We’ve all heard about Brock Lesnar and Matt Riddle’s confrontation behind the scenes at WWE’s Royal Rumble last week, and everyone’s chosen sides about who would win, how it should be handled, and so on. The thing about this that many of us don’t or didn’t know, myself included, is that it wasn’t in the storyline and there’s a way to go about setting up a working relationship. While it seems like basic common sense it’s good to hear a perspective from those in the business, so let’s hear it from Jim Cornette and Booker T. But first, a small part of what sparked the Brock Lesnar and Matt Riddle altercation.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7w-Uc2HBBJ/
Okay, pretty straight forward and sounds like promos we’ve heard a thousand times over the years. In many ways, this seems like Matt Riddle is simply trying to make a name for himself, to carve his own path and using whatever he can to do so. There’s no shame in that, but is it the right way to do it? Unfortunately, thier altercation resulted in NXT talent told not to repeat this with Raw and Smackdown superstars.
Jim Cornette’s thoughts
On his podcast, Jim Cornette’s Drive Thru, Cornette discussed this topic and explained why it isn’t done and how it could’ve worked if done differently.
When speaking on how it should’ve be handled, Cornette said, “Had Riddle gone to Goldberg, and gone to Brock and said, ‘Hey, you know, I have a shoot fighting background and could we do something, blah, blah, blah and if the office okays it… it would’ve been okay.”
Makes sense, right? The thinking is that it’s about respecting each other and informing the other person you’re going to “do a shoot” on them, and that makes perfect sense. No one should shoot their own
The biggest problem seems to be that Matt Riddle isn’t on Brock Lesnar’s radar
“In the territory days, the guy that’s jerking the curtain in the opening match thinks he can make more money in the main event, so he’ll just shoot his own angle with the top guy? There wouldn’t even have been anybody to help the gut carry his bags to is car after he got fired.”
Basically, despite what fans have been saying on social media, Cornette claims it wouldn’t be a big money match until Matt Riddle is built up to Lesnar’s level.
In a way, it would’ve been more like an attraction
Booker T provides balance
On Booker T’s podcast, The Hall of Fame with Booker T and Brad Gilmore, Booker gave a different view about how social media and sites twisted what Riddle said. Riddle had given an interview prior to the Brock Lesnar and Matt Riddle altercation, but it was twisted around to make it look like it was Riddle’s response.
“This is not the UFC. if someone don’t want to work with you, or someone don’t like you, it can definitely become a problem for you.”
Booker went on to explain that the UFC and wrestling are different. “In wrestling, you don’t go into business for yourself in professional wrestling.”
This is something we’ve seen in all walks of life on social media. Something we say is taken wrong or misconstrued into something else so people and site gain views and clicks. In professional wrestling, we hear that it’s the ultimate trust between the wrestlers, as they’re trusting one another to create something awesome as safely as possible.
Booker added some more great insight, “Think about you’re gonna say before you say it.” And, “Don’t work an angle unless you know the guy. It’s bad for business. That’s how I feel about it.”
In the end, it’s about trust and respect. Each sport is a world unto itself, and that’s something we as fans should remember as well.
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