Triple H Open To Letting NXT’s Matt Riddle Fight In UFC

NXT star Matt Riddle defeated Roderick Strong in what was a fantastic opening match at NXT Takeover: XXV. Since he signed with the company in August 2018, Riddle is said to have massively impressive WWE higher-ups.

Before Riddle even started training to become a professional wrestler in 2014, he found his home in the Octagon, having won eight of his 13 professional MMA fights.

The “Original Bro” made his debut in the UFC in 2008, but was released from Dana White’s company in 2013 after he tested positive for marijuana in two separate drugs tests within 12 months.

Speaking to Fightful, NXT boss Triple H was asked if he would let Riddle have a one-off fight in the UFC. “The Game” said it would be something he would have to discuss with Riddle himself, but was not totally against the idea:

“We’d talk to Matt about it and see what the opportunity was. Is it something we would like to do? Is it something he would like to do? There’s no set in stone template in how you deal with this stuff. We have talent within the system that get offers to do a lot of things. Even internationally, we have talent from India, but he’s like a television and movie star in India, but his dream to be a wrestler. Every now and then he goes home and stars in a movie and stays in shape, continues to do everything he can do while he’s there and comes back and gets his training. If the opportunity is there, and it’s the right thing, we talk to them about it”.

However, Triple H questioned if Riddle would even be interested in making a return to the UFC if Dana White approached him:

“You bring up Matt Riddle, one of my favorite talents out there right now. He brings out an intensity and dynamic that few bring to the ring. The question would be, if an offer came, would it be something he’s interested in doing? Because he’s having the time of this life doing what he’s doing. He might, but I don’t know that he’d want to take a moment out and train differently. He loves what he does, and it shows, because he’s one of the best in the world”.

This comes after Matt Riddle took to social media yesterday to dubb Goldberg the “worst wrestler” in the business after his woeful match with The Undertaker at WWE Super ShowDown. He later claimed the WCW icon was both unsafe and dangerous.

Matt Riddle is not the only star currently signed to WWE who might be making a return to the world of MMA. Raw star Bobby Lashley said he would be open to stepping into the Octagon this summer, and 205 Live’s Jack Gallagher is reportedly attracting interest from Bellator.

Thanks to Fightful for the transcription.

• Triple H
• ufc
• Matt Riddle
• wwe

Share this article with friends