Roundtable: Wrestlers Shoot on Life After Being a WWE Superstar
WWE has already released a whopping 42 wrestlers in 2021. The moves aren't necessarily the end for those wrestlers, though. For many, it's just the beginning.
Matt Cardona (Zack Ryder), Brian Myers (Curt Hawkins), Erick Redbeard (Erick Rowan) and Vik and Big Kon of The Awakening (The Ascension) sat in the National Championship Wrestling locker room preparing for Saturday's Night of Superstars. Each knows the feeling of getting that fateful call. Yet they've rediscovered their passion in other promotions and ventures.
First, each took care of business against this past weekend's opponents.
Cardona starred in the main event against NCW's cowardly heel, Desean Pratt. The newly crowned GCW world champion, who went viral last month thanks to the crowd's vicious reaction after his victory in a deathmatch over Nick Gage, sent everyone home happy with a decisive win to end the show.
Myers battled Breaux Keller in a technically efficient match in which the The Most Professional Wrestler nearly broke his opponent in half with an impressive Spear.
Redbeard matched up against Beastman in a battle of big men. The former Wyatt Family member laughed and chuckled with the crowd as his incoherent opponent attempted to use a large bone as a weapon. A claw-slam ended the throwback character's night.
As for The Awakening, the tag team wasn't quite as successful. In a four-way match to crown the inaugural NCW tag team champions, Vik and Big Kon raced to the back to handle business with an opponent, thus allowing Grapital Vices to claim the gold. But the heels received their comeuppance when The Awakening reemerged after the match and laid them low.
Another exciting night on the indie scene shows what life is like today for many of the wrestlers released from WWE over the last two years.
Before festivities began, the quintet of talented wrestlers sat down with Bleacher Report to discuss how post-WWE progression can be even more rewarding than reaching the pinnacle of the profession.
Bleacher Report: Bray Wyatt's release Saturday is merely the latest in a long line of "cost-cutting" moves by the WWE over the last two years. Despite being one of the most over characters in the company, Vince McMahon and Co. decided to move on, as they did with Braun Strowman, Aleister Black, Andrade, Mickie James et al.
At this point, how surprising are these moves after going through them yourselves?
Erick Redbeard: After the last year-and-a-half with the mass releases, it's not surprising. That company is a multi-billion-dollar company that keeps moving straight forward.
No one person is above the company, and it made examples out of many families. It's the nature of the beast. You can be bitter. You can be mad. Everyone goes through those emotions, especially when this all first started. Myself included. You refocus and do what you want moving forward.
Big Kon: Everyone is replaceable in this business. It's a machine that will continue to go on. Hulk Hogan is a great example. Without Hogan, who would have thought the WWE could have kept running? The Rock is another great example. They moved on to bigger and better things. At the same time, WWE is still here. No matter who you are, it'll continue to go.
I'm sure whatever emotions he [Wyatt] is going through right now, he'll be fine. He's a great talent. We've all gone through it. There will be many more who go through the same. It's part of the business. Everyone gets let go for the most part.
Vik: Personally, I was surprised. But I don't pay attention to anything that's going on there right now. I wasn't really aware of any situation. Considering his spot in the company, it definitely came as a surprise.
Brian Myers: WWE isn't the be-all, end-all in wrestling. If you want a life in wrestling, there's plenty out there. It does take a little more personal hustle and things like that. ... I like wrestling in all shapes, sizes and forms. If you have that perspective and love the business, there's definitely life outside the WWE.
B/R: Obviously, a larger wrestling community exists outside of what fans see on television. Wrestlers today work across multiple promotions—well, those outside of WWE do. Plus, many have worked for Vince McMahon. So, it doesn't come as a surprise when the lines of communication are open behind the scenes.
Knowing how the business is trending and what's going on, are there those you still talk to in WWE to keep apprised of the situation?
Matt Cardona: Yeah. Guys like [Dolph] Ziggler, Miz and [John] Morrison. They're some of my best friends. I keep in contact with them. It doesn't matter what business or company we're working for. There's other guys, like Kofi Kingston and Bobby Roode, who I still talk to.
To be honest, we record the Major Wrestling Figure Podcast during Raw. I haven't watched Raw in years. But you can just go through Twitter, scroll through feeds and see the highlights. I don't need to watch a three-hour show. I can go through just by reading their tweets.
