Back in February, pro wrestling, Twitter was abuzz with rumors of backstage heat on NXT superstar Matt Riddle. Many sources, including Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, claimed that WWE Chairman Vince McMahon had taken issue with Riddle’s obnoxious behavior on social media. He often criticizes and challenges other WWE wrestlers. This kind of behavior is common for the UFC. However, in the world of professional wrestling, it’s seen as an act of disrespect. It isn’t to not only the wrestlers in question but also the fans. Matt Riddle recently addresses backstage views on him.
Social media is becoming a bigger part of the build towards big matches. If he is calling out other wrestlers on twitter to get fans hyped up for a match, the promotion may have no intention on holding them.
In a recent interview with Gary Cassidy for Sportskeeda, Matt Riddle spoke briefly about these rumors.
“I’ll tell you this. Do I have heat with WWE or NXT, or the people that run the show? No. Do I have heat with some people who think I’m disrespectful at times because they don’t understand how business works? Yes. Do people take things too seriously? Yes.”
The former UFC fighter went on to clarify what’s going on, explaining that he often talks to other NXT stars before saying or tweeting something that might otherwise offend them. “I’ve had to give talks at NXT,” he said. “It’s not like I stopped the place, but it’s like, interjecting. I’m like, ‘Hey. I’m going to tweet or say something that offends you. Realize I’m not trying to actually offend you, I’m just trying to make people think I am.’ I’m putting out an image, a facade, you know? If I talk a certain amount of trash, people are like, ‘Oh, man, that guy’s uncontrollable, he does what he wants.'”
Matt Riddle Addresses Backstage Views on Him
Riddle went on to correct the record about Vince McMahon. He said that the chairman brought up his tendency to draw heat from his co-workers. In a recent meeting between the two, but that nothing had come from it, concluding:
‘[…] at the end of the day, he signs the cheques, he makes it happen for me and they’re in control, not the talent. If the employer’s happy and I can make them money and make them a profit, and I’m worth my weight and I’m pulling my weight, I don’t see a problem. To answer your question, yes, some people I have heat with. But most of it’s just high school, catty, “He said this”, people who just can’t take a joke or a work.”
