Former WWE star Matt Riddle has called out former NJPW World TV Champion Zack Sabre Jr. following his NJPW debut.
At NJPW The New Beginning in Sapporo Night 1, Matt Riddle defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to win the NJPW World TV Championship. Riddle is now the third champion in the title’s history since it was introduced at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 in 2023.
Following his win over Tanahashi, Matt Riddle shared his thoughts following his victory and called out the inaugural NJPW World TV Champion Zack Sabre Jr. He said:
“The King of Bros finally made his way to Japan to wrestle for the best company, New Japan, then to wrestle the president of the best company, Tanahashi.”
“Not only did I wrestle [him], not only did I beat him, but I took the Television Championship. Seems like I’m just winning titles a lot lately, and I can’t wait to defend this sooner than later.”
“I feel like I’m on kind of a roll here. I feel good. I feel like a rude dude, if you know what I mean. You know what? I can’t defend this title just against anybody.”
On wanting to defend the gold against ZSJ, Riddle said:
“I think I want to defend it against the man that won it in the first place, the man that I wrestled last time I was here in New Japan, Zack Sabre Jr, bro.”
“I think last time you said my name, you called me, instead of the king of bros, you called me the king of dickheads. Well, you’re the dickhead, bro.”
“I don’t like you, I don’t like where you come from, I don’t like the way you look, I don’t like the way you talk. I don’t your teeth.”
“So Zack, bro, I can’t wait to get my hands on you and slap the taste out of…. The Mighty Don’t Kneel? You’ll kneel to the King of Bros.”
“Where are you? You gonna make me wait? You gonna make me beg? Is Zack anywhere to be found?”
These comments led to Zack Sabre Jr. confronting Riddle backstage to have a back-and-forth exchange. Sabre Jr. said:
“What are you banging on about?”
Matt Riddle: “Banging on about? Last time I was here, I beat you and your dude Tito. You bowed, you kneeled to the King of Bros. Now, I have the championship you lost to Tanahashi. How’s that feel?”
Sabre Jr. went on to make it clear that seeing Riddle with his old championship made him “violently sick,” saying:
“Seeing you with that championship makes me feel violently sick. But I put a year’s worth of work and love into that championship, mate.”
“But I’ve got some other fish to fry because next month’s the New Japan Cup, and I’ve got my sights set on the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.”
“So yeah, you enjoy your 15 minutes because I need a bit more than 15 minutes, mate. I need 60 minutes.”
Matt Riddle replied that he will excel in the 15-minute time limit of the division, saying:
“I don’t need 60. I’ll get it done in 15. I’ll get it done in 5, I’ll get it done in 10. I don’t know how long it took me tonight.”
ZSJ: “Good for you. Good for you. Alright, listen, TMDK, you want a challenger? TMDK will challenge, but it won’t be Zack Sabre Jr.”
MR: “Who will it be me?”
ZSJ: “Someone of my f**king choosing, mate. Ta-ta, dickhead.”
After ZSJ left, Riddle made it clear that he hates him, which should lead to a future bout.
Transcription via Fightful
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