Myers: I have very good friends—dare I say, best friends—in every single major wrestling company. I've been doing this for 18-plus years at this point. Successfully, too. I speak to people every day in every company. I'm aware of what's going on. I want the best for my friends.
Redbeard: It's like any job. You're going to get along with some people and some you don't. But you have to do your job. The other end of that is you trust the person with whom you're working with your life. If you don't trust that person, something's going to go wrong. You definitely develop deep connections with these people. You make sure to keep in contact with them.
B/R: Each of you is more than a year removed from the WWE creative process. As you find yourselves in varying promotions, what's the difference compared to other promotional setups?
Vik: Freedom is the very first thing that pops to mind. Freedom and happiness. It's just how it feels. Unfortunately, a lot of people in WWE get told you're not who you are. No matter how many times you say, 'No, this is who I am,' somebody else says you're not. You're not allowed to be you. It's not always the case. But it's been the nicest thing for us to have complete control and freedom over everything. It's all up to us.
Big Kon: Now we get to create our own itinerary. You get to work with and be around people you love. For a while, you're led to believe there's only one way to be. Once the veil gets pulled back, there's life after that point. You can see a lot of guys succeeding and doing really well elsewhere. There are others choosing to sit back and just enjoy life. Some are pursuing other avenues as well. Sometimes, it's a blessing [to be released]. It's a good thing. It's not a bad thing.
Redbeard: When I was released, COVID caused really strict rules, with everyone stuck at home. To get that news, it sucks. At the same time, that company gave you a livelihood. People say you can't complain about that. You play a certain character for so long and, yes, you have a chance for character development in bits and moments when you're there. Sometimes, they'll reset it and you try to make that character work.
Once released, people say it's a fresh start. Why? You can pursue other things outside of wrestling. You can teach wrestling. You can do other projects outside the world of professional wrestling. A whole new world opens up to you that you may not have followed had you stayed in the company.
Whether it's your choice or not, life takes you to a destiny you don't control. You just keep going out there and make your destiny your reality. There's always something else. Life keeps happening.
Myers: In WWE, it's fair to say I got pigeonholed into a position. I was seen in one light. It was tough to get out from underneath that. At the same time, I probably pitched hundreds of things during my time in WWE. Luckily, the one time they actually went with something is when Matt and I pitched the Edgeheads idea. It was a life-changing experience. That said, you pitch stuff all day long because you never know. It's the squeaky wheel situation.
At Impact, they're much more open to suggestions. You can say something or tweak something and it actually happens. It's pretty refreshing.
Cardona: I just love that I can do whatever I want, really. I'm my own boss. I get to do so in Impact. Impact is great and provides a lot of opportunities.
In GCW, I can show a different side of me. It's not really a different side of me, though. It's still me. But that particular audience doesn't like me. So, I can turn up the aggression and assh--ishness—whatever the word is—because that audience eats it up. I say things I know they're going to hate, including calling them the GCW Universe. So, I'll do it even more.
B/R: Erick and Matt, both of you had an opportunity to make appearances for All Elite Wrestling as well. Matt worked a program alongside Cody Rhodes' Nightmare Family, while Erick showed up to honor his former teammate, Brodie Lee, at December's emotional tribute to the beloved performer formerly known as Luke Harper.
These two experiences couldn't have been more different, but could each of you describe how those plans came together and what being in the AEW locker room was like?
Redbeard: I would have been offended if they didn't ask, but they take care of their people. Obviously, they reached out to me to be involved. It's always unfortunate but certainly at that time when a funeral couldn't be held, it was a way to say goodbye.
I talked to some people there, but I never had discussions trying to go and work there. I have other things I'm pursuing. He knew about what I was pursuing, too, and I know he would be proud of what I'm trying to do.
All you can do to honor him is remember. For me, I got a tattoo. Every morning, I see it. It honors him in the way that's most personal to me.
Cardona: The cup of coffee in AEW was cool. I had a lot of fun. There were so many guys going to Impact I didn't want to be like everybody else. I wanted to do something different to stand out, and I did. AEW was great. It just wasn't the right fit at that time. Will it be in the future? Who knows? Maybe. Maybe not.
