Riddle Has Backstage Heat Due To Comments About Roman Reigns
Riddle is a current WWE Raw Tag Team Champion that’s also known as a guy that tends to say what’s on his mind and sometimes that gets him heat in the locker room. This time, Riddle spoke up about Roman Reigns in a way that got him even more heat.
Reigns recently tweeted about how he was “legitimate needle-moving” and apparently Riddle didn’t agree with him.
Legitimate needle moving. https://t.co/1Qsr6kYWb2
— Roman Reigns (@WWERomanReigns) August 24, 2021
Riddle spoke to Bleacher Report recently while speaking his mind as usual:
“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.”
The phrase “needle-moving” phrase has been used a few times in WWE circles recently since WWE President Nick Khan mentioned it when talking about what talents WWE wants to have on their roster.
Apparently, those comments from Riddle have ruffled some feathers in WWE according to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (available via subscription). Meltzer wrote:
“There was a lot of heat in certain circles on Riddle for comments on Bleacher Report on Reigns. This was definitely not storyline-related. Of course, someday it could end up being storyline-related but Riddle is on Raw and not being pushed at the singles main event level and Reigns is on SmackDown. There is a draft so it could happen, but it was very much considered a negative by many with the basic theme that Riddle is incredibly talented, more so than he gets credit for, but he’s not very astute politically in the WWE jungle.”
Riddle and Randy Orton remain one of the most popular acts on Raw as the Tag Team Champions, so it’s unlikely that Riddle would be punished for whatever. However, he might want to learn to keep some opinions to himself in the future.