Matt Riddle revealed a fascinating “what if” scenario that could have significantly altered his WWE trajectory. During an interview with Kevin Kellam of SK Wrestling, Riddle disclosed that there was a pitch for him to win the 2022 Men’s Royal Rumble, a plan ultimately shot down by Brock Lesnar.
“Brock Called the Match”: Lesnar’s Influence on Royal Rumble Outcome
Riddle explained that the idea was initially floated during his time teaming with Randy Orton. “There was, believe it or not, when Randy (Orton) and I were together, and they pitched it – that I would win the Rumble, have some back-and-forth, maybe get rid of Brock (Lesnar),” he said.
However, Lesnar, who ultimately won the match, had other plans. “And then Brock came in and called the match and that wasn’t going to happen,” Riddle revealed. This suggests that Lesnar wielded significant creative control over the Royal Rumble, effectively vetoing the proposed victory for Riddle.
Riddle’s Frustration: “How Couldn’t I Have Won?”
Riddle expressed his frustration with the outcome, given his strong performance in the match. “I was one of the last four people in the Rumble. How couldn’t I have won? I was in the final four or five in the Rumble out of 30. Common sense, bro!” he exclaimed.
Brock eliminated Riddle from this match. Brock then eliminated Drew McIntyre in the end to win, and then went on to main event WrestleMania 38 against Roman Reigns.
Brock Lesnar’s Disdain: “We’re Never Going to Work”
The revelation of Lesnar’s veto sheds light on the reported animosity between the two wrestlers. Riddle had previously disclosed a tense encounter with Lesnar at Royal Rumble 2020, when he was still in NXT.
“Let’s just say he came up to me with a security guard, not that he needed the security guard. He came up to me, put his arm around me and told me we were never going to work. So, I shouldn’t mention his name or talk about him or anything like that. And I should not call him out on social media. And I said, ‘Whatever you want, bro,'” Riddle recounted in an interview with ESPN.
This incident established Lesnar’s clear disinterest in working with Riddle, a sentiment that likely played a role in the Royal Rumble 2022 decision.
Missed Opportunities and Creative Control
The story highlights the complex dynamics of backstage politics in WWE. Lesnar’s influence on the Royal Rumble outcome underscores the power that established stars can wield when it comes to creative decisions.
For Riddle, the missed opportunity to win the Royal Rumble represents a potential turning point in his career. A victory could have propelled him to the main event scene, but Lesnar’s veto effectively derailed those plans.
While Riddle did have some on-screen moments with Lesnar, those moments were brief, and it was clear that Lesnar was not interested in a feud with Riddle. This story only reinforces that point. This story shows how individual stars can impact the direction of major WWE storylines.
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