After gaining snowball-like momentum late last year with a heavily featured position on Monday Night Raw that was highlighted by a United States Championship reign, Zack Ryder’s standing in WWE disintegrated once he became involved with Kane and Eve on television. From January to April, the self-described “Long Island Iced-Z” was routinely destroyed by the monster wrestler and made to look foolish by the cunning Diva. Though he managed to gain a measure of revenge on both parties on the “Great American Bash” edition of SmackDown on July 3, his career currently remains in limbo. Speaking to XFINITY® from Comcast, Ryder attributes his diminished role to both Kane and Eve.
He explains, “I was on such a roll at the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012 and the whole Kane and Eve thing killed my momentum. Basically killed my career. So, to turn that around and get revenge on them was something I needed. Hopefully it’ll get the Ryder Revolution back on track.”
With that behind him, Ryder says his current goal is to regain the United States Championship.
“I’d love to get that back,” he says. “In 2011 I think I proved to people that I’m not a joke, I can be taken seriously in the ring. And hopefully by the end of this year I’ll have a major championship.”
Ryder also has plans to tweak his character in the next few years since he “can’t be the same old guy forever.”
Ryder adds, “But that doesn’t mean I’ll have to drop all of the parts of my character to get to the top. I think eventually I’ll evolve. If you’ve followed my career I was a Major Brother, then an Edge Head, now I’m Zack Ryder, I’m sure in three years I’ll be completely different.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Ryder discusses WWE embracing social media, the Internet Championship, working with Edge and more. Read more here.
– After AJ decided not to marry Daniel Bryan on Raw, it was revealed she accepted a proposal from Vince McMahon to become the new permanent Raw General Manager. She stated on Twitter Tuesday evening that she has big things planned.
“Big meetings this week at WWE HQ. Things are about to get VERY interesting. #Raw1001 #businesschucks.”
– Two matches were taped Tuesday night in Kansas City, Missouri for this week’s episode of WWE Superstars: Sin Cara vs. Drew McIntyre and WWE Divas Champion Layla vs. Natalya.
In dark match results, Zack Ryder defeated Heath Slater via Rough Ryder while Jey and Jimmy Uso beat Camacho and Hunico. Both Usos hit Hunico with the Superfly Splash for the pinfall victory.
– Former WWE Superstar Headbanger Mosh weighed in on Monday’s landmark Raw episode via Twitter: “Thought #RAW1000 was pretty good (from what I saw) only thing missing was @steveaustinBSR.”
– After WWE’s milestone 1000th episode of Raw went off the air, The Rock and John Cena double-teamed Big Show. Cena hits Show with the Attitude Adjustment, which placed him into position for a People’s Elbow. The Rock, however, didn’t have an elbow pad, so Cena gave him his “Cenation” armband. The Rock spoke on the microphone and said Cena must use headbands as arm bands since no one’s arms are that huge. The Great One then hit The People’s Elbow on Show as Cena left up the ramp. The Rock thanked everyone and posed with a few fans. Show remained in the ring as the house lights come on.
– Former WWE Diva Torrie Wilson turns 37-years-old on Tuesday.
– Sean Mooney, the first person to appear on the premiere episode of Raw in 1993, resurfaced on Monday’s show as he conducted a backstage interview with Daniel Bryan. Zack Ryder reacted to his return on Twitter: “I met Sean Mooney tonight…#SSSIIICCCKKK.”
– James Yun, who appeared as Akio and Jimmy Wang Yang for WWE, weighed in on Monday’s milestone addition of Raw. He tweeted, “I really enjoy the 1000 episode of #raw tonight I find it really cool that i can say I was on that show a few times.”
– The Undertaker, who reunited the Brothers of Destruction on Raw, is today’s featured Superstar on WWE.com.
Tyson Kidd and Justin Gabriel defeated Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks. Good ovation for Kidd and Gabriel, lots of boos for Hawkins and Reks. The crowd is hot, mainly because we’re ready for Raw. Fans are still filing in because the doors are a little slow tonight. Gabriel and Kidd did great and the crowd reacted fairly well to them.
Kidd and Gabriel are getting beat pretty bad, but the crowds warming up a little. Sort of slow at the moment. Good tag work from Hawkins and Reks. Gabriel is struggling to make the tag, but got it. Kidd is coming from behind. Gabriel flew over the top and took out Hawkins. Kidd from the top rope with the finisher to Reks and got the win for his team. The crowd reacted well to the match.
