SA) and domestic violence (DV) claims amid Riddle's history of related legal disputes, prompted swift backlash. On September 4, 2025, SiouxperCon—a South Dakota convention scheduled for September 19-21—announced Riddle's removal, stating his "public statements... regarding the topics of SA and DV" conflicted with their values of inclusivity and support for victims. The event offered refunds for Riddle-related photo ops and pledged 10% of SiouxperMania ticket sales to a domestic violence charity. Riddle's comments echoed defenses of due process in MeToo-era cases, where empirical data indicates false SA accusations occur in 2-10% of reports—higher in some wrestling-related claims dismissed for lack of evidence, as in Riddle's 2020-2021 lawsuit. Supporters, including Rob Van Dam, framed the reaction as overreach stifling free speech, arguing Riddle's frustration stemmed from repeated unproven allegations rather than inherent dismissal of violence prevalence. Critics, however, highlighted the insensitivity given the charity's DV focus and broader underreporting of such crimes, with U.S. data showing over 10 million DV incidents annually. The fallout appeared limited to independent bookings, with no reported impact on Riddle's ongoing (MLW) commitments, where he retained the World Heavyweight Championship into late 2025. Online discourse split along lines of skepticism toward institutional narratives on SA/DV, with some wrestling fans defending Riddle's candor against perceived .

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts achievements

Riddle amassed a record of 8 wins, 3 losses, and 2 no contests, with the majority of his victories (five) secured by decision, underscoring his reliance on and control derived from a background. His sole submission victory came via against Michael Kuiper at 27 on February 28, 2014, demonstrating proficiency in ground-based finishes. During his UFC stint from 2008 to 2013, Riddle recorded 6 wins, 3 losses, and 2 no contests, including standout performances such as a second-round TKO (punches) over at UFC Live 2 on August 1, 2010, and a over Henry Martinez at UFC 143 on February 4, 2012. He received the Fight of the Night award for his competitive loss to Pierson at on December 11, 2010, a bonus recognizing the bout's intensity amid his 15 significant strikes absorbed per minute defensive average. These UFC outings, particularly his durability in high-output fights, later informed his transition to by emphasizing resilient, ground-oriented exchanges.

Professional wrestling titles

Matt Riddle has held several championships across major promotions, with reigns characterized by varying lengths and successful defenses demonstrating in-ring dominance. His titles include singles and accolades, primarily from and independent circuits like MLW and AAW, where he captured world-level belts post-WWE release. In WWE, Riddle won the United States Championship on February 21, 2021, at by defeating , holding it for 50 days until losing to at on April 11, 2021; during this reign, he made defenses against competitors including King Corbin and . He also secured the Raw Tag Team twice as part of with : first on April 19, 2021, defeating and for a 91-day reign ending at , and second on March 7, 2022, in a triple threat match against and The for a 74-day reign; the team defended against multiple challengers including The and . Additionally, Riddle won the NXT Tag Team with (as The Broserweights) on December 18, 2019, holding it for 87 days until May 13, 2020. On the independent scene, Riddle claimed the Evolve Championship on April 5, 2018, at Evolve 102 by defeating Zack Sabre Jr., reigning for 121 days with defenses against wrestlers like Anthony Henry before losing to Shane Strickland on August 4, 2018. He captured the Atlas Championship twice, first on January 15, 2017, for a 175-day reign featuring high-profile defenses including against Walter, whom he later defeated in a trilogy of matches elevating the title's prestige. In AAW, Riddle won the Heavyweight Championship on December 28, 2024, but lost it after 34 days to Ren Jones on January 31, 2025, at The with limited defenses due to the brief tenure. Riddle's most recent major title run came in MLW, where he won the World Heavyweight Championship on , 2025, at Kings of Colosseum by defeating , holding it for 247 days; he retained via cash-in survival in the 2025 on April 5 and defended against Kenta on June 26, 2025, at Summer of BEATS before losing to Mads Krule Krugger via cash-in on September 14, 2025, at Fightland. These reigns underscore Riddle's versatility in both singles and tag divisions, with defenses serving as key metrics of his competitive success across promotions.

