WWE Raw star and a former WWE United States champion Matt Riddle who is also a former two times WWE Raw Tag Team Champion recently talked about the differences between professional wrestling and Mixed Martial Arts. He also discussed the appearance of Daniel Cormier at the Extreme Rules.
Matt Riddle started his professional career as a Mixed Martial Artist and he had been pretty successful in the MMA. He has a very decent record as well. But in WWE his MMA career is hardly mentioned, as Brock Lesnar or Ronda Rousey get special treatment for being ex MMA stars, Riddle never got any such treatment.
Matt Riddle Discusses The Differences Between Pro Wrestling And MMA
Riddle came to the world of WWE after working on the independent circuit for a number of years. He first worked on the NXT which was the Development Territory of WWE. After getting promoted on to the main roster, he was mostly treated as a mid carder and he did pretty well in whatever role he was given.
He is most famous story line so far has to be teaming up with WWE Legend Randy Orton. Together they won the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship two times in total. His next feud with Seth Rollins also became pretty famous. We can assume that soon he will be promoted to the main event status as his fame is growing faster.
Matt Riddle who is also a former two times WWE Raw Tag Team Champion recently spoke to DC & RC where he talked about the differences between professional wrestling and Mixed Martial Arts. He also discussed the appearance of Daniel Cormier at the Extreme Rules. He said;
“I’d say this. The energy is a little different because I’d say in professional wrestling, I’m kinda like the composer. I am like the artist that’s painting. I know what I’m expecting the crowd to do when I do it and stuff like that.
“I know when I’m gonna get those reactions or at least I’m planning on those reactions if I do my job right. While I was in mixed martial arts, you never know what’s gonna happen, but even in my career, I was always going for those fight of the night, those epic moments, those Rocky Balboa slugfests, both guys bleeding and the crowd roaring.
“They’re different, of course, but those are the similarities. I’m trying to get that crowd up. I’m trying to get them to roar. I’m trying to feel that energy to push me to go harder and stronger.”
H/T to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription