During a recent appearance on the TMZ Inside The Ring podcast, Matt Riddle shared a backstage story from the 2022 WWE Royal Rumble match involving Brock Lesnar and Shane McMahon. The anecdote came up as Riddle was discussing a creative pitch that would have seen him win that year’s Rumble match before plans were changed.
Riddle, who was a participant in the match, described the atmosphere when Brock Lesnar entered the locker room. He claimed that Lesnar, who had just worked a match with Bobby Lashley and would go on to win the Rumble, made his intentions for the match clear to the other participants. “He came in as the artist, did business for Bobby Lashley,” Riddle began. He then said Lesnar told the group, “You guys are all going to do business for me.”
According to Riddle, it was after this that Shane McMahon approached Lesnar with an idea for a spot between the two during the match. Riddle recounted the brief interaction for the podcast hosts. “And then Shane McMahon mentioned and asked if he could pick him up for a spot,” Riddle said. “And Brock just looked down. Like, no.”
Following the blunt rejection, Riddle said the other wrestlers were surprised by the exchange. He then commented on his own strength and abilities, suggesting he would have been capable of the spot that McMahon proposed with Lesnar. “We were all like, what are you thinking, dude?” Riddle said. “Like, I can actually pick Brock up, but I’m not going to… I can pick anybody up, bro. I dealt with German suplex. Keith Lee. He’s like, 350 bro.”
The full interview, where Riddle discusses more about his career and time in WWE, can be heard on the TMZ Inside The Ring podcast. Click below to listen.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit TMZs Inside The Ring with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
