Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2014 20:34:03 GMT -5
Mick Foley wrote the following on his Facebook today: THE SAD STORY OF ZACK RYDER *author's note - I originally wrote this story as "The Tragedy of Zack Ryder", but, after watching the evening news filled with real tragedies, downgraded it to a "sad story" "The story of Zack Ryder is a sad one. It's a sad story because I've seen so much great, hard-working talent recently on the independent scene, and know how difficult it is for them to even get a shot at the big time, let alone get over...really over. Zack Ryder was over...and now he's not. It's a sad story because he found a new and unique way to make himself a valuable commodity in WWE - and now his value is gone. It's a sad story because in November of 2011, after a heavily promoted "once in a lifetime" teaming up of John Cena - WWE Universe and Dwayne The Rock Johnson, Madison Square Garden, the most famous arena in the world erupted in "We want Ryder" chants - and now those chants are gone. It's a sad story because I refereed several of his main event matches in Europe in that fall of 2011, and saw the joy with which he was received by the fans in that main event role - a role he is unlikely to ever know again. It's a sad story because fans bought his merchandise, they watched his show on You Tube, they liked him on Facebook (almost 1.5 million) they followed him on Twitter (over 1.5 million) and he made people smile - and now those smiles are gone. It's a sad story because eventually people get tired of finding out that the WWE Superstars they have supported with their cheers, their purchases, their signs, their follows and their likes aren't real Superstars - and little by little, those fans lose interest in WWE, find other interests, and become former WWE fans. It's a sad story because the next time WWE talent is given the speech about reaching for the brass ring, at the very least, in the back of their minds, they should be thinking about the guy who reached out and grabbed that brass ring - and was asked to return it. Maybe his surprise victory on #RAW will be the start of something new. Maybe. I remember standing in the ring with Zack and #CMPunk at Nassau Coliseum and gladly handing over my claim to being Long Island's most popular wrestler to Zack, Take a good look at that photo. Really look at it. Look at me, still important enough in the company's eyes to be part of an in-ring celecration. Look at Punk, breaking character, and willingly looking foolish, because it was a fun thing to do, and Zack Ryder's character made having fun, and wearing a ridiculous wig seem like the right thing to do. Look at the joy on Zack's face. That type of joy was infectuous. It's the type of joy we're not likely to see again. That photo is less than three years old...but it seems like such a long, long time ago. "
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tripleh23
Superstar
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Post by tripleh23 on Jul 25, 2014 20:43:44 GMT -5
It is a sad story... I'm still a fan but every time Ryder has come out post Kane/Eve story the guy gets almost no reaction. Once I got the network I watched his TLC match which I thought was a great match and it was great to see the reaction he got when he came out and when he won was great because of how he worked his way up. I don't think he will ever get to that level of pops again but it would be nice to see him make it to the mid-card but I don't think WWE wants him to get over again, so they can't allow him to win and gain momentum. Just a thought of mine but who knows, all I know is I Still Want Ryder
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2014 21:01:21 GMT -5
At least he'll go down as a history lesson in WWE that even though you're told to get yourself over, if it's not done WWE's way than you'll be buried slowly and painfully
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Mr. K.O
Main Eventer
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Post by Mr. K.O on Jul 25, 2014 21:39:32 GMT -5
He did get pushed though....off the stage while in a wheelchair.
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mrassbillygunn
Main Eventer
WF 10+ Year Member
Joined on: Jul 23, 2011 19:35:48 GMT -5
Posts: 4,257
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Post by mrassbillygunn on Jul 25, 2014 22:03:57 GMT -5
Oh radio tell me everything you know...
Unfortunetly he fine-tuned his radio to the HHH #Shovel wavelength.
