10 Wrestlers That Shouldn't Have Lost Their WrestleMania Debuts
3. Ryback
On the post-WrestleMania 28 edition of SmackDown, Ryback wrestled his first match back following a long layoff due to injury. The former Skip Sheffield debuted an all-new "Feed Me More" gimmick that gradually led him to becoming one of the most organically over babyfaces by the fall.
With CM Punk in the midst of his record-setting reign as WWE champion, the timing just wasn't right to put the belt on Ryback. And then when The Shield arrived shortly thereafter, it seemed as if Ryback couldn't buy a pay-per-view victory to save his life.
Shortcomings at the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber hindered his hot momentum considerably, but if there was any way for Ryback to get his career back on track, it was by beating Mark Henry in his WrestleMania debut.
They built up the bout fairly well, but it was painfully apparent during the match itself that they had zero in-ring chemistry and the result was a mediocre match at best. And to make matters worse, Ryback lost in clean fashion when Henry fell on top of him for the three count.
The Big Guy hit the Shell Shocked on Henry afterward for an impressive visual, but it was all for naught.