Brock Lesnar’s recent return to WWE has sparked controversy, with former WWE wrestler Matt Riddle accusing him of disregarding the scripted plan during an event in Saudi Arabia. The allegations revolve around Lesnar cutting his match short and acting independently of WWE’s creative direction, intensifying ongoing tensions within the company.
Details of the Incident at Elimination Chamber Saudi Arabia
Matt Riddle publicly criticized Brock Lesnar for allegedly departing from the match script by ending it 15 minutes early during the Elimination Chamber event in Saudi Arabia. According to Riddle, Lesnar’s behavior was aggressive and unprofessional, highlighting actions such as punching a plexiglass door before entering the ring. This door, typically fragile, is not meant to be damaged, which added to concerns about Lesnar’s conduct.
Speaking on the TMZ Inside the Ring podcast, Riddle stated,
“[He] punched the plexiglass door – which isn’t super strong. I can kick through it, but you’re not supposed to – and then he just bum-rushed. He cut the match by 15 minutes because, he’s like, ‘Oh, sell.’ Like… F-5. He writes his own ticket, essentially.” And then Paul Heyman pretended like it didn’t happen or was like, ‘Oh, that was my mistake.’ And it’s like… ‘no, it wasn’t.’ He just went into business for himself.” – Matt Riddle, Former WWE Wrestler
Riddle’s description centers on Lesnar acting unilaterally, ignoring both the match duration and the coordinated selling of moves expected in WWE matches. He also criticized Paul Heyman, Lesnar’s advocate and longtime associate, for downplaying or dismissing the incident, suggesting a cover-up or refusal to acknowledge the disruption effectively.
Longstanding Friction Between Riddle and Lesnar
The conflict between Matt Riddle and Brock Lesnar is not new. During Riddle’s time in WWE’s developmental brand NXT, he created friction by publicly calling out Lesnar for a potential match, which reportedly contradicted WWE’s booking plans. Riddle was reportedly instructed not to engage with main roster wrestlers like Lesnar on social media, indicating early signs of backstage tension.
Their relationship soured further following a backstage conversation at WrestleMania 2020, contributing to ongoing friction. Additionally, Riddle’s WWE tenure was said to have ended due to multiple backstage issues similar to these earlier incidents, hinting at a pattern of conflict within the company’s environment.
Implications for WWE’s Creative Control and Star Management
If Matt Riddle’s accusations about Brock Lesnar withholding cooperation with WWE’s scripted content are accurate, this situation raises critical questions about how WWE manages its top stars, especially highly influential talents like Lesnar. The claim that Lesnar is “going into business for himself” indicates a severe breakdown in creative authority and collaborative effort, which can disrupt storytelling and brand consistency.
Though it remains unclear whether Lesnar truly disregarded the match plan, the public airing of these grievances puts pressure on WWE leadership to respond. How the company addresses this controversy could significantly impact backstage culture and the future handling of wrestlers who have the power to steer matches independently.
The ongoing Brock Lesnar WWE controversy continues to fuel discussions about loyalty, professionalism, and creative control in pro wrestling’s top promotion, emphasizing the challenges WWE faces in balancing individual star power with company-wide storytelling priorities.
