Zack Ryder Will Be The New Jeff Hardy

[Harthan]

You know, I could see Ryder making a run at a world title. The first thing he needs is a long stint as a featured midcarder. A United States championship is a must, maybe a tag title run with a big guy - Mason Ryan would be nice. At least a year of him being an important midcarder so that he looks like he can actually beat people. His greatest accomplishment so far is beating Dolph Ziggler with the help of Wolverine. Now, I'm a Ryder mark, so I wouldn't take it as particularly questionable if he beat John Cena tomorrow, but I think a lot of people might. So building him up would be good. MITB seems to fit him perfectly, I think. I think SmackDown makes more sense. It seems to be a little more amenable to out of the box first time champions.

As far as the constant trying and failing to win the title...I don't know that it can work with someone without the same history that Jeff had. Jeff had been around forever, had been a midcard fixture...he had that classic ladder match with Taker back in the day that I think is really the precursor to the whole thing. I don't know that just throwing Ryder into four or five month run at the title will work the same way it did for Hardy. I don't know if it'll work the same way for anyone in the WWE. Maybe if they make Ryder a big deal in the midcard for several years to come and then try it. It's going to take some time for them to try to pull that off again. I think they might get the payoff on Ryder sooner with a serious year in the midcard and a MITB title run.

 

[TWJC: The Beginning]

Jeff wasn't a "huge WWE fan". Matt was. Matt never left because he was burnt out. When you love something, you never get burnt out on it. Jeff is an adrenaline junkie with an addictive personality.

Ryder is more like the next Al Snow. Has a fun gimmick that the older audience gets and is just so damn much fun that everyone enjoys him. He knows how to work a character and how to work a match.

 

[LSN80]

To compare Ryder to Hardy is a silly idea just in its concept, it would presume that Ryder has half the talent Hardy does. Remove all the smarky comments from this thread revolving around Hardy and his drug problems, which are irrelevant here, and compare the two. Even back in the days where Hardy was a tag-team specialist, he was performing in high-profile matches at all of the big shows, including the Rumble and Wrestlemania. Why? Because it was apparent he had a ton of talent. Ryder? There's a reason he got a title shot and aa minor program with the Undertaker back in 2003- He was a future star.

Ryder has taken a different approach to get himself over, and to his credit, its worked on some level. He's gone from being a Superstar's darling to being a featured act on Raw's midcard. But where's the investment been from WWE in Ryder's character? When he turned face, what was the trigger? There wasn't one, and if you weren't aware of his show, you'ld be lost as to why. The only "justification" one could give for the turn would be chants from the crowd.

But again, lets maake the Hardy comparison. Hardy was put, and pushed, as a result of being in programs with Edge and HHH around the time he finally broke through. Ryder is being paired with Dolph Ziggler- A great worker, no doubt- But not someone who's going to help make him into a star. Heck, as far as I can tell, Ryder was just given his first single's match on PPV, and he failed to go over ZIggler, who was wrestling the second of back to back matches. Is that the outcome that shows investment from those in charge of his career?

I have nothing but respect for Zach Ryder and how he got himself over, even if he does act like an idiot most of the time. He certainly took initiative and took a different approach then most who go online- He didn't complain about a lack of a push, he created one. But cartoonish like characters such as Ryder don't make for World Champions. Further, look at what Ryder has truly accomplished and his upside(or lack thereof) and you'll see that the comparisons to Jeff Hardy are largely non-existant. Expect a Jeff Hardy-like push to be much of the same.

 

[ABMorales787]

ok here me out as we all know the fans are really into Zack Ryder because the guy is a hardcore WWE fan and is very talented, and because the WWE have kept him off TV for so Long and never pushed the fans have got behind him.

First off, we aren't supposed to take Zack Ryder seriously. He's a comedy act trying to pass off as something serious.

the reason I say he is the jeff hardy is because I think he will go down the same path as jeff did by not being able to win the big and coming close everytime. and when he finally wins the big every fan will mark out like they did with jeff hardy 2008 and I think thats how he will get over just like hardy did and come the second face of the WWE.

They did that with Jeff alone? I thought that kind of stuff was booking 101. Though I doubt postponing title wins due to drug use is part of said planning. You saying that's gonna be the deal with Zack? God, I hope not. Because I really don't want to see a dude in bright purple a headband with his catchphrase printed, bad comedy mannerisms AND DRUG PROBLEMS on top of WWE.

so heres my questions....

do you think this is the best way make Zack Ryder a huge Star?
or
can you think of another way to do it?

