On the December 5th episode of Monday Night Raw, Matt Riddle was viciously attacked by Solo Sikoa. The star had teamed with Kevin Owens to take on The Usos, with the pair being defeated before Riddle was taken out.
Following the assault WWE announced that the former United States Champion will be out of action for six weeks. However, this was followed a sensation report which claimed that Riddle was actually suspended having being sent to rehab after failing a drug test. Furthermore, this was Riddle’s second failed test in a matter of months, having previously been pulled up in July.
At the time it was reported that Matt Riddle’s planned SummerSlam clash with Seth Rollins was scrapped and moved to Clash At The Castle for creative reasons.
Source Denies Matt Riddle Has Failed A Drug Test
Writing in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer has reported that a source close to Riddle has denied the story. Instead claiming that he is taking time off due to the stress of his ongoing divorce.
Meltzer adds that WWE haven’t commented on the speculation, but will have breached their own policy regarding drug testing if he is indeed suspended.
“If accurate, the story contradicts its drug policy because there was no 30 day suspension for the first offense…
The policy is also that all drug test failures and suspensions are to be announced publicly, which didn’t happen.
WWE also has not commented on questions regarding if there was a policy change that was never publicized, nor denied the story being inaccurate. Within WWE, that was the story believed to be why they did the angle writing him out and went on television saying he would be out of action for six weeks.”
Matt Riddle’s original tag team partner Randy Orton remains out of action after undergoing spinal fusion surgery. Although there has been concern that his career could be over, his father has claimed that he will be back in the ring once he’s recovered.