Brock Lesnar claimed victory in the 2022 WWE Men’s Elimination Chamber Match held in Saudi Arabia, later facing Roman Reigns in a high-stakes Champion vs. Champion contest at WrestleMania 38. However, behind the scenes, tensions rose as Lesnar reportedly deviated from the planned sequence during the Chamber match, angering fellow participants including AJ Styles, Seth Rollins, and Matt Riddle.
Matt Riddle, who was part of the Chamber match, recently shared details in an interview on the Rewind Recap Relive YouTube channel, explaining how Lesnar’s unscripted actions disrupted the flow of the event. According to Riddle, Lesnar was supposed to exit the chamber last, but changes in the planned order led to confusion and frustration among the competitors.
Disrupted Match Flow and Frustration Among Wrestlers
Riddle described the chaotic moment when Bobby Lashley was written off due to medical concerns after an intense spot involving Seth Rollins. Although Lashley’s pod light activated signaling his next entry, he was absent, forcing Lesnar to wait several more minutes inside the chamber. During this interval, other wrestlers were eager to perform signature moves and secure pins, heightening the tension as the match dragged on.
Lesnar’s unexpected behavior, described as reckless by Riddle, included punching and kicking his pod to break free prematurely, which threw off the coordinated sequence designed for the match’s pacing and storytelling. This erratic conduct culminated in Lesnar aggressively eliminating multiple competitors in quick succession, much to the annoyance of his peers.
“Well, that happens, Brock Lesnar not listening to anybody but himself and maybe Paul Heyman. Honestly, that guy’s kind of in it to win it for himself. Basically starts flipping up, punches the pod. (…) He punches through it and then, of course, starts kicking it, bust it down. I’m like he is escaping. I guess everybody feed in for a Clothesline or whatever. That’s what we all did. He doesn’t know what he was doing. He is going in there reckless. Clothsline, F5, Clothsline F5. And AJ Styles was furious, I was furious, Seth, everybody was furious, then he eliminated all of us, and then eliminated Theory, then after the match he’s laughing, and he goes ‘Oh sorry, I forgot,'”
— Matt Riddle, former WWE Superstar
Following the match, Lesnar reportedly apologized for forgetting the scripted sequence, which only added to the frustration of those involved.
“We’re in the Elimination Chamber in Saudi [Arabia], and Brock Lesnar was supposed to get out last. You know, so you got myself, Seth Rollins, AJ Styles, Austin Theory, Bobby Lashley. Seth Rollins buckle bombs Austin Theory into the pod. This is all played to concuss Bobby, and the medical takes him out. So, now everybody is out, but technically, the next entry was supposed to be Bob, but Bobby is not there. Even though when the bell goes off, his pod lights up, but Brock still has to wait like another five minutes. Now, in that [sic] five minutes, there’s multiple spots, multiple moves that everybody wanted to do to showcase their character work, and everyone was like supposed to get a pin,”
— Matt Riddle, former WWE Superstar
Matt Riddle’s Efforts to Return to WWE
In the same discussion, Riddle revealed his recent attempts to return to WWE, mentioning talks that stretched until 2025. He explained that Randy Orton had proposed Riddle as a secret opponent for WrestleMania 41 after Kevin Owens withdrew due to injury. Despite these efforts, the company’s plans involved Joe Hendry confronting Orton at the event, halting Riddle’s prospects.
Riddle also reached out directly to WWE Executive Triple H, seeking a comeback opportunity, but was informed that the angle for The Viper was already set. This development left the former WWE Superstar disappointed but hopeful for future possibilities.
Implications for WWE’s Future Storylines and Wrestler Dynamics
The incident involving Brock Lesnar’s Elimination Chamber misconduct highlights ongoing challenges in maintaining scripted order in high-profile WWE matches, impacting trust and collaboration among wrestlers. Such disruptions not only affect the live event experience but also have repercussions on WrestleMania plans and backstage relationships, as seen with Riddle and other stars’ frustration.
WWE’s handling of these moments and wrestler disputes may influence the creative direction and talent management moving forward, especially as the company balances scripted entertainment with performers’ improvisation and competitive instincts. Fans and insiders alike will be watching how these dynamics evolve in upcoming WRESTLEMANIA events and WWE programming.
