As a professional mixed martial artist from 2008 to 2014, Riddle made a name for himself by appearing onSpikeTV'sThe Ultimate Fighter 7 and went on to hold a four-fight winning streak in theUltimate Fighting Championship (UFC) before being released upon testing positive formarijuana in February 2013 (that being his second drug test failure). He also fought forTitan FC and compiled a career record of 8–3 (2).
Riddle signed with WWE in July 2018 and portrayed a stereotypical carefree,barefoot surfervalley boy. He was assigned to theNXT brand, where he was aone-timeNXT Tag Team Champion withPete Dunne as "The BroserWeights". He was promoted to the main roster in May 2020, where he won theUnited States Championship in February 2021. In April, Riddle began teaming withRandy Orton asRK-Bro, holding theRaw Tag Team Championship twice. After Orton incurred a back injury in May 2022, which eventually led to RK-Bro's disbandment, Riddle continued his run as a singles competitor until he was released from WWE in September 2023.
Riddle holds a perfect amateur record of 1–0. During this career, he worked as a roofer and trained inBrazilian jiu-jitsu in the evenings. Riddle creditsB.J. Penn's book,Mixed Martial Arts: The Book of Knowledge, in helping him learn during his early years in MMA.[11]
Riddle then fought Dan Simmler, an understudy ofMatt Serra, to get intoThe Ultimate Fighter (TUF) house. Riddle knocked out Simmler in the opening seconds of the second round and struck him three times in the jaw after losing consciousness, breaking Simmler's jaw into two places.[12] Riddle was picked second overall for Team Rampage.[13] During his involvement on show, Riddle was given the nickname Chipper after Rampage noticed him always smiling.[14]
Riddle's second match was againstTim Credeur. Credeur defeated Riddle in the second round, causing him to be knocked out of the tournament.[15] After the fight, Credeur bought Riddle anXbox 360 with his earnings.[16]
AtThe Ultimate Fighter 7 Finale, which was held on June 21, 2008, Riddle made his UFC and professional debut defeating fellowUltimate Fighter castmate,Dante Rivera, via unanimous decision (29–28, 30–27, 30–27). DuringThe Ultimate Fighter 7, Riddle was shown arguing with the older and more experienced Rivera multiple times. Dante, on more than one occasion, stated that he would retire if Riddle defeated him - a commitment which he didn't follow through with after his loss.
Riddle was then scheduled to fightRyan Thomas atUFC 91, but a knee injury forced Riddle out of the fight and got pinned. The knee injury's recovery was scheduled to take about 6–8 weeks.[17]
In his third bout, Riddle defeated another one of his formerUltimate Fighter 7 castmates,Dan Cramer, via a unanimous decision on the undercard ofUFC 101.
He next facedThe Ultimate Fighter 9 alumniNick Osipczak on November 14, 2009, atUFC 105. The fight was held in Osipczak's home country ofEngland.[18] Riddle lost the fight by TKO in the third round.
After his loss to Osipczak, Riddle faced newcomerGreg Soto on March 27, 2010, atUFC 111.[19] After a dominant first two rounds for Riddle, Soto landed an illegal upkick to Riddle's head in the third round which rendered him unable to continue, giving Riddle the victory by disqualification.
Following this victory, Riddle faced anotherTUF alumni inDaMarques Johnson on August 1, 2010, atUFC on Versus 2.[20] The fight was a catchweight bout after Johnson weighed in at 172 lbs and Riddle would go on to win the fight via TKO due to punches near the end of the second round.
Riddle was expected to faceTJ Waldburger on December 11, 2010, atUFC 124.[21] However, Waldburger was forced from the card with an injury[22] and replaced by newcomerSean Pierson.[23] Pierson defeated Riddle via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) and the bout was dubbed by presidentDana White as the realFight of the Night.
Riddle was expected to faceUltimate Fighter castmate,Matt Brown, on March 3, 2011, atUFC Live: Sanchez vs. Kampmann, replacing an injured Mark Scanlon.[24] However, Riddle was also injured, resulting in the Brown fight being removed from the card altogether.
Riddle faced undefeated welterweight prospectLance Benoist who had made his Octagon debut on September 17, 2011, atUFC Fight Night: Shields vs. Ellenberger.[27] He lost the fight via unanimous decision in a bout that had earnedFight of the Night honors.
Riddle was expected to fightLuis Ramos on December 30, 2011, atUFC 141. However, the fight was called off as Riddle became ill and had to only pull out moments before the fight took place.[28]
Riddle was expected to face Jorge Lopez on February 4, 2012, atUFC 143, replacing an injuredAmir Sadollah.[29] However, Lopez was also forced out of the bout and replaced by newcomerHenry Martinez.[30] Riddle won the fight via a split decision.
