Oh Zack, What Happened?

From WWE.com

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

The last year or so has been quite  a ride for Zack Ryder.  After creating his own YouTube channel more than a year ago, Ryder became an instant hit with fans online.  I quickly jumped on board the "Z True Long Island Story" and even submitted several videos to be "Broski of the Week."  Eventually, I made that goal, appearing in Episode 22.  Anyway, enough about me.

The whole point, at least I think, was for the YouTube show to help get Zack over with the fans.  Clearly it worked.  It just took some time, but then once he made it on to Raw regularly I feel like the WWE crammed Zack Ryder down our collective throats.  It was too much Ryder.

He beat Dolph Ziggler for the U.S. title, which in my opinion should not have happened.  I was a big supporter of Ryder's, but felt like a title run that quickly into his reintroduction to the fans was destined to fail.  And it did.  He dropped the title pretty quickly to Jack Swagger.  Then Zack was booked in an angle that involved Kane and John Cena, which at the time was the biggest program in the company.  His angle with Eve lead him all the way to Wrestlemania and saw him take the fall for his team, costing Teddy Long his job as SmackDown! general manager.

The downward spiral continued with a failed attempt to capture the WWE tag team titles with Santino Marella.  Now he's rarely on Raw.  And to be honest, I couldn't tell you the last time I watched one of his YouTube videos.

Eve says "so long" (WWE.com)

Did the WWE destroy Zack Ryder?  The dude worked his butt off to get over and when he finally did, it seems like the company did what thebju6y could to pick him apart and sour the fans on him.  Am I blaming the WWE for the destruction of Zack Ryder?  Yeah, I am, at least a little bit.  They should have let things simmer with him and gradually move him up the ladder.  Now he's in no man's land and who knows if the fans will be as eager to seem him back.  It may be time for a repackaging to Ryder.  The guy has talent, but the whole "Jersey Shore" scene is kinda lame at this point.

Don't hate on me for this one.  I'd like to know what you think.  Weigh in here or on Facebook.