Matt Riddle ‘in a way different place’ 11 months after WWE release
Matt Riddle says he is in “a way different place” now that it’s been nearly a year since his WWE release.
Riddle was let go by the company in September 2023. Since then, he’s wrestled for NJPW, MLW, AAA, The Crash, REVOLVER, and several other promotions.
Riddle was interviewed by the New York Post recently and said that his personal life deteriorated during his WWE run.
“Even though I was making great money, my family life deteriorated, I got divorced and other things and then on top of that just being able to see the kids, then just taking care of responsibilities,” Riddle said. “When I’m flying to a different city or driving to a different city every day and wrestling and memorizing promos and all these things, a lot of other things fell to the side.”
Riddle said in an interview with MuscleManMalcolm earlier this summer that he still speaks with Randy Orton frequently. He says Orton asks him if he’s interested in coming back to WWE but Riddle says that with a kid on his way, it’s not the right time.
“I’m in a way different place,” Riddle continued. “I feel way better. It’s hard to explain because most people think, ‘Oh you’re there, it must be great.’ Professionally my life was awesome. Personally, my life was in shambles. You lose your family. You lose this, that and you’re trying to rebuild anything and you don’t have time to.”
Riddle also addressed having stated publicly that he could beat Roman Reigns in a fight, similar to previous comments he made about Goldberg.
“This isn’t a flex, this is the truth,” Riddle said. “If I didn’t think I could I wouldn’t say it. You don’t hear me saying I can beat up Bobby Lashley, you know maybe on a good day. Or a Brock Lesnar, maybe on a good day.”
However, Riddle says that things between him and Roman Reigns are good.
“I think when he saw how professional I am in the ring and I also explained why things were said and I wasn’t just trying to call you out,” he continued. “I know my place in WWE but when someone tells me to cut a promo on you, I’m gonna cut a promo on you. I think he understood that. Still wasn’t happy about it, but understood. Me and Roman, we’re good.”
Up next for Riddle is a match against Matthew Justice at MLW Summer of the Beasts in New York’s Melrose Ballroom on Thursday.
MLW Summer of the Beasts lineup for Thursday, August 29, 2024 —
- Opera Cup 2024 quarterfinals: Mistico vs. Atlantis Jr.
- Opera Cup 2024 quarterfinals: KENTA vs. AKIRA
- Opera Cup 2024 quarterfinals: Tom Lawlor vs. TJP
- Opera Cup 2024 quarterfinals: Alex Kane vs. Bad Dude Tito
- MLW World Tag Team Champions Satoshi Kojima & Okumura defend against Contra Unit’s Minoru Suzuki & Ikuro Kwon
- Miya Yamashita vs. Delmi Exo
- Matt Riddle vs. Matthew Justice w/Bill Alfonso
- MLW World Featherweight Champion Janai Kai defends against HANAKO
- Bobby Fish vs. Timothy Thatcher
- Brock Anderson & CW Anderson vs. Jay Lyon & Love, Doug
- Paul London vs. Brett Ryan Gosselin
- Little Guido vs. LSG vs. Nolo Kitano vs. Jimmy Lloyd in a scramble match