Ryback Needs a Major Rivalry to Succeed with Latest WWE Push

Ryback recently returned to WWE programming.  The man known as The Big Guy came back on the October 27 edition of Monday Night Raw, and this time he did so to the cheers of the live audience, despite the fact that he had previously left as a heel.

But no amount of positive fan response will change Ryback's career this time out.  The fact is that he needs much more than that to make it; he needs the definite influence that only the company itself can provide.  Ryback needs a major feud to not only make a splash but to actually succeed this time.

Of all the Superstars in the WWE locker room, Ryback is the one who most arguably should be a top guy right now. He has the look, he has the style and he has the marketability to make it on a very high level. Ryback seemingly has all the tools necessary to be elevated to the top of the company.

But it hasn't happened yet.

It all started off well enough; Ryback went on a winning streak when he first debuted, and he was spotlighted in various squash matches week after week on TV.  While that may not have seemed like the best way to build a main event career, the truth is that Ryback had the opportunity to show off his strength in the ring, and he took full advantage of it.

credit: wwe.com

The Ryback character was an intriguing one for most fans, as the concept of the squash had virtually died with the territory days.  Yet here was a guy who looked as though he could step straight into Jim Crockett Promotions of the 1980s and make a huge impact.

And in the beginning with WWE, he did just that.

However, it did not take long before the crowd began to turn on him.  The Goldberg chants started, and when they did, so too did the criticisms leveled at The Big Guy.  Many fans felt he worked too stiff, that he was uncoordinated and lacked true star power in the ring.

Ryback was supposed to be a killing machine, but he was soon viewed as nothing more than a one-trick pony.  Basically, he had the power game going for him and really nothing else.

But much of the blame for Ryback's lackluster rise the first time around falls with WWE.  The fact is that none of his previous rivalries equaled major success for him.  Even his first main event tease against CM Punk in 2012 was quelled by Brad Maddox and later by the debut of The Shield, who stopped him at every turn.

credit: wwe.com

Many likely did not expect Ryback to beat Punk for the WWE Championship during that time.  And much of that is thanks to the fact that he never actually looked strong enough to do it in the first place.

Ryback spent the rest of 2012 trying to best The Shield but to no avail.  A program with Mark Henry did not help his cause, as he did not win in the end.  One full year after debuting on WWE programming, Ryback's character turned heel for the first time against John Cena.  Even though their rivalry was for the WWE Championship and many fans felt Ryback looked very good against Cena, The Big Guy went down once again.

By the time he became aligned with Paul Heyman, Ryback's career was essentially on life support.  The man who was supposed to have been moving up was evidently starting over, and despite Heyman's track record of success with Brock Lesnar; this new partnership did not last long.

Ryback was left out, and even though he became tag team title contenders with Curtis Axel, nothing was ever the same for him again.

However, there is still time for Ryback.  He is only 32 years old, he is still in tremendous shape and he still has all the qualities that should propel him to the top.  The only thing he's missing besides fan support for his new role is the confidence of the company that has put him in this position to begin with.

That confidence must come in the form of a major rivalry, against an opponent that can help Ryback get to that all-important next level.  That opponent should be a respected star that can give him the rub and help him not only improve but excel.

credit: wwe.com

That star could actually be either Luke Harper or Erik Rowan.  Both big men are very tough, and their styles would likely mesh very well with Ryback.  

While both of the Wyatt Family members could be heading up the ladder themselves, the truth is that either one could work Ryback and still look strong even if Ryback goes over.  Much of that is thanks to the very cerebral nature of The Wyatt gimmick and how winning or losing is not really a difference-maker in the eyes of fans.

Another possibility would be Kane.  As The Authority's Director of Operations, Kane is more on the corporate side than in the ring now.  But all he has to do is cross paths with Ryback and suddenly, fans would see a new feud develop.  This would be good for Ryback as he would be involved with WWE's top heel faction and Kane would not need to win in order to still look good himself.  A win over Kane could do big things for Ryback.

Rusev is another example of a powerhouse who would match up well against Ryback.  While Ryback certainly would need to win in order to advance and Rusev has showed no signs of slowing down, the fact is he has to lose eventually.  And that first loss could come to Ryback, who would take that spotlight to the next level for his WWE career.

Ryback has what the company wants, and this time, he needs to be utilized in the right way.  If the right feud with the right opponent presents itself, WWE needs to make it happen.  It's the only way for The Big Guy to truly succeed and do it in a very big way.