Matt Riddle stirred up fresh controversy during his appearance on TMZ’s Inside The Ring podcast, this time for comments about former WWE Divas Champion AJ Lee.
While discussing his ongoing issues with CM Punk, Riddle said he had no direct problem with Punk’s wife but then added a remark that quickly raised eyebrows.
“AJ, you know, I have no problems with her. She never stepped into it,” Riddle said. “I mean, to be fair, and I’m not one to talk – I’m a little f*cked up myself – but she did go get around from what I heard. But no disrespect to that.”
He followed up by clarifying that he wasn’t holding anything against her personally:
“Hey, it’s whatever. People like to hook up, people like to hook up. And if that’s the worst thing he did, whatever, dude. I’ve done it too. But yeah, no ill will towards anybody else.”
The comment came as part of a wider tirade against CM Punk, whom Riddle called “fake” and a “creep.” Still, his comment about AJ Lee is likely to spark discussion among fans, given her respected reputation and long-standing absence from wrestling.
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Matt Riddle Reveals Why He Doesn’t Wrestle In NJPW Anymore
Matt Riddle made headlines again during his appearance on TMZ’s Inside The Ring podcast, this time for his blunt assessment of Japanese wrestling pay.
While he has wrestled in Japan before, including a title win over Hiroshi Tanahashi, Riddle revealed he has turned down recent bookings overseas because the financial side doesn’t add up.
“You know how much I get paid here in America? About 10 times what they want to pay me everywhere else,” he said.
He made it clear the issue isn’t with the talent or the product – in fact, he praised New Japan Pro Wrestling:
“I love them. I love their product. They have great talent, a great locker room. But I got a feeling… they threw titles on us right away and then they were kind of like, ‘Oh, can you work for this much?’ And I was like, ‘No, I can’t work for this much.’”
Riddle also pointed out the strength of the U.S. dollar as a major factor in his decision to stay stateside:
“America is a powerhouse. We have a great economy. Our dollar’s worth a lot. So when I’m getting paid U.S. dollars in America, and then I go somewhere else and they’ve got to convert their money into U.S. dollars… oh no.”
Despite his refusal to work for lower rates, Riddle stressed he has “no ill will” toward Japan, the UK, or their promotions. He said he respects their wrestlers but, as a father of 5 who also helps raise his girlfriend’s child, he needs to prioritize financial stability.
“Honestly, I have no ill will towards New Japan… It’s the economy. I get it,” he explained.
For Riddle, the math is simple: American promotions pay more, the travel is easier, and the dollar stretches further. That’s why his focus, for now, remains in the United States.
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