Zack Ryder defeated Michael McGillicutty. Good pop for Ryder. Not much reaction for Michael. Lots of Woos to start the match. Not much action right now. Quiet crowd,yet very pro Ryder. It picked up with more “Let’s go Ryder” chants. Ryder went for the Woo Woo Woo kick and got it, went for pin but only got two. He hit his finisher for the win.
Fans were taking photos with Charles Robinson before Superstars began.
More WWE Superstars matches will be taped at Tuesday night’s WWESmackDown tapings.
During a recent interview with the Trentonian, Dolph Ziggler said he would still like to wrestle Zack Ryder at WrestleMania 29 from the Metlife Stadium in NY/NJ.
Ziggler, who currently holds a Money in the Bank briefcase with an opportunity to wrestle the World Heavyweight champion at any time, says he’d still want to wrestle Ryder even if he’s champion by next year’s big show:
“If I’m World Champion, I’d rather be in the ring with Zack because he worked hard to be there.”
During a recent interview on Chad Dukes’ radio show, Ziggler called Ryder one of the hardest working performers in WWE.
Ziggler also talked about his new feud with with Chris Jericho, which kicked off on last week’s RAW. Ziggler said he’s looked up to Jericho since he’s been a teenager, but stayed in his heel character during the interview and said he got the upper hand on the rocker during their exchange:
“For once, someone was witty enough, quick enough to shut Jericho up.”
– Kelly Kelly who has been missing from the WWE for weeks, appears in a new WWE Youtube video about her obsession with Beanie Babies.
WWE released a video of WWE stars lip-synching the Summerslam theme song to “prepare for this year’s Summerslam.” The music video includes John Cena, WWE champion C.M. Punk, Daniel Bryan, World Heavyweight. champion Sheamus, U.S. champion Santino Marella, Tag champion Kofi Kingston, Zack Ryder, Dolph Ziggler, Divas champion Layla, Rosa Mendes, Alicia Fox, Natalya, Cameron & Naomi, Curt Hawkins & Tyler Reks, and Justin Gabriel & Tyson Kidd.
– Tonight’s WWE SmackDown tapings take place from Valley View Casino in San Diego, California. Friday’s show will feature Rey Mysterio’s return, Christian hosts the Peep Show with guests Daniel Bryan and AJ and World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus will be in action.
The advertised dark match main event is John Cena and Rey Mysterio vs. Big Show and John Laurinaitis. Triple H is also advertised to make an appearance.
– The band Downstait, which has recorded theme songs for WWE superstars Dolph Ziggler, The Miz and Alex Riley, recently recorded a cover of Zack Ryder’s “Radio” song:
– At 5PM EST Sunday (3 hours before Money-In-The-Bank Pay-Per-View went live), CM Punk vs. Daniel Bryan was penned in to close the show. WWE changed things at the very last minute with the RAW Money-In-The-Bank match.
– Zack Ryder tweeted the following last night, teasing a possible WWE departure. New York Wrestling Connection is an independent group that and Curt Hawkins Zack Ryder competed in previously.
– The Big Show’s entrance theme was played for St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Matt Holiday, during the MLB All-Star Game. Holday, has been coming up to bat to the song for most of the season.
– Sara Del Rey, who was recently signed by WWE, is expected to train other WWE divas in addition to her performing in the ring. Del Rey is known for being a world class wrestler that does not fit the typical profile of a barbie-doll WWE Diva. There is also a feeling that Del Rey loves wrestling and won’t join the long string of models who leave the company to pursue outside projects. Del Rey currently has two more independent bookings which will conclude by mid-August, after which she will begin with WWE.
– Former WWE Superstar Carlito tweeted some thoughts about Friday’s SmackDown show, dubbed “Zackdown” and featuring guest GM Zack Ryder. Carlito, who knows a thing or two about what’s cool, says doesn’t get the Zack Ryder character:
Maybe Im getting old? I dont get the whole zack ryder thing, actually it annoys me. I like zack though, hes a good kid.
– The latest episode of Backstage Fallout has been posted, featuring a look at Zack Ryder’s performance as guest GM on Smackdown, Dolph Ziggler, Tyler Reks and more:
– Santino Marella is back with Santino’s Foreign Exchange, with the US Champion asking various WWE Superstars and Divas about how they spent their 4th of July:
The official WWE website reports Zack Ryder, Dolph Ziggler and ring announcer Justin Roberts were involved in a car accident just outside of downtown San Diego, California on Friday afternoon shortly after 5:00 p.m. PT. The three performers were traveling in a limousine, which was rear-ended as they were transported from Comic-Con: International at the San Diego Convention Center.
All three individuals were reportedly evaluated by paramedics shortly after the accident and no serious injuries have been reported at this time.
