Major League Wrestling: Matt Riddle vs. Shane Strickland A Must-Watch

Major League Wrestling launched their new television show with a big main event match between Shane Strickland and Matt Riddle.

Professional wrestling goes far beyond what we see each week from the WWE, Impact and other major organizations across the world. With that in mind, it’s always important to catch what some of the “independent” organizations have to offer.

Major League Wrestling recently launched a new partnership with beIN Sports and this week they brought forth the culmination of their tournament to crown a heavyweight champion. The tournament final between Shane Strickland and Matt Riddle is a match that wrestling fans should go back and watch.

Strickland and Riddle are two men in the wrestling industry that do not need an introduction. Riddle is known for his near-perfect transition from mixed martial arts into the world of scripted combat. He’s quickly risen to be one of the top names in the industry, regardless of the organization that adorns the ring apron.

Strickland has become popular for his time in promotions such as Combat Zone Wrestling and Lucha Underground where he competed as Kilshot. Strickland has held multiple championships across those promotions and it made sense why he was booked against Riddle for this title bout.

The pacing and storytelling for this match got off the ground from the very start. Riddle extended his hand for a show of respect with a hand shake as the fans chanted his nickname, “Swerve.” From there, the two men would exchange holds with Riddle getting the grappling edge from the start. With both Strickland and Riddle being known for their confidence, they competed against each other in a way that seemed more like a contest of trying to one-up each other, rather than a combative wrestling match.

Riddle carried much of the match until a chain wrestling sequence that ended with Strickland kicking Riddle’s arm out from under him. From there he went into a series of attacks on Riddle’s limb that included a number of unique techniques.

The final 10-12 minutes of this match were an amazing series of both men landing high impact strikes. In what has become customary in today’s wrestling industry; Strickland and Riddle laid each other out with kicks, knees, German suplexes and other impressive moves, coupled with numerous false finishes.

Both men sold every moment in a way that would make it difficult to tell when the actual finish was coming. That finish did come, and while the sequence was a little botched, it ended with Strickland countering Riddle’s Bro to Sleep into his version of a package driver to get the victory and the gaudy MLW heavyweight title.

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Today’s digital age makes it so much easier to consume professional wrestling that may have been missed in the past. Thanks to the beIN Sports YouTube page, this match is available for viewing right now. Strickland and Riddle put on a great match that is worth going back to watch for those who are interested in wrestling that goes on beyond the major organizations.