If Brock Lesnar decides he’s winning the WWE Royal Rumble, is it possible no one tells him no?
The bygone days of pro wrestling are full of tales of wrestlers throwing their star power around to get creative changed in their favor. We’re talking the “that doesn’t work for me, brother” Hulk Hogan type stuff. Not so much in more recent times, but Matt Riddle wants us to believe it took place in WWE just two years ago and changed the finish to the 2022 Royal Rumble.
Riddle’s time with WWE is now over thanks to his September 2023 release, and he’s already popped up in MLW and NJPW. Perhaps that’s why he’s been willing to talk about things that happened while he was there, and his most talked about claim to date has to do with Brock Lesnar.
During a virtual signing session this week with Signed by Superstars, Riddle claimed he was told he’d be winning the Men’s Royal Rumble match two years ago, but Lesnar decided he was going to win and no one decided to argue the point with the Beast Incarnate (h/t Wrestling Observer for the transcription).
So, I believe … you know, it’s sports entertainment. But I was told at one point I was going to win the Rumble and everything else. And then what was it? Bobby Lashley beat Brock Lesnar because somebody came in and hit him with the belt or what have you. Then Brock came in, didn’t want to do business with everybody, said he was winning (The Royal Rumble), and then he won. None of the producers, nobody stood up to him and they let him do it. I didn’t either.
Was WWE planning on having Riddle win the Rumble? Insiders are split on that. PWI’s Mike Johnson reported at the time that it was the plan but things changed several times and landed on eventually landed on Lesnar.
I never heard that one before and it doesn’t really make sense for him to win the Rumble because then he would have to be in the main event at Mania and they were never pushing him at that level.
The people who would know for sure, like Vince McMahon and Triple H, aren’t likely to discuss this topic any time soon. But whether Riddle is on target here or not, this feels like a story that will live on, just because fans will believe that Lesnar really could have said “nope, sorry, I’m winning the Rumble” and nobody felt like telling him no.
Does Matt Riddle understand why WWE let him go? Ahead of his MLW debut, he says he does.
Matt Riddle estimates he hasn’t had this much time off since he was 21 years old.
In the last three months, the now 37-year-old has been paid by WWE to sit at home and do nothing related to professional wrestling thanks to a 90-day non-compete clause that was triggered once the company released him back in September.
Riddle’s release marked the end of a run that featured its share of professional highs and personal lows. The most recent low was an incident at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York that occurred shortly before his release, where Riddle was seen on video being belligerent to airport staff.
The release, although abrupt in nature, was not a complete surprise to Riddle. He understood why.
“I think they were just sick of my shit at times,” he said during a phone interview with Wrestling Junkie.
And there was a lot of excrement to sort through. Between a sexual assault allegation and subsequent lawsuit that was eventually dropped and issues with substance abuse, the sudden end to Riddle’s WWE tenure gave him the time to go home, spend more time with his growing family (he welcomed his fourth child to the world in late 2023), hit the reset button and start anew. It is badly needed, as his reputation amongst wrestling fans has taken a serious hit.
The next chapter of Riddle’s wrestling journey begins at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia on Saturday, Jan. 6, where he is scheduled to face Jacob Fatu at Major League Wrestling’s Kings of Colosseum. It will be Riddle’s first non-WWE match in more than five years.
Also on the card will be an MLW World Heavyweight title bout with Alex Kane defending against Richard Holliday and a match between Japanese wrestling legend Satoshi Kojima and former Impact World Champion Sami Callihan that will air on “MLW Fusion.”
“MLW, before I signed with WWE, was probably the most professional place I worked,” Riddle said. “They were always on the level. I felt like they had great stories and a good process of how they did everything.”
“I think I’m going to be able to show a side of me that I haven’t been able to show in a long, long time,” he later said.
The wrestling landscape is far different from the one Riddle left behind when he signed with WWE in 2018. Back then, the independent scene was thriving, in large part due to up-and-coming wrestlers like Riddle.
Today, the independent scene is still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, and a good chunk of the goodwill Riddle garnered during his time as an independent wrestler has diminished.
