Matt Riddle Pulled From SiouxperCon Appearance Amid Online Drama, Wife Goes Ballistic on X, and More

The controversy surrounding Matt Riddle took another twist this week when SiouxperCon announced that the former WWE star would no longer appear at its upcoming pop culture convention.

In an official statement, SiouxperCon cited “recent public statements” made by Riddle, noting that his comments regarding sensitive topics did not align with the event’s values. Fans who purchased photo ops will receive automatic refunds, and organizers pledged to donate 10% of ticket proceeds to The Compass Center, a nonprofit supporting survivors.

"In light of recent public statements made by Matt Riddle regarding the topics of SA and DV, SiouxperCon has made the decision to cancel his appearance at this year’s convention. The statements that were made in no way represent our organization or event, and are not aligned with the mission, vision, and values of our organization.  Fans that have purchased photo ops in advance for Matt Riddle will be automatically refunded this week to their original form of payment.  SiouxperCon has always strived to be a safe and inclusive space and event for all to feel welcome, including those that have been affected by SA and DV. This is why we, along with New Sound Wrestling, will be donating 10% of the proceeds from all SiouxperMania tickets sold to The Compass Center to support the work they do in our community for survivors and victims."

The Online Comments

The fallout stems from Riddle’s fiery response to criticism that he no-showed a UK charity event last weekend. In an online rant, Riddle lashed out at fans, using profanity and dismissing past allegations against him as “Me Too sh**.” Those remarks ignited fresh backlash and led to SiouxperCon cutting ties.

His Wife’s Response

Riddle’s wife jumped into the fray, defending him and criticizing the way wrestling fans have treated her husband. She echoed his claim that the UK promotion misled him about the nature of his booking, framing the backlash as unfair.

Meanwhile, UK promotion Global Wrestling Kingdom pushed back, clarifying that Riddle had in fact returned his deposit and promised to cover their expenses. The promotion detailed its efforts to book him for additional appearances and explained the timeline that led to his absence. Their statement implied the breakdown came from Riddle’s side of the deal, despite his defense.

The 2020 Lawsuit & Past Allegations

Much of the controversy around Riddle stems from a lawsuit filed in 2020 by independent wrestler Samantha Tavel (aka Candy Cartwright). Tavel alleged that an incident took place in 2017, while she and Riddle were in a relationship, claiming he pressured her into sexual activity against her will during a road trip with EVOLVE Wrestling.

The lawsuit sought $10 million in damages against Riddle, WWE, EVOLVE, and booker Gabe Sapolsky. However, the court dismissed all defendants except Riddle, noting that WWE and the others had no legal bearing in the matter. Riddle denied the allegations through his attorney.

Importantly, the case never advanced to a conviction. In fact, Tavel voluntarily withdrew the lawsuit in 2021, filing for dismissal with prejudice, which closed the case permanently. That means it cannot be refiled. There has never been any criminal conviction against Matt Riddle regarding these accusations.

It’s important to note: Riddle has never been convicted of sexual assault. He was accused of misconduct in 2020 during the Speaking Out movement, but the lawsuit brought against him by independent wrestler Samantha Tavel (aka Candy Cartwright) was later voluntarily dismissed with prejudice, ending the case. No criminal charges or conviction resulted.

What This Means Going Forward

The drama underscores Riddle’s complicated standing in wrestling and pop culture circles. He remains a talented performer with drawing power, but his public comments and the baggage of past allegations—despite never resulting in conviction—continue to generate headlines.

🗣️ Wrestling.news | Backstage Take

This situation is less about courtroom outcomes and more about public perception. While Riddle was never convicted and the lawsuit was dismissed, his recent comments reopened old wounds at a time when wrestling promotions and conventions are hypersensitive about image and inclusion. His wife’s fiery defense adds another layer of drama, but it also risks alienating fans further. If Riddle wants to rebuild trust in the wrestling community and beyond, controlling his message will be just as important as his in-ring performances.

H/t to PWInsider

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Online Drama as it Unfolded 👇