Matt Riddle earned the opportunity to challenge Bobby Lashley for the United States Championship after he successfully defeated MVP, Shelton Benjamin, and Cedric Alexander.
Everybody believed the fight would take place at Royal Rumble, but that did not happen. WWE scheduled the fight on WWE Raw: February 1st, 2021.
The match started with Riddle rushing Lashley into the corner. However, Bobby Lashley broke out within seconds and slammed him on the mat. Riddle took Lashley down with a Floating Bro.
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This is going to be one tough task for @SuperKingofBros!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/KCc4xwu9Ys
— WWE (@WWE) February 2, 2021
FLOATING BRO!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/POaZtQ8ngb
— WWE (@WWE) February 2, 2021
The ending of the match was bizarre. Some believe Lashley won, but Riddle was the actual winner. It so happened that in the end, Lashley was in the ring, and Riddle was on the apron. Lashley grabbed Riddle with The Hurt Lock when the referee stated counting.
The count reached five, but Lashley did not let go. As a result, the referee called the match. It was right after the bell that Riddle tapped out.
Winner of the match: Matt Riddle via DQ.
Bobby Lashley attacked Matt Riddle even after WWE announced the winner
Bobby Lashley’s brutality did not end there, as he took Riddle to the floor and put him in another vicious Hurt Lock.
Something has awoken in @fightbobby after being eliminated in the #RoyalRumble last night!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/to7b2nrh5J
— WWE (@WWE) February 2, 2021
This is when MVP interfered and tried to reason with Lashley, telling him to let it go.
Even @The305MVP thinks @fightbobby has gone too far tonight and has seen enough!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/SUehQNSaIM
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) February 2, 2021
Finally, Lashley tossed Riddle over the barrier before walking out of the arena.
What happens next?
Not everyone is convinced that this was the best way to end the match. While the audience knew WWE wouldn’t put Riddle over immediately, Lashley squashing Riddle may have been a little unnecessary.
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There’s a high chance Matt Riddle will come after the title again, and the company will write this rivalry all the way to WrestleMania. It’s unlikely that Riddle will be able to secure the title from Lashley before that.
The #USTitle is on the line on #WWERaw NEXT!
Who ya got?
— WWE (@WWE) February 2, 2021
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Otherwise, Matt Riddle might just be a pawn WWE is using at the moment before booking Lashley in a bigger rivalry with someone else on the main roster.
Do you think Matt Riddle should be the next WWE United States Champion? Let us know in the comments below.