Don't think you know what gatekeeper means. He'll never be used to keep the houses up, in any capacity. No one spends $50 to see Zack Ryder in the midst of a shitty 3 hour show.
To add to what you're saying though, he needs a place on the card. He, and many others, just drift around the midcard. He should have a specific purpose. I think being the opener is his best place. He should be relied on to get the crowd excited. He's over and is a good wrestler, with a catchy gimmick. Perfect formula for an opener talent, and it isn't a diminishing or embarrassing thing, because all great wrestlers are relied on, at one point or the other, to open and get the crowd hot.