10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (Nov 30)

9. Zack Ryder's Acting Skills Stifled His Push

Zack Ryder John Cena Eve Torres
WWE.com

Had several key figures behind the scenes in WWE been higher on Zack Ryder personally, then he might be a multi-time World Champion by now.

The master of getting fans on board by shouting cries of 'Woo Woo Woo' had some momentum in 2011-2012. His YouTube show had been a smash hit, people started to take notice and he had future star written all over him. According to then-writer Kevin Eck on The Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Podcast though, not many backstage were sold.

Instead of being pushed to the moon, Ryder was made to look the fool by a heel-turning Eve Torres and sacrificed so Kane could have some heat going into matches against John Cena. Eck dished the details on exactly why WWE didn't capitalise on fan support: they didn't think his acting skills were good enough.

To Vince McMahon and others, Zack was unconvincing when appearing on screen with Cena and Kane. That, along with the general belief his ring work wasn't the best, caused his push to stall then disappear completely by 2012.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.