Right now, my correct fit is just bouncing around. I hate using the term "free agent," but I guess I am. It's allowed me to go from place to place to place and not ask for permission to do this or that. I'm my own boss. I look in the mirror and ask myself and I say "yes" every time.
B/R: Wait a second. Matt, you don't have an agreement in place with Impact Wrestling to make it your top priority?
Cardona: Nobody has first priority, because I don't have a contract with anybody. My only contract is with the Major Wrestling Figure Podcast. I love Impact and they've been super-great to me. Obviously, I take the Impact dates over everything else. In that regard, it takes priority. But only because I want it to, not because I'm contractually obligated.
B/R: Due to the growing interdependency and interweaving storylines within multiple shows and promotions, what can fans expect next?
For example, Kenny Omega is the reigning world champion in AEW, Impact and AAA. He's working alongside Matt and Brian despite being contracted to a different company. The possibilities seem endless for wrestlers in today's market.
Myers: It's really fun and keeps things exciting. Keeps fans on their toes.
For guys like me, our schedules could be anything. I'm my own boss. Yes, I work for Impact but my contract states I can take any dates. I can work for pretty much anyone on television with their permission.
Whatever WWE is doing by releasing guys, they're helping out everyone else. The more the merrier. The more familiar faces create more interest, more people showing up to other shows and checking us all out.
Cardona: I've been out of WWE for a year-and-a-half. It's been just over a year where I could actually do things and work. I'm very proud of the things I've done in that time—whether it be growing the podcast into a whole network, Impact, the indies and now this GCW thing. It's really, really cool.
The business—whether it be management or fans—have counted me out, but I never did. My real fans never did. Now, it's our time to say, "I told you so."
B/R: With WWE now well in the rearview mirror and each of you making appearances in multiple promotions across the country, what's the next step in your respective careers?
Vik: It's just nice not to be held back anymore. Every day, we're just moving forward. There's no feeling of being stuck. We have so many more opportunities to live our lives and be normal, I guess you'd say.
Big Kon: For me, I never would have become a coach [at The Wrestling Lab] had it not been for the pandemic and all the crazy stuff that happened. Never had an idea of becoming a wrestling coach. Now, we have a school in St. Petersburg, Florida, with me, Jay Lethal and David Mercury, who never gets enough credit. The great thing about being a coach is it's like having 70-plus kids. You think you're going to be there as a coach, but you're forced to deal with real-life stuff.
Redbeard: You work your whole life for one goal. For a lot of wrestlers, that's what they want to do. That's all they want to do. They make it to the pinnacle, and that's been WWE for the longest time. We accomplished it at a high level for a long time. To be thrust away after thinking you'd be there longer, you need to find other avenues and outlets.
Yes, I love wrestling and I'll continue to do it. I have a love and passion for it. But it's amazing the other things in life you find a passion for. I've been fortunate enough to do some acting projects. I've gotten that spark back within myself that I had when I started professional wrestling. I get that same feeling when I act. Now, I'm taking that seriously.
Luckily, I have some projects coming up that will be game-changers for me. I feel like the work is just starting over again. It excites you and makes you happy. That's what I teach my kids: Go for your dreams. No matter how wild or crazy they are, you'll make it if you keep working hard enough.
Check out Redbeard—real name Joseph Ruud—in the upcoming films Ghosts of the Ozarks and Hyde Out, as well as The Home television series.
Brent Sobleski usually covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, @brentsobleski.
John Cena Talks WWE Future; Roman Reigns' Mt. Rushmore; Matt Cardona Talks AEW
Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.
Cena Says Wrestling Career Isn't Over
John Cena is primarily focused on his burgeoning acting career in Hollywood, but the 16-time world champion isn't done with WWE yet.
During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday, Cena discussed why he came out with a children's book called Elbow Grease: Fast Friends and also addressed his wrestling future: "I have a very young audience in WWE, a lot of kids and families. And as my in-ring career with WWE is not as active, although not over, I wanted to continue to send messaging to those younger viewers."
Cena has not appeared on WWE programming since WrestleMania 36 in April. Cena faced Bray Wyatt in the much-talked-about Firefly Funhouse match, which was more of a cinematic experience than an actual match.
That bout took place with no fans in attendance because to the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning it has now been nearly two years since Cena last wrestled in front of fans.
