The Northwest Indiana Times recently profiled independent wrestler Barry Piotrowski, who was one of Ryback's squash victims at the Smackdown taping in Evansville, Ind. two weeks ago. Piotrowski's story caught the paper's attention because he is a recent cancer survivor, having overcome Hodgkin's lymphoma to return to pro wrestling in spring 2011.
Piotrowski, who went by the ring name of Dan Barone on Smackdown, recalled the process that led to him being selected as one of Ryback's victims. Piotrowski noted he was contacted by WWE two weeks before the taping to audition for the role. "It was basically a tryout for one of the two spots, and I got picked," Piotrowski said. "William Regal helped work with me to get me ready... "Yeah, I got my butt whipped, but I got my foot in the door, and I got some good pointers and some good compliments."