The former WWE United States Champion may be looking to start anew, but that does not mean his slate has been completely wiped clean. Riddle’s controversial reputation has followed him to MLW. It has also cast a shadow on his upcoming appearance for New Japan Pro Wrestling, who aired a video of him challenging the iconic Hiroshi Tanahashi to a future match.
The video was posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, and judging by the replies, it is clear that there is at least a portion of the wrestling fan base that has yet to forgive Riddle for his past transgressions.
Matt Riddle(@SuperKingofBros) has issued a huge challenge to Hiroshi Tanahashi at New Year Dash!
Riddle, who began his career in professional wrestling after being fired from UFC for being “a moron,” according to company president Dana White, understands the narrative surrounding him at the moment and chalks some of it up to his own doing. But he also points to members of the wrestling media/zeitgeist, who in his mind, put his name in stories merely as a way to drive engagement and not because it is the cold, hard truth.
It is something that Riddle admits he didn’t always handle well during his time in WWE.
“As a WWE superstar, you know, it’s one of those weird things,” Riddle recalls. “Even when you’re growing up and you’re training to do this stuff and you’re just sitting around with guys that have done it, and they’re like ‘Hey, just be careful, you know, when you’re making it to the top or you’re trying to. People will come out of the woodwork and try to hurt you and try to ruin your career or this, that and the other thing.’
“For me, I’d be like, ‘No way! That’s crazy!’ But then as you grow older and you start working your way up the card and you’re in WrestleManias and everything else, you start to notice that if people don’t get what they want from you, they will try to do that. I feel like that happens more so when you’re under that magnifying glass of a company like WWE. And that’s not a knock on them. It’s a good thing, I guess, in the sense of the attention and stuff like that. But also at the same time with professional wrestling fans — whether you have people writing articles or doing stories — the fans … they believe a lot. ”
“That was the most stressful thing,” he later added. “Anything can be blown out of proportion and look a certain way and you’ve got a bunch of other people speculating on the internet. That was probably the hardest part.”
As an example, Riddle points to a recent report that he cut his hair. Riddle claims he has not cut any inches off his hair and has no idea where the story came from. Riddle says his mother even called him to ask if he had, in fact, cut his hair, to which he said he hadn’t. Judging by the video of Riddle New Japan aired during its New Year Dash event, it looks like he is still sporting his trademark locks.
The way Riddle looks at it, it’s just the latest case of someone wanting to put his name in a story for the wrong reasons.
“Unfortunately, other people look at it differently,” he explained. “Other people aren’t as smart or educated and they’re not me. They don’t live my story or my situation. It’s kind of hard. They just hear what people say. For me, for the most part, I’m not going to go on the internet and defend myself. I feel like, ‘What’s the point?’”
“If it was, I don’t know, not true or exaggerated or whatever it is, I have no idea how I should even go about doing this in 2024. So I kind of just sit back and let people do whatever they want. At the end of the day, people are going to do what they want, and I always look at it as the cream always rises to the top. As long as I work hard and put my best effort forward and I’m nice to people, usually things work out.”
While the haircut story is apparently fake news, the UFC firing, the WWE wellness policy suspensions and eventual firing, and his belligerent behavior at JFK was not. These were, in fact, true events. But what has Riddle taken away from all of this?
“I took away a lot of lessons, but would I go back and change anything? No.” he said. “Everything happens for a reason. Just like when I got fired by the UFC for a reason so I could make it to WWE and I got fired from WWE for a reason so I can do something else.”
“For me, I need the rainy days to enjoy the sunny ones,” he later added.
The Ace and president of New Japan said he’d have to do some research to figure out who Matt Riddle is.
It doesn’t look like there will be any rest for President Ace, as Hiroshi Tanahashi had to defend his newly won NJPW World Television Championship against Ryusuke Taguchi at New Year Dash. But it was what happened afterward that has NJPW fans and wrestling observers talking.
With Tanahashi still in the ring at Sumida City Gymnasium in Tokyo, the crowd went quiet as a video played. It was a challenge to the Ace from Matt Riddle, who introduced himself and said he’d see the NJPW president “soon.”
While many fans are familiar with Riddle from his time in WWE (which came to an end with his release last fall), Tanahashi was apparently not.
