10 Wrestlers Who Were Punished For Obeying Orders
3. Zack Ryder - Getting His Brand Over Results In Being The Butt Of The Joke
With WWE now seemingly mostly interested in pushing their stars as independent brands, equipped with "their own story" as Stephanie McMahon put it when comparing their talents to MCU superheroes, it's amazing to think that a wrestler once found themselves with their wings being clipped for simply doing that very same thing.
Long before social media was being utilised by the company in the way it is today, Zack Ryder began picking up steam on the back of his Z! True Long Island Story online series becoming an unprecedented YouTube hit. Selling out his shirts despite not being used on TV, it wasn't long before WWE had no choice but to give the people what they wanted... well, for a bit.
After finally being given a bit more airtime opposite the likes of John Cena, much to the joy of his diehard followers, and even winning the US Championship, WWE ultimately pulled the rug on the star. Embarrassing angles which saw him being launched off the stage in a wheelchair and kicked in the balls by Eve Torres were Ryder's just desserts for grabbing those imaginary brass rings that talents are routinely ordered to reach for.