Seth Rollins previews his upcoming match with Matt Riddle and notes that he respects his opponent’s fighting skills, despite their personal differences.
Rollins and Riddle have well-documented real-life issues with each other, dating back to 2019. But in recent months, they have been feuding on WWE TV, and the rivalry will reach a new level at WWE Extreme Rules. There, the two stars will collide in a Fight Pit Match, and UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier will be the special guest referee.
Speaking with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, Rollins previewed the bout and admitted that Riddle has somewhat earned his respect in recent months. He pointed to his foe’s background as a legitimate fighter and noted that personal respect was another matter. The former WWE Universal Champion credited Riddle for doing “his thing” quite well and stated that he has the tools, so it’s up to him to evolve.
“Riddle isn’t someone I have any affinity for. He’s not someone I like; he’s not even someone I want to have a long conversation with,” Rollins said. “Over the past three months, there is a level of respect he’s earned from me. He’s obviously a legitimate fighter, as well, so there’s a level of respect he commands. Personal respect is a different story, but in the ring, he’s got all the tools.
“It’s just a matter of figuring out which order they need to be used. He does his thing really well. I’m not sure what he envisions for his future, but the tools are there. The greatest take the best and do it better. We’ll see if he can adapt and change into something even better.”
“It’s going to be great, and it puts some extra eyeballs on the pay-per-view and this match specifically,” Rollins said. “Our audience can see through bulls— and tell when someone isn’t invested. Philly’s a tough crowd, so we’ll see how they feel about him, but I think our audience will respond in kind. He’s not coming over to make a buck or build his own brand, that’s not his objective. DC has legitimate respect for this industry.”
In the same interview, Rollins described how he wants to have the greatest legacy of all time.
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