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.

Have You Seen This Bro?

Photo from True Long Island Story on YouTube

By Chad Smart
@ChadSmart on Twitter

Now that CM Punk is gone, it’s time to turn attention back to another favorite of the my123cents crew, Zack Ryder. In case you’ve been watching Raw this year, you have probably only seen Zack twice. Once in a match where he didn’t get an on air introduction and then a few weeks ago when he came out after New Nexus defended the tag titles. Zack came out, said, “woo woo woo” and left. It looked the start of a storyline where Zack would find a partner and challenge for the tag straps. That was a month ago and there hasn’t been any mention of it ever happening so it looks like Zack should go hang out with the driver of the white hummer and DDP’s benefactor in the land of unfinished angles.

Kevin & Zack at Wrestlemania 26

While Zack hasn’t been on TV, he has built up a following with his weekly YouTube show True Long Island Story. Kevin and I have written about the show before, and Kevin was the episode 22 Broski of the Week. Based on the success of the show wwe.com (allegedly*) sold out of the Zack Ryder shirt. WWE is releasing a new Zack t-shirt featuring a caricature of Zack’s head that slightly resembles a troll doll on the front and Zack’s catchphrase on the back. Obviously WWE sees the potential to make money off of Zack Ryder, so the question is why doesn’t he get any TV time?

For the better part of the last 15 years those working inside the wrestling industry have said the Internet wrestling fans should not be listened to because they make up a small percentage of the overall fan base. This may have been true in the early days of the Internet, but now with the saturation of homes with Internet access and even with the number of smartphones in the market, I think it’s safe to say at least 75% of wrestling fans most likely have some kind of online interaction involving wrestling on a weekly if not daily basis. Doesn’t WWE make a big deal about how many fans they have on Facebook and how many hits the WWE website gets compared to other companies? So wouldn’t it make some sense to take the opinions of the Internet Wrestling Community into consideration every so often?

The Ultimate Broksi (from True Long Island Story) 

If Zack Ryder is averaging 100,000 views per episode of True Long Island Story, and his T-shirt is selling out even though it’s not available at arenas, isn’t the potential there for his popularity to explode if he was presented to the mainstream audience? So then why hasn’t WWE management gotten him onto TV? The old excuse, “creative has nothing for you” can’t really be used because Zack has a built in gimmick and could easily be inserted anywhere on the show. He could be paired up with Curt Hawkins again to challenge for the tag titles. How many people even remember he and Hawkins are former champions? He could be thrown into the mix with Dolph Ziggler, Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne to make the U.S. Title scene more interesting. Or, based on the history of TLIS, have John Cena take him under his wing as a new protégé. This would keep Cena out of the title hunt and give Zack the rub needed to help him overcome mid-card hell. Seeing how WWE is in need of new main event talent, it surprises me how they still seemingly refuse to try and create new stars.

Could Zack Ryder be the next big thing? Maybe, maybe not. How many people would have predicted Rocky Miavia or The Ringmaster would have become the biggest stars of the past twenty years? You never know how things will work out until you try. I think it’s time WWE tries with Zack Ryder. If it fails so what? There are another 50 guys on the roster who are waiting for their chance. Maybe one of them will be the guy to lead the next wrestling revolution. 

*I’m taking Zack’s word for it. I never tried to order one.

Lots of daily questions and ponderings on the my123cents Facebook page. Thinking of doing a Twitter meet up. And there’s always someone new on the YouTube channel. So much to see, so little time. 

Are You Serious, Bro?!?

Before I became a broski

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger on Twitter

For nearly 3 months I have been trying to get the attention of WWE Internet Wrestling Champion Zack Ryder.  Several months ago, Zack created a YouTube Channel called Z! True Long Island Story.

It's something I'd never seen an active WWE Superstar do before.  The channel is Zack's effort to get himself over.  And it's working.  His videos have more than 3 million views to date.  Each week, Zack invites his fans to audition for "Broski of the Week."  Honestly, I'm not 100% sure what a Broski is, I just know I wanted to be one.  And after four different attempts Zack picked me to be Broski of the Week in Episode 22.

