10 Things WWE Wants You To Forget About 2022

3. Seth Riddle & Matt Riddle Go 50/50

Seth Rollins Matt Riddle
WWE.com

The Seth Rollins Vs. Matt Riddle programme was immediately and unmistakably a Triple H Production.

Rollins was the first proper Triple H Guy. Riddle, a stoner comedy clown under Vince's auspices, was portrayed as a vengeful badass intent on taking the conflict very seriously. Under Triple H's direction, he was no longer a moron. He was a legitimate fighter with a cause. The first match - the build to which borrowed from a famous UFC interview, and not some Vince special of a contract signing - went to a slightly muddied finish at Clash At The Castle, which necessitated a Fight Pit decider. The Fight Pit, of course, being the last truly great and unique creative vision Triple H had in his stint as NXT's head booker.

This couldn't be more of a Triple H thing unless Metallica played both men to the ring and 25 minutes of silence followed.

And then what?

Loser Rollins went on to compete for the United States title, and when Riddle was given the same opportunity - later, despite winning the blow-off match at Extreme Rules - he prepared for the title shot by playing the bongos minutes before it took place. While Riddle Vs. Rollins was a well-done, self-contained programme, albeit with a subdued conclusion, it might as well have not happened.

It did not further the big picture narrative in a logical way.

The most important win and loss did not matter.

Once it ended, Riddle reverted to type as a complete goof.

Seth lost the feud and enjoyed greater success subsequently.

Isn't that how Vince McMahon would have booked the next step?

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!