Matt Riddle was a former star in the UFC, but was fired due to his habitual marijuana use. After leaving the UFC, Riddle ventured into the world of professional wrestling. Riddle was named the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Rookie of the Year in 2016, and the Observer’s Dave Meltzer went as far as to say, “There’s only a handful of guys in my life that I’ve seen adapt to pro wrestling as quickly as he did.”
Not long after his first pro wrestling match, Riddle received a tryout with WWE. A few months later the decision was made by WWE to pass on him, however they recommended him for their “feeder” promotion Evolve Wrestling, which WWE has had a working relationship with for years. The reason WWE opted to pass on Riddle was due to his history with marijuana. When asked about WWE choosing to pass on him, Riddle said, “It wasn’t that I failed a drug test [in the UFC]—it was my political stance on marijuana.” Dave Meltzer was quoted as saying, “If it wasn’t for the marijuana stuff, my gut [feeling] is that he’d be a superstar today either in Japan or in WWE,” in regards to Matt Riddle’s wrestling career.
In a recent interview with VICE Sports, Matt Riddle spoke further about a potential career with WWE. Riddle said, “If the money was right with [WWE] and they said you have to quit smoking, I’d quit smoking. If New Japan was down, I wouldn’t bring weed to Japan—I’m not an idiot,” he says. “I know [the Japanese] drink, so I’d still enjoy myself.”
He added, “Honestly, right now I make six figures. I make my own merch. I’m the main or co-main event of every show I’m on. I get to be me and I get to wrestle like I want to. Can they promise me that? If not, why would I go to WWE to probably make less money and be gone more? By the time they do pick me up, if they decide to, I’ll be worth so much more.”
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