WWE's Rising Stars Give Ryback Little Leverage in Reported Contract Dispute

Ryback rarely plays the underdog in the WWE ring, but he will at the negotiating table.

The Big Guy is reportedly in conflict with the company regarding his contract. But should he threaten to walk away, WWE won't get on its knees to plead with him to stick around. The roster is so rich with promising, young talent that it simply doesn't need Ryback.

After he took on Kalisto at Payback, it was odd not seeing him in Monday's tournament to crown a new No. 1 contender for the United States Championship. Apparently, Ryback had moved on from battling The King of Flight to clashing with WWE itself.

PWInsider.com's Mike Johnson reported:

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The word making the rounds, according to multiple sources, is that Ryback was sent home and will be, as of this writing, off TV indefinitely. One version of the story is that Ryback himself asked to be pulled from TV.

Ryback's contract with the company expires this summer and the two sides have been, according to several sources, at odds over negotiations for a new contract.

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Dave Meltzer also noted on F4WOnline that Ryback and WWE are having issues.

If Ryback is frustrated with his position in the company, it's understandable. He is coming off his second straight appearance on a pay-per-view's pre-show. His WrestleMania moment came when the AT&T Stadium had yet to even be a quarter full.

He hasn't been a high-profile part of programming. WWE is handing out title reigns and big-time angles to other Superstars.

But Ryback is not negotiating from a position of power. WWE's roster is filled with guys who can take his spot, and that allows the company to quickly move on from talents such as Ryback.

Wade Barrett is the perfect example of that at work. Reportedly unhappy with his own position, Barrett decided not to re-sign his contract, as reported by Ryan Satin of Pro Wrestling Sheet.

Even though Barrett is still employed as of now, WWE cast him aside to make room for others under the spotlight. The League of Nations ousted him from the group the day after WrestleMania. We have yet to see him since.

Barrett, even with as much talent as he has, is expendable. He's a hard-working midcard guy with a decent amount of "it" factor who sits below the top stars on the WWE hierarchy. Ryback matches that same description.

If Ryback wants more money and more airtime, he certainly won't be able to acquire either by the threat of leaving.

WWE can simply plug in a young powerhouse in Rusev. It can showcase Baron Corbin more. It can lean on Colin Cassady.

The roster is brimming with potential. Scott Fishman of the Miami Herald had a similar thought as he watched Kevin Owens and Dean Ambrose go to work on Raw a few weeks ago:

Owens is a potential cornerstone of the next era. The same goes for Ambrose and both of his former teammates with The Shield. 

The company boasts a wrestler in Cesaro who provides gripping performances each night. Total Wresting magazine admired his work, calling him "amazing to watch":

Few fans would use that phrase in regard to Ryback. Few would bet on The Big Guy being the foundation of WWE's future. Instead, he's a solid performer who hasn't seemed to be able to reach the top rung.

Should Ryback head for Japan or TNA, WWE would simply put someone in his place who is on the rise and may well surpass the powerhouse's career accomplishments. 

From Seth Rollins to Apollo Crews, Bray Wyatt to Roman Reigns, WWE is stacked with wrestlers 30 and under with massive potential. It's hard then for Ryback to make demands. It's hard for him to convince the company that it should change its plans for him.

Any ultimatum Ryback issues promises to be fruitless.