WWE: The Possibility of Ryback Becoming World Heavyweight Champion

Assuming you have read the headline, and didn’t just click on the column because you’re a huge Ryback fan, then you likely have already formed an opinion without reading a word.

And, it may just be a negative one.

It’s understandable.  After all, Ryback has not exactly been the toast of WWE fans around the world since his reintroduction.  The fact is, the guy has been criticized from top to bottom, and it seems to happen on an almost daily basis.

The most infamous criticism thus far?  Well, you know.

Every time Ryback is in the ring, it happens.  Like Tibetan monks, fans begin to chant.  It’s instant.  It’s unrelenting.  And, despite how much you try to ignore it, you just can’t.

“Gold-berg.  Gold-berg.”

That’s right, the man who went 173-0 in WCW, won the World Championship by defeating Hollywood Hogan in front of 41,000-plus fans, and was a force of nature the likes of which the industry has not seen since.

That guy is being compared to Ryback, formerly known as Skip Sheffield, a worker whose only taste of fame was a spot in the Nexus, a stable of young stars that died before its time.

Makes perfect sense.

There is a reason why the comparisons are being made.  Obviously it has to do with the fact that, like Goldberg, Ryback is a very intense big man who relies on power moves, a simple catchphrase, and endless squash matches to get over.

But, that’s really where it ends.  For me, it’s not as much about who Ryback may or may not be similar to at this point, it’s more about where he is, and where he’s going.

And, where is that exactly?

So far, we have seen nothing from Ryback except the usual routine.  He comes out, makes a loud boom, bobs his head to the music, hits some big-time power moves, screams “finish it,” and gets the pin.  There is nothing more substantial, nothing to really cause fans to care about him and what he’s going to do next.  

Right now, Ryback is all sizzle and no steak.

Therein lies the problem, as the guy has yet to face anyone who can really do anything for him.  Fans have no reason to follow him when all he’s doing is winning matches against workers who are lower card and, in many cases, underneath guys whose only catchphrase is “pin me, pay me.”

There are two possible sides to this issue with Ryback, two different ways of looking at him, and his development in WWE.

One is the fact that he is still an unproven commodity, a worker who, since he has not really accomplished anything, is still being “tested” in front of the live crowds.  WWE is playing it safe with him, not giving him too much to do too soon, choosing instead to bring him along gradually.

It’s a reasonable explanation, mostly due to the overwhelming number of times that we have seen this company take a young talent and push him to the moon within a few months of his debut.  As fans, we have lost a lot of sleep over just this tactic, as most of the time, the talent in question burns out before he has a chance to really connect with fans, and get over in his character.

Think Jack Swagger.

The other side of it for Ryback is the possibility that WWE, while indeed bringing him along at a slower pace, is just waiting for the right moment to take off the restraints, and throw him to the fire.  Putting him neck deep in a much bigger storyline than any he has seen thus far, it would be sink or swim for Ryback.

If that is the case, then could he keep his head above water?

No matter which path WWE takes with him, the likelihood of a major championship run is always on the table.  Love him or hate him, it’s a possibility that cannot be ignored by fans.  Vince McMahon has been responsible for much crazier decisions in his time, and putting the World title on Ryback is an idea that may just become a reality one day.

However, and this goes back to the pace at which Ryback is coming along, the chances of a title run happening anytime soon seem extremely remote.  Right now, Sheamus is the man on Friday Night SmackDown, and his title reign does not appear to be in jeopardy at the moment.

Add to that the fact that Dolph Ziggler is Mr. Money in the Bank, and will very likely cash in and win, and things become a little hazier.  

And let’s not forget about the Viper, Randy Orton, who will surely not remain without a championship for very long, as he is a proven asset, and a bankable Superstar in WWE.

As if the obstacles could not get piled any higher, there’s also the imminent return of Wade Barrett, who has appeared in a couple of vignettes in the past two weeks.  

Before his injury, Barrett was thought to definitely be on his way up the ladder, a guy who seemed more than capable of perhaps stepping in and becoming a viable World Champion.

If it’s going to come together for Ryback on that level, then it does appear that he will have a while to wait.  Anything can happen in WWE, that much is true.  But, for a guy who is still trying to fully connect with fans, then this time will be good for him, his growing pains could very well make him a better worker, and a more valuable talent, in the long run.

Ryback has not achieved a third of what Goldberg did in his career, but the truth is, it’s not over yet.

As long as he’s there, and he stays healthy, WWE seems committed to using him, and there is plenty of time for him to make a substantial impact in a company that is all about seizing the opportunity.

And, maybe one day, they will actually start to chant his name.  Only time will tell