The NXT Interview: Alex Riley

The NXT Interview: Alex Riley

It's no surprise to Alex Riley that he was chosen to be WWE.com's first NXT Interview for season two. Why? Because the NXT Rookie is certain he'll be No. 1 in the first Pros' Poll and WWE.com Poll in less than two weeks. The confident scholar and athlete is also certain he'll be the last man standing at the end of the competition.

WWE.com: Congratulations on your first win on WWE NXT. What was your secret to pulling off a victory against one of the fiercest NXT Rookies, Kaval? (PHOTOS | WATCH)
RILEY: There's no secret to beating Kaval, he's half my size. WWE is a big rollercoaster, Alex Riley is like a big rollercoaster, and Kaval is just not tall enough to ride this ride.

WWE.com: Do you have a name yet for your finisher?
RILEY:
You're Dismissed.

WWE.com: What did you think about MVP's speech about the week one initiation?  (PHOTOS | WATCH)
RILEY: I respect MVP and all of the WWE Pros, but I'm not positive I trust them. So I appreciated the speech. Obviously my WWE Pro wasn't there. We put things behind us, and I have a lot of respect for The Miz. But I am hesitant to trust them as of yet.

WWE.com: What do you think about the actions of your season one predecessors on Raw?
RILEY:
I don't blame them. It's a cutthroat business. You're up there trying to make a statement. They have started what Alex Riley plans to finish personally after he wins WWE NXT season two.

WWE.com: Who was your favorite Rookie from season one?
RILEY:
I think Wade Barrett is awesome. He's a great speaker. I love the way he caries himself. He has a very intimidating presence.

WWE.com: The first Pros' Poll and WWE.com Polls will come out in two weeks. Where do you think you'll rank among your fellow NXT Rookies?
RILEY:
First. There's no doubt in my mind I will be first. There's no doubt in my mind that this competition is already over and I've won it. You could end this show after the first Pros' Poll because when I am ranked No. 1, that's not going to change.

I don't think there's anybody in this competition who can compete with me athletically, size-wise, entertainment-wise and on the microphone. I plan on changing the face of WWE and I will not settle for anything else.

WWE.com: How has your relationship been with your WWE Pro, The Miz?
RILEY:
Great. The Miz and I get along really well. After the first mistake he made trying to come after me, we have resolved things. The Miz is a reality TV star and I am a star in reality, and that's a match made in heaven. We're almost like Bonnie & Clyde. Of course, he's Bonnie and I'm Clyde.

WWE.com: What has The Miz taught you in the first two weeks of competition?
RILEY:
He doesn't really need to teach me anything. I still really do enjoy The Miz. He has furthered my development as a NXT Rookie, not that there was much more that I needed. But he has kind of brought me full circle.

WWE.com: Which Rookie is your biggest competition on WWE NXT?
RILEY:
Myself. If I trip and fall getting out of bed, I might not win the competition. But still, I'd probably end up winning, even with a broken leg.

WWE.com: Which NXT Rookie or WWE Pro would you like to face next?
RILEY:
John Cena. I'm aiming for the top. As soon as I win this competition, he's the first Superstar I'm going after.

WWE.com: If you won the competition tomorrow, whose championship would you go after?
RILEY:
I'm aiming for the best in the business from week one, to week two, to week 10 to week 12. My sights are already set past this show to John Cena because I expect to win this. There's no doubt about it, the season one NXT Rookies have only started what I plan on finishing personally. And I'm not going to need seven other guys to help me do it. I'm going to do it on my own.

WWE.com: Why do you call yourself the "rare breed"?
RILEY:
I believe there are a lot of guys in WWE who have strength, who have size, who have the ability to entertain, who have the ability to speak on the microphone. But there's nobody with the combination of things I have. There might be guys who are strong, but aren't quick, or guys who are quick, but aren't strong. I am a perfect, "rare breed" of everything that it takes to be a WWE Superstar. My mother was Miss Virginia. My father was a New York Jet. I was bred from them as a rare combination, destined to be the best Superstar WWE has to offer.

WWE.com: Tell the WWE Universe more about your trademark letter jacket.
RILEY:
In high school, I took what I wanted. I did not have a problem being a bully. It's survival of the fittest in WWE, and so was high school and college. I was a bully. If I forgot my lunch money, I took someone else's. If someone tried to give me any problems, I stuffed them in their locker.

I was also a great student. I am very educated. I have always prided myself in my education. Being a linebacker at Boston College and being at one of the top 10 universities in the country, I wear the letter jacket in honor of all of that.

The letter "R" obviously stands for "Riley." That jacket is a culmination of everything that I stand for. The back says the "Varsity Villain" because that's what I am.

WWE.com: And what's with the symbol you made with your hands when you earned your first victory last week? It seems a little similar to the one the Miz makes.
RILEY:
It had nothing to do with The Miz. I came up with that a while ago. It means "back off." Really, it's just, "Back off. I'm better than you. Don't try to challenge me." I feel like I am way above this competition.

I do respect the WWE Pros. There's a little I need to learn. There are some things I need to hone in on, and as soon as that happens -- and I expect that to happen in the next two or three weeks -- I am coming after a championship.

WWE.com: Do you have any final messages for the WWE Universe?
RILEY:
Yeah, tell them: "I shouldn't have to tell you. You should know that I'm a Superstar." (WATCH: Meet NXT Rookie Alex Riley)

WWE Shows Latest Results

View all Shows