Ex-WWE Star Admits Failing Multiple Drug Tests For Cocaine
An ex-WWE Superstar has opened up about their cocaine use.
Back in December 2022, Matt Riddle was written off television after a vicious attack by Solo Sikoa. At the time his absence was shrouded in mystery, but it was subsequently reported it was due to a failed drug test.
Furthermore, this wasn’t the first time Matt Riddle had failed a WWE test, with the report noting that his match against Seth Rollins that summer had been moved because of another failed test. Despite the report, WWE remained quiet on the issue.
However, during an interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Riddle has now revealed that he did fail two tests — both for cocaine.
“I had two offenses. They didn’t make any of the offenses public. I think they wanted to keep it on the hush hush, which I understand. I got fined.
You’re allowed to smoke weed. I went to the strip club and did cocaine a couple times. I failed a drug test for that. That was for all of them, it was cocaine each time. It was just a random night. WWE tests you randomly, any week. Sometimes, you get tested at the end of one month and the beginning of another month.
There was one week where I failed bang bang, didn’t know I failed the second one and by the time I failed the first one, I got two at once. I think that’s why they were a little more lenient. ‘We tested you back-to-back, you failed both times.’ I was like, ‘I’ll show you, no more problems, test me for the next ten weeks.’ I did that, I was fine, didn’t fail one test.
When I thought I was in the clear, went out, partied a little bit, they gave me a random test at my house, I failed that, and shortly after that, they had me go to rehab.”
When asked if the company made him go to rehab Riddle added:
“They can’t make you do anything, but it’s ‘go or…’ ‘Okay, I’ll go.’ I went for the 30 days, I left, and when I left, they made a recommendation that they wanted me to stay for another 30 days and I was like, ‘I said I would do 30 days, I don’t want to do another 30 days.’ I missed Christmas and New Year’s.
I learned my lesson. Trust me, I don’t go out there and rage it up anymore like that. I learned my lesson. ‘No, we want you to do another 30 days.’
I wanted to test and get my black belt, I had been waiting 10 years. I had some money because RKBro was successful, and I wanted to buy a house. I bought a house, my aunt had cancer, so I went to see her. She’s good now.
I was like, ‘Let me do these couple of things before I leave.’ ‘Okay.’ I went, did those, then went back for another 30 days. Got out and I was just waiting. This was a month before WrestleMania. ‘We don’t have anything for you. Maybe Raw After Mania.’ I thought they were going to fire me.”
Matt Riddle Wins First Major Title Since Leaving WWE
Since leaving WWE, Matt Riddle has resumed his wrestling career on the independent scene while making appearances for New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Riddle made his debut for the promotion at New Year Dash, before defeating Hiroshi Tanahashi to claim the NJPW World Television Title at New Beginning Sapporo.
On the same show, Nic Nemeth, who was also released by WWE in September, pinned David Finlay to claim the IWGP Global Heavyweight Title.
H/t to Fightful