Matt Riddle is a wildcard. If you’ve followed his career from the UFC to the bright lights of Monday Night Raw, you know he doesn't exactly follow the "corporate athlete" playbook. He’s the guy who walked into WrestleMania barefoot and actually managed to make a scooter look like a legitimate piece of sports equipment. But for all the "Original Bro" charm and the high-flying knees, the Matt Riddle WWE story ended with a thud that many saw coming a mile away.
It wasn't just one thing. It was a snowball of drug tests, backstage heat, and a very public meltdown at an airport that finally forced WWE’s hand.
Why the Original Bro Got the Boot
Honestly, WWE is usually pretty patient with talent that moves merchandise. And Riddle moved merchandise. His partnership with Randy Orton in RK-Bro was arguably the most entertaining thing on television for a solid year. You had the stoic, "Legend Killer" Orton playing the straight man to Riddle’s chaotic, bird-brained energy. It worked perfectly. But behind the scenes, things were getting messy.
In early 2024, Riddle sat down with Ariel Helwani and finally cleared the air about his 2023 release. He admitted to testing positive for cocaine. This came after a previous suspension where he was sent to rehab. WWE can handle the occasional "lifestyle choice," but once you're missing dates and failing tests for hard substances, the liability becomes too high.
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Then came the JFK Airport incident in September 2023. Riddle posted on Instagram claiming he was sexually harassed by an officer. Investigations followed, but the narrative quickly shifted when witnesses described Riddle as being "disorderly." For a company that had just merged with UFC under the TKO umbrella—run by Dana White, a man who already had a legendary grudge against Riddle—the timing was disastrous.
The Dana White Factor
You can't talk about Matt Riddle WWE without talking about the UFC. Riddle was famously fired from the UFC in 2013 after testing positive for marijuana for the second time in a year. He was on a four-fight winning streak at the time. Dana White didn't just fire him; he buried him in the press, calling him a "loser" who couldn't stay off the weed.
Fast forward to 2023. WWE and UFC merge. Suddenly, the man who holds the keys to the kingdom is the same man who kicked Riddle out of the octagon a decade prior. While Triple H reportedly liked Riddle’s work, the business reality changed. You’re no longer just a wrestler; you’re an asset in a massive corporate portfolio. If you’re a "headache" asset, you get liquidated.
What Most People Get Wrong About His Career
A lot of fans think Riddle was just a "weed guy" who got lucky. That's a massive understatement of his actual skill. This is a guy who beat Jon Jones twice in high school wrestling. He had some of the best takedown defense stats in UFC history. When he moved to the indies and eventually NXT, he didn't just "learn" how to wrestle; he revolutionized the hybrid MMA-pro wrestling style.
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His "The BroserWeights" run with Pete Dunne proved he could adapt to any style. He wasn't just a comedy act. He was a legitimate shooter who could out-grapple almost anyone on the roster.
Key Career Milestones
- WWE United States Champion: Defeated Bobby Lashley and John Morrison in a triple threat.
- Two-time Raw Tag Team Champion: His chemistry with Randy Orton was lightning in a bottle.
- NXT Tag Team Champion: Winner of the 2020 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
Where is Matt Riddle Now?
If you think he’s sitting at home moping, you haven't been paying attention to the international scene. Since his WWE non-compete clause expired, Riddle has been everywhere. He showed up in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and immediately took the NJPW TV Title from Hiroshi Tanahashi. He’s also been a dominant force in Major League Wrestling (MLW), where he recently captured the MLW World Heavyweight Championship by defeating Satoshi Kojima in January 2025.
He’s leaning into a more "Rude Dude" persona lately. He’s dyed his hair purple, he’s talking trash to fans, and he’s making a killing on independent bookings. He even hinted in late 2025 that he might return to the cage for a "shoot" fight. The guy just wants to compete, regardless of whether there's a script or not.
Is a WWE Return Possible?
Never say never in wrestling. CM Punk came back. The Ultimate Warrior came back. But Riddle’s bridge isn't just burnt; it's been dismantled and the pieces thrown in the ocean. Between the TKO merger and his history of relapses, a return in 2026 seems highly unlikely. He’s making great money on the indies and through personal branding—sorta like Matt Cardona did after his release.
The reality is that Riddle is better suited for a world where he doesn't have to answer to a HR department. He’s a free spirit in a business that has become increasingly corporate.
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Actionable Insights for Fans
If you want to keep up with the "Original Bro" today, don't look for him on USA Network. Check out the MLW weekly shows or look for his matches on NJPW World. He is currently wrestling a much more aggressive, stiff style than he ever did in WWE. If you're looking for the comedy bits, those are mostly gone. The current version of Riddle is a man who knows his worth and doesn't care if he’s the "bad guy" in the room.
Watch his matches against Donovan Dijak in MLW to see what he’s truly capable of when the handcuffs are off. It’s a different level of intensity that WWE’s PG environment just couldn't facilitate.