Part 5/10:
Ryback, initially gaining fame as Skip Sheffield in WWE’s first season of NXT, skyrocketed in popularity as the powerhouse Ryback, squashing opponents and winning fans over. However, creative decisions hampered his momentum, most notably during key title matches that ended in disappointment and subsequent injuries that halted his ascent.
Despite winning the Intercontinental Championship, Ryback struggled with inconsistent booking, and personal frustrations culminated in a contract dispute that led to his exit from the company. His controversial post-WWE rhetoric has made his reputation falter, tarnishing what was once a promising career.