By now, we have all heard the news that Ryan Reeves, the professional wrestler who performs under the name Ryback, is not happy with his current position with WWE and is not touring with the company while and Vince McMahon work out issues on both sides.
The recent comments by the former Intercontinental Champion and former WWE World Title contender could be his undoing in the biggest promotion in this business.
Reeves has been very candid of late, not pulling any punches in how he feels about his current spot and the business itself, which has given him some modicum of stardom. While the “Big Guy” will never be a main event star – should his current status remain the same – he has opened the door for plenty of conversation amongst his peers and media types and fans.
This isn’t about “feeding him more” or how he has come to be perceived as a cheap imitation of Bill Goldberg. Reeves is genuine when he says he believes his character, and others like his, should be given more credit (and financial backing) than he receives.
What it amounts to is that Ryback was once challenging John Cena and CM Punk in main events at pay-per-view events. Now, he is nothing more than a jobber. Something just don’t seem fair in this world of “now or never” grappling.
Wrestling is pre-determined, we as performers know before we go out to that ring or perform a backstage scene who is winning and losing etc or have a general idea of what we are going to say. It blows my mind how in a sport which is pre-determined from a company standpoint winners are paid so much more than the losers. Every single person who works for WWE from top to bottom is absolutely just as valuable as the next. The winners cannot win unless the losers go out there and agree to lose to them.
The remainder of his comments in his blog can be read here.
In this case, I see Reeves points and he makes many good ones. But they do not or will not change the current culture of Vince McMahon’s empire. It just does not work that way. The Ryback character does not have the stroke of a Cena or Randy Orton or even Charlotte. So with him looking on the outside inward, this could very well be his downfall and ultimately, his exit from the company. What happens to him next is anyone’s guess.
I see Ryback as a brawler who would do well in Japan with NJPW. Many before him have found a niche in the Orient like Scott Norton and Bruiser Brody. With the likes of Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows leaving the promotion, Ryback could be packaged as the heir apparent.
Since he has gotten better of late and has shown more skills on the microphone and in the ring, this could be a way for him to get back to WWE or some other promotion in the future.
He could also become a force in NXT or Global Force Wrestling, which are two promotions who could rebuild him into a true star. Jeff Jarrett is keen enough to know how to use his talents and his look to his advantage. TNA and Dixie Carter could use him as the roster for the fledgling promotion is getting better.
What Reeves has done by making these remarks on his most recent blog is create a following unlike he had before. That will help him should he leave the only company who has helped to put him on the map. Right now, Reeves seems to be at peace with a decision one way or another. But in time, his words may come back to hurt him more than help him.
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