September has been a shocker as far as the employment status of several wrestlers across two companies. One such shocker is the release of Matt Riddle from WWE but was that really a shocker or did everyone see it coming? It’s not unusual for troublemakers or problematic wrestlers to get their sh** together and become a part of the roster that a company doesn’t have to worry about.
Was the Release of Matt Riddle Really That Shocking?
Of course, it takes the wrestler trying to do better and the company giving them an adequate amount of time to do so. Now, the promotion isn’t a therapist or guidance counselor. This is all very much their dime, their time. However, if the company gives time for improvement—take it.
Yokozuna and Vader were both given the time to get their weight in order and didn’t do it. Marty Jannetty was brought back multiple times and apparently didn’t take the time to improve. If he had, he most likely would’ve been in the company during the height of the Attitude Era.
Matt Riddle had some behavioral problems in WWE but he also had issues while fighting in the UFC that Bill Apter of Sportskeeda’s UnSKripted podcast pointed out recently. Apter believes that because his present and past problems, both sides of the TKO Group—who have dealt with him—decided that Riddle was donezo in anything they were putting money into.
Bill Apter said:
“I found out through many sources that one of the reasons that Matt Riddle was probably let go wasn’t just the JFK Airport incident. But Dana White has come out and said that he was a problem kid in MMA back then. And I think now that the companies have merged with each other, I think it was a joint decision that if it is worth having this kid maybe give us some trouble here.”
Honestly, if this was the mindset between the WWE and UFC sides, it’s a reasonable move. A promotion can only let someone slide on things that bring bad publicity so many times and when it’s a thing between two promotions that have merged? That’s a superstar who isn’t long for the promotion once roster cuts come up and they’re looking to cut expendable talent and troublesome talent.
What do you make of Bill Apter’s belief Matt Riddle was released in part because of his past in UFC?
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