CM Punk remains one of WWE’s most prominent wrestlers, but according to former manager Dutch Mantell, the company may hesitate to rehire certain talent due to tensions involving him. Mantell suggested that WWE is cautious about bringing back a former United States Champion who has openly criticized top stars, particularly CM Punk, with fears it could create backstage issues.
Matt Riddle, who left WWE under contentious circumstances in late 2023, has publicly taken shots at both WWE and CM Punk. In a recent TMZ Sports interview, Riddle criticized Punk’s work style despite acknowledging Punk’s success and drawing power within the company.
Dutch Mantell noted on his podcast, Story Time with Dutch Mantell, that Riddle’s verbal criticisms could be a significant factor in WWE’s reluctance to reinstate him. Mantell believes that Riddle’s remarks have likely caused friction with Punk and possibly other wrestlers, which WWE aims to avoid.
“This may be a reason why they hadn’t picked him up because he’s talking about one of the top guys in WWE, and, you know, CM Punk is going to read this. So if they brought him in, would there be heat between CM Punk and Matt Riddle? I’d say yes, and they don’t want to bring in something that’s going to be a distraction from the rest of their talent or that they would have to deal with, you know, behind the scenes, so and CM Punk may be a lot of those things, but as he said, he more than pays his salary by his merchandise and all this other stuff that he does,” Mantell said. (From 1:35:54 to 1:36:32)
The potential for backstage confrontation is reportedly a significant concern for WWE management, who prefer to avoid distractions that could affect the locker room environment and overall product.
Matt Riddle’s Desire to Resolve His WWE Storyline
Matt Riddle also discussed his unfinished storyline with Randy Orton, known as the tag team RK-Bro, during his interview with TMZ Sports. The duo’s partnership ended abruptly due to Orton’s back injury in 2022, leaving fans without a proper conclusion to their run.
Riddle expressed his hope to complete their story if given the chance to return to WWE, emphasizing that both he and Orton want to provide fans with closure.
“Well, if it’s up to me, yes. I want to finish my story with Randy. And I know Randy really wants to finish it with me as well. And I know the fans, if I could say anything, the amount of fans that would be happy if we did, even if it was a couple month run, they would be ecstatic and feel complete.” (H/T – TJRWrestling)
Since leaving WWE, Riddle has found success independently, capturing the MLW World Heavyweight Championship. His future in WWE remains uncertain, pending decisions from executives such as Triple H, who oversees talent relations and recruitment.
Implications for WWE’s Talent Management
The concerns surrounding CM Punk’s potential backlash demonstrate WWE’s cautious approach to rehiring talent who have publicly criticized its top stars. While CM Punk’s status as a major draw is undeniable, the company appears unwilling to risk locker room tensions that might arise from bringing back individuals like Matt Riddle, who have voiced grievances openly.
This situation reflects the delicate balance WWE must maintain between leveraging star power and managing internal harmony among its roster. How WWE navigates these backstage dynamics could influence both roster moves and future storylines as the company strives to maintain stability and fan engagement.