The bout between Riddle and Ramos was rescheduled for June 22, 2012, atUFC on FX 4.[31] However, Riddle was forced from the bout with another injury, and was replaced byMatt Brown.[32]
Riddle stepped in forSiyar Bahadurzada on short notice to fightChris Clements atUFC 149.[33] Riddle won the match after catching Clements in a standing arm-triangle choke, forcing him to submit at 2:02 in the third round. Riddle won a $65,000Submission of the Night bonus. This also marked the first submission win of his professional career.[34] On October 20, 2012, it was announced that Riddle had failed his post-fight drug test, testing positive for marijuana. Riddle was subsequently fined and suspended for 90 days, retroactive to July 21, 2012. His win over Clements was changed to a no contest.[35]
Riddle was originally expected to face Besam Yousef on November 17, 2012, atUFC 154, replacing an injuredStephen Thompson.[36] However, Yousef was forced out with an injury and replaced byJohn Maguire.[37] Riddle defeated Maguire via a unanimous decision.
Riddle facedChe Mills on February 16, 2013, atUFC on Fuel TV: Barão vs. McDonald.[38] Riddle defeated Mills via split decision. On February 26, 2013, Riddle revealed that he had tested positive for marijuana. This was his second failed drug test within a year, and Riddle was subsequently released from the promotion.[39] He had finished his UFC career ranked 3rd in UFC history for takedown defense (89.3%) and 8th for the total of strikes that have been landed (1350),[40] and without positive marijuana tests would have held an octagon record of 10–3 with a streak of five consecutive victories.
Shortly after being released from theUltimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Riddle signed a multi-fight deal with Texas-based promotion, Legacy Fighting Championships.[41] However, on May 18, 2013, it was announced that Riddle instead joined theBellator MMA roster after his Legacy contract had been purchased by the promotion.[42] Riddle was expected to compete in the Bellator's welterweight tournament during their ninth season which begins in the Fall of 2013.[43] However Riddle cracked his rib and had to pull out of the tournament, and subsequently retired from MMA fighting due to financial reasons.[44] A few weeks later Riddle came out of retirement and was expected to fight atBellator 109.[45] Once again Riddle pulled out of that fight and was subsequently released.[46]
Riddle fought fellow former UFC fighterMichael Kuiper in the co-main event of Titan FC 27 on February 28, 2014.[47] Riddle won by second round guillotine choke.[48]
Riddle was expected to face MMA legend Jose Landi-Jons for the vacant Welterweight Championship at Titan FC 29 on August 22, 2014.[49] However, Landi-Jons was forced out of the bout due to visa issues, and was replaced by UFC veteranBen Saunders.[50] However, Riddle was forced out of the bout due to injury and was replaced by the man he was originally scheduled to face, Jose Landi-Jons.[51]
On October 29, 2014, it was reported that Riddle was training for a career inprofessional wrestling.[52] Riddle made his debut on February 7, 2015, at theMonster Factory inPaulsboro, New Jersey.[6] In July, he won the Monster Factory Heavyweight Championship. On September 15, it was announced that Riddle had signed with theWorld Wrestling Network (WWN) to work the OctoberEvolve events,[53] which he later confirmed after taking part in aWWE tryout.[54] On January 24, 2016, Riddle won Evolve's Style Battle tournament.[55] On April 8, Riddle signed a contract with Evolve's parent company WWN.[56] On September 3, Riddle made his debut forPro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), entering the2016 Battle of Los Angeles tournament, from which he was eliminated in his first round match byKyle O'Reilly.[57] In October, Riddle facedCody Rhodes at New York promotionHouse of Glory's show titledUnbreakable in a losing effort.
