As I watch last night's Raw I see the clip from last week where Swagger fought Riley. Riley is a big time talent. The WWE is full of guys who are talented in the ring and can't do a thing on the mic. Their characters aren't compelling and their lack of charisma makes them uninteresting to the regular fan. Lots of vanilla talent. Riley is good in the ring and has mic skills but has pretty much died since his storyline as the Miz's sidekick ended. I really wish they would use him better, but the sad thing is I can't even think of a storyline to make him relevant.
Alex Riley
- Thread starter mikead
- Start date
mrfantastic111
Riley Justin
Why does he need to be 'relevant'? He's working the spotlight of the mid-card against the US Champ. He doesn't need a bigger push yet. I just posted a similar post on a forum about Ziggler, these guys are fine for now, why does the IWC think that every half-decent talent that comes along needs to be pushed straight to the top?
The mid-card needs top-notch talents like Riley and Ziggler just as much as the main-event card needs these kinds of talents. When they're more over with the crowd and grow through the mid-card for awhile, then we might see them get pushed up for now... However, for now I don't think Riley, Ziggler, Swagger etc need a bigger push then they already have. I'd be happy to see these three guys face-off in a triple-threat match at NoC.
The mid-card needs top-notch talents like Riley and Ziggler just as much as the main-event card needs these kinds of talents. When they're more over with the crowd and grow through the mid-card for awhile, then we might see them get pushed up for now... However, for now I don't think Riley, Ziggler, Swagger etc need a bigger push then they already have. I'd be happy to see these three guys face-off in a triple-threat match at NoC.
a tournament over several shows will leave the fans bored. there's no story to a tournament. Whats going on now isnt bad. Have Ziggler and Swagger feud a for another week or two, Riley comes out asking why these two are fighting over a hag like Vicki, and tada, feud becomes triple threat as they all wanna kick eachother's teeth in.
4realpeoples
Recently returned from hiatus
Alex Riley is relevant right now. He's the guy beating Jack Swagger and Dolph Ziggler. Riley is getting his push to the upper-midcard and is in line to get a shot at the United States Championship. Riley is over with the audience and he's going to be a huge star in the undercard for the next couple of years. Riley is great and I would like to watch him improve before he gets that "big push" that everybody wants him to get.
Well, they are trying to make him relevant again through his involvement in the Ziggler/Swagger/Vickie situation and potentially feud for the US title. Riley could win the title but still risk getting lost in the shuffle after he loses it. A heel turn might help, but his reactions were going to die down if they did not book him properly and that is exactly what happened because he was given no storylines after the Miz feud and now the casual fans do not care about him anymore. I hope things turn around for him.
The Death Rattle
Why So Serious?
Alex Riley is an example of another wrestler floundering at the moment due to lack of direction. He seemed to be going after Ziggler's United States Title, but Swagger got brought into the equation. His quest for a title went away to make room for Swagger courting the managerial services of Vicky Guerrero. I have no problem intertwining storylines, but Riley's involvement in this situation seems to have been dropped or forgotten. That has further damaged Riley, leaving him more lost in the shuffle then before.
I know a lot of people seem to think Miz was the sole reason for Riley garnering heat, giving credit to his star power as opposed to anything Riley did. I disagree with that, as I felt both men did tremendous work in that feud. The saddest part of the feud, which was very hot for some time, was the lack of a satisfying ending. It just ended with no true blow off match between them. Riley showed he has ability, talent, and can get a great reaction from the fans. He had momentum during the entire feud, and could have been in a much better position had Riley gotten that one last victory in dominant fashion. Fans were loving seeing him take down Miz every week, which speaks highly of both men and what they were accomplishing.
Sometimes the easiest way to re-establish someone is by giving them constant television time. Put Riley back on television, have him wrestle on a weekly basis, give him a fair amount of wins, and have him look strong in matches he doesn't win. If he were to be properly put into a feud with Ziggler, booked to look strong, and continue to attack heat magnet Vicky, I would venture to guess he would be able to regain some of what he had against Miz. Riley clearly isn't close to being ready to main event, but has all the tools to be a strong contributor in the midcard. Like many others in this situation, he just needs to be given the opportunity.
