Hold onto your hats, wrestling fans! Matt Riddle might have left the NJPW Windy City Riot quicker than a New York minute after dropping his TV Championship to Zack Sabre Jr., but don’t count him out of the NJPW ring just yet. While Riddle’s post-match sprint up the ramp—slapping high fives like he’s running for office—had the rumor mills churning about his possible exit, it turns out there’s more to the story.
Dave Meltzer, the wrestling oracle himself, shed some light on the situation during a chat on “Wrestling Observer Radio.” According to Meltzer, Riddle’s quick exit was nothing more than a scene from the day in the life of a wrestler known for doing things his way. So, breathe easy folks, Riddle isn’t hanging up his NJPW boots just yet. In fact, he’s got some more dates lined up with the company, proving that his wrestling journey in Japan is far from over.
Despite the buzz, Riddle dropping the belt was all part of NJPW’s grand plan to crown a new champ. And let’s not forget, Riddle’s not just a one-ring kind of guy. He’s got a working visa for Japan stretching throughout 2024, so he’s free to drop in and throw down whenever the opportunity arises.
Though he missed out on this year’s New Japan Cup for reasons still under wraps, Riddle remains a fixture in the wrestling world. He’s also keeping busy with Major League Wrestling (MLW), where he defended his NJPW World Television Championship not once, but twice.
So, for those who thought Riddle was done with NJPW, think again. It seems the “Original Bro” still has plenty of fights left in him on Japanese soil. As for his quick exit? Maybe he just wanted to beat the traffic.