You've answered your own question. People that watch wrestling need to be able to relate to someone and that's someone (also an underdog) that some people in the audience can relate to and root for.
I think that's kind of a cop out. To me a strong, relatable (which my spell check doesn't think is a word) character is someone who has flaws, but either embraces them or overcomes them. Exploring a character's weakness or hypocrisy is one thing, but making you character look totally weak is another. People aren't going to sympathise with someone who inherently doesn't seem to have much strength.
Rey Mysterio is relatable because is a fully capable competitor but is against the odds in every match because of his size, so he uses his small frame for superior speed. He embraces his biggest weakness and turns it into his strongest attribute.
Zack Ryder has gained some ground but is still an average competitor hovering just above Santino level, so he's barely proven himself as a competitor even in kayfabe so we have little reason to invest in him already. He's also been booked to seem either gullible, willfully ignorant, or just stupid in his angle with Eve. He's not even being manipulated, he literally obeys her every suggestion usually without question. If anything I'm only enjoying Eve's character, which is so terrible because I was actually a little hyped about Ryder breaking through, if confused.
I don't even dislike Ryder, but I can draw absolutely no sympathy for his weak, one-dimensional character who, despite his opportunities over the last 6 months, has failed to impress me. I'm just kinda indifferent, I almost feel like I
should like him but I can't see the appeal.
