Zack Ryder Interview

[Senhor Perfect]

Zack Ryder recently spoke to Anthony Sulla-Heffinger of The New York Post. Here are some highlights:

Sulla-Heffinger: What’s it like seeing those kids wearing your merchandise, buying those figures?

Ryder: It’s crazy, it doesn’t even make sense to me. I still have all of the wrestling toys that I had as a little kid and to think about those kids going to Toys ‘R’ Us and buying my action figure, it makes you go ‘what?!’ Sometimes I have to take myself out of the moment and look at my life from the outside and say ‘Woah! This is getting cool.’

Sulla-Heffinger: Saturday Morning Slam is a little different in the sense that it is less violent because it is geared toward children. How does that affect your style of wrestling?

Ryder: Luckily for me, I haven’t really had to change my style up too much. I’m sure for guys like Sheamus and guys who are giving big punches to the head, it really affects them. For me, I just do my own thing and I think that works as an advantage. Some guys have change their styles up and they are out of their element or off their game. For me, I’m the same old Zack Ryder so maybe that’s why I am going to go all the way and become the Saturday Morning Slam GM.

Sulla-Heffinger: Being from Long Island, what are you feeling with Wrestlemania coming back to the area and it being just weeks away?

Ryder: This year there are a lot of mixed emotions. It’s going to be cool that Wrestlemania is back in New York and New Jersey, I went to Wrestlemania X and XX as a fan and last year I had my first Wrestlemania match so it is cool. At the same time I’m not on the show so it’s not cool and I wish it was somewhere else because all of my friends and family are going to be there and I’m not going to be on it so that part stinks. It’s great that such a huge event is going to be at MetLife Stadium, Rock and John Cena the rematch, it’s going to be historic. Whether Zack Ryder is on the card or not, Wrestlemania is going to be the show of the year and maybe the best one yet.

Sulla-Heffinger: What do you see in Zack Ryder’s future over the next year?

Ryder: I’m not really sure. I ended my YouTube show that I have been doing for two years this past January. I think Zack Ryder, the character, needs a little tweaking, it needs a little adjustment. I wouldn’t say a complete 180 turn but a couple of things here and there. I have to sit down and I have to really figure out what needs to be done to get back on top and make sure I don’t miss next year’s Wrestlemania.

Sulla-Heffinger: Do you think it’s a matter of time before you’re getting title shots?

Ryder: That’s the ultimate goal so I have to be positive and think that those opportunities are in my future. That’s what keeps me going.

Sulla-Heffinger: You mentioned you watched wrestling as a fan in the past. What did you think of this past week’s Raw with the Brock Lesnar-HHH opening and the CM Punk/Cena finale?

Ryder: The way it ended, that match was a pay-per-view match right there for free on TV. I was watching in the back with a couple of guys and I was on the edge of my seat, was it going to be Punk or was it going to be Cena, was someone going to run in, would it be a straight finish? We were anxious to see who was going to win. It was a great match, the fans were on their feet the whole time. When Cena won, the place exploded and he deserved the win.
Read more at http://www.lordsofpain.net/

Since he mentioned it, he probably will end up being SMS GM.

 

[Aids Johnson]

Ryder is such a boss. I really hope they give his character the tweaks he needs instead of burying him to be a santino character on SMS. Fuck that.

 

[RoyalRaven]

Ryder is such a boss. I really hope they give his character the tweaks he needs instead of burying him to be a santino character on SMS. f*ck that.

I agree with you, He works hard and deserves a good push, though i'd agree with Tweaking his character!

 

[Senhor Perfect]

Another one with Arda Ocal

Arda Ocal of the Baltimore Sun recently interviewed WWE Superstar Zack Ryder about a number of topics, including his career being at a low point, his incredible popularity on social media and more. Here are some highlights of what Ryder said about:

The State of His Career: I’m at a low point. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, because there’s only one place to go and that’s up. The Z True Long Island Story paved my career, it re-invented Zack Ryder, but that time has come and gone. Last year, 2011, I ended it as the United States Champion. I had my first WrestleMania match at WrestleMania 28. Now this year at WrestleMania 29, not on the show, not really doing much. That’s why I really need this low point to really fuel me to come up with something new. Maybe it won’t be as big or as phenomenal as Z True Long Island Story, but there will be something that just works and clicks to the audience, something that gets me to that next level. So I don’t think that it’s necessarily a bad thing that I’m at a low point; I just think it’s a little break before I get even higher.

How Far He'd Go To Reinvent His Character: I would do whatever it takes. Do a complete 180, but only if it’s still me deep down inside. I’m not going to go out there and pretend to be someone I’m not. The thing that got me here [is], I like to party, pick up chicks, listen to pop music and sing pop music, but there is also a darker side to Zack Ryder, a more serious side to Zack Ryder. Maybe I’ll have to peel some layers to Zack Ryder and go out there and do something different.

Dolph Ziggler I mean, if there’s anyone who deserves to be on TV more than me, it's Dolph Ziggler. It’s a shame what’s going on with him right now. He’s had the greatest year possible, winning Money in the Bank, stealing the show night after night. Finally, the fans have recognized him. His shirt sells out, he beat John Cena at TLC and he works hard all year, and now it’s the home stretch to WrestleMania and he's not even on the show yet. He deserves that shot more than anybody, and I hope in the weeks coming he gets his 'Mania spot.

Read more at http://www.lordsofpain.net/

He's everywhere

 

[RoyalRaven]

Another one with Arda Ocal


He's everywhere

What he said about Ziggler is completely true, he sells like a boss and has a money in the bank briefcase. Yet most nights he Jobs to someone. It's a real shame D:

 

[GeeTeaIye]

#FireRyder

 

[Dat Kid1]

SMS GM isn''t much of a step in the right direction for Zack but it is a step. I think it's real unfortunate that he won't have a match at the mania in his home crowd. I think it would be great for him to get a match against Cesaro at least, even if he has to job.