WWE Capitol Punishment 2011: The Biggest Match of Alex Riley's Career

Alex Riley will take on The Miz at WWE’s Capitol Punishment on Sunday, June 19th. It will mark the first time the two have squared off in a one-on-one contest since Riley’s face turn back on May 23rd.

The proverbial student versus teacher confrontation seems an odd fit for this particular feud. After all, Miz himself has only been in the business since 2003 and is 31, while Riley began his career in 2007 and is 30.

Of course, Miz is on a higher level than Riley in terms of the push he’s been given thus far. He has already been WWE Champion, while Riley has yet to capture any title in the company. A lot of work has gone into making Miz a top heel on Monday Night RAW, while Riley was presented as nothing more than a henchman, used to protect the WWE Title.

My, how things can change.

Alex Riley, by sheer virtue of the fact that he laid hands on The Miz, is now over with a vengeance. The cocky young Superstar who was once just an annoying yes-man has morphed into the confident, tough competitor looking for payback.

It’s a tricky proposition with a face turn of this nature. If done too early, the fans may not respond strongly enough for Riley, effectively killing his push before it can begin.

If done too late, the crowd may lose interest, and Riley’s turn would be irrelevant.

But the timing for Alex Riley to cut ties with his mentor appears to be perfect. Fans are crazy about his new attitude, and there seems to be no stopping his rise as one of the most popular Superstars in WWE.

Riley is in a great position to begin a serious run as one of the top faces on RAW. He has an edge to him that John Cena does not have, and he is a good worker who has the full support of the crowd. He’s poised to make an impact.

But will his match against The Miz help or hurt his cause?

Is he perhaps facing Miz too soon? Should this match have come later, with WWE building more heat between the two men for as long as they can?

The fact is the match is happening, and now Miz finds himself in the unlikely role of veteran who can potentially make his opponent. But will he?

If The Miz wins on Sunday, it is not necessarily the end of Alex Riley’s push. It is their first match, and there will surely be more to come. In fact, a win by Miz would bode even better for Riley if it is not a clean pin, proving that Miz perhaps cannot win against Alex without cheating.

In contrast, if Alex Riley wins on Sunday, it is not necessarily good for him. Pinning The Miz in their first match, after several weeks of brawls and verbal confrontations, would effectively diffuse the feud.

Miz would look weak for losing that quickly against a guy who was portrayed as being under him. Riley would be left without an immediate opponent possessing the history he has with Miz, and he would not be able to continue his upward momentum.

Possibly the best way to end the match would be in a disqualification or count out. This would sustain the heat between the two and leave the fans wanting more.

Alex Riley is an unknown commodity as a true singles performer in WWE, and the question is will he make a real statement in the biggest match of his career thus far?

Alex Riley and Miz know each other very well, and they are sure to do everything they can to deliver a five-star match. This moment is big for Riley; it’s his coming-out party as a legitimate performer in WWE. Will this match lead to bigger and better things for him, possibly main event status?

Riley is the picture of what WWE is looking for in its Superstars. He’s young, he’s got a good look, he has a following and his career is wide open for any possibilities. Like many others in the company, Alex Riley has tremendous upside, and this could only be the start for him.

The fans are ready for it. He seems ready for it. All we need now is the opening bell for him to prove it.