Matt Riddle knows he probably blew his shot at Brock Lesnar, but he’s not giving up

Matt Riddle’s obsession with “retiring” Brock Lesnar pre-dates his even joining WWE.

His repeatedly bringing it up on social media and in interviews while in WWE might have cost him his chance, though. Reports from backstage at this year’s Royal Rumble indicate Lesnar told Riddle it was never gonna happen, and while there’s not supposed to be any heat on the NXT star, pretty much everyone confirms the interaction happened as described.

Riddle was recently asked about Lesnar in an interview with FanSided. And, yeah... sounds like Brock told him to go screw. Does that mean the King of Bros is giving up? Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

“I shook the 8-ball and it’s not looking good, it’s not looking good (laughs). I’ll be honest. Am I going to stop? No. I really want the match, even if he takes some of the things I said wrong or personal. I get it, I guess, I mean I don’t, but whatever. At the end of the day, I think I’m going to become valuable enough where he’ll want the match and when I do that and that day comes, I’ll get my dream match. But that’s a lot of work and I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me.

“Hey, I think [the Performance Center] would be the safest spot to go at it (laughs). I think it’d be good. It’s not a thing of disrespect. I just think I have a very good style and I think Brock has an amazing style and I think the two going against one another, big guy versus little guy but the little guy can hold up, I think there’s something there. I’m pretty legit. People might forget it, but I’m pretty good.”

This situation requires a really futile and stupid gesture, and Matt’s just the guy to do it.

Animal House jokes aside, I don’t have any issues with Matt’s approach here, and that’s not just because I really, really want to see Lesnar vs. Riddle one day. He seems committed to putting in the work - in all senses of the word - to ensure it’s in Brock and WWE’s best interests to book his dream match.

If it works out, great! If it doesn’t and more fans like or hate Riddle for his efforts, also great! Either way, he’s found an angle that interests people, and it’s smart to lean into it.

LET’S DO IT!