Matt Riddle No Longer Heading to New Japan?

Former UFC star Matt Riddle had been rumored for a potential debut in New Japan’s annual World Tag League event later this year. The company had planned on unveiling both Riddle and EVOLVE/Lucha Underground star Jeff Cobb as a way of pushing the often under hyped series.

The deal confirming Riddle’s part on the tour was all but sealed according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, however it is believed that NJPW’s parent company Bushiroad had discovered Riddle’s UFC test failures for marijuana.

Japanese culture takes a strong stance against marijuana, a case in point being Matt Sydal’s expulsion from New Japan following his arrest by Japanese officials back in 2016. It is not clear at this time if Riddle and New Japan are still in talks or if this deal is indeed completely off the table, Cobb is still slated to debut as part of the World Tag League tour.