Matt Riddles time in WWE was filled with controversies and personal issues, which eventually ledto his surprising release last year. While Riddle remains an active in-ring competitor right now, he has now revealed why he never wears wrestling boots.
The King of Bros is one of the few wrestlers who wrestles without wearing any kind of shoes as he prefers competing while barefoot. He usually wears flip flops during his entrances but ditches them as soon as a match begins.
While speaking on Barstool Rasslin, Matt Riddle was asked if he ever wore wrestling boots. Matt revealed why he doesnt wear wrestling boots or pads. He used to wear wrestling shoes but noticed they made him take hits differently. With pads, he would land on his knees, elbows, or heels. Without the pads, he has to be more careful when taking slams or falls. He also feels his kicks and knees look more real because theres no padding to soften them.
Riddle then revealed that he has no feeling in his toes due to frostbite he suffered as a kid during a winter visit to Wisconsin. Wearing only Vans sneakers, he spent the day outside in the snow and ended up with frostbite on his toes, which permanently numbed the surface skin. While he can feel if he breaks a bone in his foot, anything on the surface, like kicks or slaps, goes unnoticed.
This numbness even made foot stomps ineffective against him, whether in UFC or wrestlingunless someone stomps with serious force, he doesnt feel a thing. Still, for professional wrestling, if a match storyline requires a reaction, hes prepared to sell the move for the show.
Matt Riddle will keep competing barefoot, and fans now understand the reason behind it. Many will likely agree that its for the best, as it adds to his unique character inside the ring.
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