Matt Riddle NJPW Debut Match Announced

WWE

The NJPW in-ring debut of former WWE star Matt Riddle has officially been announced, following Riddle recently issuing a challenge to a current champion.

Riddle made headlines on January 5 after issuing a challenge over video to NJPW WORLD TV Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi.

NJPW has now announced that Riddle will first make his in-ring debut for the promotion at next Saturday’s (January 13) Battle in the Valley event in San Jose, California.

Riddle is set to team with a mystery partner to face off against Zack Sabre Jr and Bad Dude Tito.

NJPW shared the following preview for the bout:

A major surprise at New Year Dash saw Matt Riddle emerge to issue a challenge to Hiroshi Tanahashi for an as yet unspecified date. Before that though, Riddle will make his in ring NJPW debut against a man he knows well, but hasn’t wrestled since way back in 2018- Zack Sabre Jr.

ZSJ will team up with Bad Dude Tito for this reunion, and a big match for Sabre ahead of his requested showdown with Bryan Danielson- but who does Riddle have in his own corner?

Battle in the Valley will be headlined by a huge singles match, with Will Ospreay set to battle his former mentor Kazuchika Okada.

The announced card for the upcoming event is as follows:

Will Ospreay vs Kazuchika Okada

Shingo Takagi vs Jon Moxley – No Disqualifications

Eddie Kingston (c) vs Gabe Kidd – AEW Continental Crown Championship

Matt Riddle & X vs Zack Sabre Jr & Bad Dude Tito 

Giulia (c) vs Trish Adora – NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship

El Phantasmo & Hikuleo (c) vs Alex Coughlin & Clark Connors NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team Championship

TJP vs David Finlay

Mascara Dorada & Volador Jr vs Rocky Romero & Soberano Jr.

Shota Umino, Fred Rosser & Jacob Fatu vs Team Filthy (Tom lawlor, Royce Isaacs & Shota Umino)

Matt Riddle was released by WWE in September 2023.

Riddle recently commented on his WWE exit, which you can read more about right here.

The full card for Battle in the Valley January 13 is SET!

Ospreay vs Okada main event!
Shingo vs Moxley- no DQ!
Eddie Kingston defends the @aew
Continental Crown against Gabe Kidd and more!

Details: https://t.co/GjxJi0mjg2

TICKETS: https://t.co/mCAbjD5FIn#njbitv
Show more pic.twitter.com/mkzOS9hE7h

— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) January 6, 2024

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• Battle in the Valley
• Debut
• NJPW
• Matt Riddle

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