Matthew Cassandra Riddle (born January 14, 1986), better known by his ring name Matt Riddle, is an American professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist currently working in Major League Wrestling (MLW). He also worked for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is a former NJPW World Television Champion. Riddle is best known for his tenures in the UFC and WWE.
As a professional MMA fighter 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 fired upon testing positive for smoking marijuana in February 2013.
In 2014, Riddle began training at the Monster Factory for a career in professional wrestling and made his actual 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, before signing with WWE in 2018 and portrayed a stereotypical carefree, barefoot surfer valley boy. Riddle was originally assigned to the NXT. He was later promoted to the main roster, where he won the WWE United States Championship in February 2021 and the Raw Tag Team Championship in August 2021 and March 2022, before being released in September 2023.
After leaving WWE, Riddle made his NJPW debut in January 2024 at New Years Dash before winning the NJPW World Television Championship in February before losing it in April. Since then Riddle has not return due to dissatisfaction by the promotion's management due to Riddle's conduct during his brief time with the promotion.
Early life and education[]
Matthew Frederick Riddle was born on January 14, 1986, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. 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.
Riddle later attended East Stroudsburg University 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 MMA.
Professional wrestling career[]
New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2024)[]
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 to a title match. Later that day, it was announced that Riddle would be making his NJPW in-ring debut at Battle in the Valley, on January 13, teaming with a mystery partner against TMDK (Zack Sabre Jr. and Bad Dude Tito). On January 9, it was announced that Riddle would face Tanahashi for the NJPW World Television Championship on February 23 at The New Beginning in Sapporo. At the event, Riddle defeated Tanahashi to win the NJPW World Television Championship. After the match, in a post-match interview, Riddle was approached Zack Sabre Jr., challenging him to a title match. Sabre declined, claming that he would rather focus his attention on the 2024 New Japan Cup. However, he suggested that a TMDK member would take on his offer with Bad Dude Tito facing Riddle at Major League Wrestling's Intimidation Games for the title, which Riddle won on February 29. On March 29, at MLW's War Chamber pay-per view, Riddle made his second title defense against TMDK's Kosei Fujita. After the match, Riddle who felt he could be denied no longer, challenged Sabre to a match. On April 12 at Windy City Riot, Riddle lost the title to Sabre. Riddle unsatisfied left the arena in protest.
It was later reported that the original plan was to Riddle dropping the title to Jeff Cobb; however, NJPW and TV Asahi became heavily unsatisfied with Riddle's actions due to Riddle's conduct and also for Riddle defending the NJPW World Television Championship at the American independent circuit without the promotion's approval leading NJPW to only recognize his title defenses in MLW, whom has a working partnership with NJPW. Riddle since then became blacklisted by the promotion and has not returned ever since. Several months later, regarding Riddle's side of the story, Riddle revealed that he was suposed to do a tour, with NJPW wanting him wrestle in San Jose after Windy City Riot; however, Riddle had a schedule conflict leading to Riddle to pull out of the event, which he believed to be nothing personal against Riddle.
Personal life[]
Riddle married Lisa Rennie in 2011. They have fraternal twin daughters and a son. The couple divorced in March 2022. Since November 2022, he has been dating adult film actress Misha Montana. On July 7, 2023, Riddle announced that they are expecting their first child, and Riddle's fourth. On December 1, 2023, they welcomed to their son, Matthew Riddle Montana.
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.
Sexual assault allegation[]
In the summer of 2020, Riddle was accused of sexually assaulting female independent wrestler Candy Cartwright. Cartwright alleges that after an independent show in May 2018, Riddle asked Cartwright 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. WWE released a statement claiming they were looking into the incident; Riddle immediately denied the allegations in a video posted to his Twitter page. Riddle stated that he had an affair with Cartwright, but sexual relations between the two were completely consensual.
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. In September 2020, Riddle withdrew his petition for a restraining order. On October 8, 2020, Cartwright filed a lawsuit against Riddle, WWE, and Evolve president Gabe Sapolsky over the incident. 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. Cartwright dropped the lawsuit on July 13, 2021.
Drug issues and JFK Airport incident[]
During his time in UFC and WWE, Riddle became controversial for the consumption of drugs. 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. Seven months later, 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. Since then, Riddle became blacklisted from UFC with Riddle having and tense relationship with UFC President Dana White, with White publicly admiting his dislike for Riddle.
