Board Thread:Super Smash Bros. Discussion/@comment-5623885-20140710145538/@comment-114562-20140710190437

Darth Phazon wrote: DarkO14 wrote: Darth Phazon, just give up, Ridley is better off as a Stage Boss in the Pyrosphere stage, and his shadow on that stage proves everything. And there is nothing "trollish" about this, which means that Sakurai means it this time, so don't expect Sakurai to say "fooled you" to us, because that would be a bad idea. Just adding Ridley as playable in SSB4 would ruin the balance. He's a stage boss, case closed. Did anyone ask you, pal? He's not going to be just be a freaking stage hazard; he was planned for Melee, but due to troubles with animation, was cut at the last second, HIS SHADOW PROVES NOTHING. I don't see Ridley anywhere on this page, which does show all beta elements in Melee.

And it mentions Lucas and Sonic being considered.