Manny Fernandez
Having gained much wrestling experience, Rivera was recalled to the United States. In December 1991, he participated in the television tapings of Gordon Socozarri's American Wrestling Federation (AWF). He defeated Tom Burton and Manny Fernandez to win the AWF Americas Championship. On November 22, 1992, Rivera returned to NJPW, losing to Shinya Hashimoto. The next day, he teamed with Scott Norton to defeat Ron Powers and Tony Halme.