First Impression's of "Hollywood's Own" Joey Ryan?

[The Dragon Saga]

Last week Ryan posted on his Twitter he'd be taking part in the Gut Check challenge which aired tonight, so I knew about the match and was very pumped for it. I believe most can agree he has an excessive amount of potential.

I've been watching Joey Ryan since 2005. He is a very charismatic character, eccentric, strange at times, can play a lovable face or a hated heel. Truthfully he has played the best cowardly heel I've ever seen, while holding the PWG Championship for a record 403 days. He plays a smarmy character and coined the phrase "Legalize Sleaze" which he placed on a t-shirt, and for an indy schmuck they sell pretty damn well.

Just a small background on him for those who don't know. He is one of the PWG Six, Joey owns Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, hes competed in almost every notable independent wrestling promotion in the past five years, from Ring of Honor, to IWA: MS to where some say his best work is found, NWA Championship Wrestling from Hollywood. He gained a lot of respect on the indys for the work he has put into himself and other people.

In 2003 when he debuted he was fat, had little in-ring skills and truly could only cut promos. He began to drastically alter his appearance and began toning his body, he based his look of Magnum, P.A. plus based his character off the television series for a year or so, before taking the sleazy gimmick.

If you saw him and believe you recognize him, there is a big chance you've seen him before. He appeared on Wrestling Society X where he'd carry a tube of lube to the ring and squirt it into his trunks before a match; has never explained why, said he just felt like doing it. Or you may have noticed him on WWE television before. Hes acted as a stand in security guard, a jobber and most recently he sold Mark Henry sending Sheamus through the barricade at Summerslam last year like a child had just been shot, while he was sitting front row; he is very visible in the footage.

I believe he more than deserves a contract if that is what he's aiming for. In the past he has rejected contract offers from TNA. Last time he did it was due to time restraints when it came to running PWG plus performing on the shows. I don't see why he'd go back for the Gut Check if he'd not a change of heart, so without a seconds hesitation I say sign him.

What are your thoughts on Joey Ryan? Should they sign him, should they not?

 

[George Steele's Barber]

Fun match, the puffy hair helped sell the brain buster a little bit more. The stache is great and he seems to be very comfortable talking. He doesn't have the look of a winner but that doesn't have to be his role, he could find other ways to get over.

What was the most disappointing was his little speech about living, eating and breathing wrestling that we've heard a million times before. It makes me think that this is a one shot deal.

 

[DangerousDave]

I love the guy. I was at the taping and when he came down the ramp I was like, WTF? About two minutes in I was saying to my friend "this guy is great". Hes entertaining and does ok in the ring too. I would really like to see the guy get a contract. Can you imagine him in a match against Robbie E? Now that's entertainment.

 

[It's Damn Real!]

This guy has oodles of personality. I say it over and over — you can't teach talent, and in the world of professional wrestling, personality and the ability to control the crowd on the mic can carry even the rustier in-ring performers much farther than technicality alone ever could, so while this guy may not by a Kurt Angle or AJ Styles, but there's no reason I can see he doesn't deserve a serious look here.

He's light years better than Silva was, and absolutely needs to be signed.

I mean, Christ — just look at the guy!

If that's not charisma, I have no idea what is.

 

[Skairipa Matrix]

i guess im the only one who just didnt see anything special tonight in joey ryan? he didnt really impress me during his match im hoping he doesnt get a contract my vote would be no to joey ryan getting a contract.

also his look reminds me of ben stiller from dodgeball.

so overall between the look,his basic promo and his match with aries overall i wasnt impressed at all.

 

[kor420]

I maybe odd, but Just something about him made me instantly like him, his christma? that 80s pornstar look? idk but something in my gut tells me that tna needs to take a good hard look.

 

[MB1025]

He is awesome. Everyone needs to go to TNA's website and vote for him to get a contract. He also reminds me of Ron Burgundy for Anchorman.

 

[Rayne]

Didn't see the match, but I've seen plenty of Joey Ryan. Good pickup for TNA/IW. (Yes, he'll be signed. I have no idea if the episode has already been taped or not; if that's a spoiler, I assure you it is unintentional.)

Debuting Joey Ryan after Alex Silva makes me wonder if they used Silva first to try and sell Joey Ryan, like the slightly-attractive woman who hangs out with the fat friend. On his own, he's decent enough, nothing amazing but quite respectable, but you put him next to someone who looks like an amateur and he looks fucking amazing!

