Cassidy Riley

Photo credit: tnawrestling.com

Real name: Cassidy James Riley
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 205 lbs.
Date of birth: November 21, 1976
Hometown: New Orleans, LA
Pro debut: 1995
Trained by: Lolly Dude
Finishing move: The Sleeper

Biography

– Riley began his career in various southern independent promotions, working initially as ‘Hotshot Cassidy’
– Riley was briefly affiliated with WCW, working several Saturday Night and Worldwide tapings through 2000 as ‘Cassidy Riley’
– In 2001, Cassidy Riley became Cassidy O’Reilly
– O’Reilly & Chase Stevens formed ‘The Hot Shots’ and the pair became regulars in the early days of NWA-TNA
– On November 25, 2004, Riley won the vacant USACW Heavyweight Title
– On January 21, 2005, Riley & Kory Williams fought Kid Kash & Joey Matthews to a no-contest to retain Riley’s USACW Heavyweight Title
– On the Against All Odds 2006 pre-show, Riley, Lance Hoyt & Shark Boy defeated Shannon Moore, David Young & Elix Skipper
– On March 25, Riley & James Storm defeated Chris Joel & Alex Montalvo to win the WWC Tag Team Titles
– On the Hard Justice 2006 pre-show, Riley & Sonjay Dutt defeated Jimmy Jacobs & El Diablo
– In January 2007, Reilly signed a WWE developmental deal and was assigned to Ohio Valley Wrestling in Louisville, where he would take the name ‘Kassidy James’
– On June 29, The James Boys (Kassidy & KC) defeated Terminal Velocity (Steve Lewington & Chet The Jet) to win the OVW Southern Tag Team Titles
– On July 6, The James Boys defeated Jake Hager & Atlas DaBone to retain the OVW Southern Tag Team Titles
– James began working Smackdown and ECW branded house shows around this time
– On July 13, The James Boys (Kassidy & KC) defeated The Major Brothers (Brett & Brian) to retain the OVW Southern Tag Team Titles
– On July 20, The James Boys defeated Cryme Tyme (Shad & JTG) to retain the OVW Southern Tag Team Titles
– The James Boys would lose and regain the OVW Southern Tag Team Titles several times over the next two months, becoming 4-time champions before the end of September
– WWE released Kassidy James on February 4, 2008 and ‘Cassidy Riley’ would return to the indies soon after
– On September 8, 2012, Riley & Wes Brisco defeated The Headbangers (Mosh & Thrasher) in the final of a tournament to win the vacant NWA Ring Warriors Tag Team Titles
– Riley returned to TNA for the 2013 One Night Only Team Tournament
– On July 13, 2019, Riley defeated Bam Bam Malone in an I Quit Match to win the BIW Southern Title, but lost it to Steve Anthony in his first defense
– On November 19, 2022, Riley & Bam Bam Malone defeated Muddy Waters (Gio Savage & RJW), HorsePower (Nate Collins & Eddie Martinez) and Ryan Rembrandt & Kari Wright in an Elimination Match to win the vacant BIW Tag Team Titles
– On January 21, 2023, Riley & Malone defeated The Heatseekers (Elliot Ruseell & Matt Sigmon) to retain the BIW Tag Team Titles
– On March 18, 2023, Riley wrestled his retirement match, defeating his former tag partner Chase Stevens