“Any time, I will do it,” Tanahashi said afterward. “But I have no idea who that guy is.”
Matt Riddle(@SuperKingofBros) has issued a huge challenge to Hiroshi Tanahashi at New Year Dash!
Happily, Tanahashi added that he would “have to go back and do some research,” so he’ll know all about Riddle before they meet up in the ring.
What wasn’t immediately clear is where Tanahashi and Riddle might face off, as NJPW has big events coming up in both Japan and the U.S. over the next few months. Battle in the Valley in San Jose seems a little too soon since it’s just over a week from now on Jan. 13, though other matches were made for the event at New Year Dash — including Jon Moxley vs. Shingo Takagi in a No DQ showdown.
NJPW has its series of The New Beginning shows in Osaka and Sapporo in February, then just announced Windy City Riot in Chicago for April 12. Regardless of where it takes place, a Tanahashi-Riddle match will be exciting for some, distressing to others, and definitely not something anyone would have predicted for 2024 even a few months ago.
Matt Riddle may be gearing up for both wrestling and MMA matches next year.
Matt Riddle will be wrestling again soon, but he may also step into another kind of ring or cage next year.
MLW president Cort Bauer revealed today on Busted Open Radio that he had signed Riddle to face Jacob Fatu on a Jan. 6 show at the 2300 Arena (the former ECW Arena) in Philadelphia. It will be a first time ever matchup between the two men.
Riddle has yet to appear in any wrestling promotion since he was released by WWE in late September. Though he was pushed as a fairly big star at times, Riddle’s time with WWE was marked by several violations of the company’s wellness policy and other incidents, including one at JFK Airport earlier this year.
It won’t be the first time Riddle has competed at an MLW event. He’s wrestled on several of the promotion’s cards in 2017-18, facing opponents like Tom Lawlor, Jeff Cobb and current AEW star Swerve Strickland.
Returning to wrestling may not be all Riddle has planned for 2024. A former UFC fighter with an 8-3-2 record in MMA, he may also be entertaining thoughts of unscripted fighting again. Riddle told MMA Junkie’s Nolan King earlier this week that “there’s a very big possibility that I get back in the ring or cage pretty soon.”
His hint toward a ring over a cage suggests Riddle could be considering a fight for BKFC, a bare-knuckle boxing promotion based in Philadelphia that has seen an influx of ex-UFC fighters over the past few years.
In the meantime, fans can definitely catch Riddle when he takes on Fatu at MLW Kings of Colosseum 2024 on Jan. 6. Tickets are on sale now, and the show will be broadcast by FITE as part of TrillerTV+.
No longer with WWE, former UFC fighter Matt Riddle informed MMA Junkie that his sights are back on combat sports.
LAS VEGAS – The tale of [autotag]Matt Riddle[/autotag] in MMA is a unique story, but apparently there are still chapters to be written.
It’s been a decade since Riddle (8-3) stepped into the cage for an unscripted fight, but that could change very soon. Riddle, who is currently a free agent following his WWE departure, has fighting back in focus.
“There’s been a lot of talk. I’ve been talking to a couple of promotions,” Riddle told MMA Junkie on the World MMA Awards red carpet outside of Sahara Theater. “I don’t want to get into it until it’s official, but I think in 2024 there’s a very big possibility that I get back in the ring or cage pretty soon.”
Riddle last competed in MMA nearly a decade ago, in February 2014, during a one-off for Titan FC. The bout remains his only one following an unceremonious exit from the UFC in 2013. He departed the promotion on a four-fight winning streak, but two failed drug tests for marijuana overturned two of the results.
Riddle was ripped on the way out the door by UFC CEO Dana White, who took exception to Riddle’s unwillingness to comply with state and promotion guidelines.
“I have to thank Dana, because if he were to just fire me and not say anything, nobody probably would’ve knew about me,” Riddle said. “Putting me on blast and doing that, I think a lot of people could relate with me. They probably had their parents or their boss talk to them like that. I think that’s kind of where that ‘bro’ character kind of started. Making my way through pro wrestling wasn’t easy, too, especially with the stigma as being that guy who got fired. I think every good journey needs a good story of ups and downs, just like a good pro wrestling match.”
