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what happened to matt riddle

Matt Riddle was released from WWE in 2023 after a stretch of wellness issues and an airport incident, and since then he has rebuilt his career on the independent scene and is now a featured star and champion in other promotions.

What Happened To Matt Riddle?

From WWE Star To Release

  • Matt Riddle was a prominent WWE name, known for his team with Randy Orton as RK-Bro and for high-profile feuds on Raw.
  • In late 2022 he was suspended under WWE’s wellness policy after failing a drug test, something he later said involved testing positive for cocaine.
  • His last WWE match was in September 2023 on Raw, after which he quietly disappeared from TV.
  • On September 22, 2023, he announced that he was no longer with WWE, coinciding with broader roster cuts.

“When you work for WWE, everything you do is under a magnifying glass… if a situation happens and they don’t like the perception, they make their decision.”

The Airport Incident & Setbacks

  • Around the time of his release, reports and later interviews referenced an airport incident after he’d had “a couple cocktails,” which added to existing issues and negative perception around him.
  • Before that, he had already faced criticism and scrutiny for multiple failed tests and off-screen controversies, which together made him a risky asset for WWE’s image.
  • Riddle has since framed these as “ups and downs, peaks and valleys” in his life, saying he wouldn’t change them because they shaped who he is now.

Life After WWE: New Japan & MLW

  • After leaving WWE, Riddle quickly resurfaced in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), where he briefly held the NJPW World Television Championship in early 2024 before losing it after a short reign.
  • He then became a major player in Major League Wrestling (MLW), rising all the way to MLW World Heavyweight Champion and headlining as a top guy nearly two years after his WWE release.
  • In interviews he has said he’s “having the best time” of his life in this phase, enjoying more freedom and a schedule that lets him be himself more authentically.

Where He Is Now (Latest News & Forums Vibe)

  • Recent coverage paints Riddle as a reclaimed success story: former WWE name, now a central star in MLW and a respected crossover name who still brings WWE-level visibility wherever he goes.
  • He has also talked about potential comebacks in combat sports and wrestling, keeping the door open for future big-stage appearances if the business is right.
  • As of early 2026, discussion around him on news and forums tends to focus on his MLW title run, dream matches (like facing Japanese legends), and the “what if” of a possible WWE return someday, rather than just the controversies that once defined him.

Multiple Viewpoints On “What Happened”

  1. The company perspective
    • WWE saw repeated wellness issues and public incidents, decided the risk to their brand was too high, and cut ties.
  1. Riddle’s own framing
    • He views it as part of a rough patch: bad decisions, public scrutiny, but ultimately something that pushed him toward a healthier, more independent phase of his career.
  1. Fan and forum angle
    • Some fans feel WWE gave up too soon on a unique talent; others think the company had no choice given his track record, while many are just happy he seems more stable and successful now in MLW and elsewhere.

TL;DR: Matt Riddle was suspended and eventually released by WWE in 2023 after wellness violations and an airport incident, then rebuilt himself in NJPW and MLW, where he’s now a top champion and says he’s in a much better place personally and professionally.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.