I renewed my subscription to the WWE Network when I saw that NXT is getting exciting again. I was sure glad I did when I saw Alex Riley striding to the ring during the 2/17/16 episode of NXT. I think I actually said “Oh my god” out loud when I saw how thick and massive A-Ry has gotten, his huge muscles coated in oil.
Riley’s opponent is Tye Dillinger (formerly known as Shawn Spears) who for years has been searching for the right gimmick to advance his career. Recently he’s been a creepy card player and a White Meat Baby-Face FIP.
Now he is portraying the “Perfect Ten” and wears snug blue trunks with a shiny silver “10” in thick letters on the backside. You can watch a few minutes of this match on YouTube if you don’t subscribe to WWE Network.
The last we saw of Riley, he was playing a lovable loser, forced to job to a number of dominant men young and old. I loved his destruction so much, I featured Riley’s humiliating losses in a seven-part series I called “The Strife of Riley.”
Well Riley is a wimpy Baby no more. Now he is wearing a black speedo, not shaving his beard or cutting his hair, and making all the other dudes look weak and effeminate with his over-whelming strength. I am digging his new Bad Ass gimmick and his swole body!
HEY! That was way stiffer than it needed to be.
The story of the match is that Riley is way stronger than Dillinger (clearly) and that the suffering pretty-boy is going to need to be crafty and clever if he hopes to keep his “Perfect 10” bragging rights.
I was torn on which stud I wanted to see win and take a step up in the rankings. I am into both these guys and want to see both of their careers take off. I also like to see both of them suffering because they do it so well.
My only problem with Dillinger’s “Perfect Ten” persona was that I wasn’t exactly sure if he was meant to be a Good Guy or Bad Guy. He is a bit douchey and off-putting, bouncing around the ring holding up his fingers and encouraging the fans to yell “TEN!” Also, isn’t it arrogant and Heelish to call yourself perfect?
But those cute blue trunks and all the rag-dolling make me want to categorize him as a Baby-Face. But then he has this stupid hair with a braid running over the top and sticking out the back in a high ponytail. Stupid hair is usually the hallmark of a bastard we’re supposed to hate, so I’m confused.
Can do that again any time he wants.
One cool aspect in Riley’s game was the ease with which he shut down any attempts at rebellion from Dillinger. Here Dillinger tries to set up some flashy, flippy move, and Riley stops him dead with a cold hard right cross to the jaw, which drops him. Never change, Riley.
They ended it by having the crafty, clever Perfect 10 suddenly surprise Riley with a roll-up pin. That’s cool, I like to see Dillinger a winner, and Riley continues his humiliating losing streak, just as a Bad Guy now.