Jul 21, 2012; Calgary, AB, CANADA; Chris Clements (red gloves) and Matt Riddle (blue gloves) during the welterweight bout of UFC 149 at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Riddle transitioned to professional wrestling in 2014 and began on the independent circuit. In 2018, he was signed to WWE and performed under the NXT banner before a WWE main brand run from 2020 to 2023.
Now a free agent once again, Riddle wants to complete business he deems unfinished.
“Maybe this is a bad theory or bad idea, but I feel like you’ve got to get beat up to leave, you know?” Riddle said. “I feel like I left the UFC on a four-fight win streak, then won another fight in Titan FC. I just kind of left and went to pro wrestling. I did good (and am) still doing it. Pro wrestling is awesome, but I still want to get beat up. I want to have my exit. We’ll see. Maybe somebody beats me up. Maybe I keep winning. Who knows?”
Even though he pivoted from MMA nearly a decade ago, Riddle said he regularly practices martial arts multiple times a week. He’s even earned a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt.
While Riddle remained mum as to which companies he’s in discussions with, he refused to rule out a potential UFC return despite the rough breakup in 2013.
“I never say never,” Riddle said. “If the opportunity is right. I don’t really hold a grudge. I mean, I talk a lot of sh*t. Sorry, I talk a lot of trash. That’s about it. If there’s business to be had, I’ll get business done. … For me, there’s no fence that really needs mending. (White) had his decision. I had mine. He went his way. I went my way. I had great success and so has he. For me, there’s no problem. It’s just a matter of if he’d want me to work for him and pay me again. He doesn’t have to.”
Feb 24, 2017; Joppa, MD, USA; Matt Riddle competes in the ring against Anthony Henry during Evolve 78 at The MCW Arena. Mandatory Credit: Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Riddle was in attendance at Saturday’s Jake Paul vs. Andre August boxing match in Orlando, Fla. and hinted there may have been good reason for that. Wrestling Observer Newsletter previously reported Riddle received interest from bareknuckle and PFL.
So while the word “ring” is open for interpretation, fans of Riddle’s should expect some sort of return to competition in 2024.
“(Which is) more likely?” Riddle said. “Probably a ring. I’d like to get back in the cage, but we’ll see what happens.”
Riddle confirmed the news on his own social media accounts, saying he was “no longer with WWE” and thanking the fans.
Just wanted to inform everyone that I’m no longer with WWE. Thank you for the memories and opportunities also thank you to all the fans for the support and love you give me every time I go out to the ring. See you all soon 🤙 pic.twitter.com/fpuQkIJAFx
A follow-up report on Fightful Select (subscription required) stated that Riddle was never planned for any more appearances after he was involved in an incident at JFK Airport earlier this month, and “was not factored into immediate creative plans.” A Fightful source also said Riddle “burned through too many chances while in WWE.”
Those chances included WWE putting Riddle back into high profile programs despite being suspended twice for violating the company’s wellness policy, most recently in December 2022. Reporting around that discipline made it sound as if it would be his last chance to stay on the straight and narrow.
If the terms of Riddle’s departure are the same as most of those released this week, he’ll be under a 90-day no compete clause that will prevent him from wrestling elsewhere until near the end of the year. He could also explore a return to MMA — Riddle fought in UFC and elsewhere before turning to pro wrestling — but at age 37, that might not be a path he’s super psyched to walk down again.
AEW has shown a willingness to take chances on performers with outside-the-ring issues (such as Jeff Hardy) and provide them with the structure they need to succeed. It’s worth watching to see if Tony Khan feels his company can do the same with Riddle. In the meantime, however, there will be no more Original Bro in WWE.
The Original Bro missed some WWE shows due to illness, not due to discipline from a recent incident at JFK Airport.
Just as Drew McIntyre was coming around somewhat (maybe) on becoming a tag team on an ongoing basis, Matt Riddle has been off WWE TV. But that should change with the very next episode of Raw this coming Monday.
PWInsider says that Riddle “is currently slated to return next week at Monday Night Raw.” He missed Raw this week and is said to be out through this weekend due to ear infections in both ears as well as bronchitis.