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Post by The Kevstaaa on Jul 25, 2014 22:08:53 GMT -5
At least he'll go down as a history lesson in WWE that even though you're told to get yourself over, if it's not done WWE's way than you'll be buried slowly and painfully We have a winner. |
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Quazimoto
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Post by Quazimoto on Jul 25, 2014 22:53:10 GMT -5
I know I'm more likely than not going to be in the minority, but I feel like Zack Ryder grossly overachieved for his United States Championship run and brief stint in a major storyline. I've never seen what was so great about the guy and IMO, his character is just too much of a goof ball to be considered main event caliber. He was never going to be or meant to be at that level as long as he was all "Long Island Iced-Z"-ing it up. I give the guy major, major props for getting himself over and inciting the chants that forced WWE to take notice, but it's always been pretty clear that Ryder, while a good hand in the ring, just doesn't have what's needed to be a top-flight talent in WWE. He's a solid mid-carder at best. IMO, he should be proud of the achievements he's had and count himself lucky that he's still employed there while other, far more talented, wrestlers have been released. I do think he should be used a bit better. Dude deserves to be on TV regularly and even pick up a few wins now and again.
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Post by kazoosandstreamers on Jul 25, 2014 23:06:13 GMT -5
I know I'm more likely than not going to be in the minority, but I feel like Zack Ryder grossly overachieved for his United States Championship run and brief stint in a major storyline. I've never seen what was so great about the guy and IMO, his character is just too much of a goof ball to be considered main event caliber. He was never going to be or meant to be at that level as long as he was all "Long Island Iced-Z"-ing it up. I give the guy major, major props for getting himself over and inciting the chants that forced WWE to take notice, but it's always been pretty clear that Ryder, while a good hand in the ring, just doesn't have what's needed to be a top-flight talent in WWE. He's a solid mid-carder at best. IMO, he should be proud of the achievements he's had and count himself lucky that he's still employed there while other, far more talented, wrestlers have been released. I do think he should be used a bit better. Dude deserves to be on TV regularly and even pick up a few wins now and again. Nah, I agree. He should be very proud of himself. |
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Post by punksnotdead on Jul 25, 2014 23:57:55 GMT -5
The curious situation for me is why they haven't attempted to position him into another role or gimmick. The Santino and Ryder tag team had legs. There are plenty of guys at the midcard level who can get a good crowd reaction and don't have to do too much in the way of talking. Ryder could have been himself on Youtube and done comedy segments on Raw and been just fine. WWE presented one of the worst angles I've ever seen and Ryder took all the blame for it sucking, when in reality everyone sucked. He was a fun character that people obviously enjoyed and WWE was making money off of him. Not sure what else he was supposed to do.
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Post by Chip on Jul 26, 2014 0:09:03 GMT -5
I cant wait until he is released, and does a shoot so we can maybe finally get the REAL story of why he was sooooooo buried for really no reason.
like i understand they didnt/werent going to make him a world champion. thats fine. but to be literally destroyed, turned to mush, and jobbed out back to even LESS than what he was....
there had to have been more to it than "we dont like his acting"
there is no reason why he couldnt have been on the same level as a kofi or a cody or ryback or christian. used in feuds, regular TV matches, etc.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2014 2:33:59 GMT -5
The thing for me is, he's not a small guy, is American and has a great handle on social media - was popular beyond belief despite being a lower-tier guy, and has this happen to him - WWE plays ball their way when it comes to getting over, that's for sure...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2014 3:13:09 GMT -5
I cant wait until he is released, and does a shoot so we can maybe finally get the REAL story of why he was sooooooo buried for really no reason. like i understand they didnt/werent going to make him a world champion. thats fine. but to be literally destroyed, turned to mush, and jobbed out back to even LESS than what he was.... there had to have been more to it than "we dont like his acting" there is no reason why he couldnt have been on the same level as a kofi or a cody or ryback or christian. used in feuds, regular TV matches, etc. for spite of the fans a lot of blame gets put on HHH for burying people...but this is one of those times where I legitimately believe he worked his shovel magic with simply making fun of the fans for "cheering someone so unworthy" |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2014 3:58:21 GMT -5
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2014 4:43:53 GMT -5
I cant wait until he is released, and does a shoot so we can maybe finally get the REAL story of why he was sooooooo buried for really no reason. like i understand they didnt/werent going to make him a world champion. thats fine. but to be literally destroyed, turned to mush, and jobbed out back to even LESS than what he was.... there had to have been more to it than "we dont like his acting" there is no reason why he couldnt have been on the same level as a kofi or a cody or ryback or christian. used in feuds, regular TV matches, etc. I have often wondered the same thing Chip.......and like you I do think there's more to it. |
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MattelsRule
Main Eventer
JakksRule is dead! Long live MattelsRule!
