Fans rubbed their eyes when Welshman Ryan debuted on Raw in January 2011, saving CM Punk from the clutches of John Cena. Many wondered aloud if the excessively-muscled brute was a returning Batista, or even a genetically-engineered clone with all of the tattoos removed. Ryan figured into Punk's new Nexus stable, receiving 'Batista' chants from time to time, and some jokingly labeled him 'Batis-two'. Later in 2011, Ryan turned face, briefly feuding with US Champion Dolph Ziggler. A few times on Raw, Ryan frighteningly dropped Ziggler out of press slams, with Ziggler landing awkwardly. At Survivor Series, Ryan was booed out of Madison Square Garden during the traditional five-on-five match, and heel Cody Rhodes got a star's reaction for eliminating him. After that, Ryan only appeared once in a blue moon on TV before his spring 2014 release.
Justin has been a wrestling fan since 1989, and has been writing about it since 2009. Since 2014, Justin has been a features writer and interviewer for Fighting Spirit Magazine. Justin also writes for History of Wrestling, and is a contributing author to James Dixon's Titan series.