Cena has long made it clear that WWE is his home and always will be, so it wasn't particularly surprising for him to say that he isn't yet retired from in-ring competition.
Although Cena could easily retire now at the age of 43 given all he has accomplished, he also likely has plenty left in the tank, especially if he picks and chooses when, where and who to wrestle in the coming years.
Many have wrestled well into their 50s, including The Undertaker, so Cena should have plenty of matches left in him for as long as he wants to keep going.
WrestleMania 33 was Cena's last WrestleMania as a full-time wrestler, but he still faced The Undertaker the next year, took part in a major segment at WrestleMania 35 and then faced Wyatt this year. That suggests Cena is willing to make himself available for the biggest show of the year, much like Taker always has.
Given his star power and status as one of the most popular and decorated WWE Superstars of all time, having Cena at arm's length is a good thing for WWE.
Reigns Reveals His Wrestling Mt. Rushmore
One of the toughest debates in wrestling is choosing four wrestlers who stand out above the rest as part of a proverbial Mount Rushmore, but universal champion Roman Reigns tried his had at it this week.
During an appearance on Complex's Load Management podcast (h/t WrestlingInc's Austin Lee), Reigns threw his wrestling Mount Rushmore nominations into the fray:
"I'm just going to start with 'Taker—that's the easy one in my mind, especially when it comes to overall. I think especially when it comes to the way he's continued to do it, it's The Rock. Now we're getting into a really tough zone, because you have to add Stone Cold Steve Austin because of what he stood for and transitioning the game.
"I almost put these two dudes in the same category—Hulk Hogan and John Cena. They are really similar with the kind of characters they were and the audience they drew."
Reigns skirted the system to some degree by mentioning five wrestlers instead of four, but it is difficult to argue with his picks. The Rock, Austin, Hogan and Cena are arguably the four biggest stars in wrestling history, especially in terms of crossover appeal.
The Undertaker is in a different category since he never attempted to make the move to Hollywood, but essentially everyone inside the wrestling business and every fan respects what he has been able to accomplish for the past three decades.
Reigns is a big star in his own right, and now that he has turned heel and aligned himself with Paul Heyman, he has a chance to go on the best run of his career.
It is difficult to say if Reigns will ever put himself in position to be considered Mount Rushmore-worthy, but it is difficult to argue with the notion that he is the biggest full-time WWE star of the past decade or so.
Wrestling Mount Rushmore opinions vary from person to person, but given Reigns' status as a locker room leader and someone who grew up in a wrestling family, his opinion carries plenty of weight.
Cardona Discusses AEW Status
Matt Cardona has not been seen on All Elite Wrestling programming in recent weeks, and he explained why this week.
During an appearance on the Pro Wrestling Junkies Podcast (h/t WrestlingInc's Sai Mohan), Cardona divulged that he signed a short-term contract with AEW that expired after All Out on Sept. 5. Cardona added: "That's the place to be right now. To be there even for a month, and do a couple of matches, was a lot of fun. It was great to just be out there and be myself again. Hopefully, we'll do it again soon."
Cardona also expressed his desire to become a full-time member of the AEW roster at some point.
Most wrestling fans know Cardona for his WWE run as Zack Ryder. Under the Ryder name, Cardona was part of WWE's main roster from 2007 until his release in April.
Cardona held the United States, Intercontinental and Tag Team Championships, but he was used as an enhancement talent for most of his time with the company.
He initially made a big impact in AEW by saving his real-life friend, Cody, from an attack at the hands of Dark Order.
Cardona then teamed with Dustin Rhodes, Scorpio Sky and Q.T. Marshall in a winning effort against Dark Order at All Out.
There is plenty of value in having a veteran like Cardona on the roster, especially since he has name recognition from his time in WWE and because of his Major Wrestling Figure Podcast.
Given those factors, it seems likely that AEW will find a more permanent spot for him on the roster in the near future.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).
Roman Reigns Heel Turn Rumors; Strowman-Vince McMahon; Cardona on WWE Contract
Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from WWE and AEW.
Roman's Pairing with Heyman a Long Time Coming
It'd be understandable if you saw Roman Reigns' surprising return at SummerSlam and his subsequent pairing with Paul Heyman as the latest in WWE's slapped-together booking. The whole thing feels rushed, in large part because it was set up in service to a pay-per-view that was nonsensically scheduled one week after SummerSlam.
