10 Greatest WWE Underdogs Of The 21st Century

Ever since the birth of Stone Cold Steve Austin and the outing of announcer Vince McMahon as WWE’s evil proprietor, wrestling has been awash with anti-corporate and anti-authority storylines. It’s somewhat ironic, considering WWE’s status as a publicly traded and outwardly ‘friendly’ corporation, but it has served as the company’s go-to way of generating heat and sympathy since Austin vs. McMahon became a worldwide sensation.

These angles need two potent ingredients: a dastardly, suit-wearing heel with a penchant for stepping on the little guy, and a brash, relatable underdog who makes it their life’s work to stand up for what’s right, no matter the cost.

Of course, there are many variations on this theme. Not all of such stories involve suits or traditional authority figures; some are basic morality tales of good vs. evil, where good might be embodied by the good-natured everyman, while evil comes in the form of a monster heel or demonic faction.

Whatever the trappings, these rivalries always need a heroic central underdog in order to work. They give us a reason to believe in doing the right thing, and without them, the 21st century might be looking a great deal bleaker right about now.

Zack Ryder was such an underdog, he had to take to an entirely different medium to get himself over.

Not an anti-authority babyface in the traditional sense, Ryder’s rebellion came in the form of a systematic shakeup. Although WWE now loves to brag about its hefty YouTube subscriber count or the amount of Twitter followers it has, there was a time when the company was depressingly behind the curve when it came to new media.

But that all changed, thanks in no small part, to Zack Ryder. Unhappy with his jobber status, and well aware that the less TV time he got, the fewer chances he had to get himself over, Ryder started his own web series: Z! The True Long Island Story. His popularity skyrocketed as a result, and Zack eventually awarded himself a non-sanctioned and rather tacky Internet Championship belt.

But the stunt worked, at least for a while. Fans chanted “we want Ryder”, and before long, their wishes were granted. His United States Championship and later Intercontinental Championship runs might have been weak and short-lived, but Ryder serves as proof that even the smallest underdog (a former Edgehead and Major Brother no less) can upturn the system and achieve success through their own means.