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WWE does not need Matt Riddle in any fashion

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WWE does not need Matt Riddle in any fashion

As a longtime fan who has witnessed the rollercoaster ride that is Matt Riddle‘s career, I can’t help but feel a mix of emotions when considering his potential return to WWE. On one hand, I admire his raw talent and charisma that have captivated audiences in both UFC and professional wrestling. However, on the other hand, his off-ring antics and questionable behavior have left me with a lingering unease.

Matt Riddle’s career might be one of those intriguing “what if” scenarios. He demonstrated impressive performance in the UFC with a stretch of 7 wins against 3 losses, which could have been 9 victories had two fights not been reversed due to positive drug tests. Afterward, he made a significant impact in professional wrestling, even securing a notable position within the WWE. However, his tenure there ended unfavorably when he was released in September 2023. Despite this, Riddle remains hopeful about rejoining the WWE, and such a comeback is something that should be avoided.

Riddle expressed to Steven Muehlhausen of Sports Illustrated that his likelihood of returning is very likely. He added, “If CM Punk, who has had a long-standing feud with WWE and publicly criticized them for years, decides to join their competition, I believe anything can be forgiven. I admit I wasn’t always easy to work with, but I believe the door remains open.

That’s an interesting statement from Riddle. True, Punk and WWE had a very tumultuous relationship with Punk leaving the company as he said negative things about almost everyone involved. But there’s a major difference between Riddle and Punk. Riddle faced several outside the ring situations that made him exceptionally problematic.

In 2020, allegations of sexual assault were made against Riddle by Candy Cartwright, an independent wrestler. This resulted in a legal action initiated by Cartwright that also involved the WWE and Evolve’s President, Gabe Sapolsky. However, courts ultimately dismissed the lawsuits filed against both the WWE and Sapolsky in July 2021, effectively ending the case. During his time with WWE, Riddle was suspended twice for violating the company’s wellness policy.

Subsequently, there were numerous instances of Riddle encountering difficulties with coworkers off-stage. To put it simply, he was a complication that the company wouldn’t want to rehire. This is even more relevant given the ongoing Janel Grant lawsuit involving the company, Vince McMahon, and John Laurinaitis. The thought of welcoming someone like Riddle, who has been accused of sexual assault, back into the company further strengthens the unwanted negative image that WWE is striving to eliminate.

In professional wrestling, there’s often room for forgiveness, but it seems that the wrong individuals are getting a pass. Many of them have failed to express remorse over their past actions. Matt Riddle is an example of such performers, and in my opinion, he should not be re-admitted to the WWE. Regardless of his perception that the door may be open for him.

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2024-09-13 01:15

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