No. Ditch the comedy shtick. For starters. And make him stop begging for fans via media sources. It borders on pathetic. I feel there's about a dozen guys WWE would and should push over him, so I simply won't bother making suggestions of how to push a guy I don't like.

 

[MHardy_Fan]

Ryder needs a little edge before we start talking world titles. Im one of the biggest Ryder marks out there but his comedic character wont get over a world champion. Sure, maybe for now a US title run would be awesome but I would like to see some ruthless aggression out of Ryder. Not jumping around talking about how hes teaming with Cena! lol

 

[xoxo French Kiss xoxo]

Its really simple when it comes to Ryder...

If Ryder's merchandise keeps selling, Ryder's push will continue.

as for the OP's questions

do you think this is the best way make Zack Ryder a huge Star?
I think he's done a pretty good job of getting himself over to the point where he's main eventing with John Cena, the Miz and Truth. However comparing him to Jeff Hardy is a slap in the face. Hardy was and is still nothing more than a glorified spot monkey, he still cant cut a promo, and he still cant tell a story in the ring. Kids love him because hes a high flying who will put his body on the line to entertain the masses. Ryder is working the KISS(Keep It Simple Stupid) Formula, much like Hogan, much like Cena, much like the Miz, as well as the Rock and Austin.

There are plenty of great technical wrestlers in the WWE, there are plenty of great athletes in the WWE, but there are a lot of these wrestlers and athletes that fall short on the mic, Kingston, Morrison, Bourne, Bryan.. to name a few. Ryder can actually cut a decent promo(yes at times they are repetitive, but "Laying the smackdown", "putting boots to asses" and "smelling what the Rock is cooking" have been the Rocks lines for the better part of 10 years, as well as "thats the bottom line" "Austin 3:16" "You can't see me" I'm Awesome" "Insane, Pain, Kane") but he gets good crowd reactions during his promos, to boot he's not terrible in the ring but hes been limited thus far.

Can you think of another way to do it?
Ryder just started really getting a push, so I think its really to early to tell. Hes currently involved in a feud with Miz and Truth, as well as Ziggler and Swagger. I think if done correctly he could feud with any number of those four people to elevate himself to the next level. Swagger or Ziggler could get him to the middle card champion level, followed by a feud with Truth or Miz to make him a credible champion and real breakout star in the WWE.

The only thing I can see really getting in the way of him being pushed forward is people like Mayson Ryan, possibly an Alex Riley, or John Morrison. Ryan is going to get shoved down our throats at some point in the next year, if we like it or not. Its a shame Riley hasn't been on TV in weeks because I felt that after he broke away from Miz he started to really connect with the fans, then BOOM he was gone. As much as I hate him, Morrison could see his way back into the middle card and possibly into the main event again, which is a shame because I was hoping for his release.

 

[TWJC: The Beginning]

I do not see any similarities between the two. Jeff's talent in the ring is all the woo woo woo he needs. Ryder is nothing more than a publicity stunt.

I don't think you know what a publicity stunt is. Because that makes no sense. Ryder is a very modern character, but he's not so much of a ripoff of the jersey shore douche style that it's bad, he's still original but in the same style. It's a good think for Raw to have him because most other guys they have and things they do look dated.

Ryder isn't the next jeff hardy and I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

Why are people saying that Ryder needs "more edge" before he gets title considerations? Rock was a borderline comedy character, he got over on shitty homophobic jokes and catchphrases. Ryder is funny but he's not "comedy". He's goofy but he's not a clown. He's simply a relevant parody of modern times. He's over and he understands the business side of wrestling. He works hard to sell in the ring and carries his character all the time and people believe in it. Sounds exactly like the kind of guy you want in your company.

 

[Lockard23]

I don't think Jeff Hardy is the standard-bearer, never was. No wrestler wants to be that guy. Maybe there was a time when his hardcore matches really got him over and several up and coming wrestlers were influenced in a way to do those kind of things, but that time has passed. He is a burnout and drug addict now and is nothing more than a has been who had his time but now has fallen to a terrifying low.

 

[Hero_Kid]

I think if he was more serious he can end his career being a two time WHC (Jeff) 4 time tagTeam champ and the ic champion being the 26 Triple crown champion.

But to get him there let him and cody feud (Change zig for rhodes) then he tries to b WHC but not get it and WWE but not get it losing chance after chance at the 2012 Mitb he wins it for smackdown later cashing it in

 

[shuckyducky]

:assumes OP's talking about drug addiction:

:isn't:

I don't really think they are the same at all. Not really a comparison to be made- one was in a successful tag team, one had an exciting high-flying style... Ryder has created a character and used social media to push himself and get himself over with fans, ie, they are NOTHING alike.