Despite his rocky WWE exit and blunt criticism of management, Matt Riddle made it clear that he would happily accept a future WWE Hall of Fame induction.
On TMZ’s Inside The Ring podcast, he said he’s proud of everything he accomplished during his WWE run – from his tag team success with Randy Orton to his singles achievements – and would consider it an honor to be recognized.
Riddle stressed that he has “no ill will” toward WWE and sees the Hall of Fame as a celebration of career impact rather than company loyalty.
He said that no matter what, his time in WWE helped define his career, and if the call ever comes, he’ll show up “barefoot and smiling.”
Matt Riddle Says Triple H Bends Too Much To Fan Reaction, Criticizes WWE’s Current Direction
Riddle voiced his frustration with how WWE has changed since Triple H took over from Vince McMahon. He said Vince’s greatest strength was standing firm on his creative decisions no matter what fans thought, while Triple H tends to bend too much to social media reactions and fan pressure.
Riddle argued that by constantly giving the audience what they want right away, WWE has lost the ability to build anticipation and long-term storytelling. He added that Vince’s slower pacing and stubbornness often made the product stronger – whereas today’s creative process feels overly reactive.
He also criticized WWE’s business model, claiming the company is “pushing families out of arenas” with high ticket prices and international expansion.
Referring to WrestleMania 43 being held in Saudi Arabia, Riddle called it “a slap in the face” to loyal fans who can’t afford to travel.
Matt Riddle Turns Heel, Reveals His New Name
At MLW’s Slaughterhouse event, Matt Riddle turned heel. He beat Alex Hammerstone, but not clean – thanks to some dirty tricks.
Hammerstone was about to hit his finisher when Mads Krügger jumped in and started pounding on him. Then Dijak showed up with a chair, knocking out the referee. Riddle took his shot, snuck in a low blow, and pinned Hammerstone for the win.
After the match, Riddle grabbed the mic and said “The King of Bros” is done and he’s the “Rude Dude” now.
