Josh Barnett wasn’t about to let Matt Riddle accuse him of taking Bloodsport without firing back. After Riddle claimed Barnett tried to take ownership of something he never created, Barnett responded with his own version of events — and basically tore apart Riddle’s original Bloodsport in the process.
Barnett took to Twitter and immediately disputed Riddle’s claim that the two had a conversation during WrestleMania week about the future of Bloodsport. According to Barnett, that conversation simply never happened.
“Let’s go with conversations that never happened for $500 Alex.
This is hilarious. Last we saw each other was backstage at Natural Born Killers and none of that was said.”
Barnett did agree with one part of Riddle’s story. He acknowledged that he had nothing to do with Riddle’s original 2018 Bloodsport event, but that was about as complimentary as he was willing to get.
“What you did say here that was correct is that I had nothing to do with your initial show, which is why it looked second rate at best compared to what I’ve created.”
From there, Barnett went after Riddle’s claim that he created the Bloodsport concept. He argued that Riddle’s version borrowed heavily from the 1988 Bloodsport movie, right down to its presentation, and claimed that was one of the first problems he addressed when he became involved.
“You call creation using the font and name from a movie, using the theme song from a movie, it’s practically like you just ripped off most everything from the movie Bloodsport and then tried to run with it. When I came on board I immediately told Brett that not only did this thing need so much help, but that there’s no way we’re going to sit here and use all this IP from some company that we don’t own because that’s absolutely stupid.”
Barnett didn’t stop at the presentation either. He dismissed Riddle’s original event as an incomplete version of what Bloodsport eventually became and accused him of taking much of its identity from an existing property.
“What you put together in 2018 was a loose, amateurish execution of an idea. The logo, themes, music, those ‘rules’ that you speak of were merely the bare minimum and much of it was stolen from a property that already existed.”
According to Barnett, GCW approached him after Riddle’s departure and he believed the entire concept needed to be rebuilt. He credited himself with turning it into the version of Bloodsport fans know today and even challenged people who worked both eras to compare them.
“What I’ve created is a complete and total event and concept. When GCW reached out to me, I said that the entire thing that you had created was unsuitable and needed to be completely overhauled — which I did. Go ask any of the wrestlers that competed on your show that have also competed in mine, and you will get the same answer.”
Barnett then made his position on the name pretty damn clear. Riddle may have held the first event, but Barnett believes the modern Bloodsport identity belongs specifically to what he built afterwards.
“There is only one Josh Barnett’s: Bloodsport because there is only one Josh Barnett — the person behind its heart and soul. PS. It’s ‘Bloodsport’ not ‘Blood Sport’, even in the logo you were ripping off it’s one word.”
The whole thing started after Riddle posted the original 2018 event graphic and said the rules, name and concept all came from him. He accused Barnett of later trying to take Bloodsport for himself and claimed he personally told Barnett that he didn’t own the concept when they crossed paths earlier this year.
Now the argument has moved well beyond who technically held the first show. Riddle says he created Bloodsport and Barnett took it over, while Barnett’s response is essentially that what Riddle created was barely Bloodsport as fans know it today. If Riddle decides to answer that one, this fight over who deserves credit for Bloodsport probably isn’t finished.
Who do you think deserves more credit for what Bloodsport eventually became — Matt Riddle or Josh Barnett? Let us know what you think in the comments.
