Matt Riddle Sparks Backlash After No-Showing Charity Event in England

On Sunday, August 31, 2025, Matt Riddle was advertised to wrestle Simon Miller at Global Wrestling Kingdom's charity event "A New Kingdom Rises" in Barnsley, England. The event aimed to raise funds for survivors of domestic abuse and homeless veterans. However, Riddle never made the trip to the UK and did not fulfill his booking. Scottish wrestler Grado stepped in as his replacement, and the promotion had to offer refunds to disappointed fans. To add fuel to the fire, Riddle has yet to return the deposit paid by the organizers. 

What Went Wrong—Behind the Scenes

Reports suggest that Riddle started voicing concerns about the quality of his flights (calling them “cheap”) and expressed dissatisfaction with staying in a hotel for two nights. The promotion even attempted to accommodate him by arranging wrestling seminars so he could make extra earnings, but these plans fell through at the last minute. 

Instead of traveling to the UK, Riddle competed for Boca Raton Championship Wrestling on the same day, August 31, and was also reportedly backstage at Real American Freestyle’s inaugural event on August 30. Though he informed GWK he had accepted another booking, he privately communicated he might still make it—ultimately, he never showed up nor responded to further messages, and the deposit remained unpaid. 

Past Patterns of No-Shows

This isn't an isolated incident for Riddle. In January 2025, he no-showed a Memphis Wrestling TV taping where he had been heavily promoted. Notably, he chose to attend Nick Hogan’s wedding instead, notifying the promotion only on the day of the event. His repeated absences have become a point of contention among promoters and fans alike.

Riddle’s Own Take

When questioned about recurring bookings missed, Riddle dismissed the criticism on the Stories with Brisco and Bradshaw podcast. He stated:

“If I miss 5 shows out of 100 in a year, eat it. I don’t care... I wrestled over 100 times last year... You sacrifice family, holidays, vacations, weddings ... and then if you miss one show, it’s like, ‘You son of a b—-.’” 

His stance underscores his belief that occasional lapses shouldn’t eclipse his overall output, though critics argue reliability is non-negotiable—especially in charity work.

Wider Reaction and Professional Impact

Reportedly, the UK promoter had to issue refunds, and with the deposit still unreturned, Riddle’s reputation has taken a hit. Sports media outlets like Sportskeeda describe the situation bluntly: “Ripped off and no-showed”.

Conclusion

Matt Riddle’s recent no-show at the Global Wrestling Kingdom charity event in Barnsley, England has drawn widespread criticism. With an unpaid deposit, disappointed fans, and a replacement stepping in at the last moment, the fallout highlights the consequences of unreliability—even for marquee talent. While Riddle downplays missed appearances as a minor trade-off in a busy schedule, this string of incidents could hurt his long-term standing with promoters and fans alike.