Roman Reigns compelled former WWE star Matt Riddle to issue an apology following a viral statement by Riddle that stirred controversy. The incident unfolded in the weeks after Riddle publicly claimed that Reigns, while dominant in the wrestling ring, would not prevail in a street fight or cage match against him.
Roman Reigns, recognized as WWE’s top superstar and the longest-reigning Universal Champion in history, has a formidable reputation both in and out of the ring. Despite his success, Reigns has faced criticism and challenges throughout his career. Riddle’s recent remarks questioning Reigns’ toughness outside the ring clearly struck a nerve with The Tribal Chief.
Matt Riddle Shares Roman Reigns’s Angry Response to His Comments
During an interview with TMZ, Matt Riddle opened up about the message he received from Roman Reigns after making his comments. Riddle explained that Reigns was visibly upset by the remarks and expressed his displeasure through a direct text. Despite the backlash, Riddle stood by his opinions, reinforcing his belief that his claims were truthful.
“They asked me to talk crap about Roman. I told everybody, ‘Hey, he might beat me in the ring, but if we were in a cage or in the street, I’d beat the hell out of him.’ And he knows that, and I know that and everybody else knows that.”
He described the moment Reigns reacted strongly to his words.
“Dude, he flipped out. He texted me… ‘Not cool, dude.’ And I was like, ‘Oh [__]!’ Like, I apologized.”
Randy Orton Helped Matt Riddle Craft His Apology to Roman Reigns
Following Reigns’s disapproval, Matt Riddle took the apology process seriously. He drafted a detailed apology and sought feedback from Randy Orton, known as The Viper, who then reworked it to improve the tone. Orton’s revision included a hopeful note about potentially collaborating with Reigns again in the future.
“So I wrote like this long apology. I go, ‘Randy, how does this look?’ And Randy goes, ‘Nah, this isn’t right.’ He rewrites it, and it was basically like: ‘My bad, bro. Maybe we’ll work again someday soon.’”
Unexpected Conflict with the Media After the Apology
After managing the tense exchange with Roman Reigns and issuing his apology, Matt Riddle’s situation took an additional turn when he attacked the TMZ reporter during the interview, escalating the emotional tension surrounding the episode. This confrontation further highlighted the strain in the relationships between these WWE personalities.
The episode underscores the volatility that can arise from outspoken comments among top-tier WWE performers. Roman Reigns’s reaction illustrates how seriously he takes his image and standing, while Matt Riddle’s defiance and subsequent apology show the delicate balance wrestlers maintain between personal opinions and professional respect.
