Roman Reigns expressed anger after Matt Riddle boldly claimed he would defeat Reigns in a real street fight or cage match during a recent interview. This controversy emerged as Riddle reflected on his <a href="https://cynicaltimes.org/category/wrestling-news/wwe/”>WWE past and his interactions with major figures, including Reigns, highlighting the ongoing tensions surrounding the Roman Reigns street fight controversy.
Roman Reigns’ Early Leadership and Influence in WWE
Roman Reigns has been a dominant leader in the WWE locker room since his early main roster days. In 2016, during a WWE tour when Enzo Amore caused disruptions, Reigns stepped forward to restore order, asserting his influence among his peers. This leadership role laid the foundation for his prominence within WWE.
The Formation of RK-Bro and Key Events Leading to the Fallout
Matt Riddle teamed up with Randy Orton in 2021, forming the popular tag team known as RK-Bro. They became two-time RAW Tag Team Champions, enjoying success together until their partnership was disrupted by interference from The Bloodline, led by Roman Reigns. At a tag team title unification match in May 2022, The Bloodline attacked both Riddle and Orton. During this chaotic moment, an incident with steel steps sidelined Orton for nearly two years. Following this, Riddle pursued his own vendetta, clashing with The OC and seeking personal retribution.
Matt Riddle’s Controversial Comments on Roman Reigns
In an interview with TMZ Sports, Matt Riddle opened up about moments when his candid remarks caused tension within WWE. He specifically addressed his controversial comment about being able to beat Roman Reigns outside the ring, which drew ire from Reigns himself.
“Even Roman Reigns at one point I rubbed the wrong way. They get really angry when you spit facts. So if I say you’re hard to work with and you can’t fight, CM Punk gets really mad, right? If I said Goldberg, you’re a terrible wrestler and you injured people, he gets mad. You know, Roman, 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. And Roman got upset about that.” —Matt Riddle, Wrestler
Riddle’s remarks highlight the crack in their professional relationship and the volatile dynamics between the two wrestlers beyond the scripted environment.
Insights Into WWE’s Planned Storyline for RK-Bro
During the same TMZ Sports interview, Riddle also disclosed WWE’s initial plans involving a betrayal in the RK-Bro storyline. WWE had intended for Randy Orton to turn on Riddle, creating dramatic tension during their tag team reign.
Riddle explained that due to being newer in the wrestling scene compared to Orton, he proposed reversing the betrayal angle by having himself turn on Orton instead. WWE officials reportedly agreed with his suggestion, but plans changed after Orton sustained injuries.
“So, I was like, so if anything, I would like to turn on Randy. And Randy agreed. The office agreed. Now, granted, Randy got hurt and ended up leaving. And then I had my feud with Roman. I had my feud with Seth Rollins, etc. But yeah, I think the plan was originally him turn on me, but then when I explained what I thought would happen, they all agreed, and then they were probably going to have me turn on Randy turn heel. And I was very much so looking forward to that not just because of the matches but being able to dive into a different version of my character.” —Matt Riddle, Wrestler
This revelation sheds light on a pivotal moment in WWE creative planning that never materialized due to real-life injuries and shifting storylines.
Subsequent Developments for Matt Riddle and Randy Orton
After Orton’s back surgery sidelined him, Matt Riddle was released from WWE in 2023. Orton made a notable return later that year at Survivor Series: WarGames, siding with Team Cody Rhodes against The Judgment Day. Meanwhile, Riddle transitioned to Major League Wrestling (MLW) where he became the MLW World Heavyweight Champion in 2024, marking a new chapter in his wrestling career.
The Broader Impact of the Dispute on WWE and Fans
The clash between Roman Reigns and Matt Riddle over their supposed street fighting abilities underscores the tension behind the scenes in WWE, where real emotions sometimes intrude upon scripted rivalries. This controversy surrounding the Roman Reigns street fight narrative has captured fans’ attention, blending reality with wrestling drama. Moving forward, this dispute could influence the portrayal of these wrestlers in future storylines or impact fan perceptions, particularly as Riddle continues to build his career outside WWE.
