Originally published on ProWrestlingSheet.

Pro Wrestling Sheet has learned Brock Lesnar and Matt Riddle got into a backstage verbal altercation prior to Royal Rumble.

Details are scarce at this time, but sources tell us Lesnar and Riddle passed each other while walking backstage and a tense encounter ensued.  One source says Brock saw Matt and wanted him to know the reality of the situation between them.  

According to three sources, the encounter was real and not something for the show. 

As you'll recall ... Riddle had an awkward interaction with Goldberg last year at SummerSlam after criticizing the WWE Hall of Famer on social media. The footage of this was later aired during a WWE Network special. 

Matt Riddle has openly talked for years about how he wants to retire Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania, but the two had never met until today. Back in October, we asked Riddle if he thought a similar encounter would happen should he meet Lesnar one day. 

"Maybe, I don’t know. I don’t even think Brock knows who I am,” he replied. “He’s never acknowledged me. I’ve been to multiple shows he’s been at and I’ve never seen him in person.”

We've reached out to additional sources and will update the post if more details from the encounter are confirmed, however, we do know things did NOT get physical between the two.