Early Life
Matthew Riddle was born on January 14, 1986, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. His family moved to New York when he was a child. In high school, Riddle competed in amateur wrestling and became a New York state wrestling champion in 2004.
During Riddle’s years at East Stroudsburg University, Riddle transitioned from amateur wrestling to mixed martial arts. He trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and eventually earned his black belt in the sport. His success in amateur competition enabled Riddle to take his MMA career to the next level.
Professional MMA Career
On June 21, 2008, Riddle made his professional debut for the UFC. His athleticism and wrestling skills led him to immense success in the octagon, and his zany personality helped him stand out among the UFC roster.
Following a victory over Chris Clements on October 20, 2012, Riddle failed a post-fight drug test due to marijuana usage. Then in February 2013, Riddle was released from UFC following a second failed drug test. His final record in the UFC stands at 10-3.
Independent Wrestling Career
Following his release from UFC, Riddle tried to compete in other MMA promotions but struggled due to injuries. He decided to transition from MMA into a professional wrestling career in late 2014.
After training at the Monster Factory, Riddle began competing across the independent circuit. He worked in American promotions such as PWG, CZW, and GCW, and even competed abroad in promotions like Progress Wrestling, wXw, and RevPro.
The Bro In NXT
On July 31, 2018, news broke that Riddle had signed a contract with WWE. He appeared in the crowd at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn IV and made his in-ring debut on October 31, 2018. Riddle was given the nickname “Original Bro” and portrayed a laidback, stereotypical “stoner” personality.
In early 2020, Riddle allied with former NXT UK Champion Pete Dunne. They became known as the BroserWeights, a combination of “Original Bro” and “Bruiserweight.” Together, Riddle and Dunne won the 2020 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and became NXT Tag Team Champions soon after.
WWE Main Roster Run
On May 29, 2020, Riddle was promoted from NXT to the Smackdown brand. After making his debut a few weeks later, he entered a feud with AJ Styles for the Intercontinental Championship but ultimately was unsuccessful in capturing the title.
At Elimination Chamber 2021, Riddle defeated Bobby Lashley and John Morrison to become the United States Champion. He held the title until WrestleMania 37, where he dropped the belt to Sheamus.
In April 2021, Riddle entered an uneasy alliance with Randy Orton. Over time, that alliance developed into a full-blown tag team partnership; Orton and Riddle were dubbed RK-Bro, inspired by Orton’s RKO finisher and Riddle’s moniker.
A SummerSlam 2021, RK-Bro defeated AJ Styles and Omos to win the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship. Unfortunately, in early 2022, Randy Orton sustained a back injury and was forced to step away from the ring. Rk-Bro was consequently put on hiatus and Riddle returned to singles competition.
Despite his success as a tag team competitor, Riddle’s popularity in WWE began to dwindle once he was on his own again. Allegations of marital infidelity and sexual misconduct began to hamper his reputation until eventually, Riddle’s baggage outweighed his worth; Riddle was released from WWE on September 22, 2023.