I know a lot of people seem to think Miz was the sole reason for Riley garnering heat, giving credit to his star power as opposed to anything Riley did. I disagree with that, as I felt both men did tremendous work in that feud. The saddest part of the feud, which was very hot for some time, was the lack of a satisfying ending. It just ended with no true blow off match between them. Riley showed he has ability, talent, and can get a great reaction from the fans. He had momentum during the entire feud, and could have been in a much better position had Riley gotten that one last victory in dominant fashion. Fans were loving seeing him take down Miz every week, which speaks highly of both men and what they were accomplishing.
Sometimes the easiest way to re-establish someone is by giving them constant television time. Put Riley back on television, have him wrestle on a weekly basis, give him a fair amount of wins, and have him look strong in matches he doesn't win. If he were to be properly put into a feud with Ziggler, booked to look strong, and continue to attack heat magnet Vicky, I would venture to guess he would be able to regain some of what he had against Miz. Riley clearly isn't close to being ready to main event, but has all the tools to be a strong contributor in the midcard. Like many others in this situation, he just needs to be given the opportunity.
Dolph Ziggler
Drew Mcintyre = God
riley is horrible in the right he cant even take a gutwrench powerbomb he lost his push because he wasn't good enough in the ring! tbh i hate alex he's just soo booring he's not where near the calibre of the miz or punk or ziggler
They are at the very least getting mainstream television time.
It is talent like Drew McIntyre that I feel sorry for because he should be Mid-carding every week… I’m starting to get the feeling he is going to be future endeavoured or something.
A-RY will get his push soon, but I hope it is for IC TagTeam or US titles.
It is talent like Drew McIntyre that I feel sorry for because he should be Mid-carding every week… I’m starting to get the feeling he is going to be future endeavoured or something.
A-RY will get his push soon, but I hope it is for IC TagTeam or US titles.
Maddog Lionheart
Best Sig In The World......
I think he's being used properly. He is involved in a stroyline that is actually somewhat interesting. He's defintely going to be in the title picture at Night of Champions. It's probably going to boil down to a TRiple Threat match between Swagger, Ziggler, and Riley.
People are always going to complain about stars not being used properly in their mind. Hell, people are starting to say that Punk isn't being used properly which is straight up bullshit to me. Alex Riley is on a good track and I can defintely see him take the US title in about a month or so. Let's just hope he does a better job with it than Zeke and the IC title.
People are always going to complain about stars not being used properly in their mind. Hell, people are starting to say that Punk isn't being used properly which is straight up bullshit to me. Alex Riley is on a good track and I can defintely see him take the US title in about a month or so. Let's just hope he does a better job with it than Zeke and the IC title.
Riley is solid talent who continues to improve each week. If he is going to reach the next level, not saying now, but down the line, he just needs to stay on track and develop his character and in-ring style.
As far as staying relevant, it's tricky where he is at right now. If it becomes a Triple Threat at NoC, he can win the title, and Ziggler and Swagger can have their deal that appears to be going on. Then he can have a solid reign, looking credible and what not. Of course this is all assuming they want him to win the title. If not, he just needs to take his opportunity once he sees it presented to him.
As far as staying relevant, it's tricky where he is at right now. If it becomes a Triple Threat at NoC, he can win the title, and Ziggler and Swagger can have their deal that appears to be going on. Then he can have a solid reign, looking credible and what not. Of course this is all assuming they want him to win the title. If not, he just needs to take his opportunity once he sees it presented to him.
Alex Riley isn't doing as great as he was earlier this year in his feud with Miz. He isn't doing as great because he doesn't fit in on Raw. Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger are feuding over Vickie. John Morrison is having matches with R-Truth and will likely feud with him unless Awesome Truth challenges Air Boom for the titles. Zack Ryder and Tyler Reks are barely on Television. He has nobody to feud with unless either him or Morrison turn heel and feud with each other.
Maybe a change to the blue brand would do him good and put him against Wade Barrett, Cody Rhodes, or even Christian, since it appears that he is no longer feuding with Randy Orton. Any of those feuds would be entertaining with Christian's mic skills and in-ring ability against Riley's mic skills and in-ring ability. He could win the Intercontinental Championship from Cody Rhodes and have them feud over it. And his possible feud with Wade Barrett would work because him and Wade are the same type of Superstar, a big guy with good mic skills and in-ring ability who started on NXT and had cocky world champions as their mentors.
