Some rivalries in wrestling are created for TV, while others happen for real behind the scenes and never become part of a storyline. The relationship between Matt Riddle and Brock Lesnar falls into the second category. There was genuine tension between the two, and it has been backed up by multiple reliable reports and interviews. WWE never turned that real-life conflict into an on-screen feud, even though they ended up sharing the ring once in a multi-man match by coincidence.
Where the Tension Actually Started
Before joining WWE, Matt Riddle made one thing very clear—his biggest goal was to face Brock Lesnar. He even said he wanted to be the man who ended Lesnar’s career. Riddle talked about it in several interviews before and after his WWE debut. He also tagged Lesnar on social media and spoke about the match as if it was something that would eventually happen, not just a dream.
Brock Lesnar, however, saw things very differently. While Riddle believed his comments were respectful trash talk, reports say Lesnar viewed the constant callouts as a sign of disrespect. As Riddle kept bringing up Lesnar’s name, the tension between them continued to grow, long before they ever met face-to-face.
The Royal Rumble Incident
Before long, the situation reached its most well-known moment at the 2020 Royal Rumble, which was Matt Riddle’s first appearance on WWE’s main roster. According to TalkSport reporter Alex McCarthy, Brock Lesnar approached Riddle backstage, grabbed his shoulder to get his attention, and told him to stop tagging him on social media and mentioning his name in interviews. Lesnar also made it clear that the two of them would never work together.
Matt Riddle later confirmed the backstage exchange in several interviews. He said the conversation wasn’t as aggressive as some reports had made it sound, but it definitely happened. Riddle admitted that his repeated trash talk had played a part in the situation. He also said he didn’t argue with Lesnar at the time. Instead, he simply replied that he couldn’t force anyone to work with him, and that was the end of the conversation. Around the same time, Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that Riddle was already dealing with backstage heat heading into the 2020 Royal Rumble. That report matches the tension both Riddle and Lesnar have since described.
Why WWE Left It Alone
On paper, Matt Riddle vs. Brock Lesnar looked like an easy feud to sell. Both men had legitimate fighting backgrounds, both brought believable intensity, and the idea of two real fighters settling their personal issues inside a WWE storyline is exactly the kind of rivalry that usually gets fans excited. The biggest problem, however, was getting both men on board. WWE creative generally needs both wrestlers to agree before building a major program, especially when it involves a top attraction like Brock Lesnar.
Lesnar has long been known for having significant backstage influence, giving him more control over his storylines than most of the roster. According to multiple reports, he simply had no interest in working with Matt Riddle. Without both sides agreeing, there was never a realistic chance of turning their real-life tension into an on-screen feud. WWE rarely forces one of its biggest stars into a program they don’t want to do, and Lesnar made his position clear from the very beginning.
Riddle Kept the Story Alive Anyway
Matt Riddle never really let the subject go. Even after the 2020 Royal Rumble incident became public, he continued bringing up Brock Lesnar in interviews. At times, he even suggested that some people backstage were intimidated by Lesnar, and that his influence affected certain creative decisions in WWE.
Comments like those kept the story alive among fans and wrestling media, even though there was never any real progress toward an actual feud or match. That’s one of the reasons this story remained so interesting. Riddle was never afraid to revisit the topic, and every time Lesnar’s name came up in an interview, fans were reminded of the real-life tension between the two.
The One Time They Actually Shared a Ring
This is where the popular version of the story gets it wrong. Many fans believe Matt Riddle and Brock Lesnar never shared a WWE ring, but that’s not true. They did face each other in the same match—just not in the way fans had hoped.
At the 2022 Elimination Chamber, both Riddle and Lesnar competed in the WWE Championship Elimination Chamber Match. During the match, Lesnar eliminated Riddle on his way to winning the title. However, it wasn’t the start of a singles rivalry, and there was no storyline built specifically around the two. Their backstage relationship also didn’t appear to improve because of that match. So, while they did cross paths inside a WWE ring, the one thing that never happened was the one-on-one feud that many fans wanted to see.
In the years since, Riddle has suggested that the two have reached a level of mutual understanding, even if they were never close. He has described Lesnar as someone who always operates on his own terms and said that he no longer takes the situation personally.
Why This Story Still Resonates
Part of what has kept this story alive for so many years is how different it was from a typical WWE rivalry. WWE has turned real-life tension into memorable storylines many times before, but that never happened here. It also shows how much control a star like Brock Lesnar had over his own creative direction, and how backstage politics can work very differently from what fans expect. To most fans, this looked like an obvious money match, but in reality, things were never that simple.
Another reason this story remains so fascinating is the real combat background of both wrestlers. Matt Riddle and Brock Lesnar were both legitimate fighters, and their real-life tension lasted for years without ever getting a proper conclusion. That’s why wrestling fans have often described it as one of WWE’s most believable shoot-style dream matches. Both men had the skills and credibility to make the rivalry feel authentic. If this match had actually happened, fans would have absolutely loved it—including me.
Where Things Stand Now
Matt Riddle’s release from WWE in 2023 effectively ended any realistic chance of this rivalry happening inside the company. Since then, Brock Lesnar’s WWE status has also changed several times. Unless an unlikely situation brings both men together in the same promotion again, their real-life tension will probably remain what it has always been—a well-documented backstage story rather than the on-screen rivalry many fans hoped to see.
For years, fans have learned about their issues through interviews, reports, and behind-the-scenes accounts instead of watching them play out in a proper WWE storyline. The feud had all the ingredients to become something special, but it never made it to television.
Sometimes, the rivalry that never happens ends up being even more fascinating than the one that actually gets booked.
Gaurav Sharma
Founder & Lead Writer, Wrestling Nightmare
I’ve been hooked on wrestling since childhood—from the Attitude Era to today’s Bloodline saga, plus AEW and TNA. My favorite match of all time is The Rock vs. Brock Lesnar (SummerSlam 2002), and I’ll always stand by Bray Wyatt’s untapped potential.
At Wrestling Nightmare, I break down news, analyze matches, and drop verified recaps. Got a correction or wanna debate? Hit me up at contact@wrestlingnightmare.com
