On the heels of Kassius Ohno’s controversial victory over Matt Riddle ally Keith Lee, The Knockout Artist is set to once again collide with The King of Bros at NXT TakeOver: Phoenix.
This match will mark the third installment in the bitter rivalry between Riddle and Ohno. The first showdown, an impromptu bout that took place at TakeOver: WarGames, ended in near record-breaking time, a total of six seconds, thanks to a devastating knee strike by Riddle. Their Jan. 2 rematch went much longer, but the outcome remained the same, with Riddle taking the win. The King of Bros tried to quash the beef with Ohno afterward, but instead of accepting the olive branch, The Knockout Artist waylaid Riddle in a vicious attack that left the Future Star of NXT Award nominee aching and medically uncleared to compete in the weeks that followed.
Ohno made matters even more personal when he used an illegal low blow to topple Lee on the Jan. 16 edition of NXT. Following the incident, the nefarious Knockout Artist claimed to be “living rent-free” in Riddle’s head and declared “Bro” “canceled.” Riddle, meanwhile, has vowed to “smash in” Ohno’s face and make him regret continuing his war with The King of Bros.
Watch the third round in this hard-hitting series when Riddle and Ohno throw down, live on WWE Network.