WWE NXT star Matt Riddle was recently interviewed by SportsKeeda to talk about several professional wrestling topics.
Here are the highlights:
Who came up with the Newly-Bros show:
Well, I think the good thing, the writing team at NXT at this point, because they’ve worked with me for about a year or so since I got there – I’ve been there about two years now – and you know, at first, when they’d write something for me, it wasn’t really my words because they didn’t really know who I was.
Now that they’ve met me, they know me, we’ve been doing business together for about two years now, I feel like they can really write well for me and they know how I’d react or how I could react in certain situations. So, you know, a lot of it was written but, at the same time, you know, they do let me be me. And they know who they’re writing for, and I think that’s one of NXT’s strengths – they look at the wrestlers’ strengths and then they use it.
Backstage heat in WWE:
I’ll tell you this. Do I have heat with WWE or NXT, or the people that run the show? No. Do I have heat with some people who think I’m disrespectful at times because they don’t understand how business works? Yes. Do people take things too seriously? Yes. And honestly, I’ve had to give talks at NXT, is not like I stopped the place, but it’s like, interjecting.
I’m like, ‘Hey. I’m going to tweet or say something that offends you. Realize I’m not trying to actually offend you, I’m just trying to make people think I am. I’m putting out an image, a facade, you know?’ If I talk a certain amount of trash, people are like, ‘Oh, man, that guy’s uncontrollable, he does what he wants.’ You know what I’m saying? I’m doing the job, I’m in the business I’m in. I’m a tag champ, I was in the Rumble, so how does this guy have so much nuclear heat?
Talking with Vince McMahon about his heat:
I was in Vince McMahon’s office just three weeks ago, before this thing broke out. I was in headquarters talking to him – and, yeah, we mentioned the heat I have with certain people but, at the end of the day, he signs the checks, he makes it happen for me and they’re in control, not the talent.
If employer’s happy and I can make them money and make them a profit, and I’m worth my weight and I’m pulling my weight, I don’t see a problem. To answer your question, yes, some people I have heat with. But most of it’s just high school, catty, “He said this”, people who just can’t take a joke or a work.