 

[The Shining Wizard]

Joey "Magnum" Ryan definitely deserves a contract, if that's what he's seeking. For all we know, it could have just been Joey working for a quick TNA paycheck and then heading on back to work some PWG or NWA events. If he's seeking a TNA contract, he'll easily get one. Because, as stated by Dragon Saga, the company has reached out to him before.

Ryan's a great in-ring talent and a great promo-giver. He's charismatic and just downright entertaining; after all, what's not to love about a guy who looks like a seventies pornstar? And should he sign a contract with TNA, I can only hope that they actually use him. If they can't manage to fit him into enough shows to become a good singles competitor, then just pair him up with somebody that he clicks with the increasing the tag team pool. Because he's a good tag team guy, as found from his work with Scorpio Sky and Scott Lost as The Dynasty in PWG. He'll be nothing more than an asset for TNA if he makes a deal with 'em. And all I have left to say is:

Who wants a mustache ride?

 

[Shakin' Abe]

Joey Ryan is a very good performer. I have seen him in quite a few indy gigs here in So Cal in the past with the Young Bucks, Eric Watts, the Poor Horesmen, etc. I think if given a chance, he could really make an impact on Impact. Like others have posted, they like his charisma. He has that "it" factor. hope he does well!

 

[Lowdown]

I wasn't really impressed with Joey Ryan, but he wasn't bad either. Seems to be decent in the ring, and he has a personality that you could get behind or root against. What the hell, sign him. If anything he could help bolster the X division with the departure of Alex Shelley.

 

[Kitten Cutter]

Classic never goes out of style.

Maybe I haven't seen all of his wrestling ability, but my first thought was old-school "Ravishing" Rick Rude, with the greasy hair, mustache, and Hollywood attitude. He's like the classic 80's heel: brash, cocky, and every move is about putting himself above everyone else. He's also the kind of heel you cannot wait to see get the snot kicked out of him.

He's naturally charismatic, and the things that Garrett Bischoff and Gunner lack this kid already has. I'd cut 3 wrestlers just to make room for him.

 

[OneTooManyPunts]

If you've followed ROH, DGUSA, or PWG, than you know that Joey Ryan is one of the most entertaining personalities on the indy scene today. His retro porn star persona is extremely entertaining, and 'Who wants a mustache ride?' was a catch phrase has has had no problem getting over in every promotion he has been in.

The problem with the Gut Check was that aside from the visual aspect of the character, he wasn't given much more to really shine. It's hard enough to look good in ring with someone the caliber of Austin Aries, but without some time invested, he came across like enhancement talent.

Ryan is definitely someone to watch, and if he does indeed get signed by TNA, he has the potential to be the kind of star the company needs to keep the X Division alive, without resting it entirely on Austin Aries babyface run.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I was more impressed by Ryan than Silva, but that wouldn't take much.

My first impressions of the guy: I kinda wanna see more of what he's got to offer but I'm not at all sold on him yet. I do think he's worth a second chance and a closer look. His match against Aries was ok, nothing special, but he was better in the ring than Silva was. The fact that Ryan was on there against a high caliber talent like Aries, whereas Silva was against Robbie E, in and of itself made him look more impressive.

As far as a downside goes, personally, I'm not crazy about the guy's look. Not that his look is something that has to define him or anything like that, but he looks like he was stepping onto a porn set circa 1975. Everything from the feathered hair to the cheap sunglasses to the mustache makes me think of a 70s porn actor more than anything else.

He did seem to have some personality about him, though I was turned off by the generic I eat, breath & live wrestling promo. I've heard that shit a million times from a million different wrestlers. That sort of generic speech makes me wonder if that's really all he's got when it comes to talking on the mic.

As I said, I think the guy's worth another look, but he's not the next big thing yet, not by a long shot.

 

[Thriller Ant]

This guy has oodles of personality. I say it over and over — you can't teach talent, and in the world of professional wrestling, personality and the ability to control the crowd on the mic can carry even the rustier in-ring performers much farther than technicality alone ever could, so while this guy may not by a Kurt Angle or AJ Styles, but there's no reason I can see he doesn't deserve a serious look here.

He's light years better than Silva was, and absolutely needs to be signed.

I mean, Christ — just look at the guy!

If that's not charisma, I have no idea what is.

I'm glad to see you liked him, IDR. Ryan's in-ring work has gone down a bit in recent years, but he's always had a ton of charisma and can be a very versatile performer, almost like an Austin Aries lite. TNA will have a very valuable new commodity in their X Division or midcard if they sign Joey Ryan.