Turns out the Roman-Heyman connection has been in the offing for some time.
Dave Meltzer said on Sunday's Main Event podcast that Reigns has been wanting to turn heel for some time, and WWE paired him with Heyman because he's been seldom on television since Brock Lesnar's post-WrestleMania hiatus.
Reigns' turn has been the most intriguing storyline WWE's put out in months. Even though there are some clear logical fallacies going on—since when can you just sign a contract mid-match?—Heel Roman is something fans have clamored for and are now getting.
It'll be interesting to see what direction they take Reigns under Heyman's wing. Let's hope he doesn't fall into the "cowardly heel" trope WWE loves so much and can be a dominant force for (kayfabe) evil.
Braun Asked Vince Permission to Shave Head
When Braun Strowman debuted his new bald-headed look, most fan reactions were the same: Thank you. Strowman's hairline had been sprinting to the back of his scalp for years, and the Monster Among Men himself knew things weren't looking follically sound.
"I called Vince and I said, 'Vince it's time to get rid of this crappy hair.' He's like, 'Well, why?' Well for one, it looks bad and two, I'm about to get a little nasty," Strowman said of his conversation with Vince McMahon on a WWE Chronicle documentary.
Strowman said McMahon gave him the thumbs-up to get rid of his hair the next day, and he made his bald-headed debut earlier this month.
With Strowman set to return to a menacing heel role, the baldie gives his character a more menacing look as is, so this is a positive change all around.
Matt Cardona Talks WWE Release
While Matt Cardona was not expecting his WWE release in April, per se, he wasn't exactly against it. Cardona told Nick Hausman of Wrestling Inc. that he was fully prepared for his departure:
"When we found out the cuts will be coming that day, like I said, I'm always ready. It's not just a cute hashtag. I already set up my Pro Wrestling Tees store. I'm like, I'm ready. Let's go. Let's go baby. It sounds crazy to say, but I wasn't calling anyone begging for it, but inside I was begging for it please. Please let this happen because for over a year, I hadn't signed a new contract. I was debating, do I stay [or] do I go because like you said, I felt like a lifer there.
"I spent my whole adult life, my real professional career there, so I wasn't sure what to do, and when the decision was made for me, it was like thank God. It was this instant sigh of relief, and I was so excited to go do the things I always wanted to do. And I already had the Pro Wrestling Tees store ready to go, and I just had to call up Ryan at Pro Wrestling Tees. I said make it live, so I was pumped which it sounds crazy. Even me saying it right now, seems ridiculous. It seems untrue, but that's the truth right there. I was so happy and so excited for the future."
Cardona, who wrestled in WWE under the name Zack Ryder, spent nearly a decade-and-a-half with the company. WWE released several longtime employees, ranging from wrestlers to backstage producers, early in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cardona is currently signed to a short-term contract with AEW.
Zack Ryder Says WWE Requested to Use His Pool for Otis, Mandy Rose Segment
Matt Cardona, better known for his time in WWE as Zack Ryder before being fired this year, said the company contacted his girlfriend, NXT superstar Chelsea Green, and asked if they could use his pool for a segment featuring Otis and Mandy Rose.
Cardona told the story on his Major Wrestling Figure podcast (h/t Wrestling Inc.):
"I'm sitting by the pool with Chelsea, and she has a weird look on her face. She's checking her phone, and I'm like, 'Babe, what's up?' She's like, 'Uh, someone from WWE asked me if Otis, Mandy Rose, and a camera crew can come here to film a pool scene for SmackDown.' I was shaking in anger. Shaking in anger. You fired me, but you want to use my pool?
"I had a tweet sent, and I say this sometimes, 'Don't press send.' [Laughs] It was a 'Don't press send' tweet. I was just very, like, 'You fired me, but you want to use my pool a couple weeks later?' ... I was pissed. The fact is they didn't even ask me, they asked her!"
Cardona lives near the WWE Performance Center, where all shows have been taped for the last few months.
WWE wound up finding a different pool, which was likely being used for the Fast Times at Ridgemont High parody segment they ran last month.
Cardona was one of several WWE employees let go as the company cut costs because of the coronavirus pandemic. He had been with WWE since 2005.