It doesn’t appear that Riddle is being disciplined in any way (at least for now) for the incident he was involved in last weekend at JFK Airport. Riddle had insinuated in a now-deleted Instagram post that he was “sexually assaulted and harrassed” by a Port Authority police officer while traveling and made to feel “small and useless.”
TMZ reported that law enforcement officials spoke to Riddle because they received a call of a disorderly passenger who was deplaning, which turned out to be the WWE superstar. Ringside News also spoke to an officer involved who claimed that Riddle “looked intoxicated and his words at times felt slowed/slurred.”
Riddle did keep his social media posts up about not wanting to return to JFK if he could help it.
While that matter is still being investigated, look for Riddle to return to his efforts to sway McIntyre to tag with him regularly. For what it’s worth, the Scottish Warrior recently compared him to “an annoying dog” but admitted he did like Riddle, so perhaps that partnership will go smoother for the Original Bro than health and travel have been treating him lately.
See how Becky Lynch beat the odds, Gunther delivered a message and Seth Rollins got fooled again on WWE Raw in Memphis.
The Man is coming around to Memphis tonight on WWE Raw, and she’s gearing up for quite the battle.
Becky Lynch is very much looking forward to stepping inside a steel cage with Trish Stratus this weekend at Payback, but before she gets there, she needs to deal with Trish’s mentee Zoey Stark first. And let’s face it, a Falls Count Anywhere match is a pretty great way of doing that.
The idea for Becky is to beat Zoey badly enough that she can’t run in and assist Trish in Pittsburgh on Saturday. But of course, Stratus can interfere herself tonight, so … we’ll see.
Where Lynch’s big victory is hopefully still ahead of her, Chad Gable arguably had his biggest win as a singles competitor when he beat Gunther last week. Alas, while the Intercontinental Championship was on the line, winning by count-out meant that Gable didn’t get to claim the gold.
Despite that, the fact that no one had beaten Gunther by any means in a long time meant the Ring General was humiliated in defeat, and he’s not going to stand for that for long. To that end, he’s assigned Ludwig Kaiser the task of restoring some honor to Imperium tonight on Raw, and we wouldn’t want to be him if he fails in his assignment.
Also tonight, The New Day is back together (though we’re still missing Big E) and has made it clear they want to make another run at the tag team gold they know so well. The problem for now is that they seem to have made enemies of the physically larger Viking Raiders, and now the Vikings want to get some revenge for a defeat at their hands a few weeks ago. So … yeah.
Michael Cole lets us know we’re going to be seeing some Terry Funk and Bray Wyatt tributes again tonight, which will be nice to see.
WWE Raw results from Memphis:
(scroll down for full details on any match or segment in bold)
Damian Priest def. Sami Zayn by pinfall thanks to a distraction from JD McDonagh, though Priest isn’t happy about that and JD gets beaten up by Sami and Kevin Owens
Drew McIntyre is examining a picture of himself in shorts designed by Matt Riddle, and though Akira Tozawa unconvincingly says he looks great, it’s clear the Scottish Warrior isn’t sold, and he only grudgingly agrees to watch the upcoming New Day-Viking Radiers tag team match with Riddle from ringside
A hype video promotes the Rhea Ripley-Raquel Rodriguez title match at Payback, and has Raquel promising to cut Rhea down to size this Saturday
The Miz is out to do his (not that shabby) LA Knight impression, and he insists that his Payback foe is nothing more than pandering, and that he’d prove it this weekend
Viking Raiders def. The New Day by pinfall, in part due to
