Roman Reigns and Matt Riddle: WWE’s Controversial Stars Kept Apart Due to Real-Life Heat
In the arena of expert wrestling, drama isn’t simply confined to the hoop. Behind the scenes, tensions frequently run high, and once in a while, the heat will become too extreme for even the WWE to ignore. One of the most widespread examples of that is the real-life anxiety between Roman Reigns, the contemporary WWE Universal Champion, and Matt Riddle, a former WWE celebrity regarded for his brash mind-set and controversial remarks.
A History of Controversy: Matt Riddle’s Feud with Roman Reigns
Matt Riddle, a former MMA fighter became WWE superstar, became never one to turn away from controversy. From his early days in WWE, Riddle located himself at odds with several of the business enterprise’s top stars, inclusive of Roman Reigns. The tension among Riddle and Reigns escalated while Riddle publicly said in an interview that he could defeat Reigns in a actual combat, a observation that did not take a seat well with the WWE locker room, in particular with Reigns himself.
Despite the brewing animosity, WWE did now not right now separate the 2 superstars. In truth, they even labored together in 2022, with Riddle and his then-associate Randy Orton dealing with off towards The Bloodline, Reigns’ faction. After Orton’s damage, Riddle persisted his rivalry with The Bloodline, culminating in a in shape towards Reigns for the Universal Title in June 2022. However, Riddle become unsuccessful in his quest to dethrone the champion.
WWE’s Strategic Separation: Keeping Roman Reigns and Matt Riddle Apart
While WWE is understood for gambling up rivalries for amusement functions, the anxiety between Reigns and Riddle becomes greater than just for display. During a recent episode of “The Wrestling Matt,” a podcast hosted by WWE personality Matt Camp, it turned into discovered that WWE took significant steps to ensure that the two stars were kept apart during a taping of “The Bump,” a popular WWE talk show.
According to Camp, although Roman Reigns was appearing remotely via video, the production team made a conscious decision to keep Matt Riddle off the set until Reigns’ segment was completed. “Riddle was the in-studio guest, and we 100% did not put Riddle on the set until Roman was gone, off the video screen,” Camp recalled. “Just not gonna mess with that.”
This decision highlights the seriousness of the real-life heat between the two. WWE, an organization that thrives on creating drama, decided that the potential for an unscripted confrontation between Riddle and Reigns was too risky, even for their standards.
The Fallout: Matt Riddle’s Apology and Subsequent Release
Despite the WWE’s efforts to manage the situation, the tension between Riddle and Reigns continued to simmer. Shortly after the taping of “The Bump,” Riddle made more disparaging remarks about Reigns in another interview. This time, however, he reportedly followed up his comments with an apology, allegedly at the urging of Randy Orton, a veteran WWE superstar and Riddle’s then-tag team partner.
Riddle’s apology did little to mend the rift, and his behavior continued to raise eyebrows within the WWE. The situation reached a breaking point in September 2023 when Riddle was involved in a controversial incident at JFK Airport. The incident, which added to his already tumultuous reputation, ultimately led to his release from WWE.
A Cautionary Tale: The Fine Line Between Reality and Storyline in WWE
The saga of Roman Reigns and Matt Riddle serves as a reminder of the delicate balance WWE must maintain between reality and storyline. While WWE thrives on creating larger-than-life characters and dramatic rivalries, the real-life emotions and conflicts of its superstars cannot always be controlled.
For Roman Reigns, the incident with Riddle was just another chapter in his storied WWE career, but for Riddle, it was the beginning of the end. His inability to navigate the complex dynamics of the WWE locker room and his penchant for controversy ultimately cost him his job.
As the WWE Universe continues to buzz about the real-life drama between its stars, one thing is clear: in the world of professional wrestling, the line between reality and fiction is often blurred, and the consequences of crossing that line can be severe.
H/t to Wrestle Talk
