UFC Vet and Monster Factory Alum Matt Riddle to Debut For Evolve

Papa Pillman

I've got more Ho's than Jim Duggan
Yesterday WWN sent out this release:

TAMPA, FL: EVOLVE Wrestling, a brand of the World Wrestling Network (WWN), is pleased to announce that Matthew Riddle has signed to wrestle at EVOLVE 49 on October 17th in Queens, NY and EVOLVE 50 on October 18th in Deer Park, NY. These events will be broadcast at www.WWNLive.com on live iPPV.

Riddle comes to EVOLVE after training at the world renowned The Monster Factory since last November. Riddle, known as “Deep Waters” in UFC, is a lightning rod of controversy. He made a lasting impression as part of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampage vs. Team Forrest. He is remembered for having the “biggest knockout in The Ultimate Fighter history” according to Dana White. Riddle finished his MMA career with an 8-3 record before turning his attention to pro wrestling.

“We are very intrigued to have Matthew Riddle in EVOLVE,” WWN VP Of Talent Relations, Creative & Marketing Gabe Sapolsky said. “He is a total natural in the ring and fits perfectly into the EVOLVE style we’ve established in the last year. He is a blue chip prospect.”

EVOLVE will be Riddle’s highest profile pro wrestling events in his young career. Riddle’s training has progressed rapidly under the guidance of the esteemed Danny Cage at The Monster Factory. Riddle has not wrestled outside of The Monster Factory’s monthly student shows yet.

EVOLVE is known for a realistic, submission, striking and kicking based style of pro wrestling. WWN has been a company where many of WWE’s new generation of Superstars honed their craft and reached the next level of their career including current WWE Champion Seth Rollins, Daniel Bryan, Dean Ambrose, Luke Harper, Neville, Cesaro, Kalisto, Kevin Owens and others.

“I’m super stoked to be given an opportunity to work with EVOLVE and I think we’ll work really well together,” Riddle said. “Pro wrestling has been my passion for a long time. Now that I’m pursuing it, EVOLVE will be a great place to get the ball rolling on my future.”

For those unfamiliar with Riddle, he is a former New York state high school wrestling champion who transitioned to MMA and got his break when he was chosen to compete on the Ultimate Fighter, where he gained notoriety with a vicious KO victory in his televised qualifying fight.

Riddle parlayed that into a pretty decent UFC career, despite a tenure marred by multiple fights either as, or facing off against, an injury replacement; as well as a pair of vacated wins due to Marijuana violations that eventually tanked his spot with the company despite a stellar record. While he never threatened to move into true contendership, Riddle had a solid run as a guy who could be counted on to draw your attention lower down the card. He recorded a pair of POTN bonuses during his Zuffa stint, and had a couple more outings that could also have achieved such a bonus.

His outspoken foot-in-the-mouth nature, criticism of Dana White, drug use, etc. often made Riddle a common talking point outside the Octagon as well.

Last October Riddle chose to begin focusing on pro wrestling as his fulltime career and began training under Danny Cage at the World Famous Monster Factory. Thus far he has only wrestled at the Monster Factory's monthly student showcases, where he has gone on to win the promotion's Championship.

I have checked out the progression of his work and he has definitely taken very naturally to the squared circle, something that shouldn't surprise anyone familiar with his personality or wrestling background(or his striking "prowess" for that matter, as his technique often resembled glorified sparring training, and rarely landed effectively enough to hurt his opponents).

Evolve seems to be a natural fit for Riddle who seems ready to take such a step just about a year into his wrestling odyssey, and as reciprocation, he has a bit name value to add to their mix.

Any big Evolve fans on this board(I almost giggled just typing that) who'd like to comment?

Or more importantly, any MMA heads who'd like to share their thoughts/opinions/memories as far as Riddle goes? Or anyone who just wants to post ridiculous Riddle quotes(as that would make for an entertaining thread in-and-of itself)?
 

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