Controversial Ex-WWE Star Details First Meeting With Vince McMahon: “You Seem Like A Goof”

A former WWE star recalls his first meeting with Vince McMahon.

Matt Riddle wrestled for the WWE for several years between 2018 and 2023. He first started in NXT, where he was able to get over with the fans due to his personality and in-ring skills. Riddle also came from an MMA background and was a legitimate competitor in the ring.

Matt Riddle’s impressive in-ring skills earned him a main roster call-up. During his time on the main roster, Riddle won the United States Championship and even formed a tag team with Randy Orton called RK-Bro. Together, they were even able to win the RAW Tag Team Titles twice. However, Riddle’s time with the Stamford-based promotion came to an end in 2023 after he was involved in an incident at John F. Kennedy involving Port Authority Police. Since then, Riddle has been competing on the independent scene.

Vince McMahon viewed Matt Riddle as a “goof”

During an interview with TV Insider, Matt Riddle revealed that he met Vince McMahon at Titan Towers and told him he was a UFC fighter. In response, Vince McMahon called him a goof.

“I think a lot of times, especially with WWE they cater to the world,” said Riddle. “They want simple. So you really can’t be yourself. The company itself just doesn’t try to understand you. I remember when I met Vince and told him I’m a UFC fighter, this and that. I’m wearing flip flops in the [Titan] Towers (WWE headquarters). He is like, ‘Well, you seem like a goof.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah I’m a goof, but I can whip your a**. Kurt Angle was a goof, but he is an Olympic gold medalist.’”

Matt Riddle further revealed that Court Bauer believes in the legitimacy he brings to the ring and sees the value in him.

“Eventually, he saw that and ran with the ball. Court has always saw the legitimacy behind me. I think with the controversies I’ve had, he sees the value in that where a lot of people might get scared like AEW or WWE,” Riddle said. “At the end of the day, I get a haircut, and there are articles. If I do anything, there are articles good or bad. To him, it’s good in a way. To be honest with you, I wish I wasn’t so polarizing. I wish nobody cared. It’s good for wrestling though.” [H/T TV Insider]

Matt Riddle: “Cuando conocí a Vince McMahon estaba en chanclas en las Titan Towers, me dijo: ‘Pareces un payaso’. Y yo le respondí: ‘Sí, soy un payaso, pero te puedo dar una paliza ahora mismo. Kurt Angle era un payaso y fue medallista de oro olímpico'”

(vía TV Insider) pic.twitter.com/0qMNrzwdc1

— Steel Cage News (@SteelCageNews_) June 10, 2026

It will be interesting to see whether Matt Riddle will ever return to the WWE.

Also read: Vince McMahon Didn’t Like 4-Time WWE Champion For A Bizarre Reason

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