10 Wrestlers Who Cracked WWE's Secret Code

8. Riddle

The Riddle of today is not the Riddle of yore. In the mid-2010s, he broke out as one of the most natural rookies the independent scene had ever witnessed, seamlessly slotting into a workrate-heavy landscape populated by such luminaries as Zack Sabre Jr., Keith Lee, and Chris Hero, all of whom had years of experience on him. That Riddle was not only keeping up with them but putting together a similarly impressive body of work spoke to his prodigious talents. Without question, he was on his way to becoming one of the best pure wrestlers in the world.

But being one of the best pure wrestlers in the world doesn't guarantee WWE success. More a television show about professional wrestling than a professional wrestling television show, Raw is more "entertainment" than "sport."

This hasn't changed in decades, but Riddle's transformation from indie wunderkind to Monday night goofball has been impressive. Taking his aloof stoner vibes, making them family friendly, and forging the exact brand of comedy synonymous with the market leaders (complete with his own spin), Riddle stands on the cusp of a long, successful WWE run.

While you may never see another match the calibre of his PROGRESS series with WALTER again, it matters little. Riddle is playing a different game now.