Matt Riddle Reportedly No-Showed Charity Event in U.K. & Hasn’t Returned Deposit, Grado Responds to Riddle’s No-Show Incident & Drove Five Hours To Replace Him [Update: Matt Riddle Issues Statement]

Update:

Matt Riddle issued an official statement earlier today on Instagram responding to the claims of him no-showing a wrestling charity event and not returning the deposit and his reasons for why he did not attend the 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 can’t do that or wouldn’t do that., and I got work for Friday and Saturday, and Thursday. I worked Thursday, Friday, Saturday. I told you I would fly to London on 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.”

In a follow-up video post on Instagram, Riddle stated:

“You know, I can explain everything in great detail. I’m not lying, but I really don’t give a fuck anymore. Most of you motherfuckers are dumb fucking cunts. Just like when you believe that MeToo bullshit, all the other fucking garbage. You guys are all fucking dumb, and it’s fucking insane. It’s fucking insane. Fucking believe these fucking creeps. [Groans] 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 shit. Fucking crushing it on OnlyFans because I’ve got a big fucking you know what, and I’m nice as fuck, dude. Everybody, if you don’t like me, unfollow, go fuck yourselves. I don’t give a fuck because at the end of the day, the cream fucking rises to the top, and I’m really, really tired of trying to be nice to everybody because I hate to break it to you, most of you guys are fucking morons. Peace.”

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Cultaholic’s Aidan Gibbons reported that former WWE talent and current MLW and indies talent Matt Riddle was involved in an incident over him no showing a charity wrestling event in the United Kingdom this past weekend.

Gibbons reported that Riddle had been booked to appear at a charity wrestling event held by Global Wrestling Kingdom on August 31st in Barnsley, England. Gibbons also reported that the advertised main event for the show since this past May had been a match of Riddle vs. Simon Miller but Riddle was nowhere to be seen in Barnsley that day. The promotion reportedly announced at the beginning of their show that Grado would be facing Miller instead in the main event.

In an interview with Cultaholic, Grado gave his thoughts about Riddle’s no-show incident and how he drove for five hours on a short notice to replace Riddle.

“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!”

Those spoken to close to the situation reportedly stated that Riddle was booked for Global Wrestling Kingdom’s event through his manager several months ago. Those spoken to reportedly also stated that Riddle had recently expressed concerns about his flight claiming it was cheap and his unhappiness about being in a hotel room in Barnsley for two days.

Gibbons reported that after Riddle gave his concerns, GWK officials tried to organize pro wrestling seminars so that he could make some extra money while in the United Kingdom but they were unable to finalize any events on such a short notice.

Riddle reportedly did not cancel his booking nor ever traveled to the U.K. and a driver was left waiting several hours at the airport for him to arrive.

Gibbons reported that GWK then received a reply from Riddle which stated that he had accepted another booking but would still potentially make the show. Riddle reportedly did not respond to any of GWK’s messages afterwards about his status for the event.

Gibbons also reported that Riddle’s abscense from GWK’s event resulted in the promotion having to issue refunds for meet-and-greets. Those spoken to reportedly stated that Riddle has yet to return his deposit for no-showing the event.

In regards to the charity aspect of the event, Gibbons reported that GWK’s event was opened by the mayor of Barnsley and was raising money for charities in support of survivors of domestic abuse, and homeless veterans.

This was the second time that Riddle has no-showed a scheduled booking this year, following him no-showing an event for Championship Wrestling from Memphis this past January.