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Riker Wins Freedom Rings Rumble, Will Challenge For WFC Title At 12th Anniversary Event In October

Posted: Jun 28th 2023 By: CMBurnham

One of the great things about humanity is its ability to start with nothing and make something of itself. It doesn't happen all the time, but when it does, it is so noteworthy as to make a common man into a massive hero.

Riker started with nothing in WFC. He didn't even have a name. He was simply one of Stevie Caballero's Goons, a thug squad that carried out the dirty work for the Caballero Cartel. It wasn't much. But it was a foot in the door.

And that was what Riker needed. He knew that if he could just get a foot in, he could prove himself. He could prove that he could stand out.

And he did. First by winning the Ryder Herring Memorial Cup Tournament in 2017, then beating Prince Mahalli for the title at the Anniversary show that year. He lost the title to current UWE Tag Team Champion Mr. Nasty (Who was WFC Champion at the time) in a Title-vs-Title match by Countout because the DQ and Countout rules were waived, but won it back a month later in a Hometown Heroes Challenge Scramble Match before losing it for the final time to Alex Royal in April, 2018. Riker & Nasty then set their differences aside and teamed up, surprising then-WFC Tag Team Champions The Villains as the surprise final entrant in a gauntlet match for the tag team titles at the anniversary show in 2018. They held that gold for about a month and a half before losing them to London Calling.

And for quite some time, it seemed like that might have been the end of Riker and his championship aspirations in WFC. Back injuries put him on the sideline and everytime it seemed like he was prepared to return, something got in the way. But in February, 2023, Riker returned to WFC, forming a partnership with Thrash to combat the antics of the Cowboy Cartel. With the Cartel disposed of, Riker could set his eyes on the one thing he had never done in WFC.

He wanted to become WFC Champion.

Obviously, Riker knew he had the ability to work his way up the ladder back into title contention. He had done so before. But in June, there was a sure-fire way to propel yourself to the top of the rankings and guarantee yourself a title match at the Anniversary show in October.

All you had to do was win the Freedom Rings Rumble.

The Freedom Rings Rumble, established in 2016, is a Gauntlet Battle Royal where all the competitors are hoping to win that prized title shot. As with any of these style of matches, the number of your entry is a huge factor. The later you enter, the fewer men you have to fight your way through the less energy you have to exert in order to be victorious.

So when Riker came out as #10, the match was almost halfway over. And at the time of his entry, he was the biggest man in the event, though soon other big men like Thrash, WAH Spotlight Champion Anthony Wild and BCW Champion Sam Stackhouse would enter the match as well. One by one the bodies entered and were thrown over the top rope with both feet touching the floor. From newcomers like Tyler Midas & Riley Grimm to experienced veterans like Justin Lee and Duke Swellington, the bodies just continued to disappear until there were only 3: Thrash, Mr. Nasty and Riker.

At that point in the match, the entirety of Snowman Enterprises hit the ring. Thrash had already suffered at the hands of Tony Snow's team when they helped Dustin Tibbs win the WFC Prime title off "The Metal Monster". Thrash gained a modicum of revenge when he eliminated Duke Swellington from the Rumble, but Snow gained the last laugh when he had his men all work together to put Thrash over the top, taking him out of the match.

And then there were 2. Or were there? Because forgotten by everyone, Nyati had gone under the bottom rope and slid under the ring, waiting for the numbers to diminish more and more. So now there were again 3. Riker and Nasty, who had not teamed for 5 years, found a common enemy to bring them back together. Riker even dialed up a Booty Call on behalf of Mr. Nasty as they dished out the punishement to Nyati. But right after that Booty Call, Riker grabbed Nasty and attempted to throw him out. Nasty landed on the apron as Nyati tried a Trouble In Paradise on Riker, but Riker avoided it and Nyati took out Nasty instead. Nyati was gleeful, turning his full attention to Mr. Nasty and taking his eyes off of Riker who capitalised on the opportunity and threw Nyati out, winning the match.

As he had done almost 10 years before, Riker started this match with nothing. He had not been in WFC for almost one full year. He had no allies. No influence. It was just him and his determination to fight. And Riker now sits perched to challenge the WFC Champion, whoever that may be, at the 12th Anniversary event. No one can say that he was handed anything. Riker simply took the chance and showed everyone that he is ready to etch his name amongst the WFC elite in October!