In an exclusive conversation with The Telegraph, WWE’s coolest superstar, Riddle, opens up about his in-ring character, his partnership with Randy Orton, his misunderstanding with Brock Lesnar, his passion for dirt biking, and much more!
Before coming to professional wrestling and WWE, you spent a number of years in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). How was the transition for you? Did you find interacting with the audience while competing in a match to be the hardest challenge in professional wrestling?
Definitely, that was one of the major challenges while transitioning. I did not have a problem hitting people, slamming people, punching people, jumping on people... I was used to doing all of this in MMA. But when you are trying to tell stories, to entertain millions of fans around the world, you have to do things differently. You cannot be too fast, you cannot be too slow, you have to be just right. So yes, the mental and physical connection with the audience was the hardest.... There are ways of connecting with people, but it takes time. It does not happen overnight.
You are perhaps the only wrestler in WWE right now who fights barefoot. What is the reason behind this?
Honestly, wrestling boots are really expensive and I did not want to pay for them when I was young. Most wrestlers wear boots, knee pads, elbow pads... they have sleeves on. I figured I want to do something different. Everyone tapes their hands, but I want to punch with my bone and my flesh. The same thing when I am kicking people. I would rather kick you barefoot and make you feel the flesh of my foot slap you across the jaw. I have always wanted to bring in a real feel to professional wrestling and this helps me do that. Also, it hurts much more when you get kicked by someone who is not wearing boots or knee pads!
Your character in WWE is someone who does not play by conventions, and is, if I may use one of your own words, the “Original Bro”. Is this something that comes naturally to you or have you had to work on shaping your personality for your character?
The “Original Bro” is me. The way I speak has never changed. The only thing that has changed is my energy. In real life, I kind of talk slowly, I just work at a slower pace. But when I am on camera, I am much more excited. Previously, when I would wrestle, I would get excited anyway. But backstage or while talking to people, it was difficult for me to maintain the same energy. With time, I have learnt to maintain the intensity levels inside and outside the ring.
Over the last few months, you and Randy Orton have been a part of “RK Bro”, probably the most compelling tag team in WWE recently. Describe your relationship with Randy. Have you been surprised by anything while working with him?
Randy is the coolest. He is one of the most talented individuals in WWE. One of the things I learnt from him is how perfect he is, there are no loose ends with him. He makes sure everything is tied up, ready to go, secure. Even though he has been in this business for so many years, he still makes sure everything is right. That is why his work speaks for itself.
On the first RAW after Money in the Bank, you had a fun segment with John Cena. Tell us about that, and is there a chance we can see the two of you working soon?
So Cena and I did a little promo (on RAW) where he “bro”-ed and I “bro”-ed and we did a sort of a “bro” duet. Funnily enough, years ago I did an NXT show at Madison Square Garden (in New York) and John Cena was there. He told me that I fist bump too many people, which was probably true! Cena came up to me later in the show and said ‘What’s bros? You’re the king of bros, I don’t get it.’ We went back and forth for 40 minutes and I said that a bro is like a cool, calm guy. And then, when Cena saw me at RAW the other day, he said, ‘Now I get what a bro is. Why don’t we go out there and bro it up?’
About working together, we actually did a dark tag match the other day (not televised)... But yeah, John’s awesome, I really enjoy his presence.
Your comment about retiring Brock Lesnar a few years ago caused quite a storm. Looking back now, how do you feel about that? Did Lesnar ever talk to you about it?
I ran into Brock once, it was our only real interaction. It was at the Royal Rumble a couple of years ago. He was not having any of that (Riddle’s comment), he asked me not to mention his name. Let me just say he was not a fan of me.... But after talking to more people from that generation of wrestling, I realised things were just different. Mannerisms were different. The way I went about it, it was nothing, I just said that, ‘Hey, I want to be the guy to retire Brock Lesnar. You were the guy that retired The Undertaker.’ I was not trying to take anything away from him. And trust me, in a couple of years from now, I am not going to need him. They (the likes of Lesnar) are going to need me and they are going to come back for matches with me.
Finally, stepping away from wrestling, we have heard that you enjoy skateboarding a lot. What else do you do to zone out and relax?
Everybody plays video games, I do that as well. I watch a lot of horror movies, too. I do like skateboarding, but my real passion outside wrestling is... I dirt bike a lot. I got a bunch of dirt bikes, I like to rip it up... in the mud, in the sand. I like to go fast, I like to fly, I like to be dangerous. I also like to be scared. So dirt biking, even rock climbing, gets my heart pumping.
Watch WWE Summerslam Live on Sony Ten 1 (English), Sony Ten 3 (Hindi) channels on August 22 at 5.30 am IST
RAPID FIRE
Your wrestling idol: Rob Van Dam
Your favourite arena to wrestle in: The Bell Centre, Montreal
Your dream WrestleMania match: Brock Lesnar. I am not calling you out, Brock. Just saying... dream match!
The one thing you cannot travel without: My toothbrush. I brush my teeth seven times a day
RIDDLE FACT FILE
• Between 2008 and 2014, Riddle was a professional MMA fighter, during which he compiled a career record of 8-3 (2)
• Riddle signed with WWE in 2018 and became an NXT tag team champion (with Pete Dunne). He was moved to the main roster in May 2020
• In February 2021, Riddle beat Bobby Lashley and John Morrison in a triple-threat match at WWE Elimination Chamber to become United States Champion
• In 2016, Wrestling Observer Newsletter recognised Riddle as the most improved wrestler of the year as well as the rookie of the year
• Sports Illustrated named Riddle as the fifth best male wrestler in the world for 2018