6. Zack Ryder Gets His 15 Minutes, Management Be Damned
Although Zack Ryder is the proud owner of one of the WWE's most punchable faces, he's a captivating personality with an uncanny knack for getting over with the fans, despite his lack of a push behind the scenes. Something about his Long Island guido schtick made him a fan favorite, and led hm to become one of the biggest underdogs in recent history. In 2011, Ryder was so dissatisfied with his place in the company that he decided to go off the map, launching his own YouTube series to promote his character, since WWE obviously wasn't interested in doing so. And because Justin Bieber had already proven that YouTube sensations don't have to be talented to be successful, Ryder was graced with an almost immediate fan following. Chants of "We want Ryder" began echoing across arenas, even if Ryder wasn't scheduled on the card or even in the building. Crowds would interrupt other superstars' promos (even The Great One's) to get the chant going, eventually giving the WWE brass no choice but to start utilizing his character more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JHVQ_o6C-U For a few brief months Zack Ryder was all over the WWE, but became primarily entrenched in a feud with United States Champion Dolph Ziggler. And woo woo woo wouldn't you know it, at the end of that feud, Ryder walked away with the belt around his waist. Granted, Ryder has since dropped off the face of the earth, but at least this reality star clone finally got his 15 minutes of fame.