The New York Post has published an interview with former WWE Superstar Matt Riddle. He is done being the “goof” that he portrayed in WWE.
Riddle, who was released from WWE last September, is making the most his time in MLW while also finding success in NJPW, AAA and throughout the independent companies.
Riddle told the NY Post that he now has more ownership of his character and that there are some similarities to the aloof, forgetful and “childish” persona seen in WWE. However, his career and accolades in the UFC and jujitsu are now taken much more seriously.
“If somebody says, ‘watch your back,’ I’m not gonna spin around in circles trying to look at my back…those are the kinds of things I would do in WWE. And fortunately, the people I work with now think I have more brains than that and I’m allowed to know what things mean when people say them…I want to be taken more seriously. I want to show people that combat sports background.”
Riddle said he believes that in MLW he is in a good position and praised the professionalism of the company. He also notes the promotion with its combat-sports-centric presentation, is a “breath of fresh air”, while also praising their relationship with other promotions.
He said that he was set to make to make a million dollars in WWE, but it was released from the company last September, following an incident at JFK Airport where he was intoxicated and after spending time in rehab following failed drug tests for cocaine.
Riddle said he loved his time in WWE, but the work schedule and travel only had him home one full day a week. He and his first wife, Lisa, divorced in March 2022 after 11 years of marriage. They have three kids together.
“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…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 the release came at the right time and that he was relieved, due to the need to take care of himself and had a baby on the way.
“I’m in a way different place…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 revealed during an interview this past June with Muscle Man Malcolm, Randy Orton asked him if he wanted to come back to WWE. Riddle told the NY Post that he is not ruling it out down the road, but his current schedule works best with his fiancée Misha Montana and his new baby boy, born last December.
He did further say that if he ever did return to WWE, he would with a repaired relationship with Roman Reigns. The past animosity between Riddle and Reigns stemmed from when Riddle said during an interview back in 2021 with Bleacher Report that he could beat Reigns in a “real fight” and why RK-Bro was better than The Bloodline, when the they were all in a feud. Riddle has further said that he felt like he was just cutting a promo-like answer that was just to promote the storyline, in which offended Reigns.
Riddle attempted to write an apology to Reigns which was given to him and rewritten by Orton into “no apology” at all, which made Reigns that much more angry. The relationship was repaired after they started working together in the spring and summer of 2022.
Riddle will be squaring-off next against Matt Justice at MLW’s Summer of the Beast event, which that takes place from the Melrose Ballroom in Queens, New York this Thursday. The event will be available to watch on MLW’s YouTube channel, beginning at 7:00 pm ET.
You can read the full article at the New York Post.