Balor tells Priest they need to get it together, but Damian isn’t happy that JD keeps getting in Judgment Day business, and Rhea Ripley ends up yelling at both of them, promising “changes” if they don’t win tag team gold at Payback
The Bray Wyatt tribute video first shown last week on SmackDown is replayed for the Monday night audience
Riddle and McIntyre go to check on Woods, and though Kingston lets them know they understand it wasn’t on purpose and it’s all good, McIntyre vows to take care of the Viking problem next week and won’t even need to tag Riddle in to do it
Gunther stands on the announce table and talks about how Chad Gable was the first person to beat the Ring General in more than 500 days, but says that Gable technically won nothing since he is still the IC champ; Gable has however pissed Gunther off, and now has his attention and focus, and also a title rematch next week, though Chad himself says he will win that one
Chad Gable def. Ludwig Kaiser by DQ following interference by Giovanni Vinci, though Gable ends up getting powerbombed by Gunther after an attack by all of Imperium
A short tribute video to Bob Barker is shown, calling him the best guest host of WWE shows ever
Seth Rollins addresses Shinsuke Nakamura, but his anger doesn’t keep him from being attacked from behind again
Zayn tells Kevin Owens how upset he is that they keep losing in crappy ways to The Judgment Day, and KO says that he got Adam Pearce to make their match at Payback into a Steel City Street Fight
Tommaso Ciampa def. Bronson Reed by pinfall
Becky Lynch says it’s not the easy way out to take on Zoey Stark in a Falls Count Anywhere match this close to Payback, but the easy way isn’t what she wants anyway
Ripley cuts a promo on Rodriguez, admitting that Raquel is big and strong, but when it comes to Payback, she’s walking out champion; Rodriguez heads to the ring and they immediately start throwing hands before Raquel hits a fallaway slam; even with a distraction from Dirty Dom, Rodriguez is able to outfight Ripley
Trish Stratus mocks Lynch and Stark promises to leave plenty left of The Man for Trish this Saturday, which is actually … what she doesn’t want to do?
The Terry Funk tribute video from SmackDown is played again in honor of his passing last week
Becky Lynch def. Zoey Stark by pinfall in a Falls Count Anywhere match despite copious amounts of assistance for Stark by Trish Stratus
Also on WWE Raw, Matt Riddle and Drew McIntyre took on The New Day, and Shinsuke Nakamura revealed what he said to Seth Rollins.
Shooooooooosh! Shoosh, please! We’re going to need quiet for Chad Gable tonight in Quebec City as he attempts to win a singles championship on WWE Raw.
Not just any title, either, but the Intercontinental Championship that’s been in the iron grasp of Gunther since last summer. The Ring General has used power to beat many opponents, skill to best others, and underhanded tactics when necessary — though that has rarely been the case.
Gable, of course, is a technical wizard who is also exceptionally strong for his size. Plus he has the rest of Alpha Academy to keep an eye on the other members of Imperium, so theoretically, it should be a wash on the outside.
In other words, maybe this won’t be quite a simple as the IC champ thinks it could be.
Another interesting match on tonight’s card in Quebec City will see Matt Riddle and Drew McIntyre team to face The New Day. While McIntyre has been somewhat reluctant to make his recent partnership with Riddle an ongoing thing, a victory over one of the most decorated tag teams in WWE history might persuade him to change his stance. Or not, but it can’t hurt Riddle’s efforts.
Last but not least, WWE says Shinsuke Nakamura is going to tell the world exactly what he whispered to Seth Rollins last week that turned the World Heavyweight Champion white as a sheet. It’s got to be pretty good considering the reaction he got.
It would also be strange indeed if Quebec’s favorite son, Sami Zayn, wasn’t involved in tonight’s proceedings in some way, so watch for that as well.
