Matt Riddle has been busy since leaving the WWE.
The former UFC fighter is the current NJPW World Television Champion. He has also wrestled in MLW since his WWE departure, recently defending his title against Kosei Fujita at MLW’s War Chamber event.
Speaking with TVInsider, the former WWE star revealed MLW were one of the first companies that gave him a chance in wrestling. He called his return a “homecoming”.
“The reason I love MLW is before WWE, they were one of the few bigger companies that gave me an opportunity and believed in me. That is where I first met Bruce Prichard when he was one of the producers there. [MLW Founder] Court Bauer and everyone there has been behind me from day one. Now that I’m a free agent, we both have an opportunity to work together. That’s why I went back. It is like a homecoming. Court has always been nice to me. MLW has a good spot in my heart.”
Matt Riddle Talks About His Rivalry With Timothy Thatcher
At a TV taping at MLW War Chamber, Matt Riddle faced off with Timothy Thatcher.
Prior to that match, Matt Riddle spoke about his rivalry with Thatcher over the years. He talked about their matches in Evolve and WWE, and looked forward to their MLW War Chamber bout.
“I haven’t seen him in a year or two. We used to wrestle a lot. When I came to Evolve, he was my first nemesis and rivalry. The first guy I had a feud with because I was so new to professional wrestling. To see where we’ve gone from the Fight Pit in NXT with Kurt Angle as special referee, which is pretty sick. I kicked Tim’s teeth out in that match. Timothy Thatcher, we were also NXT tag champions before when he filled in for the stallion Pete [Dunne]. We’ve traveled the world. I’ve wrestled him in Germany, England, a bunch of states in America. It’s nice to bring it back home and see what kind of magic we can put together this time.”
Thatcher also spoke about the matchup in a new interview with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard.
“Myself and Matt Riddle have wrestled in four different countries and have had quite the extent of battle. So… Dating all the way back to when he first started coming onto the independent scene in EVOLVE. It’s one of the first big matches he had. So, our history dates back a long time. The final one obviously being in NXT. So, yeah it is very important to having to battle again with Mr. Riddle,” Thatcher said.
“Personally we are very different people, but our mindset about professional wrestling I think is very similar. And that is important for every time we meet in the ring. Because we both believe professional wrestling should be hard-hitting, straightforward sportsman-like. So it does add to the environment, it adds to the fan’s experience. It’s very good. Any time I have a match with Mr. Riddle, I always am looking forward to it.”
