Alex Riley was interviewed by the soon to be released “Kind of Fun” podcast, a new wrestling podcast by the hosts of The Last Podcast on the Left. In it, Riley teases an upcoming “WWE Rebirth” movement.
Some highlights of the podcast, available to download on June 17th, are below.
>On WWE Ratings and Financials Things are doing well, but obviously we want higher ratings. We think doing a sort of soft reboot is the key. From fan polls and marketing data we’ve discovered that a lot of people think the stories are too confusing and it’s hard to remember who is heel and face. That’s because our long term storylines can sometimes alienate new fans. We want to fix that.
>Riley was then asked if that means new champions and storylines Yes, more or less. We want to do it organically, though. End all the feuds, crown new champions. Start fresh from there and maybe do another draft. We have a handful of storylines that we believe are drawing in fans. Rusev has had a year long story and a lot of people love that, it’s been compared to Game of Thrones. So we won’t change that much. But we want every match to have a reason to exist.
>Asked when to expect this change, Riley was more candid: Soon. Some of the pieces are being moved into place right now. Alexa’s coffee gimmick for one. The Firefly Funhouse. These are two pretty big keys to what we’re doing.
>To end the podcast, Riley volunteered the new WWE mantra. We don’t want to rely on part time talent. Cena is done and he hurt the business, we can see that now. He didn’t build any stars and just kind of left. Hunter has built a ton of talent in his part time role, guys like Rollins and Reigns are where they are because Hunter put them over. Taker as well, very unselfish guy.
Riley also comments on Jon Moxley, Chris Jericho, and AEW on the podcast.
>Mentions Firefly Funhouse as a go to example of their new direction >Mentions Taker's willingness to put people over Is Bray getting his ding-dong diddly win back finally?
Jason Moore
I do find it crazy that Cena didnt really give the rub to anyone but AJ. Who arguably didnt need it. And Roman, who has gotten the rub from Taker, HHH, DBry, and Brock and still cant get over.
John Scott
I think that would be a cool way for The Last Outlaw to ride off into the sunset. And to let the unpredictable and demented Wyatt become a new kind of supernatural force in the WWE Universe, a New Face of Fear as it were.
Austin Rodriguez
He’s trash, arrogant trash that buried Alex Riley when he was getting attitude era pops weekly. Alex could have gotten the WWE belt at that point, but John was scared of me getting more popular than him.
Nicholas Price
Cena gave the rub to Miz, Orton, Punk and Daniel as well.
Jackson Young
It would have been cool. About 5 years ago, when they did it and he lost.
Lincoln Wood
How retarded are the people who can't understand WWEs very basic and simple storylines?
Lincoln Brown
The rub to Orton? Orton and him have wrestled 650000 times. Orton didnt need a rub. Orton got his rub from HHH, and Flair. And Taker. And Foley etc.
Miz? Miz is a fucking star now? Really?
He put Punk over because Punk was just too damn hot and still didnt do it clean. he needed outside interference distraction to eat the pin.
Lincoln Gutierrez
Alex Riley works for WWE?
Caleb Anderson
>LPOTL doing a wrestling podcast
huh
Nathaniel Cook
>our long term storylines what long term storylines
Jordan Martinez
>From fan polls and marketing data we’ve discovered
>From fan polls and marketing data we’ve discovered that a lot of people think the stories are too confusing and it’s hard to remember who is heel and face Jesus christ the mental gymnastics these people jump through to intentionally misinterpret their own data. The problem isn't confusing storylines, the problem is NO storylines. >That’s because our long term storylines can sometimes alienate new fans. YOU DON'T HAVE ANY LONG TERM STORYLINES THAT'S THE PROBLEM >Rusev has had a year long story and a lot of people love that, it’s been compared to Game of Thrones. Sitting at home not doing anything and not being on TV is not a storyline.
Jonathan Murphy
>Rusev has had a year long story and a lot of people love that, it’s been compared to Game of Thrones. Is this for real or is it like the Ryback podcast? lol maybe he's comparing the Rusev storyline with GOT season 8.
Julian Scott
Based a-ry poster
Levi Ward
>Firefly Funhouse as a go to example of their new direction Pointless promos that just fill time?
Landon Nguyen
Ortin was already over. Punk is a bitch ass loser. Miz? Midcard for life, Cena has nothing there to brag on. Bryan was never over, just the yes chant as we can now see.
Gavin Collins
One of the head writers right now. He’s done a ton to really improve the writing to GoT or Breaking Bad levels.
Charles Ortiz
Rusev obviously. Went from singles guy to Rusev day to getting betrayed to singles guy to cool heel foreigner tag team. It’s pretty interesting and it’s kind of stretched the boundaries of what weekly episodic wrestling can do.
Samuel Ross
>OP working all the autistic marks on this board
Kek.
Lucas Myers
Kek, peak autism.
Asher White
I think it’s tough to keep track of some things. Like Baron Corbin is a pretty good heel, but sometimes you have to think back to his Constable Corbin stuff to really appreciate his storylines like retiring Angle or his current hatred of Seth Rollins.
I love it but you need a good memory and a solid understanding of literary theory to get some of the stuff. Not everybody has this.
Jose Anderson
If you consider entertainment pointless, then sure.
Liam Turner
A lot of people don’t get all the layers to this story but that’s on them - it’s all on screen. The problem is the average fan is kind of stupid, as evidenced by movies like Batman vs Superman failing.
Easton Bell
I was already excited for this podcast but this is insanely based. I love the Q&A-Ry’s he does on YouTube and I appreciate that he shoots straight with stuff like calling Ambrose a lying coward, saying that much of the talent is lazy and doesn’t like to talk to Vince, and that Cena was a piece of shit.
Joshua Diaz
Ryback SHOOTS is better
Xavier Morris
Based A Ry and I agree - I love WWE but it’s hard to remember ALL the storylines for Raw, SD, NXT, and 205 Live at once.
Nathan Long
Based A(-Ry)Non, might be my favourite gimmick in this whole board
Nathaniel Scott
Then why is he (allowed to be) doing this
Have all of these Alex Riley threads been fake
James Watson
No one knows because no one listens to podcasts he's on
Aaron Jackson
> Believes A Ry would be welcome back at WWE after his pissing and moaning at NXT
LOL
Matthew King
Wasn't Riley fired a couple of years ago? He still works there?
Josiah Murphy
What's better, Alex Rileyposting or Rybackposting?