 

[Skairipa Matrix]

okay ill give you guys the fact hes got charisma sure but honestly besides that whats so special about what he did last night to sign him to a contract?

 

[AmerikanWolves619]

This guy has oodles of personality. I say it over and over — you can't teach talent, and in the world of professional wrestling, personality and the ability to control the crowd on the mic can carry even the rustier in-ring performers much farther than technicality alone ever could, so while this guy may not by a Kurt Angle or AJ Styles, but there's no reason I can see he doesn't deserve a serious look here.

He's light years better than Silva was, and absolutely needs to be signed.

I mean, Christ — just look at the guy!

If that's not charisma, I have no idea what is.

Slamming the nail on the head as ALWAYS "It's Damn Real"!! I was thoroughly entertained by Joey Ryan, both here, in ROH, and other venues. Sign this guy up PLEASE and pass the buck with Silva (zero what he had to show and saw at Impact!). Plus, you can see the fluid chemistry worked between Ryan and A Double. Viable and reliable personality, charisma, and ring work is what Ryan can provide for the X-Division.

 

[phlewfy]

This is a guy I really like. I like his so called "cheap" look. I like his personality. I like his in ring work. Hopefully TNA signs this guy up. Losing Shelley and Nese in an already extremely thin X-Division make the need to sign guys like this imperative. Austin Aries will be moving onto bigger and better things and now is the time to reload the X-Division. Spend the summer establishing some new talent in the division. I think Joey Ryan would be a great addition to the roster.

 

[Alex]

While he looks like Ron Jeremy's son (porn star joke there) I liked the guy. He has a personality, interesting look and was good in the ring. I'd certainly rather see him on a regular basis than Alex Silva. (no offence to the guy) He was able to hang with Austin Aries, who is one of the best ring workers TNA has right now and that has to count for something. His promo flowed very naturally which is good, as Jack-Hammer said it was a rather generic promo, but I get the impression if he was given something else to work with he'd certainly be good at it.

 

[ヒュー　G.　レックション]

Just thought I'd chime in, I'm ashamed to say I had never heard of this guy, but I was impressed alright! The gimmick alone is great, but he can wrestle good too! Should definitely be signed. If Silva gets signed and he doesn't that is complete BS. Great sell on the brainbuster.

My only gripe was his little promo before appeared to be out of character. He was playing the outrageous character well in the ring, but he seemed very normal in his promo.

 

[Straight Awesome]

He definitely reminds me of Ben Stiller from Dodgeball, glad to see I'm not the only person who was thinking that when I saw him. I wasn't convinced at first but by the end of it I think he's got the "it" and could definitely go on to have a very impressive televised career if he's given a chance. I think his Gut Check match was greatly helped by the fact that Austin Aries is simply a fantastic performer and he was very fortunate to be paired with someone so entertaining if you ask me.

 

[The ShIT Factor]

Joey Ryan would be a much better addition tho IMPACT than Alex Silva in my opinion. Joey is oozing personality and is a good performer. With that mix he is all set to become one of the stars for a new era of TNA. Alex Silva seemed to much like a skinny ass wannabe wrestler with no personality whatsoever. On the other hand Joey Ryan is almost the opposite because he has personality and good explosive moves. Joey Ryan will take this oppritunity and haul ass with it and he will not disappoint. If he doesn't make it I will spit on all my TNA merchandise and reject Dixie and Hogan's reign of hell.

 

[RD_21]

No to Joey Ryan is a freaking bad joke. The guy is so charismatic and seems like a solid wrestler. I hope WWE pick him up and he catch fire. Let's hope it's part of a storyline and not just an idiotic move because Silva was hired by accident because of Flair's mistake.

Making a mistake to fix one is not a good idea.

 

[Buds Bundy]

after seeing the little back and forth with taz on tonights gut check we will be seeing joey ryan again
it seemed like this might the beginning of a storyline and he will be a part of the IW roster

 

[It's Damn Real!]

I'm shocked they gave him a no here, honestly. One of two things needs to be happening here:

1. This is part of a storyline where Ryan thrashes TNA, especially on social networks, as a means to get under the skin of Taz and the company for turning him down, which eventually leads to his return to the air and a match, likely against Austin Aries.

2. There's some kind of contractual obligation holding him from actually joining them right now that TNA needs to let expire before they can bring him on full time, which brings me back to point number one.

This kid oozes charisma and deserves an opportunity here, because frankly, Flair fuck up or no Flair fuck up, he's light years better than Alex Silva.