SUMMARY
- Matt Riddle was let go by WWE after its merger with UFC.
- The former WWE star calls out the promotion for his "goofball" gimmick.
Ever since Matt Riddle was released from WWE, there has been much speculation as to what he would step into next. After starting his own cannabis strain brand, Riddle has finally made his debut for NJPW. Post this, the former WWE star has finally broken his silence on his life after parting ways with the Stamford-based promotion.
Speaking to FOX News, the 31-year-old star opened up about his life in the past few months. “The last couple months, they’ve been good. I feel like the last probably 10 years I’ve been wrestling pretty hard,” he said. His WWE contract also compelled him to travel to different countries, making it quite hectic.
Matt Riddle doesn’t want to be a goofball. pic.twitter.com/fLZwxGVhxo
— Wrestling News (@WrestlingNewsCo) January 7, 2024
He, however, seemed quite enthusiastic about his future. “And now, I think, the direction I’m going in, I’m going to be able to show the world what I can do in the ring and just present that version of myself rather than kind of a goofball on TV,” said Matt Riddle, taking a dig at WWE. He also seemed quite confident about his MLW match against Jacob Fatu.
Recently, on December 1, 2023, Matt Riddle was blessed with a baby boy named Matthew with his fiancée, Misha Montana. His leave from WWE also helped him spend time with his family. This helped him bounce back even higher. With his determination and high spirits, it appears that the former WWE star would do great inside the MLW ring, silencing all the haters.
Why was Matt Riddle released from WWE?
Matt Riddle was released from WWE during the mass cuts that took place in September 2023. While no reason was cited for his release, his lackluster performance was one of the biggest reasons for the same. However, this wasn’t the only reason that put Riddle in the headlines.
Matt Riddle got into a heated altercation at the JFK Airport while returning from India. He also accused an officer at the scene of sexually assaulting him. He also shot a video of the officer justifying his claims. While he later took down the post, the news had already reached the eyes of the public.
However, the police officials present at the scene had a different perspective. They claimed that the former WWE star was heavily intoxicated and was quite loud. Later, a video released by TMZ revealed that the WWE star was guilty.
However, Matt Riddle’s airport controversy had nothing to do with his WWE release. The cuts took place so as to prevent the redundancy that appeared on the roster after the iconic WWE-UFC merger.