WWE WrestleMania XXIX: 4 Reasons Ryback Needs a Victory Against Mark Henry

Ryback needs to beat Mark Henry.  No two ways about it.  The Big Hungry is, well, hungry for a win.  

And he hasn't gotten them at big events.  So what better time than WrestleMania XXIX for Ryback to finally feast at a big event.  

Ryback needs a win, and he needs one bad.  Here are four reasons why. 

No. 4: Ryback Is Moving Merchandise

While specific numbers are hard to find, one need only look into the stands at any WWE event to see that Ryback is selling merchandise.  And that means money for WWE.

If Ryback gets a big win at the biggest yearly event in pro wrestling, it could be his coming out party.  Millions of people who may be casual fans may be drawn to him, as millions of WWE fans already have been.

Merchandise sales is a good barometer of a wrestler's popularity.  Ryback is already popular.  If WWE wants, it could send Ryback right to the top of WWE.  

If he wins.  

No. 3: Mark Henry Can Afford the Loss

Mark Henry does not need a win.  Simple as that.  We all know what Mark Henry is all about.  He's a destructive force that annihilates everything—and everyone—in his path.  

Winning would give Mark Henry a big win (obviously), but likely would not help him very much otherwise.  The World Heavyweight Championship is contested by Alberto Del Rio and Jack Swagger, with Dolph Ziggler waiting in the wings.  Unless one or more of them get out of the title picture, Mark Henry won't sniff gold for a while.  

With reports swirling online that Ryback may feud with Cena for the WWE Championship, a win against Mark Henry would catapult Ryback to the top of the list of WWE title contenders.  Another high-profile loss would make it difficult to justify giving Ryback a shot at any title.

No. 2: Ryback Keeps Losing

This slide title says it all.  Ryback, unless I'm forgetting something, hasn't won a high-profile match since at least Hell in a Cell 2012, where he "lost" to CM Punk and a low-blow by Brad Maddox.

That's a problem.  The fans love Ryback.  They buy his shirts, they chant his catchphrase.  But the guy is about as successful as Yoshi Tatsu against tough opponents at major events.  

That can only last so long before fans start tuning him out.  Ryback, once upon a time, had a huge winning streak.  Many thought he'd run roughshod over WWE and rival Goldberg's run in WCW.  That ended at Hell in a Cell.  

Ryback needs a win.  If he loses again, how can anyone take him seriously as a scary wrestler? 

No. 1: Ryback Could Be the Next Top Face in WWE

John Cena claims that his time is now.  He's probably right.  But Cena's time is running out.  He's 36 years old, and while he will likely wrestle into his early-to-mid 40s, WWE will need another top face sooner rather than later.

If, by some miracle of God, John Cena turns heel, WWE will need a face.  Sheamus is that man right now, but there are few who would argue that Sheamus will only become more popular.  In this writer's opinion, Sheamus has reached his potential.  

Ryback, on the other hand, seems to have a huge upside.  As Ryback, he's only been around about a year, and has already had WWE Championship matches and high-profile matches.  And while he's lost those matches, his fans have grown more numerous and his detractors have quieted.

Ryback, while probably not the next Stone Cold, has the potential to anchor pay-per-view cards and win titles for years to come.