WWE: Matt Riddle Could Be The Next Big Thing on the Main Roster

Matt Riddle has what it takes to be a major star in WWE.

What man is bold enough to laugh in the face of Goldberg and openly speak about being the one to retire Brock Lesnar? Matt Riddle, that’s who.

Being bold and marching to the beat of his own drum is something that Riddle has done since before he even began his professional wrestling career.

Initially introduced to the general public on UFC’s The Ultimate Fighter series, Riddle, who once pinned future UFC Champion Jon Jones in High School wrestling, delivered one of the most brutal knockouts in the history of that series, breaking his opponent’s jaw in two places.

Riddle’s UFC career was up and down due to injuries and multiple suspensions for marijuana. However, without the suspensions, Riddle would have had five straight victories, proving that he did have what it took to hang in the UFC.

Riddle’s clashes with UFC President Dana White were the next thing to give Riddle notoriety, showing early on that he was not afraid to shake the table, even when speaking on people in positions of power:

"“I’m not the biggest fan of Mr. White. I don’t think he has good business ethics. I don’t think he does things properly. I don’t think he treats people properly.”"

If you had to describe Matt Riddle to a fan that hasn’t watched wrestling in 10 years, you could describe him as what you would get if you take the legitimate sports background and natural ability of Kurt Angle, mix it with RVD’s athleticism, and general outlook on life and combine all of that with ‘97 Shawn Michaels brash attitude.

Riddle is a five-tool player, and he has all of the ingredients to become one of the biggest stars in the WWE, and with rumors that he’s heading up to the main roster, Riddle can make a leap to the top of WWE in the very near future.

What helps Riddle stand out from other wrestlers who may be better wrestlers or better talkers than he is, is that he feels like he’s his genuine self. Good or bad, you feel like you’re getting the real Riddle when he talks or performs.

Riddle confidently saunters out to the ring in flip flops and the tightest jacket you’ve ever seen, and he doesn’t feel like he’s playing a character. Riddle himself is a character.

Fans tend to connect the most with wrestlers who seem like they’re comfortable in their own skin, and being uniquely themselves. Riddle has that special quality about him.

The BroserWeights tag team with “Stallion” Pete Dunne has allowed Riddle to show off his endearing charisma. If Shaggy from Scooby-Doo had a mean Brazilian jiu Jitsu game, he’d be Riddle.

Once he steps in the ring though, Riddle can go with best of them with knee strikes that sound like a shotgun blast, suplexes that fold his opponents in half and a twisting senton off the top just for the hell of it.

However, the attribute that will make Riddle succeed is one that some people believe will be the reason for his downfall: His attitude.

Riddle’s attitude has gotten him into some beef with notable wrestlers, most famously with Goldberg, as Riddle explained to TalkSport:

"“The thing for me is, and one of the reasons I was never a fan of Goldberg in the beginning when everybody was like ‘oh, he’s so good!’ I was like ‘no, he’s terrible, he’s hurting people,’ and there’s nothing else. He just has three-minute matches. When people say, ‘who was your favorite wrestler?’ I really don’t have one. I just liked really good wrestling. That’s why I fight, and I do that. So for me, I don’t care how much money he makes, I’m just glad people were entertained. But, stick to your wheelhouse, bro. And stop headbutting doors before you wrestle. And I’m not hating – I’m not hating – I’m just spitting facts, and these are all facts and things he should take into consideration. And not just for me, not because he got made fun of, but for his health as well.”"

The beef came to a head when the two ran into each other backstage at Summerslam where Goldberg and Riddle didn’t resolve much of anything.

“First of all I’m not your bro,” Goldberg said. “Could have been a long time ago…you’ve gotta put a stop to that.”

“Hey, it’s just an opinion. If you don’t like it, that’s it,” Riddle replied.

“You got it”

“Fine, that’s it.”

“Awesome. Nice to meet you”

“Pleasures all mine, bro.”

“I ain’t ya bro.”

“I hear you. I hear you.”

Riddle won’t back down from anybody, and that’s the type of mentality that can lead to great success in WWE when backed up by undeniable talent.

The charming, carefree babyface charisma can easily be transformed into a cocky, arrogant heel type of charisma whenever a story calls for it.

If you can’t make a guy who can wrestle, talk, has charisma, and the look of a star into one of your top guys, then what hope does anyone else have of breaking through?

If handled correctly, Riddle has the potential to fulfill his personal dream and be the one to retire Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania (or at least convince Lesnar he’s worthy of having an actual match with him).

The sky’s the limit for the “Orignal Bro” if he’s handled correctly, and we know Riddle’s comfortable being high.