I'm totally stoked about it.  He picked my favorite of the four submissions I entered.  I wonder how many people try out for this.  Last week, I had actually given up hope and decided not to submit anything new.  I had been resending the links to all of the videos each week.  So I don't know if Zack actually liked my video or if he was just tired of getting my tweets.  Either way, I'm a happy camper.

Thanks to all of you who have commented so far.  Don't forget to subscribe to My 1-2-3 Cents on YouTube.  Woo-woo-woo!  You know it, bro!

Where's Waldo... I Mean Zack Ryder?

MIA: Zack Ryder

By Chad Smart

Monday Night Raw was live from Long Island this past Monday.  There was a lot of hope and speculation Long Island native and Internet sensation, Zack Ryder would see the fruits of his labor for his YouTube show rewarded with a match on the show. After the three-hour show was over, fans were left asking, where was Zack? This apparent snub led to several WWE wrestlers, and fans, taking to Twitter to voice their disappointment in WWE creative not giving Zack something to do on the show.  


Kevin asked yesterday on the My123Cents Facebook page if WWE should have used Zack Ryder on Raw. Several people offered up their opinion saying Zack should have been on the show. I, however don’t think Zack’s non-appearance is really that big of a deal. Hopefully after I lay out my case, you will either agree or understand I am not just going against the grain to be THAT guy.

Photo from WWE

First off lets take a look at Zack Ryder.  Here’s a guy who’s been under contract with WWE for five years. He is a former tag team champion along with Curt Hawkins back when the two were Edgeheads. After that angle played out at Wrestlemania 24, Curt and Zack were separated and neither done anything of note inside a WWE ring. Both have seen more time on Superstars then on Raw or Smackdown. Three months ago if Zack Ryder would have had a match on Raw the majority of fans would have most likely looked at each other and asked, “who’s the new guy?"

  

Zack, not content to accept his position on the roster and wait for his moment to come decided to try and make the moment happen. He started a YouTube show called The True Long Island Story. It was a bold move not only because there was no guarantee people would want to see a weekly Internet show with some nobody (I don’t say that in disrespect. Simply pointing out Zack’s lack of name value at the time.) but also because in the videos, Zack took shots at WWE for not using him in a meaningful way.  Word quickly spread about the videos and Zack became a hit racking up an average of 75,000 views per episode per week.

From YouTube

As the videos became popular, WWE superstars started promoting Zack on their Twitter feeds and in interviews. Top level guys like John Cena, The Miz, and Dolph Ziggler were telling fans and WWE management (I’m guessing not many interviews are done that management isn’t aware of) Zack Ryder needed to become a more integral part of Raw. Unfortunately, the leap from Superstars to Raw has yet to happen on a full time basis.

Now that we’ve covered the backstory of how Zack Ryder started a grassroots campaign to make himself a star, let me tell you why him not being on this week’s Raw isn’t the end of the world.

The theme for this week’s Raw was All-Stars. With the exception of a few divas, everyone on the show is either currently or has been within the last six months placed in a high profile storyline. Zack Ryder, at this time, does not fit into the All-Stars theme.  The show was also the last show before Sunday’s, Capital Combat pay per view. The focus of Raw was to get fans interested in the pay per view so when Sunday rolls around the fans will spend their $44.95 on a show that will not feature Zack Ryder. Sure, WWE could have put Ryder into either meaningless backstage skit, or into a match with someone who will be on the pay per view. However that would have most likely guaranteed Zack would have ended up fist pumping with his back on the mat looking up at the lights. While wins and losses are secondary to the push a wrestler receives, throwing Zack out there for something meaningless could derail his road to stardom before he leaves the gate.

