Ryback's Curious Return from Main Event to Midcard Status

Ryback rose quite quickly to main event status. He filled in for an injured John Cena to take on CM Punk at Hell In A Cell. Since then, he’s been in high-marquee matchups. Ryback main evented in Survivor Series and took part in two TLC matches. Both were met with positive feedback.

However, the WWE Superstar seemed to fall back in midcard status. His feud with The Shield took him down further than expected. He now wrestles midcard wrestlers again, such as Antonio Cesaro.

It’s a curious return to the midcard for Ryback, who isn’t viewed in the same light as his current teammates.

Ryback was built as a force in the past year. When he stands next to John Cena and Sheamus, he doesn’t seem to be that same force. The three men will team up against The Shield at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view. Cena and Sheamus are more threats than Ryback. Wasn’t the point of putting Ryback in main events to place him on the same level as the other two men?  If so, it hasn’t worked.

The losses have mounted up for Ryback. In addition to the already crowded title picture for both world titles, there’s no room for Ryback to return. Not yet.

He hasn’t won a pay-per-view match since last July’s Money In The Bank against his opponents Tyler Reks and Curt Hawkins. Before he was catapulted into the main event, Ryback seemed primed to work with The Miz for the Intercontinental Title. Since then, it’s been a case of too much too soon for Ryback.

He came up too soon because the WWE was desperate. It was evident when Ryback was pinned by Punk. He wasn’t even involved in the pinfall decisions for Survivor Series and TLC. Ryback, No.30 in the Royal Rumble, was the last one eliminated. Maybe that’s a hopeful sign for him. Then again, Ryback still has no momentum.

It appears Ryback is back where he belongs: the Midcard, although his six-man tag with Cena and Sheamus could change that.