In a recent interview with Inside The Ring, former WWE Superstar Matt Riddle revealed that Randy Orton personally requested to be placed in a working storyline with him. According to Riddle, Orton made the request directly to Vince McMahon and others backstage immediately after their first in-ring encounter, despite having previously been “not a fan” of Riddle.
“Once we got in the ring and worked together, I mean, he came right to the back and told Vince, told everybody, I want to work with this kid as much as possible,” Riddle stated. He attributed Orton’s change of heart to a respect for his in-ring ability, his legitimacy, and his work ethic. “I think he’s also a fan that I don’t have an ego. And I knew my place on the team,” Riddle added, also noting he would often have their matches planned out before Orton arrived at the venue.
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The initial friction between the two stems from an early locker room interaction where Orton perceived Riddle as disrespectful. Riddle had previously explained that his choice to nod at Orton instead of shaking his hand was misinterpreted. Orton’s opinion reportedly began to change after a segment where Riddle forgot his lines during a promo, an incident Orton found humorous.
The on-screen partnership, which became the popular tag team RK-Bro, also had a specific long-term direction that was never realized due to injury. The original plan called for Orton to turn heel on Riddle. However, Riddle successfully pitched an alternative where he would be the one to betray Orton, believing the audience would continue to cheer the veteran regardless.
Both Orton and WWE management reportedly agreed to the new direction before Orton was sidelined with a major back injury in mid-2022, effectively ending the storyline.
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