Matt Riddle reveals if TKO merger, expected raise in pay led to his WWE release

Matt Riddle had a great five year run with WWE from 2018 to 2023 and was released as a part of the WWE Layoff in September 2023. He was the last one to get released from the company with the other 21 wrestlers. Following the release, he joined MLW and now has been announced for his NJPW debut. Ever since Riddle’s release was made official, there have been a lot of speculations on what was the actual reason behind his release?

Riddle has now opened up on the topic and shared what he feels in a latest interview with WWE Hall of Famer.

Matt Riddle on his WWE release & $1 million deal

The Former WWE star, “The King of Bros”, Matt Riddle recently appeared for an interview on “The Kurt Angle Show” podcast, where Riddle opened up on different topics. Matt Riddle was asked if he felt the TKO merger had played a part in his WWE release?

Matt Riddle said,

“I think that definitely didn’t help things. Me and Dana White don’t have the greatest relationship and I know he’s definitely a big part of that. It definitely played a part. Also, I know that they’re making budget cuts regardless, and I was getting paid quite a pretty penny.”

“I don’t know if it was right before RKO Bro or right after, Laurinaitis pulled me into the office. I thought I was in trouble. I didn’t get my vaccine yet. I went in there and they were like, ‘Hey, we want to give you a raise’, and they gave me a substantial raise.”

“It increased every year and this year, I was gonna get paid a million a year. I was at 750. I mean, last year I cleared my bucket. I did extremely well. I think that was a big contributing factor. I was gonna get paid a million dollars starting next year, but I also think, you know, the merger didn’t help, and then also my behavior didn’t help either.”

“You know, I ruffled some feathers with HR in the last couple months I was there. I asked a couple questions, this, that, plus other things. So, I think there’s multiple reasons why they got rid of me, but it is what it is. One door shut and another one opens, and you just learn from your mistakes and stuff.”

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