Alex Riley Returns
Alex Riley wrestled as a heel Sunday and lost to Darren Young at a live event in Beaumont, Texas.
Riley has been used at various times at live events over the past month in the ring. He had previously appeared to be done as an in-ring performer as he was consistently being used on the WWE Network pre and post-show panels. He had been using the #FreeRiley hashtag and now seems to be launching a new hashtag and story in several tweets with #RileyWalks.
Memo To Reigns’ Haters
Every Monday and Friday I have a wrestling column for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. My latest piece addresses the negativity I hear from a portion of the audience regarding Roman Reigns’ in-ring ability. The following is an excerpt:
I feel bad for Roman Reigns.
There is a vocal portion of the audience who doesn’t think he’s good in the ring. They think this because Reigns doesn’t do as many eye-catching moves as the underdogs.
He’s one of the guys WWE is building its future around. If this was 20 years ago, there would be no argument about Reigns. He has a good look, passion and respect for the business. Unfortunately for him, today’s fans have been exposed to a lot of different styles.
The most vocal portion of the audience doesn’t know how to handle these styles. This is the same portion who thinks a guy is good in the ring only if he moves at a steady, quick pace and does a lot of moves. I’m fine with that being their preference, but they take it from preference to gospel of what is good.
I love watching Dolph Zigger or Daniel Bryan, but I also have an appreciation for a guy like Reigns who doesn’t wrestle the same way they do.
Some wrestling fans need to come to terms with what they want. Do they want to watch a story get told in a wrestling ring or an exhibition of moves on a trampoline?
Ziggler and Bryan know a lot of moves, transitions and styles. They do it all while still telling a story. They are special and unique. However, if everyone performed like them, it wouldn’t be special and unique anymore. This doesn’t make other styles wrong or bad.
Fans have a right to not like Reigns’ character, but I’m tried of fans telling me on social media he’s terrible in the ring.
Reigns can motion his fist like it’s loading a gun, run, jump and hit his opponent with a punch to the face that is called the “Superman Punch.” When he does this, the crowd reacts in a big way. When his music hits, the crowd reacts in a big way as he walks through them to get to the ring. They react, and that’s the name of the game.
CLICK HERE for the full column.