WWE Raw results from Quebec City:
(scroll down for more details on any match or segment in bold)
Sami Zayn is in the house, and he’s not alone: Kevin Owens is back
The New Day def. Drew McIntyre and Matt Riddle by pinfall, but only thanks to some unexpected aid from the Viking Raiders, who attack the winning team after the bell until McIntyre chases them off
Finn Balor and JD McDonagh are being interviewed when Rhea Ripley comes to summon Finn to decide who is competing in the main event; JD tries to come with them but Rhea says no
Shayna Baszler says she’s out to set the whole world on fire and leave everyone in the women’s division with no chance but to let it burn
Gunther says despite what Chad Gable believes, time is on his side, with each passing day building his legacy; Gable is interviewed backstage, and gets a pep talk from Otis and Maxxine Dupri
Chad Gable def. Gunther by countout, so Gunther retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship
Ripley can’t believe that Balor and Damian Priest can’t decide who is going to be in the main event and says they better figure it out shortly or she’ll make the decision for them
An angry Gunther takes out his frustration on the rest of Imperium, and things seem to flow downhill toward poor Giovanni Vinci
Cody Rhodes doesn’t want to be interviewed backstage and takes Byron Saxton with him out to the stage and gets the fans pumped up to be in the corner of Owens and Zayn in the main event later tonight
In a pre-recorded segment, Shinsuke Nakamura claims he told Rollins “I know about your back,” explaining that Seth’s back has been his weakness for years and that Rollins lives in constant pain because of it; he ominously ends his bit with “watch your back”
Rhea Ripley def. Candice LeRae by submission but soon finds herself retreating from Raquel Rodriguez, who says they will meet at Payback
Tommaso Ciampa says he needs to be the change he wants to see since he’s tired of being close to big opportunities, and he says his mantra needs to be “do it yourself,” hmm …
The Miz continues to insist that LA Knight will be remembered as a flash in the pan or “the Hoobastank of WWE” before introducing his opponent, Akira Tozawa, who tries getting over by saying “yeah” like Knight
Akira Tozawa def. The Miz by pinfall as Miz is distracted by LA Knight
McIntyre is about to tell Riddle that he thinks they should go their separate ways, but The New Day convinces them to hold on for one more day like Wilson Phillips, or at least Drew will consider it
Ripley is ticked that the guys haven’t worked out who will compete in the tag team match, so she stomps away and says they’ll do it her way now
Becky Lynch and Trish Stratus exchange verbal jabs again
Chelsea Green says she handled having WWE authorize making her and Piper Niven the official tag team champions, but Niven makes it appear she’s the one calling the shots
Chelsea Green and Piper Niven def. Kayden Carter and Katana Chance by pinfall
Rollins lets the fans sing for a second before responding to questions about his back, admitting that he has been living with a lumbar injury for four years that could shorten his career, but he says it’s part of the gig and says Shinsuke isn’t man enough to face him man to man; Seth gives Shinsuke one more chance to prove he’s an honorable warrior next week
Damian Priest and Finn Balor def. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn by DQ when KO is caught using the MITB briefcase as a weapon, but …
… Rhodes comes down and chases away The Judgment Day before suggesting a six-man tag to end the show; Adam Pearce agrees, so let’s try this main event again
Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn def. The Judgment Day (Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio and Finn Balor) by pinfall
Zayn has a bilingual last word for The Judgment Day
WWE Raw from Quebec City will also reveal just what Shinsuke Nakamura said to Seth Rollins that had the world champ shook.
Sometimes it’s just fun to see someone deserving get a chance to have the spotlight on them. Win or lose tonight on WWE Raw in Quebec City, that applies to Chad Gable when he takes on Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship.
Gable has been superb in his current run as the teacher in Alpha Academy, mentoring Otis and now Maxxine Dupri as well. His “shoooosh please” and “thank you!” catchphrases have really caught on — it’s impossible to do a media availability with him now without several outlets asking him to do them.
But while he’s an entertaining performer who has fantastic comedic chops, Gable is first and foremost a wrestler’s wrestler. He’s made it clear he’s always ready for WWE to give him a chance to go get it as a singles competitor, and that’s exactly what this program with Gunther is allowing him to do.
Will Gable win the title tonight? We’d be surprised if that was the case, given how long Gunther has held the IC belt and what a great champion he’s been. But we wouldn’t be completely shocked, and that’s a testament to how we feel about Gable.
Speaking of people we’re happy to see shining again, The New Day is back in business now that Kofi Kingston has returned. They’ll provide a nice test to see if Matt Riddle and Drew McIntyre really should stay together as a tag team as Riddle is pushing the Scottish Warrior to consider.
Plus, in one of the more meme-worthy moments from last week’s episode of Raw, Shinsuke Nakamura whispered something to Seth Rollins on his way out of the ring that made the World Heavyweight Champion look like he’d seen a ghost (and left him open for another attack from behind). Shinsuke is supposed to reveal exactly what that was in Quebec City, though it’s almost more entertaining to let our own minds fill in the blank.
All this and more keeps us rolling down the road to Payback in less than two weeks. Check it out live on USA at 8 p.m. ET, or join us back here at Wrestling Junkie tonight for live Raw results and other goodness.
