Matt Riddle says he was once planned to win the 2022 Men's Royal Rumble.
During a live virtual signing with Signed by Superstars, Riddle said the finish of the match was changed when Brock Lesnar "didn't want to do business."
Riddle said:
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.
Riddle's comments about winning the Rumble are consistent with a PWInsider report from late January 2022 that stated he was once the planned winner of the match.
Dave Meltzer addressed Riddle's claims on Tuesday's edition of Wrestling Observer Radio.
Meltzer said
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.
Riddle debuted for MLW over the weekend at Kings of Colosseum. He defeated Jacob Fatu on the show. Riddle also appeared via video at New Year's Dash last week and challenged the new NJPW World TV Champion, Hiroshi Tanahashi. That match will take place on February 23 at The New Beginning in Sapporo.
Riddle's statements about the 2022 Royal Rumble begin around the 46:25 mark of the video below.
More must-reads: