During a recent interview on the Battleground podcast, newly crowned Raw Tag Team Champion Riddle reflected on his segment with John Cena during RAW. Riddle also discussed why WWE dropped his first name and more.
Check out highlights below:
"It was a very surreal moment. I ran into John in the back and it was not on the format or schedule. John was gonna go out and do his thing and I was just gonna roll by him. John made a note of coming up to me and we talked to each other, and he asked if I would be interested. I said of course. Letās bro it off, dude. Letās do it, that would be awesome. Itās funny, we did that and Randy hit me up right after and goes, āI donāt know if you know this, kid, but John just gave you the rub.ā At first I was like, cāmon, Iāve been wrestling for a long time, I know what just happened. Iām stoked about it. I love how Randy talks to me. Randy is the coolest.ā
āWe click very well when it comes to creative things. We agree on everything. Itās funny how different we are personality wise when you look at us walk and talk and move. Weāre very different. But then, when it comes to business and our jobs, weāre very similar. I think thatās why we click so well and work so well together.ā
āYou know, I think the problem really came in that they didnāt know they wanted to call me Matt Riddle or Matthew Riddle. Honestly, my whole life Iāve been called Riddle, you know, because thereās a lot of Matts and thereās only a couple Riddles. So every sports team I was on, every wrestling team I was on, even when I did jujitsu, or fought in the UFC people just called me Riddle. So for me, it worked. I know a lot of fans were very upset about it. But I was like, people have been calling me that. Itās my last name, itās not like itās a fake last name. Itās still my real name. Honestly, people hated it at first, but itās catching on. Riddle is pretty sweet. Iāll tell you this. There are certain battles you fight, right? Youāll fight hard and youāll die on that hill. Losing my first name isnāt one of those hills Iām ready to die on. You want me to work here and do this and be awesome, and you want to take my first name? I was like sure.ā