Former WWE star Matt Riddle recently opened up about his initial encounters with Randy Orton when they were both part of the company.
Riddle had a successful tenure with WWE, securing multiple championships such as the United States Title and the RAW Tag Team Title.
Despite his achievements, Riddle faced controversy due to failed drug tests and other issues, ultimately leading to his release in September last year.
In a conversation with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Riddle reflected on his dynamic with Randy Orton, particularly during their time together in Team RK-Bro.
He revealed that Orton wasn’t initially fond of him, recalling an incident backstage where Orton took offense when Riddle didn’t greet him properly.
“He didn’t like me at all, not at all. I remember, even when I was at NXT, he would make comments. When I won the tag team titles with Pete, he was like, ‘I still don’t like you but I get it.’ He said that via Twitter. And then I finally see him in person and when I see him in person, I’m stoked to see him. I’m like, ‘Oh dude, it’s Randy.’ But he seemed busy, talking to some of the boys. So I walk by and I give him a nod. There was an A&E thing we did, and he talks about it how I give him the nod. He was like, ‘What a piece of sh*t! Why didn’t he come up and shake my hand?'” Riddle elaborated, “He’s generational, so they’re big on that respect and the little things. So, he didn’t like me when we first met but I have a tendency to grow on people.” [From 1:49:26 – 1:50:30]
Despite the initial friction, Riddle expressed that his relationship with Orton has significantly improved over time. He mentioned that even after leaving WWE, they have maintained communication.
“I do, I stay in touch with him. He messages me, I message him. We try to get on the phone. But if you know and you know Randy, it’s hard to get me here.” [From 1:49:13 – 1:49:20]
As for Orton’s future in WWE, fans eagerly await his next move, especially after his recent setback at the Elimination Chamber. There’s speculation about a potential match against Logan Paul at WrestleMania, but only time will tell.