Dustin Rhodes on Leaving WWE for AEW, Johnny Gargano Praises Triple H, More
Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from AEW and WWE.
Dustin Rhodes Talks Leaving WWE for AEW
Dustin Rhodes has made a big impact in AEW since making his debut for the company at Double or Nothing last year, but he didn't exactly have a ton of momentum on his side when he made the leap.
Rhodes was essentially sitting on the sidelines in WWE as Goldust until he asked for his release and had new life breathed into his career by facing his brother, Cody, at Double or Nothing.
Appearing on the AEW Unrestricted podcast with Tony Schiavone and Aubrey Edwards (h/t WrestlingInc.com's Jason Ounpraseuth), Rhodes discussed what went into his decision to leave WWE and accept a match against Cody in AEW:
"When you're sitting at home for a couple of months with another company who doesn't value you at all, and you're sitting there knowing you have so much more to offer, you kind of lose you passion. And for the first time in my 31 years, I lost my passion for the wrestling business. I love wrestling. Came out of my mother's womb wanting to be a wrestler, and we were raised that way. Dad wanted something different for me. He did not want me to go through the hardships that he went through, and I understand it looking back at it now, but I'm sitting there just knowing I have so much more to give.
"They just will not give me the time of day, and I had enough. I said enough was enough, and for the first time, I kind of stood up for myself in a big way and said, 'I am quitting. I am asking you for my release. I am done. I'm not happy here anymore,' and you know how they do, they kind of make you wait for it. It was getting close to Double or Nothing, and Cody called me. He said, 'would you like to work a match with me?"
Dustin noted that he and Cody had pitched facing each other on a big stage in WWE many times, but were always met with resistance. Dustin admitted that while he wanted to face Cody at Double or Nothing he had some reservations.
The 51-year-old was worried about whether he could keep up and how the crowd would receive him, but the decision to go to AEW worked out well, as he and Cody put on what many considered to be one of the best matches of the year.
Now, Dustin is a key part of the AEW roster and will compete in the semifinals of the TNT Championship tournament against Lance Archer on Wednesday's episode of Dynamite after beating Kip Sabian in the first round last week.
While Dustin will likely primarily be used to teach younger stars and put them over, he is seemingly in a good spot in AEW and happy with his role.
Gargano Calls Triple H a 'Genius'
Johnny Gargano has been one of the faces of NXT for the past few years, and it is clear that he has a great deal of respect for his boss.
Triple H founded NXT several years ago as a developmental territory and has helped build it into a legitimate third brand for WWE. While the talent has played a big role in that, so has Triple H's knack for creative booking.
During an interview this week with Planeta Wrestling (h/t Felix Upton of Ringside News), Johnny Wrestling spoke highly of Triple H's mind for the business:
"I'm lucky to be working with Triple H. He's a genius. I'm not just saying that because he's my boss. I'm saying that because it's true. I've worked hand in hand with him kind of piecing things together and he always has these ideas that are just next level. He thinks on a different platform like no one else."
NXT has long been heralded as the best-booked show in not only WWE, but professional wrestling as a whole. Triple H is one of the people behind it, and Gargano has played a big role in the success of the brand as an on-screen performer as well.
Gargano's long-running rivalry with Tommaso Ciampa is among the best and most memorable wrestling feuds in years, and it culminated a few weeks ago in an hour-long, cinematic match on NXT TV.
Ciampa and Gargano seem to be splitting off with Ciampa entering into a feud with Karrion Kross and Gargano starting a heel act with his wife Candice LeRae, but with Triple H at the helm, it is safe to assume he will find a logical and entertaining way to utilize all involved.
Chelsea Green Talks Zack Ryder's WWE Release
Chelsea Green is a rising star in the NXT women's division, but the past couple of weeks have put her in a unique position, as two people very close to her parted ways with WWE.
Green's fiance, Zack Ryder, and one of her best friends, Deonna Purrazzo, were both released from WWE as part of wide-ranging budgets cuts amid the coronavirus pandemic.
