Matt Riddle
- Birthdate:
- 1986-01-14
- Birthplace:
- Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA
- Birthname:
- Matthew Fredrick Riddle
- Height:
- 6 feet 2 inches
- Weight:
- 216 lbs
- Debut:
- 2015-02-07
- Championships Held:
- United States Championship, Raw Tag Team Championship (x2), NXT Tag Team Championship
- Finisher:
- Bro Derek
- Twitter:
- Notable Allies:
- randy orton
- Notable Rivals:
- The Usos, Sheamus, AJ Styles
- Instagram:
- Eye Color:
- Brown
- Hair Color:
- Brown
Matt Riddle was a part of WWE's most recent batch of releases in September of last year, but despite the public issues he had right before he was let go, the former US Champion has landed on his feet since his non-compete clause ran out. Showing up in New Japan last month, Riddle is already the promotion's Television Champion. Speaking more about his time with WWE and eventual departure, Riddle has made some very honest comments about his failed drug tests with the company.
Two Failed Tests
Speaking with Ariel Helwani, Riddle admitted that both times he went AWOL from WWE, he had failed drug tests, and both times he failed because he had used cocaine (H/T to Fightful for the transcription).
I went to the strip club and did cocaine a couple times. I failed a drug test for that. That was for all of them, it was cocaine each time... When I thought I was in the clear, went out, partied a little bit, they gave me a random test at my house, I failed that, and shortly after that, they had me go to rehab.
Riddle reveals he actually tested positive for cocaine in WWE three times. However, the first two tests were back-to-back so counted as one strike. Riddle challenged WWE to test him every week for the next ten weeks to prove he didn't have a problem. After getting negative results after throughout that period, Riddle celebrated by doing cocaine and got caught out when WWE hit him with another test. It was after that the former WWE Superstar was told he needed to go to rehab.
Riddle In Rehab
Riddle went to rehab for 30 days and when asked to stay for another month, he requested to do a few things - getting his black belt among them - before the second stint. WWE allowed that, and then Riddle did another 30 days in rehab. Being told WWE had nothing for him when he returned as the company was preparing for WrestleMania season, Riddle assumed he was going to be fired. That didn't happen, and he remained at the company until his release last year.
WWE doesn't usually go public with the reasons for failed drug tests, so Riddle revealing why he was suspended is a rare look into that process. It's also interesting to hear how WWE handled the situation. My understanding has been that it's 30 days for the first offense, 60 days for the second, and then release if it happens a third time. It may be more of a case-by-case basis now, and Riddle's willingness to attend rehab may have helped his case.
