Released WWE & NXT Star Making Shocking Return To Wrestling

Former main event prospect was thought to be done with wrestling, until now...

by Michael Hamflett
Alex Riley cage
Twitter, @KileyJrWWE

Don't believe this former WWE and NXT Superstar can make a return to wrestling some six years after receiving his release?

SAY IT TO HIS FACE, because Alex Riley is planning on shocking the world with a return in 2023.

Create A Pro Wrestling revealed that he'd been training with them during their annual Toy Drive, with the ever-reliable FightfulSelect coming through with the following

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"Create A Pro Wrestling is holding their toy drive event this week, and announced that Alex Riley was going to make his return to pro wrestling. He's been out of action since his WWE release in 2016, and has told people he wants to make another go of wrestling. When he decided to get back into wrestling, Tyrus sent him to Create a Pro's academy, and he's been actively training there. He'll team with Tyrus at the event.When Fightful spoke with Riley in 2017, he said that he was going to focus on acting. He eventually got a brief part in GLOW, and other bit parts."

Seemingly a surefire WWE success story after splitting from former NXT "pro" The Miz in 2011, Riley slid down the card at great pace amidst rumours of some political issues with John Cena, and an attempted recovery in NXT amounted to little. He tried his hand at commentary and relaunching himself as an "raging" version of his old persona, but was last seen on screen losing to Shinsuke Nakamura in April 2016.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett