Matt Riddle has hinted that he could soon be competing for Real American Freestyle wrestling.
The former WWE Superstar was backstage at RAF05 in Sunrise, Florida on January 10, where Colby Covington defeated Luke Rockhold in the main event. Speaking with The Schmo, Riddle revealed he's been in discussions with RAF leadership about a potential appearance.
Hopefully soon. I've been talking to some of the brass, the upper echelon," Riddle said. "It looks promising, but at the same time, I think they're just starting to break into the MMA world, realizing how they can sell tickets.
Riddle, who competed in the UFC from 2008 to 2014 before transitioning to professional wrestling, has been vocal about wanting to compete for RAF since attending their inaugural event in August 2025. At that time, he confirmed speaking with Chief Media Officer Eric Bischoff about future involvement.
The 40-year-old also shared his observations on what draws crowds to RAF events, noting the star power of UFC fighters like Covington and Rockhold.
Everybody came here to see Luke Rockhold and Colby Covington," Riddle explained. "Not saying Bo Nickal isn't great or all the other wrestlers aren't great, but there's a certain level of charisma, being a star, and that takes time.
RAF Wrestling was founded in 2025 by Chad Bronstein, the late Hulk Hogan, and Eric Bischoff. The promotion features freestyle wrestling competitions between Olympic wrestlers, NCAA champions, and MMA fighters, broadcasting exclusively on Fox Nation.
RAF06 is scheduled for February 28, 2026 in Tempe, Arizona, featuring Henry Cejudo vs. Urijah Faber in the main event.
