WWE: Would Zack Ryder Need to Get More Serious to Be a Legitimate Main-Eventer?

Right now it would seem that Zack Ryder is on top of the world. After having a run which nearly led to him being "Future Endeavored" by WWE, he was able to come back and become one of the more popular stars today.

He got over by making a series of YouTube videos which showcased his humor and passion for the business. His fans demanded his presence on WWE TV, and eventually WWE listened.

The Woo Woo Woo Kid has gone from being an afterthought to being WWE United States Champion. He is consistently in the main events of Raw these days, and his exposure has been upped greatly.

Ryder is having fun with his new-found fame, as is evidenced by his sheer joy every time he comes to the ring.

One thing you have to wonder is how far can he go with this happy-go-lucky gimmick. Ryder holds some decent victories, but WWE generally does not elevate someone who fits into the category of "comedy character" to main event status.

Ryder is talented enough to break away from that image, but he needs to do it eventually or risk being booked as the funny guy his whole career.

Being the funny guy is not a bad thing—Santino has taken the role and run with it well—but Ryder seems like the type who yearns to win the WWE title more than anything else in his life.

You have to give credit where credit is due. He is a good wrestler and great entertainer, but somehow he needs to mix in a serious side to the character to be taken seriously as a threat to people's titles later on.

I would like to see Ryder get into a feud with someone like a heel Orton or Miz, someone with intensity who can bring out the violent side of Ryder in a match.

Guys like Cena and The Rock rely heavily on comedy, but they also have thousand-yard stares and looks which can make people know immediately that they mean business. Ryder trying to look mean might just look funny.

Looking to the future, I cannot say if Ryder will be a main-eventer anytime soon, but I do hope he makes it, because it would be a shame for all his hard work to leave him hanging in mid-card hell.

What do you think, does Ryder need to be more serious in his character?