Zack Ryder Is The *NEW* WWE Intercontinental Champion

[Jack-Hammer]

Nope, that's not a typo. Zack Ryder came out of nowhere in the opening match of WrestleMania XXXII to win the Intercontinental Championship.

I can't say exactly how I feel about it personally as I don't have high hopes for Ryder as champion. However, if nothing else, it was the first unpredictable moment of the night as I don't think anyone figured Ryder would come out on top. I expected Owens to retain and to engage in a singles feud with Zayn over the title but that, apparently, isn't to be the case. Of course, Owens could always win the title in his rematch though I'd rather Ryder hold into the title than drop it back to Owens because I just hate hot potato title reigns.

 

[Hyorinmaru]

My first thou was Holy Shit followed by giddy elation complete with a grown man giggling. I've always liked Ryder so I'm very happy he got a WrestleMania moment and won the IC title.


I'm also a little bit worried. The last thing anyone needs is for Zack to lose the title 24 hours later. He's got charisma & he can go in the ring but what he needs and what he's always lacked is the backing of the higher-ups as a singles star. I'm hoping his time in NXT took care of this and we get a decent title reign out of Long Island Iced Z.

 

[WorstWrestlingExcrement]

He s been a jobber for 11 years till he won the title when he loses it to Kevin Owens he will be lost and forgotten and lost in the shuffle again! Just like when he lost his US title back in 2012 to Jack Swagger and he will again return as a jobber he doesn t have the charisma , mic skills or wrestling skills!

 

[Jeff Deliverer of Mail]

That was totally unexpected and it was a great underdog moment. Woo Woo Woo !

 

[MWRedskins]

i dont know if he will have a real long run as the Intercontinental Champion, BUT this was the shocker of the year and when the Slammys come around, this has to win Shocker of the Year because i expected Ryder to just be a body to get beat by either Owens or Zayn.

as for his win, i love the shocking moment and the anything can happen moment because i gave him a 0% chance of winning. my predictions for who would win the IC title were with two people, Owens and Zayn. So i like the shocking moment, but i hope it's not some short term run.

 

[stingray11214]

It was probably done because of all the work he put in trying to help fix Mojo Riley. WWE recognized the hard work ZR put in and rewarded him. Will be hold it? Probably not long

 

[Azane]

You know, I just had that revelation, that the only Champion I wanted to see retain, was KO, and even still, him losing the title to Zack was the only moment I enjoyed all night.

 

[SHAGAMANIA 3:16]

Very happy to see he got a good WrestleMania moment I hope he holds the title for a while, he was so awesome during his Long Iced Z days, good to see he's relevant again.

 

[Rhodes2TheFuture3313]

Bigtime moment. Very Happy for Zack Ryder. He definitely deserves this. "You gotta ask yourself have you paid your dues, Zack? You're damn right. The title's on my waist."

 

[kadroan]

I didn't see this coming. I hope he doesn't lose the title back on RAW tomorrow. It's obvious fans want to see Zayn vs. Owens.

 

[Noshowers]

Wish I could say this made me happy, but as a fan it didn't. Sure it is a "nice" moment for him and all, but when people say the IC and US titles really don't mean much....yeah they really "really" don't mean anything now if Zack Ryder comes out of Main Event and Superstars and dark matches to win the belt.

We could have had Sami winning for a good moment after putting on a match with Nakamura that put everything on this card to shame, but instead he loses to..Zack Ryder?

KO could have retained and cemented himself as dominant in the division and making it harder for people to chase him down and win, yet instead he loses to...Zack Ryder?

Miz could win and generate some good heat, giving a great rub to the next face that came along and took the belt..you know, a guy who once Main evented Wrestlemania and defeated John flipping Cena there. Instead he jobs to Zack Ryder.

Actually everyone in this match had scenarios that I would have liked better personally. Ziggler back to relevance, Sin Cara so he isn't outdone by Kalisto, Stardust so he can come back Cody Rhodes and carry the white belt that he was the first to carry when he last had the IC title. List goes on.

There is a difference between being unpredictable and something that is nonsensical. El Torrito could have entered as the 8th man and won it too. Sure that would have been "shocking", that doesn't mean it would actually be any good for the belt, WWE, or himself. This is what I feel about this win for Ryder, and I feel like his reign will be very short lived.

 

[Prince Vee]

It was surprising for everyone, of course. Who would've assumed Zack Ryder will win that match. But I read it somewhere on Facebook before mania that, Zack might won only to drop the title back to Kevin Owens. I don't know what credibility it can give either of them, but the win here for Zack is something big. The match was intensely good and Zack Ryder himself had a few good spots for him. I wouldn't complain this win, rather I'll enjoy it till it lasts.

 

[Wrestlingaholic]

I expected Zayn to win. My brother called Owens. But I am glad that neither of them won. The way the match went, either Zayn and Owens can be kept apart a little longer (until say Summerslam or even next Wrestlemania for their blow-off one on one) and Owens can get his rematch at Payback v Ryder whilst Zayn goes elsewhere; or they can face each other at Payback since Zayn ostensibly cost Owens the match and title, whilst Ryder defends v the Miz. I know which i'd prefer. Sorry Miz...

I like Ryder, a solid if unspectacular wrestler. Certainly provided the shock of the night - I'd say more people believed Sin Cara had a chance than Ryder!

