Various: Matt Riddle’s First Post-WWE Match Announced, MLW’s Original Creative Plans for Alex Hammerstone for 2023, Indies

WWE

Nov 1, 2023

Matt Riddle’s First Post-WWE Match Announced

As noted before, WWE released Matt Riddle this past September as part of a larger batch of talent releases. Riddle’s release is believed to have been due to his incident at the JFK Airport this past September being the final straw for WWE officials over his backstage and out-of-the ring issues.

Wrestling legend Bobby Fulton announced on Twitter that Riddle will be making an appearance for his Big Time Wrestling company at their The Reunion 3 event on March 9, 2024 in Chillicothe, Ohio. Fulton also announced that Riddle will be competing in a singles match against Rob Van Dam at the event.

Breaking News!
Saturday March 9th Double D’s Auction House & Big Time Wrestling presents The Reunion 3 in Chillicothe OH at the OU-Shoemaker Center! For the FIRST TIME EVER, Matt Riddle vs Rob Van Dam! Tickets will be available Noon Today at https://t.co/l20M4oypW4! pic.twitter.com/Yw6jtXIs8n
— Bobby Fulton (@TheBobbyFulton) November 1, 2023

This is Riddle’s first match that has been announced since his release from WWE.

MLW’s Original Creative Plans for Alex Hammerstone in 2023

As noted before, Alex Hammerstone recently asked for his release from Major League Wrestling.

Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that MLW officials had plans for Hammerstone to turn heel some time after his MLW World Championship loss to Alex Kane at their Never Say Never 2023 event this past July.

This heel turn reportedly would have involved Hammerstone being part of a new World Titan Federation stable with Matt Cardona and Davey Boy Smith Jr. Hammerstone reportedly was open to this idea at first but then changed his mind afterwards and wanted to work as a face with Kane or Jacob Fatu one more time.

Those spoken to within MLW reportedly stated that it seemed like Hammerstone was “checked out” from the company and offered to help him but Hammerstone asked for his release instead.

It was also reported that Hammerstone had a big pay bump that was coming up soon in the company.

Misc. Wrestling News & Notes

Game Changer Wrestling recently announced that next year’s The Collective will be taking place on April 4-6, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

As noted before, Ronda Rousey will be making her official debut for Wrestling Revolver at their Unleashed event on November 16th in Los Angeles, California. Wrestling Revolver recently announced that all proceeds generated from tickets sales will go directly towards Lahaina Wildlife Relief charity.

WrestleCon recently announced that next year’s Mark Hitchcock Memorial Supershow will be taking place on April 4, 2024 at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

New Japan Pro Wrestling recently issued an official statement asking their fans to leave their wrestlers alone and not hassle them when they are outside of wrestling and fan designated events.

In a recent interview with NJPW’s official website, SANADA revealed the origin for his Skull End submission move that he used previously as a finisher for matches. SANADA stated “I injured my knee and could no longer do the moonsault press as much, so I needed a new technique. I had always liked the Dragon Sleeper technique, so I started using a technique based on the Dragon Sleeper. The name of the technique, ‘THiS iS iT,’ means this is the end. I thought that using all capital letters would not be playful, so I made only the ‘I’ lowercase. Basically, I am the type of person who takes good care of each technique and uses it carefully, so I am attached to it.” (English translation via PostWrestling.com)

In a recent interview with Adrian Hernandez, “Filthy” Tom Lawlor gave his thoughts on what was the most important thing that he has done so far in his wrestling career. Lawlor stated “Well, first of all, you said that’s one of the biggest accolades I have (being NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion). To me, that was the most important thing I’ve done in pro wrestling was holding that title. That’s not lost on me. I was very proud to be able to do that.” (Transcript h/t: PostWrestling.com)

As noted before, Impact Wrestling recently signed British indies wrestler Harley Hudson to a developmental contract with the company. Hudson recently reflected on Twitter about winning this year’s Gut Check tryouts and her signing with Impact. Hudson stated “💖i have no words – thank u everyone for ur kind messages, i can’t believe it 🥹🥹🥹“

In a recent interview with PWInsider, former TNA/Impact commentator Mike Tenay gave his thoughts on his interest in a potential return to wrestling commentary in the future. Tenay stated “Would I have liked to have continued in the role (as TNA lead announcer before I was swapped out)? Yeah, probably for a couple more years. I reflect back on it and the funny thing is I’ve spent more reflection in the last couple of weeks, in terms of preparation for what I’m going to say (during the Hall of Fame speech). I’ve done more reflection in the last couple of weeks about my career than I have in the years since I’ve announced. In my head, I kind of moved on, and it’s actually been nice to reflect back and think of so many funny stories. Things that went down through the years in terms of — and I know it went on forever on that but in terms of me coming back, would I ever? It’s the weirdest thing… I never wanted to have multiple retirements, come back, retirements. Pretty much everybody does in the history of professional wrestling. I felt like it was kind of a clean break. I follow everything religiously. I don’t think it would be that tough of a transition if I did want to come back. I don’t know if every company wants an old guy on their TV show. At the same time, would I rule any possibility of a comeback out? I would say no, I wouldn’t rule it out, but it would have to be under my terms. I don’t know that any company is willing to have it under my terms. It’s nothing that I really feel in my heart like I need to go back and do. Again, in this reflection of the last couple of weeks, I think I’m kind of happy with everything that I did. And I liked moving on from it. Right place, right time. I can’t say I never would do it, but it’s not something that takes up a lot of my time thinking about thinking, gosh, I need to get back to doing wrestling announcing.“

All Japan Pro Wrestling recently announced one new match for the card of their Giant Series 2023 event on November 5th in Sapporo, Japan: