WWE News: Ryback Reportedly Sent Home Amid Contractual Dispute
It appears that Ryback’s stint with the WWE could be near its end as “The Big Guy” was sent home from Monday’s RAW tapings due to a contractual dispute, according to PWInsider.
The report states that Ryback asked to be taken off television and will remain off television for the foreseeable future. Both WWE and Ryback have been engaged in talks about a new contract but have yet to reach any sort of agreement.
To add more speculation to Ryback’s future with WWE, he has added his real name, Ryan Reeves, to his Twitter bio.
The 34-year-old former Intercontinental champion’s contract expires this summer, per the report. Ryback’s most recent WWE appearance came at Payback last night. He faced Kalisto for the United States championship in a rematch from their Wrestlemania 32 bout.
Just like Wrestlemania 32, the United States championship match was relegated to the pre-show. In a recent interview with Dubai media personality Myles, Ryback expressed his frustration with competing on the pre-show at WWE’s biggest stage.
“To be quite honest, absolutely not. The last three [WrestleManias] have not been great. I’m not going to go into a lot of detail on that but it would’ve been nice to be on the show where both of us belong. The US Title definitely belongs on there. Hopefully next year, if there is a next year, that it will be a better experience.”
Ryback had some fun before the match, mocking the entrance of former WWE superstar CM Punk in front of a raucous Chicago crowd. The match with Kalisto was also well-received, despite Ryback losing to the Lucha Dragons member for the second consecutive pay-per-view.
#WWEPayback PHOTOS: #TheBigGuy @Ryback22 once again set his sights on taking the #USTitle from @KalistoWWE! https://t.co/Bp0nUDzl5C
— WWE (@WWE) May 2, 2016
WWE Hall of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler said that the match may have been the best of Ryback’s career. That compliment was likely a source of pride for Ryback as he also expressed to Myles the desire to constantly improve at his craft.
“Absolutely. And that is what each and every day I go out there and prove my worth and that I am a once in a lifetime WWE Superstar. I am The Big Guy, the best big guy in the world and there is nobody like me. But I will continue to plug away and be the best version of me each and every day and hopefully at the end of the night, I’m where I belong.”
If Ryback departs from WWE in the near future, he would not be the first significant departure from the company this year. Former multiple-time Intercontinental champion and League of Nations member “Bad News” Wade Barrett is reportedly done with the company. The WWE also typically has a “spring cleaning” around this time of year, releasing several performers who are not being used.
During his talk with Myles, Ryback made it clear that if his standing within the WWE Universe does not improve, he will not hesitate to find “another world” to compete in.
“I’ve heard in this business hard work doesn’t always pay off. So maybe The Big Guy has to go find another world where that does pay off. But you work really, really hard at something and you dedicate yourself, and you sometimes have to be told you’re somewhere else. That’s a tough pill to swallow time and time again but I’ve never stopped believing in myself and I never will. Next year should undoubtedly be a big year for The Big Guy.”
[Featured Image via WWE]
