Steve Maclin is ready to fight Matt Riddle at BRCW Summer Smash, but he’s not exactly treating him like the safest bet in the room.
While speaking on The Zaslow Show, Maclin talked about defending the BRCW Championship against Riddle and admitted the two go way back. Both men started training at the Monster Factory in Paulsboro, New Jersey, so this isn’t just some random title match thrown together for the poster.
“He’s just being a bro. And however you want to take that, that’s just Riddle and how he’s always been. And we have a lot of actually history together. Uh, we both started at the Monster Factory in Paulsboro, New Jersey where we started training. Uh, so we have like we come from the same background. Granted he’s in the MMA world first and then bringing that into the world of pro wrestling, which is a great mix of different styles. And then for me, coming from a military background going into pro wrestling, it’s we’re very similar in a lot of different ways and we’re to go out there and try to give it our all no matter what we do.”
That sounds respectful enough, but Maclin did not stay in friendly territory for long. When the conversation turned to what it means to carry a championship and represent a company, Maclin took a clear shot at Riddle’s reputation. He said Riddle has talent, but questioned whether any promotion should really put its full trust in him.
“And for him, he’s a guy that I uh I don’t feel can hold something like this or even a brand or a name because he’s been places and he’s kind of burned those bridges in other places where he just he’s not somebody you want to put all your faith into as a company.”
Maclin then made the comparison very simple. In his mind, he is the guy a promotion can send out to do interviews, promote shows, carry the title, and not create extra problems outside the ring.
“And for me, being who I am and bulletproof Mr. Mayhem, Steve Maclin, that’s somebody you want to get behind. I go out there, I do media, I come on here to promote shows. I’m not there to cause trouble on the headlines or TMZ and all that and that’s just how I kind of go about it.”
That is a pretty sharp line to draw before a title defense. Maclin is not just saying he wants to beat Riddle. He is saying Riddle is not the kind of person a company should trust with its brand, while Maclin sees himself as the safer and stronger face of the promotion.
BRCW Summer Smash now has a little more heat behind it. Riddle brings the MMA background, Maclin brings the military edge, and now the champion has made it personal by questioning whether Riddle can be trusted with the spotlight at all.
Do you think Steve Maclin has a point about Matt Riddle’s reputation, or is he just trying to get under his skin before Summer Smash? Let us know in the comments below.
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