EXCLUSIVE: Matt Riddle No-Shows & 'Rips Off' Charity Wrestling Show

UPDATE: Matt Riddle has commented on no-showing the Global Wrestling Kingdom event.

"I'm gonna make this quick. GWK, the reason I didn't go is because you booked me a flight for Thursday for a show that was happening Sunday. And you said you were booking me meet-and-greets, other matches, and appearances. You did none of that. I had nothing scheduled and I was going to sit in a hotel room for two days in London. I told you multiple times I couldn't do that or wouldn't do that," Riddle said on X/Twitter.

"And I got work for Friday and Saturday. And Thursday, I worked Thursday, Friday, Saturday. And I told you I would fly to London Saturday evening. You said, 'You pay for it.' I go, 'No, you pay for it. Take it out of my pay, whatever.' You guys refused, so I flew to Miami and wrestled there. I never said I wouldn't pay you guys back, that's a lie. Also, this show wasn't a charity event. That's a lie, that was a last-second change. You also booked me the worst flight in history, bro. Middle seat, no meal, no checked bag. GWK, this is probably your last run."

Riddle then added in another X/Twitter video: "You know, I can explain everything in great detail. I'm not lying, but I really don't give a f*ck anymore. Most of you motherf*ckers are dumb f*cking c*nts. Just like when you believe that MeToo bullsh*t, all the other f*cking garbage. You guys are all f*cking dumb and it's f*cking insane. It's f*cking insane. F*cking believe these f*cking creeps. Whatever, dog.

"At the end of the day, I'm gonna keep getting booked, I'm probably gonna start fighting again. I'm probably gonna do a lot of other sh*t. F*cking crushing it on OnlyFans because I’ve got a big f*cking you know what, and I'm nice as f*ck, dude. Everybody, if you don’t like me, unfollow. Go f*ck yourselves. I don’t give a f*ck because at the end of the day, the cream f*cking rises to the top and I’m really, really f*cking tired of trying to be nice to everybody because I hate to break it to you, most of you guys are f*cking morons. Peace."

Original Story:

Matt Riddle no-showed a charity pro wrestling event in the United Kingdom on Sunday, August 31 and he has yet to return the deposit paid to him.

Al Snow's Global Wrestling Kingdom ran their inaugural show - A New Kingdom Rises - on Sunday in Barnsley, England. The advertised main event since May had been Matt Riddle vs. Simon Miller, but Riddle was nowhere to be seen in Barnsley, and it was announced at the beginning of the show that Grado would instead face Miller in the main event.

Grado explained to Cultaholic how he ended up replacing Riddle on the show:

"I got the phone call late Saturday night from Al Snow, Steve Lynskey and Liam the promoter to make the five-hour drive from Ayrshire to Barnsley.

"I was a wee bit worried the fans would be upset at me being the replacement as we are completely different wrestlers in more than one way. However, the reaction was incredible and the lads and lassies in the back absolutely burst their arses to give the fans a cracking show. Shout out to Simon Miller for being a tremendous pro also!"

Sources close to the situation have revealed to Cultaholic that Riddle was booked for the Global Wrestling Kingdom event through his manager several months ago, but Riddle recently expressed concerns about his flight, claiming it was cheap, and his unhappiness about being in a hotel room in Barnsley for two days.

After Riddle revealed his concerns, GWK tried to organise pro wrestling seminars so he could make some extra money while in the United Kingdom, but they were unable to finalise any events on such short notice. Riddle didn't cancel his booking, but he never travelled to the United Kingdom and a driver was left waiting several hours for the MLW World Heavyweight Champion to arrive.

GWK then received a reply from Riddle which noted he had accepted another booking but would still potentially make the show. Riddle did not open any of GWK's future messages about his status for the event, however.

Riddle's absence from the GWK event resulted in the promotion having to issue refunds for meet-and-greets, and sources have noted Riddle has yet to return his deposit. The GWK event, opened by the mayor of Barnsley, was raising money for Help 4 Homeless Veterans and Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide. GWK announced in mid-July that all profits from the show would be donated to the two charities.

Instead of working the GWK show, Riddle was instead backstage at Real American Freestyle's inaugural event on Saturday, August 30, with PWInsider reporting that Riddle expressed interest in competing for the freestyle wrestling league founded by Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff.

Riddle then wrestled for Boca Raton Championship Wrestling on Sunday, August 31 as he teamed with Wild Stallions tag team partner Stallion Rogers in a win over Big Tito Lincoln and Lakay. Riddle was not advertised for the BRCW show as the original card listed Stallion Rogers vs. Big Tito Lincoln in a singles match.

Riddle no-showed a Championship Wrestling from Memphis event in January of this year and only told the promotion on the day of the show that he wouldn't be making his planned booking. Riddle instead attended Nick Hogan's wedding that day.