From WWE

Assuming WWE wants to make Zack into a star, and that’s a pretty big assumption at this point, they need to start building him up before putting him into the ring.  WWE did a good job promoting Sin Cara and Kharma before their debuts. That type of build up has been missing from wrestling in the past few years. Now would be the time to do it with Zack. Incorporate bits from his YouTube show talking about how WWE is missing the boat, dropping the ball and getting cold feet about putting him on TV. Have Zack do promos where he says he’s going to seize the brass ring and he can’t be held back.  His time has come and no matter what his dad thinks, Zack Ryder will be the next big thing. The fans who are already Zack Ryder broskis will eat it up and have their fists in the air waiting for their guy to make an impact. The more casual fans will start to think Zack is someone worth caring about and not “just that guy who teamed with Primo.” 

While I think Zack Ryder should be on Raw because it would add some freshness to the show, I don’t see his exclusion from the Long Island episode as a major issue. What I would be more interested in knowing is if Zack or his supporters are going to creative members pitching ideas to get Zack on the show. Then is creative not capable of finding a spot for Zack, or are they then going to Vince McMahon with ideas for Zack and Vince is saying, no.  WWE universe has to accept Zack Ryder as a true Superstar. Woo woo woo, you know it.

WWWYKI, Bro!

Zack Ryder coming to the ring at Wrestlemania 27

By Kevin Hunsperger

Zack Ryder is perhaps the most underrated talent in the WWE right now.  That's a bold statement I know.  But if you've never seen his YouTube Channel, LongIslandIcedZ, I would highly recommend it.  Chad recently blogged about the channel and videos Zack has posted, so I'm not going to focus on that.

I'm such a fan of Zack's that I even made a video and entered in to his "Broski of the Week" contest.  I came up short, but I do think it's pretty good if I do say so myself.  Check it out by clicking right here.

Zack is clearly gathering quite a following on YouTube.  The 10 videos he's posted so far have been viewed more than 818,000 times.  That's pretty awesome.  I'm not sure why he hasn't gotten over with the decision makers in the WWE.  Why are we subjected to the verbal and now physical assaults by Michael Cole?  And how are these segments the highest rated ones on the show?

Anyway, back to Zack.  Sure I followed him when he and Curt Hawkins were "Edge Heads" and helping the world champ.  It was a semi entertaining gimmick.  Heck, it even lead to a tag team title opportunity for the duo.  Since then, he's kinda floundered.  Been lost in the shuffle.  Made to job to everyone.  Now just a fixture on the online version of WWE Superstars.  The dude deserves better.

Yes, I know I'm a dork...

WWE is in a phase where they need to start pushing the younger talent.  We've preached this for years now though.  It's getting somewhat better, but there are still a lot of spots to fill as far as I'm concerned.  It looks like both the Undertaker and Triple H will only be on sporadically.  Edge has retired.  Chris Jericho and Batista both left last year.  Rey Mysterio is rumored to be in the twilight of his career.

But right now when you consider the company's top superstars, who do you think?  For me, it's John Cena and Randy Orton.  I think the Miz is slowly gaining ground.  But the WWE needs to better utilize it's mid card and lower card talent.  Push Cody Rhodes up the ladder and John Morrison and Shemaus.  That would make room for someone like Zack Ryder to climb into that midcard range and have a run as U.S. or Intercontinental champion.

OR...

Pair Zack up with someone.  I've complained since creating this blog in September that the tag team division in the WWE is on its last legs.  Why not reunite he and Curt Hawkins?  Or put Zack and Primo on TV.  Chad even suggested (maybe he was joking, it was in type which is hard to interrupt) putting him with Heath Slater as the "Buddy Bands."  If you don't get that joke, check this out.  You see on Saved by the Bell, there was an episode about Buddy Bands and two of the main characters on the show are AC Slater and Zack Morris.  So it's a play on that.  Pretty funny.

But seriously, Zack Ryder has the mic skills.  He has the in ring ability, so why isn't he getting any kind of recognition? I tried asking the same question yesterday on the WWE's Cover it Live chat during the Supplemental Draft.  My questions were never posted and never answered.  Please forward this to the WWE and maybe we'll get some answers.

Like us on Facebook.  Follow us on Twitter (@my123cents).  And subscribe to My 1-2-3 Cents on YouTube.  Until next time, take care, and spike your hair.  Woo woo woo.  You know, bro.