In the summer of 2021, Matt Riddle created a stir when he openly challenged Roman Reigns during an interview with BleacherReport.com, sparking a surprising feud. Riddle directly confronted Reigns by stating,
“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.”
These blunt remarks fueled an immediate reaction from Reigns.
Roman Reigns’ Response and Private Confrontation
Roman Reigns responded to Matt Riddle’s comments without delay. Following the interview, Reigns contacted Riddle personally to express his displeasure. Riddle later recounted the exchange in an interview with TMZ.com, explaining the intensity of Reigns’ reaction.
“Dude, he flipped out. He texted me. ‘Not cool, dude.’ And I was like, ‘oh sh*t.’”
This text message underscored Reigns’ frustration with Riddle’s remarks and revealed the seriousness of their exchange.
Apology and Reconciliation Efforts
Realizing the situation had escalated, Matt Riddle took steps to mend fences. He composed a lengthy apology and sought advice from Randy Orton on the wording.
“I go, ‘Randy [Orton], how does this look?’ I just showed him and he goes, ‘Nah, this isn’t right.’”
Because Roman Reigns was appearing on SmackDown and social distancing measures were still in place due to COVID, Orton helped adjust the text to better suit the context. The final message read:
“‘My bad, bro. Maybe we’ll work again someday soon.’”
Following that, Riddle noted that they had patched things up, and his admiration for Reigns remained.
“We’d worked since then. And the guy loves me… I try to tell this to people, it’s pro wrestling. If I’m not talking sh*t, like what are we doing here?”
The Impact and Ongoing Dynamic Between Two Wrestling Stars
This episode highlights the complicated nature of relationships in professional wrestling, blending real tension with entertainment dynamics. The verbal showdown between Roman Reigns and Matt Riddle underscored their passionate commitment to their personas and the sport itself. Despite the rugged exchange, their eventual reconciliation demonstrates respect behind the scenes, sustaining fan engagement and continuing their on-screen careers robustly. As their rivalry simmered down, fans remained eager to see how their dynamic would evolve in the wrestling world.