On July 31, 2018, it was reported byUproxx that Riddle had signed a contract withWWE.[68] On August 18, Riddle appeared atNXT TakeOver: Brooklyn IV and was identified by the event's commentators as WWE's newest signing.[69]
Riddle made his in-ring debut on the October 31 episode ofNXT, defeatingLuke Menzies.[70] AtNXT TakeOver: WarGames II on November 17, Riddle began afeud withKassius Ohno, who interrupted him during an interview on the pre-show. When the show started, Riddle challenged Ohno to an impromptu match and defeated him in6 seconds, marking the fastest match in NXT history.[71] He then defeated Ohno in a rematch on the January 2 episode ofNXT.[72] AtNXT TakeOver: Phoenix on January 26, 2019, Riddle defeated Ohno for a third time after making him submit with a series of elbow strikes to the head, ending their feud.[73] The following month,WWE Network released a documentary on his wrestling career and entry into NXT entitledArrival: Matt Riddle.[74][75] AtNXT TakeOver: New York on April 5, Riddle challengedVelveteen Dream for theNXT North American Championship in a losing effort, ending his undefeated streak in NXT.[76]
In July, Riddle started a feud with the returningKillian Dain.[77] On the August 7 episode ofNXT, Riddle was set to face Dain, but they brawled before the match happened.[78] Three days later, the two brawled atNXT TakeOver: Toronto and faced each other on the August 21 episode ofNXT, where Dain was victorious, but Riddle attacked Dain after the match.[79][80] This set up a Street Fight between the two onNXT's debut on theUSA Network, which ended in a no contest.[81][82] On the September 25 episode ofNXT, Riddle again fought Dain in a Street Fight where the winner would faceAdam Cole for theNXT Championship the following week. Riddle defeated Dain to end their feud, but failed to win the title from Cole.[83][84]
On the November 1 episode ofSmackDown, Riddle andKeith Lee were one of the manyNXT wrestlers to invade the show, confronting and attackingSami Zayn. Later that night, Riddle joinedTriple H and the rest of theNXT roster as they declared war on bothRaw andSmackDown, and vowed to win theSurvivor Series brand warfare.[85] On the November 13 episode ofNXT,Finn Bálor insulted the NXT roster as "all boys who can't take a beating", specifically mentioningJohnny Gargano and Riddle, who attacked Bálor before he retreated.[86] Riddle was originally part of Team Ciampa forNXT TakeOver: WarGames, but was taken off the team due to having a match against Bálor at the event on November 23, which he lost.[87] The following night, atSurvivor Series, Riddle was part of Team NXT in a losing effort to Team SmackDown also involving Team Raw; during the match, Riddle eliminatedRandy Orton with a roll-up pin before being laid out with anRKO, which caused him to be eliminated byKing Corbin.[88] On January 26, Riddle participated in theRoyal Rumble match at thenamesake pay-per-view and entered at #23, but was eliminated by Corbin in 41 seconds.[89]
On May 29,Kurt Angle announced that Riddle would move to theSmackDownbrand.[99] On the June 19 episode ofSmackDown, Riddle made his main roster debut, interruptingIntercontinental ChampionAJ Styles before defeating Styles in a non-title match.[100] Riddle received an opportunity at the title on the July 17 episode ofSmackDown, where he lost to Styles. After the match, he was attacked byKing Corbin.[101] Riddle defeated Corbin atPayback on August 30,[102] but lost in a rematch on the September 25 episode ofSmackDown, ending their feud.[103]
As part of the2020 Draft, Riddle was drafted to theRaw brand.[104] On October 29, hisring name was shortened toRiddle.[105] AtSurvivor Series on November 22, Riddle was a part of Team Raw in the men's traditional elimination tag team match, pinning Corbin on route to a clean sweep for Team Raw.[106] On the January 4, 2021 episode ofRaw, Riddle defeatedUnited States ChampionBobby Lashley in a non-title match, earning a title match the following week in a losing effort.[107][108] On the January 25 episode ofRaw, Riddle defeatedThe Hurt Business (Cedric Alexander,MVP, andShelton Benjamin) in a gauntlet match to earn another title opportunity against Lashley.[109] AtRoyal Rumble on January 31, Riddle entered at #16 and helped eliminate Lashley before being eliminated bySeth Rollins.[110] Riddle received his title match the following night onRaw, where he defeated Lashley by disqualification but did not win the championship.[111] AtElimination Chamber on February 21, Riddle defeated Lashley andJohn Morrison in a triple threat match to win the United States Championship, his first title on the main roster and his first singles title in WWE.[112] He successfully defended the title againstMustafa Ali at theFastlane pre-show on March 21.[113] At Night 2 ofWrestleMania 37 on April 11, Riddle lost the title toSheamus, ending his reign at 49 days.[114]
On the April 19 episode ofRaw, Riddle interrupted a backstage interview byRandy Orton and suggested a tag team formation, with Orton dismissing the idea by leaving. A match was made later on in the night between Orton and Riddle, which Riddle won with a roll-up.[115] The following week onRaw, Orton was backstage with Riddle when he suggested the team be given a try; the newly labeled RK-Bro defeatedCedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin, and in a backstage interview afterwards, Orton suggested to Riddle they take the team "a day at a time".[116]