Joined on: Mar 18, 2005 2:03:07 GMT -5
Posts: 2,468
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Post by MattelsRule on Jul 26, 2014 7:44:25 GMT -5
While I totally agree with Foley and the general opinion that Ryder was buried, WWE is like "the pancake lady" with the internet.
WWE gives fans what they want and they constantly say "its good but it's not good enough" secretly savoring every bite but never letting them know how good it is just so they can keep getting a Christian push, a new nation, a Bryan championship, nxt call ups etc etc
Sometimes I feel like everyone just continues to eat and devour the WWE pancakes but will never let WWE how good they are because "eh they could use a little more syrup".
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Post by Next Man’s Knowing Rock on Jul 26, 2014 7:44:48 GMT -5
The curious situation for me is why they haven't attempted to position him into another role or gimmick. The Santino and Ryder tag team had legs. There are plenty of guys at the midcard level who can get a good crowd reaction and don't have to do too much in the way of talking. Ryder could have been himself on Youtube and done comedy segments on Raw and been just fine. His acting is too bad to do comedy segments on Raw. Although weirdly, they still let him be Brie Bella's acting coach for her storyline with Kane a few months ago. |
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Dante, The Voc
Main Eventer
If I'm not online, I'm on the toilet
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Post by Dante, The Voc on Jul 26, 2014 8:33:18 GMT -5
They dropped the ball MASSIVELY with him. Don't forget, he lost the US Title barely a month into his reign in a throwaway match on Raw against a floundering Jack Swagger. He became the guy that took Cena's beatings in a garbage feud with Kane. Instead of getting a singles win defending his US Title at Wrestlemania like he should have, he got kicked in the groin by Eve and never recovered. I couldn't see him as any more than a high-profile midcarder, but he was f'n over. He could've been, along with Punk, Bryan, Reigns, Rollins, Ambrose, Cesaro, Wyatt, etc. part of the new wave of stars for this generation of wrestling. Instead of being in a Rick Rude-esque role (don't be confused with this statement: he'd be at the position Rude was as an upper-midcarder/lower main-eventer; not comparing him to Rude talent-wise) of this generation, he's absolutely nothing. I don't normally agree with some of the stuff Foley writes, but I have to here: the story of Zack Ryder is truly a sad one.
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Post by Optimus Prime on Jul 26, 2014 9:05:12 GMT -5
Foley said everything I could say about Ryder. I was in the crowd at Survivor Series, and I couldn't get over just how persistent and ongoing those Ryder chants were.
The brass ring does exist, it's jut handed out these days. Look at Roman Reigns!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2014 9:10:08 GMT -5
Foley said everything I could say about Ryder. I was in the crowd at Survivor Series, and I couldn't get over just how persistent and ongoing those Ryder chants were. The brass ring does exist, it's jut handed out these days. Look at Roman Reigns! The difference is that Roman Reigns has a character that's far more marketable as a top draw than Zack Ryder ever will be. People will pay to see a badass before they pay to see a comedy character. Ryder made a ton of money on his merch and grossly overachieved given his level of talent, his fans (and he) should be happy about that. |
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Post by Iron Bison on Jul 26, 2014 9:34:16 GMT -5
I agree that he was never going to be main event material but there's NO reason why he can't be upper mid-card. His gimmick helps (AND hurts) him but so what? There's been so many of our favorite characters that have never held the WWE Championship or IC title but we don't remember them for that. We remember them because they were just that, CHARACTERS. Characters we grew to (or instantly) love. When I'm old, I'll probably remember him more fondly than someone like Cena (who's a TEN time champ, let's not forget! *end sarcasm). I'm not bashing Cena or being a Cena-Hater but I've had more fun during Ryder's year than Cena's past SEVERAL years. This also is pretty sad because when you get to the root of it, Zack was (or still is) one of us. He's was once a wide-eyed kid who saw his first wrestling match (God knows where) and fell in love, bought the toys, the merch, learned the catchphrases, and played wrestling with his buddies in his backyard. That's why I'll always support him. I'll always support one of us.
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