Matt Riddle is bored with folks twisting his phrases and making an attempt to cancel him—and he’s not afraid to say so. Whether or not it’s on-line critics, wrestling followers, or locker room veterans who don’t like his type, Riddle believes the outrage is generally noise from individuals who don’t perceive the enterprise he lives and breathes.
Throughout his interview on TMZ’s Contained in the Ring, Riddle addressed years of on-line hate, controversial feedback, and the backlash he’s acquired from each followers and fellow wrestlers. However in Riddle’s view, none of it actually sticks—as a result of the foundations of cancel tradition simply don’t apply the identical manner in professional wrestling.
“I like professional wrestling. I actually do. I grew up watching it. It’s one in all my best passions… however on the finish of the day, once you develop into one of many employees on this business, you’re underneath such a microscope.”
Riddle mentioned being underneath fixed scrutiny comes with the territory, however blamed numerous the drama on followers who can’t inform what’s actual and what’s a part of the present.
“And also you’re ridiculed for every little thing. It’s unreal. And it’s professional wrestling. Sadly, as a result of it’s professional wrestling, your followers are fairly gullible, proper? “Professional wrestling followers are gullible. In the event that they hear one factor, they don’t know what’s actual. You guys typically don’t know what’s actual. All the things’s principally a piece, dude.”
When requested whether or not he ever regrets saying issues about wrestling followers, Riddle didn’t flinch.
“No, in no way. I’m not solely a wrestling fan—I’m so loopy of a wrestling fan, I throw my [__] self off cages and ladders via tables on a regular basis and I wrestle and I journey the world. That may sound like a luxurious, however on the finish of the day, you gotta have that piss and vinegar and also you gotta be robust. That’s simply what it’s.”
Then the subject shifted to cancel tradition and whether or not it impacts wrestlers the identical manner it does actors, influencers, or athletes in different industries.
“Cancel tradition doesn’t apply to wrestlers the identical manner it does to Brad Pitt or another person within the business.”
He was pressed on that time—and Riddle clarified that it is dependent upon a couple of elements, however total, the wrestling world exists in a “grey space” that followers and outsiders don’t perceive.
“It additionally is dependent upon how profitable you might be, proper? Who’s making the accusation? How true is the story?”
Riddle mentioned he’s been coping with years of false narratives and exaggerated backlash, particularly through the pandemic when followers have been caught at house with nothing higher to do.
“Individuals simply imagine something they see on the web, with none details… You by no means wish to say, ‘This isn’t truthful,’ however at a sure level, it’s like, shut the [__] up. This [__] didn’t occur.”
“For years, you guys have been ruining my profession simply since you couldn’t do something throughout COVID and sat in your [__] homes on a keyboard. So sorry, not sorry.”
He additionally blasted indie promoters and wrestling corporations that don’t maintain up their finish of contracts, including that he’s anticipated to indicate up on time and carry out, however when others drop the ball, they face zero penalties.
“In my scenario, what am I speculated to do? Simply complain? If I’m late, I may probably get my profession ruined. But when they don’t fulfill their finish of the cut price, it’s no matter.”
Riddle then spoke on how wrestling itself is misunderstood by the skin world:
“It’s artwork. You’re making an attempt to entertain folks. And also you’re gonna piss folks off or make folks completely happy. It’s simply what it’s. All the things on this enterprise is a piece, dude. However Twitter, social media—it lets anyone say something, and it may be damaging. Particularly once you’re in leisure.”
By the top of the section, Riddle didn’t apologize for something he’s mentioned previously—and made it clear he has zero regrets.
“I’m the largest fan of all of them. I’m the [__] mark. I’ve at all times been one. I simply don’t lie about it.”
Matt Riddle made one factor clear: when you can’t deal with his model of honesty, you in all probability don’t belong in his world.
Would you agree that almost all on-line backlash within the web wrestling neighborhood is faux? Please share your ideas and suggestions within the remark part under.