SUMMARY
- Matt Riddle's WWE career ended in a controversial manner, as he was reportedly fired by the company.
- Just months after his WWE exit, Matt Riddle was recently spotted competing in a match, and fans feel sad for him.
Matt Riddle was considered one of the most prominent young names in WWE when he was a part of the Triple H-led promotion. From being the United States Champion to getting the opportunity to be Randy Orton’s teammate, Matt was having the greatest run of his pro wrestling career in the organization.
But things took an unexpected turn for The RK-Bro member as The Viper was taken out of action, and Riddle continued his run as a singles star. Despite Randy’s absence, the 38-year-old was still doing decently well, but then he was suddenly released from the company. And, now, it seems like he isn’t having the best time of his in-ring career after his exit from the Stamford-based promotion.
Matt Riddle’s falloff needs to be studied…
— Tribal Wrestling (@TribalMegastar) May 7, 2024
From wrestling in front of thousands of people every week & teaming with Randy Orton less than two years ago to 50 people in a random promotion…
He really had it all and let it go 🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/R5X8xiwGMd
The reason behind this is a recent video that has been surfacing on the internet, as The Original Bro can be seen fighting in front of a handful of people. As he was being presented as a legitimate guy at his previous workplace, his match in front of around 50 pro wrestling enthusiasts has left fans feeling sorry for Matt Riddle.
Sharing how this isn’t what should have happened with this former US Champion, an audience member wrote, “It’s unfortunate. One mistake is all it takes.” “He’ll be back in less than 2 years,” another fan wrote while pointing out a possible return to the Stamford-based promotion in the near future. (Via: X)
While it’s probably a huge downfall for the former WWE superstar, as he used to perform in front of thousands of fans in the Triple H-led promotion. But it’s also true that many greats of the industry have started their careers by competing in such places, and there’s no shame in it. With all that has been said about Matt in the recent past, it remains to be seen what’s next for the talented in-ring star.
What exactly is Matt Riddle up to after his WWE departure?
After his association with the Stamford-based promotion ended in September last year, the 6-foot-2 in-ring star started his own cannabis strain and even shared its logo on his Instagram. As far as his return to action is concerned, Matt Riddle returned to the ring on January 6, 2024, in Major League Wrestling at the Kings of Colosseum pay-per-view.
In fact, Matt defeated Jacob Fatu in his debut match for the promotion, as the announcer blasted WWE for firing this talented superstar. Alongside this, Riddle has also made his presence felt in NJPW and even won the Japanese promotion’s World Television Championship by defeating Tanahashi at The New Beginning in Sapporo on February 23.
Oh shit, I did not expect this. Matt Riddle just defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to win the NJPW World TV Title. #njnbg pic.twitter.com/QsDPsMQlsB
— Tim Jarrell of PWUnlimited (@TimmyBuddy) February 23, 2024
But after a 49-day reign with the title, he eventually lost it to Sabre Jr. on April 12, 2024, at the Windy City Riot. Even though he currently doesn’t hold the title, it’s possible that he gets the opportunity to regain it in the future. But fans wonder what kind of success he could have achieved in the Triple H-led promotion if he had still been a part of the biggest wrestling organization in the world.
Why was Matt Riddle fired by the WWE?
While it’s true that The Original Bro has moved on in his career after his exit from the Stamford-based promotion, many fans still don’t know the reason behind his exit. For those who aren’t aware of why Matt Riddle was fired from the WWE, it was the result of his activities outside of the ring, specifically the controversies he had been involved in during his tenure.
Even just days before getting fired, Matt was named in a major controversy, as he accused a Port Authority officer of touching him inappropriately. After the former Tag Team Champion’s exit, a higher-up in the Stamford-based promotion also shared that Matt had “burned through too many chances” in WWE, and it eventually led to his firing.
Not just this airport saga, Riddle has found himself in various troubles over the past few years, as he also failed the PED tests in the company because of taking drugs. All these factors probably played a part in the authorities coming to a final decision, and they fired Matt Riddle from the Triple H-led promotion in late 2023.