Matt Riddle failed to appear at the inaugural Global Wrestling Kingdom charity event on Sunday, August 31, in Barnsley, England. The show, which was promoted to raise money for survivors of d*mestic abuse and homeless veterans, had advertised Riddle since May for a main event match against Simon Miller. Due to his absence, Riddle was replaced by Grado in the match.
The promotion had booked Riddle months in advance through his manager, according to a source from Cultatholic. Issues reportedly arose recently when Riddle expressed concerns over his flights, which he called cheap, and his two-day hotel accommodations. The promotion attempted to arrange wrestling seminars for him to earn extra money on short notice but was unable to finalize the plans.
Despite not officially canceling, Riddle never traveled to the United Kingdom, leaving a driver waiting for him for several hours. He informed GWK that he had accepted another booking but might still attend their show before ceasing to open their messages regarding his status. The promotion had to refund all meet-and-greets, and sources indicated Riddle has not yet returned his initial deposit.
This incident marks another point of controversy for Riddle following his departure from WWE in September 2023, which came after failed drug tests and an airport disturbance.
His professional conduct has previously created friction with other top talents. Reports indicate Roman Reigns was angered in 2021 after Riddle claimed he could beat Reigns in a “real fight,” with a subsequent apology being rewritten by Randy Orton to be a “no apology.” He also had to apologize to Seth Rollins after his ex-wife made disparaging comments about Rollins’ wife, Becky Lynch.
Past issues also include a sxual assult lawsuit filed by a fellow wrestler in October 2020, which was later dropped by the accuser in July 2021.
Despite this latest controversy, Riddle’s professional schedule continues. He is set to defend his MLW World Title against Dijak at MLW Fightland, which will take place on September 13.