During an interview with the Win Column Sports Network (h/t WrestlingInc.com's Marc Middleton), discussed what it was like to watch her fiance and best friend lose their jobs:
"I know, and everyone on social media's like 'Oh my god, poor Chelsea!' I'm like, well, no, I have a job, I'm very, very thankful that I have a job, because who knows? If this cut had've come three months ago, I might not have had a job. It was just you had to be in the right place, or the wrong place, at the wrong time. Unfortunately, this is not the first time that this has happened. This has been happening all over the world in every profession, and it's really, really unfortunate that two of the people who are closest to me in my life were released, but on the other hand, both of them are going to go on to do so much more, and I would feel terrible if that wasn't the case, but that's the case."
Green noted that both Ryder and Purrazzo have "so much potential" and noted that she is "excited" to see what they're able to do once they're able to take bookings.
Of all the released that occurred, Ryder's was among the most surprising since he had been with WWE as a main roster wrestler uninterrupted since 2007 and originally signed a developmental deal with the company back in 2015.
While much of Ryder's time in WWE was spent as a lower-card performer, he won both the Intercontinental and United States Championships and held the Tag Team titles on multiple occasions with Curt Hawkins.
Purrazzo officially signed with WWE in 2018 after experiencing success in Ring of Honor, Impact Wrestling and other companies. While the 25-year-old is supremely talented, she never got a true push in NXT.
Now isn't an ideal time for anyone in wrestling to get released since the COVID-19 pandemic has limited their ability to quickly find work elsewhere, but both Ryder and Purrazzo are talented performers who will have plenty to offer any number of companies in the future.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).
WWE Should Thank Zack Ryder for Ushering in Social Media Era
Last week saw WWE management furlough or release dozens of employees and Superstars due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. While most of the names on the list weren't surprising, there were a few people fans were shocked to see included.
One of those names was Zack Ryder, whose real name is Matt Cardona. At the time of his release, he had been with WWE for almost 15 years going back to his time in the developmental system.
Ryder debuted on the revamped version of ECW in May 2007 as one half of The Major Brothers alongside Curt Hawkins. They were billed as brothers due to their similar appearance but once they aligned with Edge as members of La Familia, they began going by Ryder and Hawkins.
The Long Island native is a former tag team, United States and intercontinental champion in addition to being a three-time Slammy award winner.
People might like to categorize Ryder as a bro who is more worried about partying, tanning and buying action figures than he is with his career, but he is actually a trailblazer who helped change professional wrestling forever.
The YouTube Superstar
With all of the different platforms WWE has, it's easy to forget there was a time when the company was behind the rest of the entertainment world when it came to social media.
Twitter, Facebook Instagram and YouTube were barely being used to promote the product before Ryder forced management to see how important these services are to creating relationships with the WWE Universe.
When he first began making episodes of Z! True Long Island Story, he did it because he wasn't being booked well or challenged creatively by WWE, and he needed an outlet for his ideas that did not have to go through a company filter.
The videos were designed to help get him over while he wasn't being used on television. He would often vent his frustrations with vlogs, comedic segments and jokes at both the company's and his own expense.
The videos were an instant hit, and fans began taking notice immediately. As the show grew in popularity, so did the Long Islander.
Matt Hardy, who was one of the first wrestlers to harness the power of the internet with The Hardy Show, praised Ryder on Twitter:
All Elite Wrestling's Cody Rhodes also shared some kind words about his friend on Instagram:
"I'd like to take a moment to say how proud I am to be a friend of @zryder85—In a world of weekend warriors and "play wrestlers", this dude exudes passion and drive for pro-wrestling like no other. Through 14 years to see him CONSISTENTLY try to better himself (whether that be his in-ring work, or watching him physically mold himself and his body into such a specimen DRUG FREE with hard work and will). I have a little rule, and that's that if you've ever "gotten over" in wrestling...you can always do so again. That rule being fully applicable to Matt now."
WWE Can't Ignore His Popularity
Soon, fans were chanting "We want Ryder" during matches involving other Superstars at shows where he wasn't booked. It was a grassroots movement that took him from being someone who couldn't get booked to being one of the most popular stars on the roster.
His merchandise was selling out, and the crowd was regularly filled with kids and adults wearing The Broski's shirts and headbands.
While he continued making episodes for his personal YouTube channel, other Superstars began to take notice and would often appear on the show to support their friend. Dolph Ziggler became a frequent contributor and John Cena even made an appearance in one episode.
