As noted, former UFC fighter and former EVOLVE Champion Matt Riddle made his WWE NXT in-ring debut at Friday’s live event in Sanford, Florida. He defeated Fabian Aichner.
We noted this past week how Riddle recently started training at the WWE Performance Center and has moved to Orlando, or Brolando as he is calling it. Riddle’s final indie match will come against Mark Haskins at the PROGRESS Wrestling event in London on Sunday, September 30. Riddle is expected to face Kassius Ohno at the NXT “Takeover: War Games II” event during WWE Survivor Series weekend from Los Angeles in November.
Below is WWE’s announcement on the live event debut along with comments from Riddle and more photos and videos from the match:
Matt Riddle makes NXT Live Event debut
The King of Bros has arrived.
NXT’s newest blockbuster signee, former UFC fighter and independent wrestling champion Matt Riddle, made his in-ring debut tonight at a Live Event in Sanford, Fla., taking on Fabian Aichner.
Once a member of UFC’s welterweight division, Riddle left mixed martial arts in 2014 to pursue a career in sports-entertainment. He turned into the breakout star of the independent ranks, capturing titles in North America and Europe, before signing with NXT this summer.
Introduced as NXT’s newest Superstar at TakeOver: Brooklyn IV in August, Riddle tweeted Thursday night that he couldn’t wait to make his NXT debut, writing that it had “been a while since I’ve heard the roar of a crowd.”
Judging by the reaction of the NXT Universe in Sanford, Riddle’s wait is over.
https://t.co/ssBOiY4bpE The bro just debuted in a @WWENXT ring and it was bromazing, this is just the beginning to my takebrover #kingofbros #stallion #NXTSanford #SPLX #bro pic.twitter.com/zGE1Xv4u4P
— matthew riddle (@SuperKingofBros) September 22, 2018
What A Combo! @SuperKingofBros pic.twitter.com/yq5K3N7ymC
— Brian The Guppie (@briantheguppie) September 22, 2018
M3 – @SuperKingofBros pins @FabianAichner. Here’s the finish. #NXTSanford pic.twitter.com/rQk7ApkWG9
— Kyle (@FLWrestlingFan) September 22, 2018
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King of Bros! @SuperKingofBros #wwenxt #nxt #NXTSanford #bro pic.twitter.com/aEV9lk3bS2
— ❤️ Libby ❤️ (@lahill122) September 22, 2018
@SuperKingofBros has arrived! #NXTSanford pic.twitter.com/3SydqY8R1E
— Wayne (@BrokenZen333) September 22, 2018
BREAKING: The King of Bros Matt Riddle just made his NXT live event debut at #NXTSanford! @SuperKingofBros defeated @FabianAichner in a fantastic match.#WhoGotFridays #NeXTPod pic.twitter.com/5H3aGNd04I
— Who Got NeXT (@WhoGotNeXTPod) September 22, 2018
@SuperKingofBros in the ?! This is AWESOME! *? ? ?* #NXTSanford #WWENXT @WWENXT @WWE #superkingofbros #brolando pic.twitter.com/AkC0kvS1qP
— Anthony Scism (@a_sciiziim) September 22, 2018
Matthew Riddle debuts at #NXTSanford smashing in the sick face of Fabian Aichner pic.twitter.com/DtIQ88ehDM
— ????? ? ??????? (@jockonimus) September 22, 2018
Just saw the NXT debut of Matt Riddle! BRO! #NXTSanford #NXTLive pic.twitter.com/VO8IWI9Wye
— Kayla (@Kaycoocachoo) September 22, 2018
