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Riddle Admits Getting “A Little Backstage Heat” For Comments About Roman Reigns

By TJR Staff • Published 18th September 2021
Matt Riddle making WWE Raw entrance

Riddle is a current WWE Raw Tag Team Champion that is known for speaking his mind. Sometimes, though, being that way gets him some “backstage heat” and some recent comments about WWE Universal Champion may have rubbed some people the wrong way.

In an interview with Bleacher Report following SummerSlam (the night when Riddle won the Raw Tag Team Titles with Randy Orton), Riddle reacted to some comments Roman Reigns made:

Riddle matter-of-factly responded to Reigns with a message including to “shut your mouth” when saying stuff like that.

“No disrespect to Roman, he seems like a swell fella, but at the same time, it’s like when people say they’re a good parent. You know what? If you were a good parent, your kids would be telling you you’re a good parent. When he’s saying ‘Acknowledge me’ or ‘I move the needle,’ no, you don’t. You’re related to The Rock. Shut up. Like, I’m not impressed, I can beat you up in a real fight. So, shut your mouth.”

“You’re not moving needles. I’m the real stallion, RK-Bro is moving the merch, we’re moving the needle, and that’s it. I don’t want to say too much, I’m not trying to get in trouble. Hey, hats off to him. He’s amazing at what he does. I do like what he does, but at the same time, it’s like, get off your high horse. You’re in that spot for a reason. You’re not a bro. You’re second generation. I’m first generation.”

Following the Riddle comments, there was a report in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter by Dave Meltzer that Riddle had “heat” for what he said meaning that some people within WWE didn’t like what he said.

In a new Riddle interview with the International Business Times, the man known as “The Original Bro” tried to explain what he meant by his past comments.

“I’ll comment on that briefly. I’m not trying to rub anybody the wrong way or say anything (wrong), but I made some comments (and) I’ll say this: I think they were all factual, just so you know. Kind of like I said, (I am) kind of telling the truth here.”

“But I think, maybe, even if they were factual, they weren’t the most professional things to say, especially with me being on the Raw brand and him being on SmackDown. I’m not even in that realm of competing with the Tribal Chief. He’s on another level at this moment. I think maybe I got a little too big for my britches, you know what I mean?

“Maybe I got a little backstage heat. Maybe a tiny bit. Unfortunately, I said some things that some people may not have liked and I’m not going to mention names, but they didn’t like it. I won’t say it again. I get it. Right now, all hail the Tribal Chief. Good for Roman. Acknowledge him. Everybody, acknowledge him, okay? That’s all I’m saying.”

Reigns hasn’t commented about what Riddle has said publicly. However, the two men will both be at Raw on Monday since Reigns is advertised for a six-man tag match while Riddle is a regular on the Raw brand.