Woo woo woo - you know it!

 

[WhiplashUnited]

I was happy for him. Although its logical based on the outcome of the match (as it was designed for Neville before he got injured) is Miz feud with Ryder. I've lost all care for Miz and I would rather a stronger heel put him over than The Miz.

Hilarious, one person says he has charisma, the next says he doesn't.

 

[Azane]

I was happy for him. Although its logical based on the outcome of the match (as it was designed for Neville before he got injured) is Miz feud with Ryder. I've lost all care for Miz and I would rather a stronger heel put him over than The Miz.

Hilarious, one person says he has charisma, the next says he doesn't.

I think Ryder's been generally liked by the internet community because he went out of his way to get himself over. I personally don't like Ryder's Gimmick, but I like the work and effort he's put in, and respect him for it.

He definitely has charisma, I just remember that he was getting huge pops and doing great, until They decided John Cena needed to bury him, by being buddy buddy.

I don't see this reign lasting that long, but it does make him relevant for a bit.

It was interesting for them to setup a completely crazy and random outcome for the first match, then go along with the Vegas odds for the rest of the night.

 

[MartialHorror]

I like Ryder enough, but his victory only degrades the title. Didn't he just get squashed by Jericho a week ago? Even with Styles providing a distraction he could not win.

 

[THTRobtaylor]

He holds it a day but the moment will last forever... I can see Jericho winning it on RAW... Remember, had Neville not been hurt he'd likely have won it so don't get too pissy for Zack... At this point its a bonus in his career, and I am sure Emma will salve any hurt.

 

[Shadowmancer]

I am so happy for Zack Ryder, they built him into a credible threat in 2 weeks. Its one of the few bright spots I have out of this Wrestlemania. He has been working at this for years, he was someone that they could have made a big deal, the woo woo woo with him sitting on top of the ladder is a great image 85000 people going along with Zack Ryder

 

[MERPER]

This may be the single biggest joke in WrestleMania history. I know, it was a shock, but surprises have to be somewhat realistic.

Ryder doesn't even get Smackdown time and suddenly he's the new IC champ and we're supposed to believe he is better than Owens/Ziggler/Zayne?

I am all for feel-good stories and what not but this is just some of the dumbest writing ever. I swear they put all 7 names into a hat and pulled one out to determine the winner.

 

[bjarvis]

Ryder to lose it tomorrow night on RAW to an incoming Corbin or Samoa Joe.

I think if done well - Zayn vs. Owens for the IC title could be held off til SummerSlam. Personally I would like for it to be Mania 33, but WWE is now keen on IC Title multi-men Ladder matches.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

I'm surprised people care. Ryder's time was five years ago. He's likable but this is a guy who WWE couldn't be bothered to book in a thirty man match two months ago and he's gone over at the expense of people like Zayn and Owens.

His will was also strangely predictable and lacks shock value.

 

[Wrestlingaholic]

This may be the single biggest joke in WrestleMania history. I know, it was a shock, but surprises have to be somewhat realistic.

Ryder doesn't even get Smackdown time and suddenly he's the new IC champ and we're supposed to believe he is better than Owens/Ziggler/Zayne?

I am all for feel-good stories and what not but this is just some of the dumbest writing ever. I swear they put all 7 names into a hat and pulled one out to determine the winner.

That's the thing about ladder matches though - you can get 'unrealistic' winners because you don't have to paint a picture of someone pinning or submitting their opponent. Given the likes of Jack Swagger and Damien Sandow have won ladder matches, Zack Ryder's shock win shouldn't come as THAT much of a shock.

Plus it gets the title off Owens without him looking remotely weak - one of the shots of the nights was the camera view of Ryder atop the ladder holding the title whilst Owens was head first in the ladder laying in the ring, he looked dead! Perfect selling and the thing is, there's so many routes WWE can take with this.

 

[OYDK]

Seemed like a cheap, "shocking" title win that was solely done to pop the crowd, and I have to say, I fucking hate that type of booking when it comes to Wrestlemania. Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with Zack Ryder, but ffs if you're going to give him the IC title at least make him seem like some sort of a threat leading up to Mania. Don't pull him out of a barely over NXT tag team (relative jobber territory) and have him beat 6 other guys for the IC title on the grandest stage of them all just so you can say you created a "Wrestlemania moment".

And the sad thing is, many people will look at this and say, "wow Mania was good, look at all the moments", without taking in the fact that those moments made no sense whatsoever. Austin, HBK, Foley, Shane, The Rock, Cena, Ryder. These are the guys that created these 'great Mania moments'. 4 of whom are guaranteed to be gone by tomorrow, and another 2 who likely won't play into WWE programming going forward, at least not immediately.

As for Ryder, he probably loses the title tonight, proving that everything that happened at Mania was really for nothing.

 

[timothy26]

I'm just hoping Samoa Joe comes up to main roster as a heel, destroys Ryder and wins the belt. It doesn't take away the fact that Zack won a belt at Wrestlemania but elevates the IC title immediately.

 

[Bischoff's Knob Slobberer]

I predict KO will win the title back at RAW tonight. This is the kind of dumb crap that WWE creative does. Ryder is a glorified jobber who's best work was done in the bunny suit. Nothing to see here......just shitty WWE booking as usual.