10 Misused WWE Wrestlers Who Got Released And STILL Struggled

Riley was a prominent feature in the second season of NXT, back in the days when it was a reality TV show instead of a full-on wrestling brand.

Having The Miz as his mentor was a stroke of genius, as the pair had some strong chemistry, and the established figure was great at shining a spotlight on his new rookie. Although he would only come third in the competition, he would maintain his dynamic with The Miz and be heavily involved in his main event World Championship reign. Eventually, however, the duo were split up.

After some time teetering on the edge of singles success, Riley would become relegated to Superstars and eventually found his way to NXT as a colour commentator. He would occasionally return to in-ring work, loosing almost every time before his eventual release.

Outside of WWE, he has completely fallen off of the map. Riley announced in 2019 that he would be returning to action after a very long hiatus, but as of yet hasn't managed to establish any decent bookings. The Varsity Villain seems to have no position on the radar of any major companies, and is struggling to get any good matches on the Independent circuit, which is a shame as he has a great look and is a dependable worker.