What Happened To WWE Superstar Ryback?
Contents
In this blog post, we take a look at what happened to WWE superstar Ryback. After a successful run in the WWE, Ryback has largely disappeared from the public eye. So, what happened to him?
Introduction
WWE Superstar Ryback was one of the most popular wrestlers in the world. He was known for his strong looks and his impressive physique. However, in recent years, Ryback has been largely absent from the WWE. So what happened to WWE superstar Ryback?
It is believed that Ryback quit the WWE due to creative differences. Ryback was reportedly unhappy with the way he was being used by the WWE. He felt that he was being underutilized and that his potential was not being realized. As a result, Ryback chose to leave the WWE in 2016.
Since then, Ryback has made a number of appearances on independent wrestling shows. He has also been very critical of the WWE, particularly their booking decisions. In 2018, Ryback launched his own podcast called “Conversation with The Big Guy” where he regularly talks about the wrestling business and offers his own unique insights.
It is unclear if Ryback will ever return to the WWE. However, given his popularity with fans, it is certainly possible that he could make a return at some point in the future.
His Early Career
Ryback Allen Reeves was born on November 10, 1981, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was raised by his father after his parents divorced when he was just a baby. Reeves had a difficult upbringing and was often bullied as a child. When he was 11 years old, his father committed suicide. Reeves has said that this event had a profound impact on him and that it changed his life forever.
Reeves began lifting weights at the age of 15 and soon developed an interest in bodybuilding. He competed in his first bodybuilding competition when he was 18 years old. After finishing high school, Reeves enrolled at the University of Nevada Las Vegas but dropped out after one semester to pursue a career in professional wrestling.
His Time in WWE
Superstar Ryback was born on November 10, 1981, as Ryan Reeves in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was signed by WWE in 2010 and made his in-ring debut that same year.
Ryback quickly began making a name for himself, winning the FCW Florida Heavyweight Championship and the FCW Tag Team Championship with Chip before being called up to the main roster.
He made his debut on the WWE main roster as part of The Nexus, a stable of former NXT superstars who went on a rampage through WWE, destroying everything and everyone in their path. However, Ryback would be forced to leave The Nexus after sustaining an injury.
He would go on to have success as a singles competitor, becoming WWE’s Intercontinental Champion and having memorable matches with the likes of CM Punk and John Cena. But after a series of injuries, Ryback was eventually released by WWE in 2016.
Since then, he has gone on to have success outside of WWE, appearing in New Japan Pro Wrestling and getting his own podcast and YouTube channel called “Conversations with The Big Guy.”
His Departure from WWE
In May 2016, it was reported that Ryback had not renewed his contract with WWE, which was set to expire in August. This led to rumors that he would be departing the company. In July, Ryback spoke out against WWE’s creative direction, stating that he was “not happy” with how he was being used. He also noted that WWE had failed to give him a “real opportunity” to show what he could do in the past year.
On August 3, 2016, Ryback’s profile was removed from the WWE website’s alumni section, indicating that he had left the company. The following day, Ryback confirmed his departure from WWE on Twitter. He noted that he had asked for his release months earlier, but WWE had refused to grant it. He also thanked the fans for their support.
His Return to the Independent Circuit
In 2017, Ryback made his return to the independent wrestling circuit. He made his first appearance for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) on July 29, at their thirteenth anniversary show, where he defeated Jeff Cobb. On October 13 at All Star Weekend XIV, Ryback defeated Sammy Guevara to become the inaugural PWG World Champion. He then retained his title against Trent? in a rematch on December 1. The following day, Ryback lost the championship to WALTER in a triple threat match, also involving Zack Sabre Jr..
On March 3, 2018, at PWG’s Fifteen Anniversary Show, Ryback defeated FLAMITA to win the 2018 Battle of Los Angeles. In May, Ryback took part in two big independent events. The first was the 2018 Over the Top Wrestling (OTT) Scrappermania 4 show in Dublin, Ireland, where he teamed with Keith Lee and Walter in a six-man tag team match, defeating Joe Coffey and The Kings of the North (Bonesaw and Damien Corvin).
His Health Issues
Ryback has been open about his struggles with depression and anxiety, which led to him self-medicating with alcohol and drugs. In October of 2018, he revealed on his podcast that he had been sober for over a year. He credited WWE’s Goldberg for helping him turn his life around, as well as therapy and medication.
Ryback has also struggled with weight issues throughout his career. In 2016, he was pulled from a match at WrestleMania 32 due to concerns about his weight. He was subsequently suspended from WWE for 30 days.
In August of 2018, Ryback revealed that he had undergone laparoscopic surgery to remove a mass from his stomach. The mass was later revealed to be benign.
His Legal Issues
Over the past few years, there have been many WWE superstars who have left the company for one reason or another. Some have gone on to great success outside of WWE, while others have faded into obscurity. One superstar who seems to have disappeared from the public eye is Ryback.
Ryback, real name Ryan Reeves, was a popular superstar during his time in WWE. He was a former Intercontinental Champion and even had a stint as WWE World Heavyweight Champion. However, he left WWE in 2016 after his contract expired.
Since leaving WWE, Ryback has largely disappeared from the public eye. He has made a few sporadic wrestling appearances, but nothing consistent. So what happened to Ryback?
It appears that much of Ryback’s current problems stem from legal issues. In 2017, he was sued by a former personal assistant for sexual harassment and wrongful termination. The case is still ongoing, but it has clearly taken its toll on Ryback both mentally and financially.
In addition to his legal troubles, Ryback has also struggled with substance abuse issues in recent years. He has been open about his struggles with addiction and has even gone to rehab on multiple occasions.
It’s clear that Ryback has had some personal issues to deal with in recent years, which has contributed to his disappearance from the public eye. It’s unknown what the future holds for him, but hopefully he can get his life back on track soon.
His Recent Activities
As of late, Ryback has been very critical of WWE on his podcast “Conversation with The Big Guy.” He has been vocal about the company’s treatment of wrestlers, specifically overworked schedules and underpaid contracts. He has also spoken out against WWE’s use of part-time wrestlers, while full-time wrestlers are used less often. In general, Ryback seems to be unhappy with the current state of WWE and professional wrestling.
