Riddle says Lesnar deviated from script at 2022 Elimination Chamber

Former WWE star Matt Riddle said in a recent interview that Brock Lesnar deviated from the planned script during the February 2022 Elimination Chamber event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, punching through a chamber pod and entering the match earlier than scheduled, an action Riddle said shortened the bout by roughly 15 minutes and altered its outcome. The incident, Riddle said, culminated with Lesnar quickly eliminating remaining opponents and winning the WWE Championship.

Riddle, who took part in that Elimination Chamber match, described seeing Lesnar break a plexiglass pod and force his way into the match after a storyline injury removed the champion from action. "He literally forgot what number he was supposed to come out," Riddle said. "He punched the plexiglass door" and then "bumrushed," he added, saying the move cut the match time and accelerated Lesnar's dominant finish. Riddle also said Lesnar's longtime on-screen advocate, Paul Heyman, later presented the change as his own error backstage, a claim Riddle rejected. "He just went into business for himself," Riddle said.

Video and broadcast coverage of the match showed Lesnar breaking out of his pod and quickly eliminating...