This should be the easiest one of all to do, because the storyline and gimmick writes itself. Zack Ryder can be the ultimate pi**ed off everyman. He could even serve as the voice for what every snubbed fan of WWE has ever thought. Ryder debuted in tag team action way back in 2007, long before adopting his Long Island Loudmouth persona in 2009 as part of the new ECW brand. He won sparingly enough, but was gradually used less and less on TV, until he wound up on Superstars, and not long after, his couch at home. Here's the interesting part.... Frustrated by his lack of use, Zack started his own web series on Youtube, and his popularity grew and grew, to the point where "WE WANT RYDER!" chants were being heard at 2011 PPVs despite him not even being on the card. WWE was essentially forced to put him back on TV. This sounds like the good end to the story, the plucky Ryder scratched and clawed his way back onto WWE programming against all odds and lived happily ever after. Not so. In reality, the ending was "blah blah blah onto WWE programming against all odds, was made into John Cena's favourite charity case/whipping boy, and was promptly smacked down to lower card status again" Now whenever you see Ryder on television, it's only to put someone else over. WWE has made him into worse than a jobber, he's a punchline. In that spirit, Ryder can come out and give the shoot of his life. He can attack Vince's recent claim that today's talent lack ambition, he can say that he built himself back up without WWE behind him using only his own imagination and the fans, and the only thing they did was kick him back down. Ryder can abandon the Long Island Loudmouth gimmick for good and make himself the superstar he should have been. If that gimmick sounds familiar, it should, because it's been used before by mistreated talent... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKRe9PAGfCw
Stephen Maher has been a rock star, a bouncer, a banker and a busker on various streets in various countries. He's hung out with Robert Plant, he was at Nelson Mandela's birthday and he's swapped stories with prostitutes and crack addicts. He once performed at a Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras by accident. These days, he passes the time by writing about music, wrestling, games and other forms of nerdery. And he rarely drinks the blood of the innocent.