Maybe a change to the blue brand would do him good and put him against Wade Barrett, Cody Rhodes, or even Christian, since it appears that he is no longer feuding with Randy Orton. Any of those feuds would be entertaining with Christian's mic skills and in-ring ability against Riley's mic skills and in-ring ability. He could win the Intercontinental Championship from Cody Rhodes and have them feud over it. And his possible feud with Wade Barrett would work because him and Wade are the same type of Superstar, a big guy with good mic skills and in-ring ability who started on NXT and had cocky world champions as their mentors.
AngryCenaFan
Pre-Show Stalwart
WWE needs to take it slow with Riley, he has big time talent but if you overpush him to soon it's going to fail.
They need to get him in a solid mid card feud, why the hell did they put him and Ziggler on the backburner? that's the type of guy Riley should be working with right now.
WWE see's the talent, that's why he got the cool theme song but they gotta find something useful for him to do.
They need to get him in a solid mid card feud, why the hell did they put him and Ziggler on the backburner? that's the type of guy Riley should be working with right now.
WWE see's the talent, that's why he got the cool theme song but they gotta find something useful for him to do.
The Future Rises
Thinking Of A New Name..
I like A-Ry. He's ok in the ring and has very good mic skills. I don't want to see him go nowhere and I hope the WWE would use him instead of putting up video packages. Although it's a good way to keep him relevant without him being on the show.
I say pair him up with a Diva(K2 would be my choice since she's the most over and the most good looking which would make Riley look good with her) and make her his valet. Then a lot of people would be more interested in Riley. He can have a couple of storylines where a heel(McIntyre?) tries to steal her from Riley so Riley fights him and feuds with him over her. Then after that rivalry he can go on to win his first title. That being the United States title for sure. Then Riley can go on to being a good champion. Then he can go on to the upper midcard world title scene after he loses the title. And if a heel turn is needed I'd have him pull a Booker T and make his valet cheat for him so he can win with him "not knowing it" until he reveals he knew it all along thus turning both heel. Then they can go on to be the next Edge and Lita. And when I say that I don't mean that Riley is the next Edge(although he does pull off a good Edgecution). Just make him and the diva the WWE's main event heel power couple.
Well.. That's my idea for A-Ry.
I say pair him up with a Diva(K2 would be my choice since she's the most over and the most good looking which would make Riley look good with her) and make her his valet. Then a lot of people would be more interested in Riley. He can have a couple of storylines where a heel(McIntyre?) tries to steal her from Riley so Riley fights him and feuds with him over her. Then after that rivalry he can go on to win his first title. That being the United States title for sure. Then Riley can go on to being a good champion. Then he can go on to the upper midcard world title scene after he loses the title. And if a heel turn is needed I'd have him pull a Booker T and make his valet cheat for him so he can win with him "not knowing it" until he reveals he knew it all along thus turning both heel. Then they can go on to be the next Edge and Lita. And when I say that I don't mean that Riley is the next Edge(although he does pull off a good Edgecution). Just make him and the diva the WWE's main event heel power couple.
Well.. That's my idea for A-Ry.
The Future Rises
Thinking Of A New Name..
The point is to make A-Ry even more relevant. Putting him with someone like Alicia Fox or Kaitlyn wouldn't so that for him because the fans don't care for them much. The most over divas right now are Kelly Kelly and Maryse(although a jobber unfortunately but everyone loves her sexy gimmick). And K2 is the babyface so she's the best choice right now in my opinion.
You do realize that gutwrench powerbomb botch was Jack Swaggers fault, right? I mean it took Swagger 3 times to lift Riley to finally get the move done, and once it was finally done Alex Riley sold it well. Alex Riley is a great wrestler and potential future heavyweight champion. He just needs a story to keep him going
TWJC: The Beginning
Royal Rumble Winner
You guys are forgetting how things work. You give a guy a chance to get over, then let him prove he can stay over. If he gets a push and then goes nowhere (like Morrison has been treading water) then he's obviously not that good.
