Overview

• TMZ’s Inside The Ring showed Matt Riddle lifting host Branson Quirke by the collar, slapping him, and laying him onto a table, which TMZ characterized as a pro-wrestling 'work.'
• Quirke later posted on X that he was fine and only needed an ice pack, and TMZ said no emergency response was required; Riddle is in Los Angeles for an MLW match against Alexander Hammerstone.
• The confrontation followed Quirke suggesting Riddle was chasing a Jake Paul 'payday,' which Riddle rejected before getting physical on set.
• Short clips of the segment spread widely, with viewers divided over whether the moment was staged, while TMZ promoted the full episode and framed the scuffle as part of the show.
• The episode renewed backlash over Riddle’s prior on-air remarks about AJ Lee and echoed criticism from industry figures such as Booker T regarding his attitude toward the business.