WWE.com plans to issue more details as they become available.
– Jack Swagger granted his first wish for the Make-A-Wish organization on Monday night when he met Brandi RedCloud-Owen. Swagger had this to say about the experience to WWE.com:
“Being able to be a part of a Make-A-Wish for Brandi was something that really hit home for me. I know it made her day to have lunch with a WWE Superstar. At the same time, it made my day to be a part of something magical and realize that just the littlest things can make the biggest difference in people’s lives.”
– Zack Ryder is back with Episode 75 of the Z! True Long Island Story. This installment takes place from Comic Con in San Diego, California:
– Zack Ryder will be filming this week’s episode of “Z! True Long Island Story” from the San Diego Comic Con. Ryder will appearing at the event with other WWE Superstars and the Mattel toy designers.
– WWE Superstar Ezekiel Jackson wrote on Twitter that he is working on being featured more on WWE TV.
– Former WWE Diva Jillian Hall says that Heath Slater is ripping off her singing gimmick. She tweeted this week:
Does it make me a bad person to be annoyed by Heath slater's rip off?? Lol.. And I say that in the nicest possible way :)
– Batista’s recent announcements that he’s appearing in the “Man With the Iron Fist” Tarantino movie and directing a rap music video are not the “major announcement” he and his agent have been hyping on Twitter for months.
Batista says that announcement is still forthcoming and that fans are going to flip out when they find out what the news is:
– Former WWE Superstar Batista announced over the weekend on Twitter that he’s making his music video directorial debut this week: “I’m fucking stoked to announce I’m making my music video directorial debut with @ActionBronson and @Alchemist in #LA next week!”
The song Batista is directing is called “Decisions Over Veal Orloff,” which will appear on the Alchemist’s upcoming album Russian Roulette that is set to drop on July 17th.
A preview of the song Batista will be directing the music video for can be heard at DefSounds.com.
Rapper Action Bronson even references Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart in the first few seconds of the song.
– Last Friday’s replay airing of SuperSmackDown LIVE: The Great American Bash on Syfy garnered a 1.45 cable rating following a 1.70 for the live Tuesday broadcast.
The replay averaged 2,130,000 viewers while the live show drew 2,540,000.
– The first two titles of WWE’s Superstar Collection DVD series, featuring John Cena and Zack Ryder, are out beginning today.
– Zack Ryder tweeted the following after winning theGreat American Bash Battle Royal on SmackDown to become the General Manager of next week’s SmackDown:
I just won the battle royal on SmackDown! I’m gonna be the General Manager next week! I’m serious bro! #WWWYKI
WWE.com also has a video up of Zack Ryder talking about his Battle Royal win.
– After Tuesday’s Super SmackDown from Corpus Christi, Texas went off the air, John Cena came back out to congratulate Zack Ryder on winning the Great American Bash Battle Royal. Cena and Ryder celebrated to end the show.
– On SuperSmackDown LIVE: The Great American Bash, a fight between Damien Sandow and Zack Ryder left Eve—wearing a white dress—completely covered in punch. Backstage Fallout caught up with Eve to get her reaction to the party mishap. Tyler Reks also reacts to whether he feels guilty for Ryback’s massacre of Curt Hawkins. Also offering comments on SmackDown events are Cody Rhodes, Dolph Ziggler, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan and Sgt. Slaughter.
– Lilian Garcia will sing the National Anthem on Sept. 30 prior to the NFL game between the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
– Former WWE announcer Todd Grisham is in Las Vegas, Nevada covering UFC 148</em. and will be interviewing company president Dana White for MMA Live on ESPN.
– Following his appearance on Raw SuperShow, Diamond Dallas Page has been added to the Alumni section on WWE.com.
– At Tuesday’s live SmackDown, Dolph Ziggler and Cody Rhodes won qualifying matches to compete in the SmackDown brand’s upcoming Money in the Bank match. The participants now include Christian, Damien Sandow, Tyson Kidd, Tensai, Santino, Ziggler and Rhodes.
– Zack Ryder won a 20-man battle royal on Smackdown to become the interim General Manager of next week’s Smackdown.
– Monday’s WWE Monday Night Raw drw a 3.2 cable rating and averaged 4.7 million viewers. This is virtually even with last week.
– Episode 73 of Zack Ryder’s YouTube show Z! True Long Island Story was posted online Friday.
– Rhyno is the latest addition to WWE.com’s Alumni section (view here): “The last-ever champion of the original incarnation of ECW, Rhyno was one of the most physically intense Superstars of all time, and now he has crashed onto WWE.com’s alumni section. Check out The Man Beast’s profile with classic photos, videos and more!”
