matt riddle
Photo Credit: WWE

Matt Riddle: I’m In ‘A Way Different Place’ Nearly A Year After WWE Release

Matt Riddle reflects on his growth since his departure from WWE.

Riddle had a successful run in WWE, as he held the WWE United States Championship and the RAW Tag Team Championship. However, his time with the company was turbulent as well; he has opened up about failing multiple drug tests. WWE released Riddle in September 2023 following an incident at JFK airport.

In an interview with Joseph Staszewski of the New York Post, Matt Riddle looked back on the situation and noted that WWE was doing the best they thought that they could. However, he noted that everyone is only human.

“While I think WWE was doing the best they could, or thought they were doing the best they could, but at the same time, WWE protects WWE, as they should,” Riddle said. “But at the same time, we’re all human. We’re all people and sometimes I think that gets lost in translation in a publicly traded company.” 

Matt Riddle On His Personal Struggles

Riddle has made it clear that he enjoyed his time in WWE, but the schedule and the travel took a toll on his personal life. As previously noticed, he got divorced in Match 2022, and this shift came with plenty of challenges.

“Even though I was making great money, my family life deteriorated, I got divorced and other things and then on top of that just being able to see the kids, then just taking care of responsibilities,” Riddle said. “When I’m flying to a different city or driving to a different city every day and wrestling and memorizing promos and all these things, a lot of other things fell to the side.”

In previous interviews, Matt Riddle has said that his WWE release was a relief. He reiterated those sentiments and stated that he was in a “way different place” now.

“I’m in a way different place,” Riddle said. “I feel way better. It’s hard to explain because most people think, ‘Oh you’re there, it must be great.’ Professionally my life was awesome. Personally, my life was in shambles. You lose your family. You lose this, that and you’re trying to rebuild anything and you don’t have time to.”

Matt Riddle has landed in MLW, and he recently won the Battle Riot to earn a world title shot.

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