Riley IS very good. He's still kinda rough in the ring. I hope he's kept in this 3 way feud, maybe turn it into a tag fued that could culminate in Vickie's stable vs Ziggles/A-Ry/whoever at SurSer.
HOLY SHIT. the fucking gut wrench. I knew it. Okay, Riley is a big dude. Like really fuckin big. See him in person. The "botch" was NOT a botch. It added to the story of the match. It showed that Riley was big. It wasnt' a bad thing. Don't point it out. It's stupid to do so.
Riley IS very good. He's still kinda rough in the ring. I hope he's kept in this 3 way feud, maybe turn it into a tag fued that could culminate in Vickie's stable vs Ziggles/A-Ry/whoever at SurSer.
HOLY SHIT. the fucking gut wrench. I knew it. Okay, Riley is a big dude. Like really fuckin big. See him in person. The "botch" was NOT a botch. It added to the story of the match. It showed that Riley was big. It wasnt' a bad thing. Don't point it out. It's stupid to do so.
He doesn't really have a character. The whole Varsity Villain worked in FCW & NXT, but as a babyface...I just don't feel anything from him.
All I see is the guy who beat up The Miz. But since he's done feuding with The Miz, why should I care about him?
His heel promos were great, but his babyface promos are so vanilla. It's like night & day
All I see is the guy who beat up The Miz. But since he's done feuding with The Miz, why should I care about him?
His heel promos were great, but his babyface promos are so vanilla. It's like night & day
I_Am_Electro_Boy
Simmer down and pucker up...
I see no problem as to where Riley is currently at. I think it's a pretty solid place to be, feuding with Swagger and Ziggler hinting at a US Title run. I'm a fan of his but I don't think he's ready to be in the main event yet. He needs to improve a little in the ring but he's still decent in the ring, he's got a personality which is always good and he gets a decent reaction from the crowd not as good as the reaction during his feud with Miz but still decent. I think the guys with bad positions in WWE right now are guys like McIntyre, Hawkins, Clay etc who are talented yet don't get anything except being on Superstars not Riley.
I think if anything the worst thing about the Miz/Riley split is the fact that Miz is now partnerless. Bad guys work best with a sidekick!
As for where Riley is now, I'd say it's pretty good. I prefer Riley as a heel, I saw him face Evan Bourne at a British house show recently and I think he gets over much better as a bad guy. On the other hand, I think the reason being face works for him is that there's not many other mid-card face wrestlers on Raw at the moment. I can only really think of Kofi Kingston. I mean, there's R Truth and Morrison but I don't think they're really mid-card, they're mid-carders that are used as if they are main event talent.
Holding the US title might be the best thing for Riley at the moment, it would give him more chance for mic time and help solidify him as a top guy.
As for where Riley is now, I'd say it's pretty good. I prefer Riley as a heel, I saw him face Evan Bourne at a British house show recently and I think he gets over much better as a bad guy. On the other hand, I think the reason being face works for him is that there's not many other mid-card face wrestlers on Raw at the moment. I can only really think of Kofi Kingston. I mean, there's R Truth and Morrison but I don't think they're really mid-card, they're mid-carders that are used as if they are main event talent.
Holding the US title might be the best thing for Riley at the moment, it would give him more chance for mic time and help solidify him as a top guy.
John Cena is fuckin stale
New Member
I don't know why they're even pushing this guy. He is the king of botching and his mic skills are terrible. At the Royal Rumble, he slipped and got eliminated when he wasn't supposed to. What if he was supposed to win that? That would be a fucking terrible botch. NEVER trust Riley to carry a brand, NEVER! His promos are also very boring.. MAYBE as bad as Evan Bourne's promos. I don't see anything good in this guy really. He has no character, no charisma, horrible in-ring skills, pretty bad mic skills, and his steam is dying.
hollowpoint
The Greatest of the Universe!!
I have to disagree. I think Riley's one of the up and comers and is right where he needs to be in the company. He's got a spot on TV every week and he is chasing the U.S. Title. I think he can do very well with it. He's decent on the mic and so what he's botch a couple of spots. So has a lot of Superstars on that roster. Either way it makes the U.S. Title worth something which it hasn't been in a long time.