Quotes from Matt Riddle

I always wanted to wrestle, but when you're a kid, how do you do pro wrestling? For me, it seemed like the easiest way for me was to get into amateur wrestling and go that route because it was a place where I was allowed to go.

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.

A lot of people don't know who they are as a wrestler. Even people that walk into the doors of the Performance Center. They might be world-class athletes or models, but they don't know who they are in the ring.

I was probably one of the top three or four wrestlers in the world on the indies, just killing it. Nobody really saw me going to a bigger company because of my past and just how people view me.

There's guys like Daniel Bryan and CM Punk that incorporated mixed martial arts submissions and moves into professional wrestling. I feel like the way it was incorporated was really good, but there's not enough people doing it.

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.

I think a lot of people are excited that WWE was willing to give me a chance, and they want to see how far I can go with it.

I always had watched pro wrestling. I happened to be watching the WWE Network one day and started watching differently: I wasn't watching it as a fan, but instead I was watching it as something that I could possibly be a part of.

If you're a wrestler in the WWE, then your goal is to be the headliner, main event of WrestleMania.

If I do make WWE - because in my head, until it's official, it's not a thing - I think if they brought me in, it would be very short lived at NXT, and I'd be on main roster extremely quick.

I started training at the Monster Factory, the ROH dojo, CZW, and I trained there. And eventually, I had a tryout with WWE.

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

I know I'm skilled - I know my background - and the people who are familiar with my credentials know better than to try me.

There's nothing worse than a bunch of toothless, ignorant people yelling at you. It's horrible.

In professional wrestling, the fans are tremendous.

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.

I have to say, running in flip-flops through the airport can be pretty tricky.

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

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.

My goal is to make wrestling more like mixed martial arts.

I will be completely honest: when I fought in Manchester, they were very cruel to me. One fan actually spat directly in my face, and he was lucky enough where it hit my mouth.

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

I'm just tired of the unethical people, the scumbags, all that. Maybe that's how all businesses are run, but in MMA, I've been in the UFC, Legacy, and Bellator. The UFC was the best, and even they didn't treat you that well.

I'm always learning, always trying new things, because you have to to stay fresh.