WWE Superstar Alex Riley told CBS-19 in Cleveland entertainment reporter Chris Van Vliet at WrestleMania Axxess last weekend that it “hurt” to not be a part of last Sunday’s WrestleMania pay-per-view.  Riley was also asked why he stopped appearing on television.

“I don’t know, it’s a very competitive company,” Riley replied. “There’s a lot of people here and a lot of talent. So you have to constantly re-invent yourself and constantly be entertaining on a daily basis and find new ways to entertain and I’m trying to do that… I was shoved into a main event spot very early in my career, which I don’t think a lot of people quite get that opportunity, so I was very lucky to get that opportunity. I wanna earn it, a lot of that had to do with Miz, so when I come back this time it’s going to be all me and I want to earn it.”

Riley picked up a clean win over The Miz shortly after WrestleMania 27 and went on to challenge for the US Title before falling dramatically out of favor.