10 WWE Title Moments You DEFINITELY Can’t Remember
5. Zack Ryder’s “Big Opportunity”
It's 'Long Island Iced-Z' Jack Swagger. Sorry, wee inside joke at the returning Lilian Garcia's expense for those who get the gag. You'd need to be a Zack Ryder super fan to remember this match. Hell, Matt Cardona himself would probs look puzzled if someone brought it up to him backstage at an indy show. 'I wrestled who when?!'.
On the 23 August 2012 Raw, then-WWE Champ Sheamus handpicked Ryder as someone deserving of a "big opportunity" to wrestle him for the richest prize. This was all part of a storyline that saw Sheamus try to get out of defending the belt at Night Of Champions against one of the roster's best. The anonymous Raw GM was having none of it.
They weren't thrilled by Sheamus running over Zack with a Brogue Kick and winning a 10 second squash. Admittedly, it's pretty strange to look back on this knowing Ryder would become a cult hero the very next year. Fans in 2010 barely reacted to his entrance at all, and the commentary team laughed off suggestions he could ever win a singles title in WWE.
In your face, Michael Cole. Just kidding.