– Zack Ryder is today’s featured Superstar on WWE.com.
– Al Snow, Diamond Dallas Page and Nick “Eugene” Dinsmore appear today through Sunday at Fright Night Horror Weekend (located at Galt House Hotel & Convention Center 140 North Fourth St. Louisville, Kentucky). (Event Information)
– Eve Torres, who served as John Laurinaitis’ Executive Administrator while he was in control of Raw and SmackDown, will address her WWE future Tuesday on Twitter.
When asked Monday night where she’s been, she responded, “You’ll get an answer… tomorrow!” Zack Ryder wrote a message hoping that like Laurinaitis, she too is terminated. She responded to Ryder, “You wish.”
– Tensai was backstage at Monday’s Raw SuperShow at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York but not used on either the broadcast, WWE Superstars or in a dark match. It is the first Monday show since his return to WWE in April in which he did not appear at all. The character is reportedly being repackaged.
– Zack Ryder’s father sat ringside at Monday’s Raw.
– Zack Ryder posted a brief video of himself expressing his dissatisfaction with being left off Monday’s Raw SuperShow in his hometown of Long Island, New York.
– On Monday, WWE’s stock price set a new 52-week low and reached its lowest mark since April 2003. The stock closed at $7.59 per share after setting a 52-week low of $7.44 per share. A 52-week low was previously set Friday with $7.48 per share.
– WWEShop.com will release a new Christian T-Shirt in the near future. Click here for a preview.
– WWE Tag Team Champion R-Truth either severely sprained or broke his foot last week, reports PWInsider.com. He did not go on the Raw brand’s tour of Spain-Kofi Kingston partnered with Zack Ryder and Brodus Clay at events.
– Former WWE Women’s Champion Sable, who is 44-years-old, will soon become a grandmother. Her 21-year-old daughter Mariah is pregnant with her first child and expected to give birth in September, reports RenaLesnar.net.
– The June 8 episode of WWE Vintage Collection featured the following matches: Blitzkrieg vs. Super Calo (WCW Saturday Night – March 20, 1999), Matt Hardy vs. Billy Kidman (WWE No Way Out 2003), The Rockers vs. The Orient Express (WWF live event – June 17, 1990), Jeff Hardy vs. X-Pac (WWF King of the Ring 2001), Dean Malenko vs. Shinjiro Otani (WCW Worldwide – May 18, 1996). (Thanks to Devin Cutting)
– Former WWE star Rob Conway competed in a NPC Bodybuilding contest on Saturday. He tweeted, “I won the Npc Indianapolis Mens Physique Championship Tall class and Over all. Thanks to everyone for there support!”
– The seventieth episode of Z! True Long Island Story features Zack Ryder overseas for the Raw brand’s tour of Spain. Plus, Scott Stanford consoles Ryder for losing on WWE Superstars and not appearing on Raw SuperShow.
– This week’s SmackDown marks the first time Lilian Garcia has traveled back to her hometown of Columbia, South Carolina since her return to the ring late last year.
“I was really excited when I found out we were coming here,” Garcia remarked to WWE.com. “We have come closer a few times, but to finally get to do this show here feels really good.”
“My parents are in attendance, as well as friends,” she added. “I’m even going to get to sing the National Anthem right before we go on the air, which is really special for me. It truly is a great honor.”
– As you can imagine, there was panic in WWE this week over RAW’s 2.7 rating. Even though Monday was Memorial Day, WWE’s flagship show is entering dangerous territory with that low number, especially with RAW about to go 3 hours next month.
– Personal trainer Joe DeFranco has published part 2 of his article describing Triple H’s personalized workouts.
– The official theme song for WWE’s No Way Out pay-per-view is “Unstoppable” by the band Charm City Devils.
– Former WWF announcer Sean Mooney is now the co-anchor for NBC Tucson, Arizona affiliate KVOA. Mooney lives in Arizona also runs a production company in the area.
– Mr. Long Island Iced Z is back with another installment of the Z! True Long Island Story:
– WWE announced on Friday’s SmackDown that Sin Cara will be making his long awaited return to television on next week’s broadcast.
– The Miz replaced Chris Jericho in the main event of Friday night’s RAW live event from Guayaquil, Ecuador, losing to WWE Champion CM Punk. John Laurinaitis and David Otunga opened the show with an announcement that Miz was replacing Jericho due to Jericho’s suspension.
– Eve Torres, Damien Sandow and others are featured in the latest episode of WWE’s Backstage Fallout from SmackDown:
– Mr. Long Island Iced Z is back with the latest installment of hte Z! True Long Island Story: