NYC sees first defence for Riddle

Matt Riddle secured his first defence of the NJPW World TV Championship February 29 in New York City at MLW’s Intimidation games event. On the back of his championship win over Hiroshi Tanahashi at New Beginning in Sapporo, the champion faced his first challenger in the form of TMDK’s Bad Dude Tito. 

A high pace came from the opening bell as champion and challenger traded suplexes and elbows. Riddle started to get an advantage in the standup with mid kicks, but a mighty lariat from Tito brought the Bro down. The challenger’s attempt to slow the pace would be given short shrift though as Riddle blasted his foe with a knee and followed with a fisherman’s buster for two and then the Bro-ton off the top to get another near fall. 

Tito was able to finally make in roads with a choke bomb and frog splash for a near fall, before stopping Riddle’s own response with a knee on a senton attempt and a catch of the Floating Bro with a cover for two. As the two combatants traded throws and strikes again, Tito got two off a Blue Thunder Bomb on Riddle, but as he looked to follow up out of the corner, he was caught with the BroStone Piledriver for three.