Underground robot fights would have been a key part of Matt Riddle’s infamous segment with Asuka had things not gone awry.
During a March 2021 episode of RAW, Riddle began speaking with Asuka backstage before admitting that he’d forgotten what he was saying.
During a virtual signing with “Signed By Superstars,” Riddle was asked about the promo which clearly did not go to plan. He said,
“Let’s talk about that promo. One, usually when they go live, they tell you. Sometimes, you go through a couple of rehearsals beforehand. I had the scooter, they gave it to me and said, ‘We don’t want to see you. Go 20 yards that way and roll down.’ I rolled down, and I didn’t know it was live TV.
“The promo they originally had was me talking about how I had been to Japan before, which I hadn’t, and how I would go to underground robot fights and I was going to ask Asuka if scooters would be a big hit in Japan. Yeah, I forgot everything. I forgot everything when I rolled up.
“I scoot back to the locker room. Me and Randy [Randy Orton] didn’t really talk, I guess Randy didn’t really like me when I first started working there because I am who I am. Randy comes up to me and goes, ‘I don’t know if that sh*t was planned, but that was your best promo yet.'”
Riddle was released from WWE in September 2023. He has since joined MLW and is set to make his in-ring debut for NJPW next month.
