WWE: Why the Time Has Come for Ryback to Move Up

Since debuting in April, Ryback has taken WWE by storm and has been one of the company's most talked about superstars. He has a lot of potential, but the creative must find something substantial for him to do now before he loses all of his momentum.

Ryback has actually managed to get over in spite of the fact that there has been no creativity when it comes to booking him. He has constantly squashed local jobbers, as well as WWE jobbers such as JTG, Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks. Somehow, though, he has managed to hold fans' interest.

On Monday's edition of RAW it became abundantly clear that Ryback is starting to get over with the WWE Universe. The "Goldberg" chants that were once deafening have become much fainter, while chants of "Feed me more" rang throughout the American Airlines Center in Dallas after Ryback's victory over JTG.

As has become the case with a guy like Brodus Clay, though, it is only a matter of time before the fans get bored. Ryback is a physical specimen and the fans do enjoy seeing him decimate his opponents, but he doesn't have the in-ring ability or the mic skills to remain over on his own volition.

If he is put in a meaningful feud higher on the card, however, things could change.

One of the biggest problems, thus far, is that none of Ryback's opponents have looked like they could feasibly beat him in a match. That is why I believe his initial big program should be with Tensai. While Tensai isn't a guy who has been booked well either, he is still a menacing presence and Ryback could gain a lot by beating him, especially if he hits the big man with his Shell Shocked finisher.

That won't be enough to truly establish Ryback, though, because Tensai has lost a lot of his steam since debuting. It would be a good start and lead into a feud with Mark Henry, however. The World's Strongest Man has been out of action for a few months, but he was shown touting from the Olympics on RAW and may be in line to return soon.

If and when he does, Henry would be the perfect guy to help Ryback officially get over. Ryback is a vicious, brutal competitor as he has steamrolled through his competition, so he needs to take on someone equally as vicious and brutal.

Henry fits the bill, especially after his reign of terror last summer when he took out the likes of Big Show, Kane, Sheamus, Randy Orton and others.

Pitting Ryback against Henry would be like putting the unstoppable force against the immovable object. The best part about it is that it's a feud that could be sustained over the course of a couple months rather than being a one-match deal.

The best way to go about it would be to have Henry return and attack Ryback, leading to a series of matches between the two of them.

From a storyline perspective, I would have Henry get the better of him leading up to the matches, but have Ryback beat him twice on pay-per-view before the feud comes to an end. That would give Ryback a couple quality wins and a triumph in his first true feud.

In fact, in order to ensure that Ryback maintains his high standing, I would pull a double turn during the final match between Ryback and Henry, where Ryback mercilessly beats down The World's Strongest Man after the match.

Ryback is certainly interesting as a face, but I believe that his long-term viability lies in being a monster heel who can challenge WWE's top faces.

Ryback could go on to have intriguing feuds with the likes of John Cena, Sheamus, Randy Orton and others, and if he manages to come along far enough in the ring and on the mic, then perhaps he does have a future as a world champion. 

I'm not suggesting that Ryback ever will, or should, be one of the faces of the company, but guys like Sycho Sid and Yokozuna have held the strap in the past, so there is definitely room and occasion for a wrestler of his ilk to be the champ.

If that is ever going to happen, though, then the creative team needs to move quickly and put Ryback on the track toward success.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter and listen to him on Ring Rust Radio.