Zack Ryder: Next Big Thing or Flash in the Pan? - Page 2

**wwe2222** · 12-07-2011, 04:54 PM

He is neither one, he is somewhere in the middle. Is he ever going to be as big as a John Cena? Very doubtful. He will be a solid upper mid carder, a legit threat to the US or IC title belts and will occassionally pal around with the main eventers. Nothing wrong with that.

His gimmick can easily be turned into a solid heel too. I like that he has a character and is a little over the stop with his shtick. Wrestling is missing some of that these days.

I suppose it all depends on your definition of what a flash in the pan is.

**#1-norm-fan** · 12-07-2011, 04:54 PM

He'll be teased as a main eventer a bit before settling in as a career upper-mid carder.

I'd love to see him end up being the runner up in the Rumble. Give him that "Holy shit, he might do it!" moment like Santino got last year but more meaningful in the long run.

**Indifferent Clox** · 12-07-2011, 05:00 PM

I see him being a midcarder for a bit longer under the current charecter and then going heel on the fans thatbbrought him. But I feel he will change up his charecter at that point to be more serious and tbh probably more bland.

**Lock Jaw** · 12-07-2011, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xero

Another problem with the gimmick is that on his show, he has complete control. I've not seen it, but I'm willing to bet that it's 100 times better than anything WWE has written for him. And that's a huge problem for getting the character itself over to the masses.

Or I could be wrong and it's already wearing thin on the YT show. Again, I've never seen it.

Show started off with him as more of an "underdog", "I'm not booked" type of character. Nowadays it is more of a recap of what he did on TV that week, along with a Dolph Ziggler segment in which they feud.

**jskinnyg** · 12-07-2011, 06:27 PM

Solid Mid-Carder that has got a future... The flash in the pan is his gimmick... After this flash, a nice heel turn would solidify him a good spot... He's pretty good in the ring...

**XCaliber** · 12-07-2011, 11:24 PM

Don't think he's either he's a good wrestler but what could end up hindering Ryder's carreer is the very gimmick that got him this far. His character would have to eventually grow into a more serious or intense role much like he was back when he was an Edgehead with Hawkins. So I'd say he's bound to end up being an upper midcarder but could potentially go to the main event level if both parties can figure out how to make him less of a goofball.

**Mr. Nerfect** · 12-10-2011, 02:40 AM

While I believe that the character is a flash in the pan, I think the performer behind Zack Ryder has got a lot of potential, room to grow and a lot to offer the WWE. Ryder is only approaching his 27th birthday. He's been in the business since about 2004, and has had a five or six year relationship with the WWE. He seems well-liked backstage, and has the attitude to go out there and always do what he needs to do to get noticed and move his merchandise -- which is ultimately good for the WWE.

I've got a feeling that Ryder will be the US Champion soon, and that can test the waters to see how well he does as a singles champion in the WWE, and whether his fanbase will stick with him through success, and aren't just cheering an underdog. Ryder's loveable loser shtick might eventually get old, but if the Ryder character constantly challenges itself, and manages to fight some pretty big battles (I like the idea of him doing quite well in the Royal Rumble), then he might earn some fans who see past the shtick and will stick with Ryder the performer over the years.

Ryder needing to prove himself as US Champion has the potential to be a pretty good and compelling storyline that could really help build Ryder's credibility (which is what a US Title run is meant to do). Then we can start talking about whether Ryder has the tools to one day be a main eventer. I personally think he has the right attitude and the ring skills, and he seems to be on the right path.

The child-like naivety of Ryder could be modified into desperate heel champion paranoia down the crack. Also, his character would need very few tweaks to go from "charming" to "annoying." Let Ryder unite the lower card of the WWE to keep him as United States Champion when his merchandise sales die down, and I think you might have a winning heel gimmick. Have Curt Hawkins, Tyler Reks and maybe Michael McGillicutty or someone form a "Zack Pack" designed to keep him champion, and Ryder continues to act like the lovable underdog long past people have cared. Sort of like a child star turned attention addict gimmick, I guess.

