The Bloodsport rivalry continued this week, with Josh Barnett responding to the allegations made by Matt Riddle.
Riddle wrote on Wednesday that he originally came up with the concept for the event and alleged that Barnett had attempted to take Bloodsport for himself. Riddle also claimed that he told Barnett during WrestleMania Week that Bloodsport was not his.
Barnett has since responded to Riddle’s comments, writing that Riddle’s 2018 version of Bloodsport was a “loose, amateurish” execution of the concept.
Barnett wrote:
“Let’s go with conversations that never happened for $500 Alex”
“This is hilarious. Last we saw each other was backstage at natural Born Killers and none of that was said.
“What you did say here that was correct is that I had nothing to do with your initial show, which is why it looked second rate at best compared to what I’ve created.
“You call creation using the font and name from a movie, using the theme song from a movie, it’s practically like you just ripped off most everything from the movie Bloodsport and then tried to run with it. When I came on board I immediately told Brett that not only did this thing need so much help, but that there’s no way we’re going to sit here and use all this IP from some company that we don’t own because that’s absolutely stupid.
“What you put together in 2018 was a loose, amateurish execution of an idea. The logo, themes, music, those “rules” that you speak of were merely the bare minimum and much of it was stolen from a property that already existed.
“What I’ve created is a complete and total event and concept. When gcw reached out to me, I said that the entire thing that you had created was unsuitable and needed to be completely overhauled – which I did. Go ask any of the wrestlers that competed on your show that have also competed in mine, and you will get the same answer.
“There is only one Josh Barnett’s: Bloodsport because there is only one Josh Barnett – the person behind its heart and soul.
“PS. It’s “Bloodsport” not “Blood Sport”, even in the logo you were ripping off it’s one word.”
Josh Barnett, GCW, and the Future of Bloodsport
Barnett recently appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show and said that he has been shopping the Bloodsport concept around to investors. He also indicated that he was not consulted about GCW’s plans to revive the event. GCW recently announced Bloodsport Reborn, although no further details about the project were revealed.
The first Bloodsport event took place on April 5, 2018, under the name Matt Riddle’s Bloodsport. Barnett became associated with the series the following year, with subsequent events promoted under his name.
“Let’s go with conversations that never happened for $500 Alex”
This is hilarious. Last we saw each other was backstage at natural Born Killers and none of that was said.
What you did say here that was correct is that I had nothing to do with your initial show, which is why it… https://t.co/d8wlUFHS39
— 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖂𝖆𝖗𝖒𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗 (@JoshLBarnett) November 12, 2026
