Alex Riley's Potential Is Being Wasted

[TempestH]

Riley's ok. They could do a whole lot more with him, but I agree with the poster who mentioned that the tag division is the way to start.

How about a tag team with Riley & Ryder? Ryder's charisma would help get Riley over and he'd get the chance to de-green.

I'd like to see a Riley/Ryder team. Ryder is arguably treated worse than Riley with the way the WWE jerks him around, and even though Ryder has more TV time, his credibility sadly hasn't increased and it appears forced when he goes up against the likes of Miz (even when Miz has been buried over the past few months).

But I'd also argue that Riley's got plenty of his own charisma and doesn't really need Ryder's. The worst thing that they can do for Riley is make him over into Ryder's "sidekick". The only thing that Ryder could really do for Riley is have him appear on his webshow. It helped Ziggler out a lot and could help other superstars as well.

An eventual Hawkins/Ryder feud could work with Riley running out to make the save from a two on one from Hawkins & Reks, and Riley being there as back up.

 

[The Crock]

Alex Riley's potential is not being wasted; his position in the company will improve as his skill-set improves. Riley is incredibly, well, bad at wrestling (literally). Don't get me wrong, the guy looks like a million bucks and could be a potential star, but he needs to figure where to take his character/in-ring work from here. If he continues to improve, I see no reason for the WWE continuing to use him as a jobber on the main shows -- he'll be able to move up from his regular stomping grounds (NXT and Superstars) and work his way into a comfortable role, one where he won't be fed to debuting superstars. Then again, Lord Tensai could tear through a number of other guys, so it won't sting quite as much. I'd be worried if Riley was losing to the likes of JTG, but he's not.

Give it time, folks. Every wrestler has had to "pay his dues" and work his way up. If Riley was ready to be competing at a higher level than he is now, I'm sure the WWE could see that. It's on Riley to start improving, not on the WWE to start pushing him. Until Riley refines his talents into one cohesive skill-set, he'll never be anything more than he is now (a glorified jobber). Many before him have gone through this and had successful careers, but it'll take hard work. He won't work his way up overnight, so don't expect that; people need to be patient and allow Alex Riley's career to develop... Because as of right now, he's just not ready for anything more than he's being given.

 

[flawd101]

i really like the energy riley has when he is doing well in a match. his moves look powerful and he looks like a star. he needs a gimmick and to work on the spots in matches when he is not using his strength and energy.

 

[TempestH]

i really like the energy riley has when he is doing well in a match. his moves look powerful and he looks like a star. he needs a gimmick and to work on the spots in matches when he is not using his strength and energy.

That's why I felt Riley should've gone down like a champ rather than a chump, because of the energy he puts out. They missed an opportunity to have Riley and Tensai put on a back and forth big man, little man match. It would've made both men look more impressive if Riley buzzed around Tensai like a fly only to get swatted. Maybe Riley could've hefted Tensai up on his shoulders for his finisher and hit it only for Tensai to kick out and then destroy him, Riley would still look good just for getting a 360 lb guy on his shoulders. Riley gets to show some awesomeness, but the message that Tensai is a monster not to be messed with is still sent.

I don't think he needs a gimmick. Some guys are just better off without one. We already have Ryder, Santino, R-Truth and Clay as our gimmicky faces.

 

[flawd101]

That's why I felt Riley should've gone down like a champ rather than a chump, because of the energy he puts out. They missed an opportunity to have Riley and Tensai put on a back and forth big man, little man match. It would've made both men look more impressive if Riley buzzed around Tensai like a fly only to get swatted. Maybe Riley could've hefted Tensai up on his shoulders for his finisher and hit it only for Tensai to kick out and then destroy him, Riley would still look good just for getting a 360 lb guy on his shoulders. Riley gets to show some awesomeness, but the message that Tensai is a monster not to be messed with is still sent.

I don't think he needs a gimmick. Some guys are just better off without one. We already have Ryder, Santino, R-Truth and Clay as our gimmicky faces.

Tensai is going to crush people like that for the next month. if a-ry gave him a good match it would ruin the dominate character Tensai is going to be. By gimmick i didn't mean a comedy gimmick. I think a-ry could play a character with ultimate warrior style intensity but with a different promo style.

 

[Maximus9000]

Riley & Ryder = R&R = a decent new tag team. Add Santino & Brodus, Ziggler & Swagger and you rejuvenate the tag team division. I really think it'd work...R&R, come on Vince!

 

[Deadlysyns]

I am so sick of the big guys squashing little guys it doesn't make you look like a monster it makes you look like a bully. How about having Tensai squash Khali or someone who would actually give Credit to his Character. Thats how Riley is wasted along with every other little guy on the Roster its a bunch of BS and makes no sense but it has happened for the longest time and will continue to happen Riley was on a roll now he is Cannon Fodder

 

[H33LTurn]

Last I heard Riley was in the doghouse for whatever reason. I dont see him as anything spectacular. He had his 15 minutes of fame after the rivalry with Miz and he hasnt been relevant since. Hes like Drew McIntyre. He could've been big but that opportunity hasnt presented itself and people are starting to get sick of him.

 

[TWJC: The Beginning]

There's a difference between getting squashed by a legend in the business (HHH actually got to hit his finisher, even if it was no-sold, Riley didn't even get any offense for Tensai to no-sell) and getting destroyed by someone who didn't do much the last time he was in the WWE.

Riley is only going to get better with experience. If he's green, minimizing his in ring experience by having him do very little isn't going to help at all.

How are these guys supposed to prove themselves when they aren't even given the chance? They put these guys on the lower shows but can't be bothered to promote or hype them. I'm not hoping for Riley to be a champion (although it would be nice), just to be treated a little better, along with the rest of the low card.

Losing to a legend at mania is memorable. People remember that, people won't remember this. No harm, no foul. They needed someone to make it look impressive, Riley is big, it looked more impressive.

Riley is going to get better with experience but it's best to do it on Superstars and the like. He's not being given a big chance because he'll probably fail. In baseball, you keep guys in the minors to hone their skills so if they screw up, it's not really harmful. In September, you call them up just to let them "feel" what the show is like. This is no different. Don't worry about Riley. If he's good, he'll get over.