Ryder is not going to run out of things to do and has plenty of skills to offer the WWE, I think. He'll also do his best to make sure he is as over and as credible as he can be in any situation. I think the dude is long-term. That's not to say he'll always be a top merchandise mover for the WWE, though, and I do think he'll need to either evolve his character or rotate the light in which it is portrayed, eventually. I honestly do believe that a Ryder WWE Title win could be compared to Mick Foley's initial win, though. That feel-good moment that doesn't aim to be revolutionary, but finds a charm in how modest it is.

**Dirk Ziggler** · 12-10-2011, 04:07 AM

He's cool now, but it's a gimmick that will run stale within the next year.

XL · 12-10-2011, 05:48 AM

Part of me thinks that it's a case of us being "on the bandwagon" early on. A lot of us have been watching Z! True Long Island Story since February, 10-11 months later maybe we're not as enamoured as we were then? Meanwhile, a lot of the "target audience" have only recently caught on. To them he is fresh, to us maybe he's starting to go a little "stale". That's just a thought.

Also, we as a group have a tendency to second guess everything. Guys with no exposure suddenly have "too much", Rock's return is great...until people get bored of the "phoned in promos", Punk's "pipe bombs" are glorious until 3 weeks later when they are "tired and desperate", etc, etc. Maybe this is one of those things.

To me, the fact that Ryder was all over Raw (and also had a match on SmackDown this week) is indicative of a change in approach from WWE. Ryder, Ziggler, Rhodes, Barrett are all getting a ton of exposure at the minute and are getting the job done. I hope that WWE can capitalize on the progress they have made with these guys but to do so they need to realize that there is a thin line between exposure and over exposure.

As for Ryder himself, I feel some of the criticism levelled at him is unfair. The character is corny and over-the-top, it only makes sense that his promos/reactions are in line with that. He's a decent in-ring talent that has a great handle on his character and is moving merch (even if some of it is absolute tat).

He can be a useful upper-midcard guy for years to come if WWE handle him correctly. If anything it's up to them to make sure he isn't a "flash in the pan". That said, by no means do I think he is the "Next Big Thing" on the level of a Cena, Orton or Punk.

**Kane Knight** · 12-10-2011, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XL

Rock's return is great...until people get bored of the "phoned in promos"

I'm not sure that was second guessing. People were complaining about this two seconds after he opened his mouth.

12-07-2011, 04:54 PM	#41
wwe2222 Posts: 1,398	He is neither one, he is somewhere in the middle. Is he ever going to be as big as a John Cena? Very doubtful. He will be a solid upper mid carder, a legit threat to the US or IC title belts and will occassionally pal around with the main eventers. Nothing wrong with that. His gimmick can easily be turned into a solid heel too. I like that he has a character and is a little over the stop with his shtick. Wrestling is missing some of that these days. I suppose it all depends on your definition of what a flash in the pan is.

12-07-2011, 04:54 PM	#42
#1-norm-fan Resident drug enabler Posts: 45,473	He'll be teased as a main eventer a bit before settling in as a career upper-mid carder. I'd love to see him end up being the runner up in the Rumble. Give him that "Holy shit, he might do it!" moment like Santino got last year but more meaningful in the long run.

12-07-2011, 05:00 PM	#43
Indifferent Clox emerge Posts: 16,710	I see him being a midcarder for a bit longer under the current charecter and then going heel on the fans thatbbrought him. But I feel he will change up his charecter at that point to be more serious and tbh probably more bland.

12-07-2011, 06:27 PM	#45
jskinnyg Voices Say I'm Awesome... Posts: 1,715	Solid Mid-Carder that has got a future... The flash in the pan is his gimmick... After this flash, a nice heel turn would solidify him a good spot... He's pretty good in the ring...

12-07-2011, 11:24 PM	#46
XCaliber Posts: 3,743	Don't think he's either he's a good wrestler but what could end up hindering Ryder's carreer is the very gimmick that got him this far. His character would have to eventually grow into a more serious or intense role much like he was back when he was an Edgehead with Hawkins. So I'd say he's bound to end up being an upper midcarder but could potentially go to the main event level if both parties can figure out how to make him less of a goofball.

