Matt Riddle Claims He Was Set To Earn $1million A Year Prior To WWE Release

Matt Riddle was making some serious money as a WWE star, before the company decided to release him from his contract in September 2023. 

Opening up on his yearly earnings and the nature of his departure during a recent appearance on The Kurt Angle Show podcast, Riddle said: 

"I think that definitely didn't help things (Riddle responded when asked if WWE-UFC merger sped up his release). I know me and Dana White don't have the greatest relationship and I know he's definitely a big part of that and yeah, it definitely played a part. Also, I know they were making budget cuts regardless and I was getting paid quite a pretty penny. I don't know if it was right before RK-Bro or right after, (John) Laurinaitis pulled me into the office and I thought I was in trouble. 

"I was like, 'Aww'. You know, I didn't get my vaccine yet and I was like, 'Oh man…'. And went in there, like, 'Hey, we want to give you a raise' and they gave me a substantial raise and it increased every year and this year, I was gonna get paid a million a year. I was at 750, and I mean last year, I cleared my bucket. I did extremely well, so, I think that was a big contributing factor. I was gonna get paid a million dollars starting next year but I also think the merger didn't help and then also, my behaviour didn't help either and I ruffled some feathers with H.R. in the last couple of months. I was asked a couple questions and this, that, plus other things so, I think there was multiple reasons why they got rid of me but, it is what it is. One door shuts, another door opens and you just learn from your mistakes and stuff. I don't know."

The 38-year-old has since resurfaced in MLW and New Japan Pro Wrestling. 

The former WWE Tag Team Champion made headlines last week when he claimed he was scheduled to win the 2022 Royal Rumble match, until Brock Lesnar decided he was winning it instead. A subsequent report suggested that Riddle was never seriously considered as a potential Rumble winner.

H/T POST Wrestling