Matt Riddle Says That He Loves The Independent Wrestling Scene But It Is Time For Him To Move On

Matt Riddle is on his way out.

Over the past week two weeks the rumors have been swirling concerning the future of the current EVOLVE Champion Matt Riddle. It has been confirmed by Riddle himself that he has been in talks with WWE and the President of New Japan Pro Wrestling. The Fightful alum has an upcoming title defense on August 11th and in a statement issued by WWN Live, it was noted that Riddle will be added to more dates if he successfully defends the EVOLVE Championship.

This past Sunday at Beyond Wrestling’s ‘Americanrana ’18’ show Riddle teamed up with “Filthy” Tom Lawlor to take on Nick Gage and Matt Tremont and after picking up the victory, Riddle spoke with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated and the “Chipper” stated that it is time for him to move on from the independent wrestling scene.

“I’ve been in situations like this before,” said Riddle. “There is nothing official. I’ve talked to WWE, I’ve talked to the president of New Japan, and I am confident in where I stand in the world of professional wrestling.” Riddle continued, “It’s not that I don’t love the indies, it’s just time to move on,” Riddle explained. “Places like EVOLVE, Beyond, those were the companies that gave me an opportunity, gave me a platform, and gave me the chance to run with the ball and showcase my skills. I got to mix it up with a world array of talent.” He continued, “I need more substance, I need to grow. I’m a shark and I swam in a lot of different ponds, but I’m ready for the ocean. It just depends if I’m going to the Atlantic or the Pacific.”

In the Fightful Wrestling weekly we have some exclusive information about where Matt Riddle is headed. Here’s a preview of what’s in the weekly by way of our very own Sean Ross Sapp:

Matt Riddle is a Fightful alum as mentioned. To take a look at some of the podcasts that he has recorded here on the site, click here.