WWE: Why Zack Ryder Is in Danger of Being Overexposed

The spring and summer of 2011 will be remembered for several reasons by the WWE Universe.

CM Punk exploded onto the seen as one of the most popular performers in the sport. R-Truth, Mark Henry and Christian all received overdue pushes.

Perhaps the most unique event of the first half of the year was the emergence of Zack Ryder from what can best be described as "undercard hell."

Ryder gained recognition when he began filming his own web show, entitled "Z! True Long Island Story." It was a highly-entertaining feature that saw Ryder showcase his personality and sense of humor, introducing several characters from his real life to a world-wide viewing audience.

Almost overnight, Zack became one of the most talked-about superstars on the roster. Fans enjoyed the quirky, different character he portrayed and admired his passion for the wrestling business. It was easy to support someone who cared as much as he did.

It took a while for those in power to recognize the impact Ryder had made with fans across the Internet. Then, they released a single T-shirt featuring the image of "Long Island Iced Z," and it sold out almost immediately.

Several printings later and it became clear—at least to those in merchandising—that Zack may have a stronger connection with fans then anyone had realized.

Several episodes of the web show, two best-selling shirts, countless other merchandise items and a thunderous ovation inside the hallowed walls of Madison Square Garden, and Zack Ryder finally has the WWE machine behind him. He has become heavily featured on Raw and has the full attention of the creative team.

On the December 5 edition of Raw, Ryder was the most featured superstar on the show. He was all over the show, from backstage segments to two high-profile matches against two of the most high-profile stars in the company.

He has also been positioned as the on-screen "little buddy" of megastar John Cena.

So why is this a bad thing? A young star who worked hard for the chance to prove himself had finally made it to the big show and was positioned alongside the top star in the business? It had all of the makings of a storybook finish.

Unfortunately, it appears as though Zack Ryder is in danger of becoming overexposed. Due to the strong social network following he has garnered as well as strong merchandise sales, the company appears to be forcing him on a broader fanbase—one that does not live exclusively on the Internet—that may or may not be ready to accept him.

This is not the first guy WWE pushed when it became clear that the fanbase had taken to them.

In 2003, a young John Cena quickly developed a following thanks to a unique white rapper character. The Cena character was fresh and exciting, and fans were never quite sure what to expect when the rhyming began.

As merchandise sales increased and fan reaction became more and more noticeable, it became clear Cena was the future of the company.

Unfortunately, WWE saw Cena as a cash cow and pushed him to the moon. They shoved him down the fans' collective throat, continuously telling us that he was this generation's top guy.

Predictably, the fans revolted. They voiced their displeasure with the company's new-found "golden boy," and continue to do so today. The overexposure of Cena caused fans to turn their backs on him. While he still has a large fanbase, he also has an equally-as-large portion of detractors who long for change.

Zack Ryder potentially faces the same backlash from fans if they feel as though he is being forced on them.

Part of the appeal of the Ryder fan is and has always been the fact that he is the underdog, lovable loser fans want to get behind.

If he becomes the "world beater" that John Cena constantly faces criticism for being, Ryder will be another in a line of once-popular stars who is faced with the contempt of those who formerly supported him.