Former WWE superstar Matt Riddle believes that his one-time boss, UFC President Dana White, may have had a role in losing his job with the top professional wrestling company in the world.
In the early part of the previous decade, Matt Riddle was seen as an MMA fighter on the rise as he was slowly working his way up the UFC ladder. However, his enjoyment and need for cannabis products were problematic when it came to drug tests before his fights. After testing positive for marijuana a second time with the promotion he was cut by the MMA world leader in 2013.
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With his cage-fighting career in trouble, Riddle did something many other MMA fighters have done before him and took his talents to professional wrestling. It wasn’t long before he worked his way up that industry and landed a contract with WWE’s developmental league, NXT. Eventually, he would make his way to the main roster and became a popular performer for the company in recent years.
Matt Riddle claims pay rate and Dana White led to WWE firing
However, failed WWE drug tests and other incidents outside the ring led to Riddle being among a slew of layoffs last year, following their merger with the UFC. Riddle is continuing his wrestling career and is pondering a return to MMA in 2024, however, during a recent interview he suggested his previous connections to the UFC had a part in his WWE firing in 2023.
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“Me and Dana White don’t have the greatest relationship and I know he’s definitely a big part of [his release last year],” Riddle said during a Sunday appearance on “The Kurt Angle Show.” “It definitely played a part. Also, I know that they’re making budget cuts regardless, and I was getting paid quite a pretty penny.”
Riddle claimed in 2022 he was given a raise by the company and he earned over a million dollars during his last year with WWE. He believes his pay also played a key role in being fired by the company.