After a seven-week absence, Orton returned on the August 9 episode ofRaw, where he initially discontinued his team with Riddle at the beginning of the show. Later that night, Orton defeated AJ Styles in a match following assistance from Riddle and afterwards pretended to hug him but instead hit him with an RKO as a sign of gratitude.[117] The following week, Orton officially reunited the team after Riddle saved Orton from an attack at the hands of Omos and Styles.[118] AtSummerSlam on August 21, RK-Bro defeated Styles andOmos to win their firstWWE Raw Tag Team Championship, both individually and as a team.[119] On October 21, atCrown Jewel, RK-Bro defeated Styles and Omos in a rematch to retain the titles.[120] AtDay 1 on January 1, 2022, RK-Bro retained their titles againstThe Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford).[121]
After Orton was sidelined with a back injury,[132] Riddle continued to feud with The Bloodline, teaming withShinsuke Nakamura to unsuccessfully challenge The Usos for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship on the June 3 episode ofSmackDown following a distraction from Bloodline associateSami Zayn.[133] The following week onSmackDown, Riddle defeated Zayn to earn a match against Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, with the added stipulation that Riddle would be barred from challenging for the title again if he lost.[134][135] On the June 17 episode ofSmackDown, Riddle failed to win the title from Reigns, barring him from challenging Reigns for the title again.[136]
He then began a feud with Seth "Freakin" Rollins, setting up a match between the two atSummerSlam.[137] However, the match was postponed after Riddle suffered a storyline injury following an attack by Rollins on the July 25 episode ofRaw.[138] Despite this, both Riddle and Rollins appeared at SummerSlam on July 30, engaging in a brawl which saw Rollins come out on top.[139] AtClash at the Castle on September 3, Riddle lost to Rollins.[140] On the September 19 episode ofRaw, it was announced that Riddle and Rollins would have a rematch in aFight Pit match on October 8 atExtreme Rules in whichDaniel Cormier would serve as special guest referee.[141] At the event, Riddle defeated Rollins by submission.[142] Riddle failed to win the United States Championship from Rollins on the October 17 episode ofRaw, ending their feud.[143]
On the December 5 episode ofRaw, after he andKevin Owens failed to win the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship from The Usos, WWE wrote Riddle off television by havingSolo Sikoa "injure" him during a brawl in the ring.[144] On December 12, it was reported that the segment was done after Riddle had been suspended for 60 days after failing WWE's wellness policy for a second time.[145] In a 2024 interview withAriel Helwani, Riddle revealed that he had tested positive forcocaine, which caused his suspension.[146] Riddle returned on the April 3, 2023, episode ofRaw, attackingThe Miz.[147] He resumed feuding with The Bloodline by joining forces withKevin Owens and Sami Zayn,[148] but they lost to The Bloodline in a six-man tag team match atBacklash on May 6.[149]
On February 2, 2024, Riddle made his return to the independent circuit at Adrenaline Championship Wrestling'sBromance inHagerstown, Maryland, defeating Chris Slade. He went on to win the Combat 1 World Championship in a 3 way match at Combat 1 Wrestling'sWrestleRama: Bro-Down inBrighton, Michigan on February 8, 2024.[167] However, he would be the last Combat 1 World Champion as the promotion would close its doors in October 2024. On March 9, Matt Riddle would faceRob Van Dam in a singles match ending in a no contest at World Classic Professional Big Time Wrestling'sThe Reunion 3: Calvacade Of Legends inChillicothe, Ohio. The two would later team up in a tag team match, defeatingAmerica's Most Wanted (Chris Harris andJames Storm). Riddle also took part inWrestleMania 40 weekend festivities during theWrestleCon Mark Hitchcock Memorial Supershow at the2300 Arena inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania on April 4, where he teamed up withMustafa Ali in a tag team match, defeatingThe RascalzTrey Miguel &Zachary Wentz. Riddle would defeatPCO the next day at Battleground Championship Wrestling'sBorn to Die.[168]
Riddle married Lisa Rennie in 2011. They have fraternal twin daughters and a son.[172] The couple divorced in March 2022.[173] Since November 2022, he has been datingadult film actress Misha Montana.[174] On July 7, 2023, Riddle announced that they are expecting their first child, and Riddle's fourth.[175] On December 1, 2023, they welcomed their son.[176]
In the summer of 2020, Riddle was accused of sexually assaulting female independent wrestler Candy Cartwright.[178][179][180][181] Cartwright alleges that after an independent show in May 2018, Riddle asked her to have sex with him, and when Cartwright turned down Riddle's request, she claims that Riddle choked her and forced her to give him oral sex.[182] WWE released a statement claiming they were looking into the incident;[183] Riddle immediately denied the allegations in a video posted to hisTwitter page.[184][185] Riddle stated that he had an affair with Cartwright, but sexual relations between the two were completely consensual.[186][187]
Riddle later filed for a restraining order against Cartwright, alleging that she harassed, stalked, and threatened his safety both in person and over the internet.[188] In September 2020, Riddle withdrew his petition for a restraining order.[189][190] On October 8, 2020, Cartwright filed a lawsuit against Riddle, WWE, and Evolve presidentGabe Sapolsky over the incident.[191][192][193][194] In March 2021, the court dismissed WWE and Sapolsky as defendants in the suit, stating that their connection to the allegations could not be proven.[195] Cartwright dropped the lawsuit on July 13, 2021.[196]
^Corey Graves, Kevin Patrick (October 7, 2022)."Inside the Fight Pit with Matt Riddle".WWE After The Bell (Podcast). WWE Podcast Network. Event occurs at 34:57. RetrievedApril 25, 2023.
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