During a recent discussion on the 2022 WWE Royal Rumble, Matt Riddle candidly addressed an ongoing issue in WWE’s backstage environment: the fear that many producers reportedly have toward Brock Lesnar. Riddle recounted an intense moment during the final meeting for the Royal Rumble match, held shortly after Lesnar’s physically demanding bout with Bobby Lashley, where Lesnar’s demeanor influenced the planning of the match’s finish. This backstage tension reflects concerns about Lesnar’s backstage influence beyond his in-ring dominance.
Lesnar’s Confrontation During Final Rumble Production Meeting
Riddle recalled that Lesnar entered the meeting visibly upset after his match with Lashley, which featured punishing German suplex exchanges. He described the encounter:
“I forget who was supposed to win. Maybe it was Brock. But Brock comes in and he’s heated. I’m pretty sure he got smacked pretty good in that Bobby Lashley match. They both German suplexed each other really cracky. Not flat — like Bobby landed on his head, Brock landed awkward. Two jacked guys going hard.” ?Matt Riddle, WWE Superstar
Lesnar then addressed the small group responsible for finalizing the sequence among the last entrants, laying down strict instructions about how the match should end.
“So we’re at the end of the Rumble. It’s like the last five or six of us, we’re calling spots. And Brock comes in there and goes, ‘I just did business. That’s how it’s done. You guys are going to do business for me.’” ?Matt Riddle, WWE Superstar
The Intimidation Factor and Its Effect on Creative Collaboration
Riddle explained that the major issue wasn’t Lesnar’s directive itself, but the atmosphere it created, where no one felt comfortable opposing him. He suggested that this fear has grown excessively within WWE’s producer ranks.
“Every producer fears Brock Lesnar. It’s kind of — I respect everybody, I love everybody — but I hate seeing people get scared. You shouldn’t be.” ?Matt Riddle, WWE Superstar
“If this guy attacks you, have him arrested. That’s against the rules. We are a society. You can’t just act like a Neanderthal.” ?Matt Riddle, WWE Superstar
Though acknowledging Lesnar’s formidable presence, Riddle emphasized that he personally is not intimidated, sharing an anecdote about a prior encounter.
“Granted, he is intimidating. He grabbed me by my neck before, but I wasn’t intimidated. He grabbed me quite gently, actually. He does know how to work.” ?Matt Riddle, WWE Superstar
Lesnar’s Control Over Match Outcomes Without Discussion
According to Riddle, Lesnar rejected collaborative planning in favor of issuing commands, dictating who would be thrown out of the ring and how the sequence would proceed.
“He didn’t want to talk or put anything together. He just said, ‘Do business for me.’ So it was like, okay… Randy, I’ll clothesline you. Everybody else, I’ll belly-to-belly you over the top or F5 you out. We were all getting thrown out by Brock.” ?Matt Riddle, WWE Superstar
Implications of Lesnar’s Backstage Authority on WWE’s Creative Environment
Lesnar eventually won the 2022 Royal Rumble and went on to headline WrestleMania, solidifying his status at the story level. However, Riddle’s remarks suggest Lesnar’s power extends behind the scenes, shaping how matches are structured and possibly limiting input from producers and wrestlers alike. This situation raises questions about WWE’s backstage culture and the balance of creative control at the highest levels.
Riddle’s reputation for speaking openly about WWE politics lends weight to his observations, which may reveal deeper tensions around Lesnar’s influence within the company. As discussions around backstage dynamics continue, the impact of such fear on collaboration and match quality remains a topic of concern for fans and insiders.
