With Randy Orton’s WWE Return Taking Longer Than Expected, What Will Become Of Matt Riddle?
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There was a moment in time in which it looked like Matt Riddle was on the periphery of entering the main event scene full time for WWE, but in just a few months, his fortunes have been upturned in a big way, with him feeling like a midcard act right now. His team with Randy Orton opened him up to a big push in WWE, which then led him to some big feuds as he awaited Orton’s return from injury. With reports now indicating that Orton’s condition is worse than previously thought, there is some doubt as to the future of Riddle. A lack of a return for Orton, or a more prolonged absence, could be a huge blow to the rise of Riddle, derailing his momentum and future plans in a big way.
WWE May Have Had Plans For Matt Riddle And Randy Orton To Feud
When Matt Riddle and Randy Orton teamed up for the first time, it felt like an inevitability that one or the other would turn at some stage, with them each being predominantly singles competitors. Due to their infectious chemistry and prestige they brought to the tag team scene, they remained together for well over a year, all the way up until May 2022 when Orton had to take some time off due to injury. There were plans to break the pair up, but they were too good together to end things just yet.
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If reports are to be believed, Riddle was in plans to win the 2022 Royal Rumble, and perhaps go on to WrestleMania to take on Randy Orton for a World Title, but these plans were halted due to Vince McMahon wanting Brock Lesnar to take on Roman Reigns in a Winner Takes All clash. Fans would be happy to wait until the following year’s WrestleMania though, even if there were no titles on the line for a potential match between the pair, because it would no doubt help to elevate Riddle to the next level. A rivalry with someone whom he has formed a friendship with, especially with them being a multi-time world champion, is exactly the type of feud that can create a huge star. It felt as though whenever Orton came back, the wheels would begin turning for a break-up. However, this may have been indefinitely put on hold.
It Isn’t Clear When Or If Randy Orton Will Return To WWE
The exact details around Randy Orton’s injury have been quite subdued, but recently reports emerged via Fightful Select that it may be similar to that of the injury which kept Shawn Michaels out of the ring for four years. Orton’s father, the legendary Cowboy Bob Orton, contradicted this by stating at a WrestleFest signing (h/tPOSTWrestling), that he would be “back in there before you know it."
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If a return does happen, it may not be for a very long time. Of course, modern medicine and treatment is different to that of a quarter of a decade ago when Michaels was ruled out, but it still could mean a prolonged period without seeing Orton back in the ring. For Riddle, whose push has been put on hold recently, this could be debilitating for his WWE career. After feuds against Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, he needs to continue his momentum, and a major angle and feud with Orton was the perfect next step. Instead, he is now teaming up with Elias.
Matt Riddle’s WWE Future As A Main Eventer Could Be In Jeopardy Without Randy Orton In The Picture
Much like he had done with Orton, Riddle is now in yet another odd couple tag team alongside Elias, which seems to be heading for Elias turning on him at some point. This feels like a cheap copy of what Riddle’s story with Orton was supposed to be, and there is very little interest in this version of the angle. Fans aren’t really getting too much into Riddle and Elias as a partnership, especially since Riddle has reverted to his pandemic era style of goofiness in his character.
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Of course, this partnership with Elias could be the precursor to an Orton return down the line, either to save Riddle or be yet another partner to turn on him if Elias does indeed do so. It must be said though, that it is hard seeing Riddle recover his immense popularity any time soon that he had on the back of his RKBro tandem with Orton, which saw him compete in major rivalries over the summer months. He may very well remain in the midcard, potentially competing for the United States Title at some point too, though it feels far away from what his career could be like right now if Orton were around. It is hard to imagine he does too much in Orton’s absence, and without the push he’d receive from feuding with him. Riddle’s career will very much feel like there is something missing without a satisfying conclusion to the story between him and Orton.
