Being real in pro wrestling has paid off. Just being myself - that really translated to the fans.

Matt Riddle

Categorized in : Myself Real Fans Being Myself

My goal isn't to be one of the best; it's to change the game, to change the way things work.

best game change work

It's almost like my life is a fairytale.

life-is-a my-life like life

I'm a shark, and I swam in a lot of different ponds, but I'm ready for the ocean.

shark ready different ocean

MMA is like the Colosseum in Rome: the fans want to see violence.

see fans violence want

I want more unpredictability. I want more realism. I think the fans would appreciate that, and that's what I've brought since day one.

day think appreciate want

I'm already a personable person. I always try to smile and get to know somebody and say hello - even when people are trying not to talk to me.

know me smile people

When I started doing pro wrestling, it wasn't the physical aspect doing the moves or taking the moves that was hard: it was interacting with the crowd, body movement, selling, getting that emotional attachment with people so they're invested in a match. That was the hard part.

doing emotional body people

I'm usually just so laid back most of the times.

most just back laid-back

I've always been a bro, and I've used the word 'bro' a lot.

bro been always used

If you train, you work hard, you're actually 110-percent dedicated, you're doing it for all the right reasons, you're probably gonna end up on the top. You know the cream always rises to the top.

end work-hard you work

I love fighting, but I don't miss waiting months upon months just to fight once in front of people and then have to wait months again to fight once in front of people.

fight waiting love people

Take into consideration I get to play-fight in my underwear every week, and I get paid very well to do it.

well get underwear week

I get more respect doing professional wrestling than I ever did in MMA.

professional more doing respect

In fighting, if you get hit in the face, you don't show it. You can't show it.

face get you fighting

When you have a guy like me who's a former UFC fighter and who is basically a normal guy who can do exceptional things, that connects with people rather than some random Viking who can also do exceptional things.

random me you people

It doesn't matter if you're the best wrestler in the world and can do every move perfectly; if you don't connect with the crowd or sell well or have good promos, nobody cares.

best good you world

That's why I like the indies: because I like being who I am. I get to be who I am in the ring, on the microphone, everywhere. It's great. I never have to get out of character because I am Matthew Riddle.

i-am never great character

With wrestling, everybody always asks what they can do to get signed or how can they get over. There's no right or wrong answers. That's why I think the best thing you can do is be yourself.

be-yourself yourself best you

Lesnar is a bully. I'd hurt him and show him that he couldn't hurt me. That doesn't sound too technical, but in a fight with Brock Lesnar, you need to go after him.

fight me you hurt

I try to be as humble as possible, but I'm just on another level. That's all there is to it.

possible just try humble