10 Exact Moments Great Wrestlers Jumped The Shark
9. Zack Ryder's Push Gets Thrown Off The Stage
Zack Ryder got himself over in a major way back in 2011, and he did so without the company's help.
Tired of WWE's lack of support, his Z! True Long Island Story YouTube series became a huge viral hit, and "we want Ryder" chants soon took over WWE shows. Eventually, Zack's fans were too loud for the company to ignore, and while Ryder drifted on and off television for the rest of the year, he peaked with a United States Title win at TLC in December.
It didn't last. Tangling with John Cena was the end of Zack as a pushed commodity, and while Ryder's downturn started when he lost the US Title to Jack Swagger, the 13 February 2012, episode of Raw provided the real turning point.
A wheelchair-bound Zack was forced to witness his girlfriend, Eve Torres, kiss Cena that night, before Kane wheeled him right off the stage. Ryder and his push hit the concrete with a thud. His brief spell in the spotlight ended with that miserable scene, and while Ryder remained on television for a few more weeks, it was impossible to take him seriously after such an emasculating night.