Meanwhile twelve years later, during his final time in WWE, on December 13, 2023 it was reported that Riddle had been suspended for 60 days after failing WWE's wellness policy for a second time. That same night on Raw, WWE wrote Riddle off television by having Solo Sikoa "injure" him during a brawl in the ring. With WWE offering the option for Riddle to rehabilitate or being released, with Riddle opting to go to rehab.
On September 9, Riddle was off television due to a “medical issue,” which happened after an incident at JFK Airport in New York City following a WWE taping in India. Riddle took to social media and alleged that a Port Authority police officer had sexually assaulted him, with the allegation being deleted. TMZ Sports later released footage of the incident that took place at JFK Airport on September 9, with Riddle, allegedly drunk, grabbing a microphone and shouting at passengers after getting off "of his plane" at the JFK Airport. According to a witness, their flight to Orlando was postponed multiple times, with Riddle and a friend waiting at a nearby restaurant and having some drinks. The witness caimed that Riddle became “incredibly obnoxious” throughout the delay and he was acting “extremely loud and rude.”
After the passengers boarded, Riddle was reportedly denied entry due to his seemingly inebriated state. The witness reportedly heard Riddle growing upset, asking, “So are you telling me I’m not going home today?” After the incident, police spoke to Riddle and other witnesses. At the time, Riddle appeared to be “apologetic” over what took place. No police report was filed and Riddle was allowed to leave. However, the Port Authority police have launched an investigation into Riddle’s claims of sexual harassment. Although, at one point he was scheduled to return to television.
On September 22, Riddle announced his departure from WWE on X, making the September 4 episode of Raw, his final appearance in WWE. Many felt inside WWE that he had “burned through too many chances", with many feeling his backstage attitude and his drugs issues the reason for his release. Many also felt that due to WWE and Endeavor merging that UFC President Dana White contributed to Riddle's release due to their previously tense relationship regarding the same issue.
In a 2024 interview with Ariel Helwani, Riddle revealed that he had tested positive for cocaine, which caused his suspension while Riddle confirmed what happened during the footage that happened at JFK Airport incident, Riddle claimed that had a ear infection and that had indeed had some drinks, Riddle went on to further say that he went to internal affairs and had talked to the FBI, with Riddle claiming that he was not into trouble, while acknowledge that if it were not for the drinks he had the sitiuation would not escalated.
In wrestling[]
- Finishing moves
- BTS – Bro To Sleep (GTS sometimes followed by a High Angle Bridging German Suplex)
- Brostone (Cradle Sit-Out Tombstone Piledriver)
- Signature moves
- Apron Penalty Kick
- Broton (Senton)
- BroDerek (Cradle Tombstone Slam)
- Brohammer (Jackhammer)
- Bromission (Grounded Cobra Twist)
- Final Flash (Running knee strike to an opponent's head, sometimes while doing a ripcord)
- Flowing Bro (Diving Rolling Senton, sometimes while springboarding onto a standing opponent outside of the ring)
- Moonsault
- Monkey flip
- Multiple Suplex variations
- German
- Deadlift Gutwrench
- Fisherman
- Fisherman buster, sometimes avalanche
- Exploder
- Suplex
- Superplex
- Sleeper
- Multiple strike variations
- Arm-Trapped Elbow strikes
- Bro Kick (Middle kick)
- Corner forearm
- Elbow
- Knee lift
- Knee strike
- Palm
- Pele kick
- Pound
- Roundhouse kick
- Superman Punch
- Multiple submission variations
- Ankle Lock
- Armbar
- Boston Crab
- Chickenwing Armlock
- Cross Armbreaker
- Figure-four leglock
- Fujiwara armbar
- Half Boston Crab
- Heel Hold
- Kneebar
- Sleeper Hold
- Triangle Choke
- Triangle Armbar
- Powerbomb, sometimes combined with his signature Final Flash move
- RKO (Occasionally hit from the top rope or in midair; borrowed from Randy Orton)
- Running bicycle knee strike
- Spear
- Nicknames
- "The King of Bros"
- "The Original Bro"
- "The Super King of Bros"
Championships and accomplishments[]
- New Japan Pro Wrestling
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Ranked No. 46 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2018
- Sports Illustrated
- Ranked No. 5 of the top 10 men's wrestlers in 2018
- Ranked No. 8 of the top 10 wrestlers in 2017