As each video gained him more popularity, WWE had no choice but to begin using him on television. Ryder quickly found himself not only getting more time on Raw, but he was also named the assistant SmackDown general manager in 2011 so he could appear on both shows.
He even found himself sharing a ring with Wolverine himself. Hugh Jackman helped The Broski defeat Ziggler on a 2011 episode of Raw, helping him earn a U.S. title shot in the process.
The peak of Ryder's run happened at the post-TLC 2011 edition of Raw. CM Punk, Daniel Bryan and Ryder celebrated their respective title wins from the pay-per-view in front of thousands of screaming fans.
They were internet darlings who made it to the top of the mountain in the largest promotion in the world. It's not the kind of moment WWE gives us all the time.
WWE Learns From Ryder's Success
When Ryder first started making these videos in 2011, WWE's YouTube channel was nothing like it is today. It mostly consisted of commercials for its pay-per-views and the occasional recap of a big moment. There was no original content and each video was barely getting over 100,000 views if it was lucky.
Nowadays, the official WWE YouTube channel posts several videos every day. Most are recaps and replays but there is also a lot of original content, top-10 lists and everything else you could imagine. The company will even upload full versions of classic matches sometimes.
In fact, Ryder hosted another show called Zack Ryder's Iced 3 where he would look at three classic matches. He made sure to include a Major Brothers bout just because he could.
The Broski's use of other social media platforms helped him gain more new fans as his stock continued to rise in WWE. His success is why the company took such a strong approach to social media in 2012.
Remember when Michael Cole was forced to plug WWE's Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Vine and Tout accounts every 10 minutes in 2013? It was annoying but WWE can now boast more social media followers than almost any other organization in sports and entertainment.
Management eventually convinced Ryder to move his show to the main WWE channel while it began producing videos for other talents to show off their personalities. The JBL and Cole Show is just one example of a series that was inspired by his comedic efforts.
The Broski's show became more polished, but it also lost the charm of being an independent project produced outside of the company. When it reached 100 episodes, Ryder and WWE pulled the plug.
Now, tons of WWE Superstars have their own YouTube channels. Asuka does a variety of things on hers, Sheamus has his Celtic Warrior Workouts, The Bella Twins have a branded channel with 2.8 million subscribers, and stars such as R-Truth post original music. Ryder helped pave the way for these people to be successful outside of the ring.
Xavier Woods and the UpUpDownDown! crew have amassed over two million followers and featured out-of-character interviews with everyone from Stephanie McMahon and Randy Orton to Zelina Vega and Aleister Black. When it comes to Twitch, it feels like almost every wrestler has their own channel these days.
Ryder didn't just force change in his own company, though. Many wrestlers outside of WWE took notice and began promoting themselves online in various ways.
Other Superstars Follow in Ryder's Footsteps
Here, Bleacher Report's Erik Beaston (@ErikBeaston) breaks down how Ryder helped inspire others to use YouTube to get themselves over:
In hindsight, Ryder revolutionized the wrestling landscape. Without his Z! True Long Island Story laying the groundwork for wrestlers to present themselves, their characters and their creativity to the masses, there is a strong likelihood The Young Bucks would not have concocted Being The Elite, which became a platform for them and their friends to tell stories and have fun without the constraints of Ring of Honor or New Japan Pro-Wrestling storylines.
That show became such a hit and allowed the Bucks, Cody, Kenny Omega and Hangman Page to become popular enough for a billionaire from Jacksonville named Tony Khan to take a risk and create an entire company centered around them.
All Elite Wrestling exists, directly or indirectly, because Ryder showed the entire sports-entertainment industry what the power of social media could mean to its long-term success and sustainability.
The major companies like AEW and WWE aren't the only ones benefiting from Ryder's advancements. Indie wrestlers such as Danhausen and Warhorse have huge followings on Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook, something the former directly attributed to Ryder in a grateful post:
The industry is alive and thriving, indie promotions have greater visibility and their wrestlers have followings they never would have had without Ryder providing the framework on how to get yourself over when management cannot be bothered to.
That, perhaps, is his legacy in the industry, for which an entire generation of wrestlers should be aware and thankful for.
A big thanks to Erik Beaston for his contributions to this article. You can follow Cardona on Twitter and see him and Hawkins on The Major Wrestling Figure Podcast. Follow me on Twitter @BR_Doctor.