Mixed martial arts record

Matt Riddle's professional mixed martial arts career spanned from 2008 to 2014, during which he fought primarily in the division for promotions including the (UFC) and (Titan FC). His official record stands at 8 wins, 3 losses, and 2 no contests, with victories comprising 1 by knockout/technical knockout, 1 by submission, 1 by disqualification, and 5 by decision. Two of his UFC victories were later ruled no contests following positive tests for marijuana metabolites.
ResultRecordOpponentMethodEventDateRoundTimeLocationNotes
Win8–3 (2)Michael KuiperSubmission (guillotine choke)Titan FC 27February 28, 201422:29Kansas City, Missouri, United States
NC7–3 (2)Che MillsNo contest (overturned; failed drug test)UFC on Fuel TV: Barão vs. McDonaldFebruary 16, 201335:00Cardiff, WalesOriginally a TKO (punches) win for Riddle.
Win7–3 (1)John MaguireDecision (unanimous)UFC 154: St-Pierre vs. ConditNovember 17, 201235:00Montreal, Quebec, Canada
NC6–3 (1)Chris ClementsNo contest (overturned; failed drug test)UFC 149: Faber vs. BaraoJuly 21, 201232:02Calgary, Alberta, CanadaOriginally a submission (rear-naked choke) win for Riddle.
Win6–3Henry MartinezDecision (split)UFC 143: Diaz vs. ConditFebruary 4, 201235:00Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss5–3Lance BenoistDecision (unanimous)UFC Fight Night: Shields vs. EllenbergerSeptember 17, 201135:00New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Loss5–2Sean PiersonDecision (unanimous)UFC 124: St-Pierre vs. Koscheck 2December 11, 201035:00Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Win5–1DaMarques JohnsonTKO (punches)UFC Live: Jones vs. MatyushenkoAugust 1, 201024:29Sacramento, California, United States
Win4–1Greg SotoDQ (illegal upkick)UFC 111: St-Pierre vs. HardyMarch 27, 201031:30Newark, New Jersey, United States
Loss3–1Nick OsipczakTKO (punches)UFC 105: Couture vs. VeraNovember 14, 200933:53Manchester, England
Win3–0Dan CramerDecision (unanimous)UFC 101: DeclarationAugust 8, 200935:00Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win2–0Steve BrunoDecision (unanimous)UFC Fight Night: Lauzon vs. StephensFebruary 7, 200935:00Tampa, Florida, United States
Win1–0Dante RiveraDecision (unanimous)The Ultimate Fighter 7 FinaleJune 21, 200835:00Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesPro debut.

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  147. https://www.sescoops.com/news/matt-riddle-pulled-from-convention-after-controversial-sexual-assault-comments/
  148. https://www.facebook.com/siouxpercon/posts/in-light-of-recent-public-statements-made-by-matt-riddle-regarding-the-topics-of/1204805488344279/
  149. https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/siouxpercon-pulls-matt-riddle-from-convention-for-his-comments-regarding-the-topics-of-sa-dv/
  150. https://www.wrestlezone.com/news/1576865-matt-riddle-loses-booking-due-to-comments-about-sexual-assault
  151. https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/1n910d7/matt_riddle_has_been_pulled_from_an_upcoming/
  152. https://www.wrestlingnews.co/other/matt-riddle-removed-siouxpercon-following-controversial-comments/
  153. https://www.ewrestlingnews.com/news/indie/matt-riddle-pulled-from-siouxpercon-over-sex-assault-comments-no-show-backlash
  154. https://www.411mania.com/wrestling/matt-riddle-pulled-convention-comments-no-show/
  155. https://itrwrestling.com/news/former-wwe-star-matt-riddle-pays-hefty-price-after-recent-controversy/
  156. https://cultaholic.com/posts/matt-riddle-pulled-from-convention-following-metoo-comment
  157. https://www.ufcstats.com/fighter-details/d023ae89a2a4a41e
  158. https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/wrestlers/matt-riddle
  159. https://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/17228576/wwe-united-states-championship-history
  160. https://www.sescoops.com/news/wwe/randy-orton-matt-riddle-win-wwe-raw-tag-team-titles-2/
  161. https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/title-history/wwe/wwe-evolve-championship
  162. https://lastwordonsports.com/prowrestling/2018/04/05/andnew-matt-riddle-wins-evolve-championship/
  163. https://www.wrestling-titles.com/europe/uk/progress/progress-atlas.html
  164. https://www.reddit.com/r/ChampionshipHistory/comments/1hrvshh/matt_riddle/
  165. https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/title-history/mlw-world-heavyweight-championship
  166. https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Matt-Riddle-Released-After-Failed-Drug-Test-UFC-on-Fuel-TV-7-Win-Changed-to-NC-50513
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