12-10-2011, 02:40 AM	#47
Mr. Nerfect Posts: 61,524	While I believe that the character is a flash in the pan, I think the performer behind Zack Ryder has got a lot of potential, room to grow and a lot to offer the WWE. Ryder is only approaching his 27th birthday. He's been in the business since about 2004, and has had a five or six year relationship with the WWE. He seems well-liked backstage, and has the attitude to go out there and always do what he needs to do to get noticed and move his merchandise -- which is ultimately good for the WWE. I've got a feeling that Ryder will be the US Champion soon, and that can test the waters to see how well he does as a singles champion in the WWE, and whether his fanbase will stick with him through success, and aren't just cheering an underdog. Ryder's loveable loser shtick might eventually get old, but if the Ryder character constantly challenges itself, and manages to fight some pretty big battles (I like the idea of him doing quite well in the Royal Rumble), then he might earn some fans who see past the shtick and will stick with Ryder the performer over the years. Ryder needing to prove himself as US Champion has the potential to be a pretty good and compelling storyline that could really help build Ryder's credibility (which is what a US Title run is meant to do). Then we can start talking about whether Ryder has the tools to one day be a main eventer. I personally think he has the right attitude and the ring skills, and he seems to be on the right path. The child-like naivety of Ryder could be modified into desperate heel champion paranoia down the crack. Also, his character would need very few tweaks to go from "charming" to "annoying." Let Ryder unite the lower card of the WWE to keep him as United States Champion when his merchandise sales die down, and I think you might have a winning heel gimmick. Have Curt Hawkins, Tyler Reks and maybe Michael McGillicutty or someone form a "Zack Pack" designed to keep him champion, and Ryder continues to act like the lovable underdog long past people have cared. Sort of like a child star turned attention addict gimmick, I guess. Ryder is not going to run out of things to do and has plenty of skills to offer the WWE, I think. He'll also do his best to make sure he is as over and as credible as he can be in any situation. I think the dude is long-term. That's not to say he'll always be a top merchandise mover for the WWE, though, and I do think he'll need to either evolve his character or rotate the light in which it is portrayed, eventually. I honestly do believe that a Ryder WWE Title win could be compared to Mick Foley's initial win, though. That feel-good moment that doesn't aim to be revolutionary, but finds a charm in how modest it is.

12-10-2011, 04:07 AM	#48
Dirk Ziggler I Am Perfection Posts: 1,178	He's cool now, but it's a gimmick that will run stale within the next year.

12-10-2011, 05:48 AM	#49
XL Feeling Oof-y Posts: 17,151	Part of me thinks that it's a case of us being "on the bandwagon" early on. A lot of us have been watching Z! True Long Island Story since February, 10-11 months later maybe we're not as enamoured as we were then? Meanwhile, a lot of the "target audience" have only recently caught on. To them he is fresh, to us maybe he's starting to go a little "stale". That's just a thought. Also, we as a group have a tendency to second guess everything. Guys with no exposure suddenly have "too much", Rock's return is great...until people get bored of the "phoned in promos", Punk's "pipe bombs" are glorious until 3 weeks later when they are "tired and desperate", etc, etc. Maybe this is one of those things. To me, the fact that Ryder was all over Raw (and also had a match on SmackDown this week) is indicative of a change in approach from WWE. Ryder, Ziggler, Rhodes, Barrett are all getting a ton of exposure at the minute and are getting the job done. I hope that WWE can capitalize on the progress they have made with these guys but to do so they need to realize that there is a thin line between exposure and over exposure. As for Ryder himself, I feel some of the criticism levelled at him is unfair. The character is corny and over-the-top, it only makes sense that his promos/reactions are in line with that. He's a decent in-ring talent that has a great handle on his character and is moving merch (even if some of it is absolute tat). He can be a useful upper-midcard guy for years to come if WWE handle him correctly. If anything it's up to them to make sure he isn't a "flash in the pan". That said, by no means do I think he is the "Next Big Thing" on the level of a Cena, Orton or Punk.