10 Times Wrestlers Were Too Silly For Their Own Good

Comedy has been a regular part of WWE programming since it first hit the airwaves, and it's certainly a large part of the company today, as seen with the 24/7 Championship picture that has more than run its course.

While lighthearted bits can serve their purpose, such as bringing the crowd back up after a more dramatic moment (or offering a few minutes to visit the John), they can also be detrimental to a performer's career, or at least, the legacy they leave behind.

Some wrestlers absolutely knock it out of the park when it comes to goofy schticks, but the humor can also overshadow their in-ring skills and natural charisma to the point that they're never considered a legitimate threat to the main event picture, although by all other accounts, they really should be.

A ha-ha moment from time to time is perfectly acceptable. Besides, who doesn't like a good chuckle every so often? Like anything else, though, it's best in moderation to avoid making it a bad habit.

There may have been a few performers who've grown to enjoy their role as the resident mook, but there are many others who would have enjoyed greater success if only they weren't so damn funny in the ring, behind the scenes, or both.

Matt Riddle (sadly AKA 'Riddle') is one of today's most underutilized WWE talents. He's certainly not underrated, as fans of his MMA career and NXT run recognize his accomplishments as well as in-ring prowess. Still, for some reason, McMahon and his lackeys certainly don't seem to take him as seriously as anyone would hope.

Perhaps what started lowering Riddle's glass ceiling stemmed from when he rubbed Brock Lesnar, and later Goldberg, the wrong way. In a comical pursuit of his dream matches, he generated genuine heat backstage, something he needed to avoid if he wanted to reach the top.

Ever since he was introduced to the main roster, the beloved combat artist has failed to maintain any serious momentum. For the better part of his first year, he wandered around the mid-card, often jobbing out to questionable foes such as King Corbin.

As of late, Riddle has received more screentime on weekly programming, yet he hasn't cemented himself in the main event picture. Instead, when he's not looking at the lights or barely squeaking by with a roll-up, he's cutting stoner comedy promos backstage, which makes him a bit harder to take seriously. To his detriment, the man can be quite hilarious at times, which puts him at risk of becoming a comical jobber like R-Truth. If only he could trade a few of his double entendres for a few more victories, as the comedy role would be a waste on such a skilled performer.