Riddle’s WWE hiatus coincided with other external issues involving him. During a flight transfer at JFK International Airport last weekend, an altercation took place between Matt Riddle and Port Authority officers.
In a since-deleted Instagram post, Riddle accused one officer of sexual assault, while officers countered that Riddle was acting in a disruptive and heavily intoxicated manner. Both the Port Authority and WWE are presently investigating the incident.
Matt Riddle claims he was sexually assaulted at JFK Airport in a instagram post. pic.twitter.com/faXTXMppLq
— Wrestlelamia.co.uk (@wrestlelamia) September 10, 2023
Scheduled for a return to WWE RAW next week, Matt Riddle was notably absent from this week’s episode. Crucially, his absence had no direct connection to the JFK Airport incident that occurred last weekend.
Matt Riddle was absent from this week’s “WWE Raw” due to reported bronchitis and an ear infection. Mike Johnson of PWInsider reports that WWE sources have informed him about Matt Riddle’s scheduled return to WWE RAW next week. WWE officials informed talents that Riddle’s non-appearance on RAW earlier this week resulted from a “medical issue.”
Matt riddle is still internally scheduled to be part of Raw tomorrow night, WWE hasn’t made any decisions regarding Riddle situation as they are still investigating and still cooperating with the authorities of JFK Airport pic.twitter.com/L3zRj0AMu8
— The Wrestling Blog (@WrestlingBlog_) September 11, 2023
Additionally, WWE made the decision to remove him from several house shows over the weekend. Thankfully, both his conditions improved rapidly, allowing for his swift return to the WWE scene.
When will Matt Riddle return to WWE?
The incident marks the most recent setback in Riddle’s career. Previously, he faced allegations of sexual assault, violated WWE’s Wellness Policy, resulting in a suspension last fall, and subsequently underwent rehabilitation.WWE has chosen not to provide a comment on the events that transpired at this time.
After his hiatus, Riddle made his WWE comeback following WrestleMania 39 and has been a consistent presence on TV since, including his recent partnership with the initially hesitant Drew McIntyre.
Matt Riddle is currently slated to return next week at #WWERAW, sources indicate to PWInsider. pic.twitter.com/QbpUNUCMBm
— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) September 14, 2023
A recent report from Mike Johnson at Pro Wrestling Insider indicates that Matt Riddle is scheduled to make his WWE programming comeback on the September 18th edition of Monday Night Raw.
Currently, there is no definitive information regarding his participation in the house show circuit moving forward. However, it seems probable that this uncertainty arises from a deliberate effort to ensure a smooth and uncomplicated transition for his return to television programming
On the upcoming show, Drew McIntyre has a scheduled match against Jey Uso. If they continue the storyline that was ongoing earlier this month, it’s logical to expect that Riddle will play a role in the contest in some way.
Speculation has been circulating in recent months regarding the possibility of Drew McIntyre’s contract coming up for renewal, leading to discussions about a potential move to AEW.