Matt Sydal was arrested last month in Japan for posses🎀sion of cannabis, putting his future as a wrestler there in doubt given the strict drug laws in Japan.
reported that arrest took place Sept. 23 as Sydal was attempting to enter the country to compete for New Japan Pro Wrestling's Destruction events in Yokohama and Kobe. Sydal was slated to defend the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Titles at Destruction in Kobe on Sept. 25 with partners Satoshi Kojima and Ricochet, butꦗ when Sydal did not appear, the titles were vacated. David Finlay, Jr. replaced Sydal in the match, and that trio went on to win 𝔍the titles.
Nikkan Sports reported Sydal was charged with possession of a “hidden pipe containin🐠g liquid cannabis two and a pipe containing cannabis two of a state ꦆof being attached to the electronic cigarette”, which amounted to just more than 2 grams.
is reporting that Sydal was convicted on the charges Thursday. No s𓂃entence has been handed down, but possible sentencing options could include Sydal being barred from the country, or even a jail term of as long as 5-7 years.
News of this arrest contradicts tweets that Sydal posted on Sept. 25, saying that he was stuck in Hawaii beca🍰use of passport issue🐟s.
Sydal has not postedꦅ on any of his social media accounts since.
While working for WWE, Sy♕dal was suspended for violating the company wellness policy twice. He later revealed those suspensi🍃ons were for smoking synthetic marijuana.
Sydal is a former 𒉰tag champion in WWE and ROH, in addition to winning the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Titles twice in NJPW wi🎃th Ricochet.
