Subhojeet Mukherjee on September 9, 2025
Matt Riddle is catching heat from all corners after making controversial remarks about CM Punk and AJ Lee. Now, WWE Hall of Famer Booker T is stepping in, and he didn’t hold back on The Hall of Fame podcast when addressing Riddle’s latest behavior. Booker started by co-signing everything Peter Rosenberg previously said about Riddle.
“Peter Rosenberg said it, and everything he said is 100% true. I’m a guy also—I never had any beef with Matt Riddle or anything like that. But I did say: I did not think this guy was going to make it, you know, in this business.”
Booker then pointed to a deeper issue—Riddle’s lack of respect for wrestling history and the legends who came before him.
“I just didn’t think Matt Riddle respected the business enough to make it to the next level. Because when you come in talking about how good somebody is in the ring—opposed to how much money somebody made in the business and for the business, referring to Goldberg—you are totally on the wrong track.”
He didn’t stop there. Booker also brought up Riddle’s past friction with Brock Lesnar, calling it another major red flag.
“When you get in heat with guys like Brock Lesnar, you’re totally on the wrong track. Not a good idea. And you just don’t understand the business more than anything.”
Booker predicted a grim future for Riddle based on his recent behavior.
“You could be on a skyrocket trajectory and boom—everything just blows up in your face, and you’re working on the indies. Never again to make it back to the major leagues.”
“Man, it’s one thing to burn bridges, but when you blow up the damn bridge? That’s another story.”
Brad Gilmore, Booker’s co-host, added his own take—and it was just as brutal.
“Why is Matt Riddle on TMZ badmouthing CM Punk and AJ Lee?”
“He’s joined a list to me—with him, Ryback, and to be honest, Swerve Strickland—people I don’t have any respect for after hearing some of the comments they’ve made. And I don’t have any inclination to want to meet them.”
Booker also took issue with Riddle’s attitude toward Punk’s legacy.
“CM Punk has done a hell of a job creating the aura that he has in this business. For a guy like CM Punk to walk away… and the fans still kept his name alive… you don’t hate, you congratulate.”
Booker finished by calling out Riddle’s fake tough guy persona.
“If Riddle wants to fight, go back to the UFC, go to Bare Knuckle FC. But don’t talk about how someone ‘can’t fight’ and then stay in this business.”
After his now-infamous remarks about AJ Lee—where he said she “got around” during her WWE days—Matt Riddle’s reputation is plummeting fast. With legends like Booker T now turning on him publicly, the fallout may only get worse from here.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
Do you think Matt Riddle can come back from this, or has he burned too many bridges? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
September 9, 2025 9:58 am
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