“He Does What He Wants”: Matt Riddle Finally Breaks Silence on the Chaos of Working With Brock Lesnar
The relationship between Brock Lesnar and WWE has always been a strange one. He’s never been the typical company man who shows up 24/7. Instead, “The Beast Incarnate” has operated by his own set of rules, treating the wrestling world as a pitstop between his ventures in MMA and the quiet of his Canadian farm.
But what is it actually like to be in the ring with someone who reportedly answers to no one?
Former WWE Superstar Matt Riddle is pulling back the curtain on that exact experience. In a recent appearance on Rewind Recap Relive, Riddle revisited the 2022 Elimination Chamber match—a chaotic bout that featured Lesnar, Riddle, Seth Rollins, AJ Styles, Bobby Lashley, and Austin Theory.
While the match is remembered for Lesnar walking out as the champion, Riddle remembers it for the backstage tension that boiled over inside the steel.
The Plan That Fell Apart Immediately
According to Riddle, the match had a meticulously planned flow designed to give everyone a moment to shine. The idea was to highlight the talent in the chamber before Lesnar, who was scheduled to enter last, cleaned house for the victory.
“It was supposed to be a showcase,” Riddle explained. “You got myself, Seth Rollins, AJ Styles, Austin Theory, Bobby Lashley. There were multiple spots planned, multiple moves everybody wanted to do to showcase their character work. Everybody was supposed to get a pin.”
But professional wrestling plans are often just suggestions once the bell rings. The trouble started when a planned spot involving Seth Rollins and Austin Theory went awry, leading to Bobby Lashley being taken out by medical personnel backstage.
“The next entry was supposed to be Bob, but Bobby’s not there,” Riddle recounted. “Even though when the bell goes off, his pod lights up, but Brock still has to wait like another five minutes.”
Five Minutes of Chaos
In wrestling, five minutes can feel like an eternity. Inside the Elimination Chamber, that downtime is usually filled with high-impact action to keep the audience engaged. The remaining superstars scrambled to fill the void, trying to execute the spots they had rehearsed.
However, they hadn’t accounted for the presence of Brock Lesnar.
Riddle didn’t hold back when describing what happened next, pointing directly at the former UFC Heavyweight Champion as the wrench in the machine.
“Well, what happens?” Riddle said with a hint of frustration. “Brock Lesnar not listening to anybody but himself and maybe Paul Heyman.”
The implication is clear: while the rest of the locker room was trying to adapt to a changing situation and deliver a great show, Lesnar was focused solely on his own agenda, waiting for his cue and ignoring the desperate attempts of the other wrestlers to get their heat.
A History of Doing Things His Way
Riddle’s comments tap into a decades-long narrative about Lesnar’s career. Since his initial departure from WWE in 2004, Lesnar has viewed professional wrestling through a very specific lens: a business transaction. His stints are usually short, his schedules are limited, and his creative control is reportedly ironclad.
While this headstrong nature has frustrated some colleagues, it has also preserved Lesnar’s mystique. When he does show up, he feels like a massive deal—a force of nature rather than just another wrestler.
For Riddle and the others in the Chamber that night, it meant a nerve-wracking few minutes of improvisation while waiting for the Beast to finally emerge. For the fans watching at home, it was just another example of Lesnar reminding everyone that in his world, the only rule is his rule.
