Matt Riddle Reveals Vince McMahon’s Ruthless Strategy for Wrestling Storylines
Former WWE star Matt Riddle recently shared insights into the leadership style of Vince McMahon, contrasting his approach to running the wrestling business with that of contemporaries like Triple H and Tony Khan. Riddle, in a conversation with TMZ.com on October 5, 2025, described McMahon as a decisive leader who prioritized his vision above immediate fan reaction, believing a degree of “starvation” ultimately strengthens audience engagement.
According to Riddle, McMahon operated under the firm belief that “This is my company. I run it. It’s my company.” This meant storylines would continue as long as McMahon desired, regardless of fan disapproval. “It didn’t matter if the fans were like, ‘Oh, we don’t like this,’” Riddle explained.
He likened McMahon’s strategy to nurturing a plant. “If you give it everything you think it wants, just like a kid, they get slow. They don’t appreciate what they have,” Riddle stated. “But just like a plant, if you let it starve a little bit, then you feed it, it gets stronger, it gets healthier, it eats more.” Riddle believes this principle applies to wrestling fans as well. By not immediately delivering on every fan desire – such as a highly anticipated “dream match” – McMahon fostered anticipation and sustained viewership. “If you give them everything they want, you give them that dream match tomorrow, what are they going to tune in to next week?” Riddle posed.
In contrast, Riddle noted that both Triple H and AEW’s Tony Khan demonstrate greater flexibility in responding to fan expectations. “I feel like Triple H bends a little more. Tony [Khan] definitely bends a lot,” he said. Despite these differences, Riddle acknowledged all three figures as “pioneers” and “great at what they do.”
Riddle further emphasized the importance of sticking to a storyline once established, recalling a similar approach during his time with MLW under the leadership of Court Bauer. “A storyline’s a storyline. That’s a storyline,” he asserted. “So if this is what we’re doing, this is what we’re doing. It really doesn’t change.” This commitment to a pre-determined narrative, Riddle suggests, is a common thread among successful wrestling promoters.
