Kurt Angle and Matt Riddle haven't had much interaction, but they're already tied together as Riddle prepares for his SmackDown debut.
Angle served as the referee for Riddle's last NXT match and introduced a vignette of Riddle to signify his impending SmackDown debut. In an interview with CBR, Angle revealed that there was an idea for him to manage Riddle, but he turned down the role.
Speaking to Alex McCarthy of talkSPORT, Riddle commented on Angle's involvement in his career.
?You know what crossed my mind originally [with Kurt Angle]? There?s the management thing, but then like in my head ? and maybe this is just greedy me ? in my head, when I see Kurt Angle, even if I like him and I?m friendly with him, I know the money is in beating up Kurt Angle," he said. ?I was really hoping he was going to cost me the cage match and then the Bro was going to snap and beat up Kurt Angle! Some deadlift Germans to an Olympic gold medallist from the Stallion? You telling me everybody at home wouldn?t be like ?no he didn?t just dump him on his head!? ? because that?s what I do! It would have been crazy. Or, he could have managed me and then we had the back and forth with Baron Corbin because Corbin ended his career and this is the new phase, [he?s like] ?this is my bro' and then I go on to beat the crap out of Corbin ? which I would ? that would have been pretty cool too. But I?ll say this, even if Kurt is not there and I still beat the crap out of Corbin, that?s still pretty cool too. It?s all good!?
It is unknown when Riddle will make his official SmackDown in-ring debut. But for any fan worried that Riddle will be buried, fear not, at Riddle doesn't believe that will be the case. You can find his full comments by clicking here.