SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
The following is the AMA that Skip Shieffield, a/k/a Ryback, did on Reddit just over a week ago in which he talks about his time in WWE, why he doesn’t miss it, some of his key controversies, and his future including whether it includes AEW.
SKIP SHEFFIELD: I got injured and that name died forever.
THE RYBACK NAME: The energy for a year was unreal and something very special to have been a part of. I created the Ryback name and own everything now with my branding. I simply just don’t want Vince to have anything of mine and would be fine with them erasing me from their archives. Wrestlers should own their names if they created them, bottom line.
HIS SINGLETS: I had a guy who made them and then a woman who would air brush them. We had a pretty efficient system to get them done every month.
DECIDING ON HIS FINISHER: The backpack stunner, but that destroyed my back just using it on live events and TV sometimes, but it was between those two.
FEED ME MORE CHANT: I created it when I was a server in Louisville, Ky. The cooks used to joke about me eating all the time and it became a thing. In WWE I said it when I wanted more competition and it just worked. They never had any say in any of the things I used for catch phrases or nicknames. I had them use Big Hungry early on and Vince hated it so they stopped.
LOCKER ROOM HANDSHAKES: Most people adhere to this still. It’s simply a respect thing.
THE WWE TRAVEL SCHEDULE: Hotel rooms become like a prison in my experience. It’s just a lonely existence, and grows old very quickly. The live events are what fuels most. Live events are the fun days, tv is a whole other animal with commercial breaks and over produced segments from people who shouldn’t be giving match insight. Night and day.
THE SHIELD: Love those guys. Enjoyed working with all 3 and had some great matchups with them. Happy for Dean taking a break and leaving, all talent should explore that.
VS. MARK HENRY AT WRESTLEMANIA XIX: That was done to again damage my character. Me winning would have helped, that was all done by design and nothing I could do. I like Mark a lot, he is a good human and a freak of nature.
CM PUNK’S PODCAST RANT: Nobody ever questioned working with me that I was aware of. I was just told in Media not to respond to questions about him. He has personal issues with me because his bullshit didn’t work with me. Karma dealt with him already. You would hear more stories of me hurting people if that were the case, but it simply isn’t. His steroid allegations are out of pure jealousy. The guy has shit genetics and can’t even get abs cutting weight with mma training. Our history is in the past and I wish him all the best out of wrestling, but his remarks were done purposely from other personal occurrences.
BULLY GIMMICK: Was just playing a character that Vince wanted. It was nothing more than a role.
PAUL HEYMAN: Biggest bullshitter in the game, but he has done well for himself.
CHRIS JERICHO: Jericho always had something good to say. Always appreciated working with him.
CURTIS AXEL: Trying to pop each other in promos and in the ring. Some of the most fun times up there believe it or not and one of my favorite people.
GETTING ELIMINATION FIRST AT SURVIVOR SERIES 2014: Another big moment used to hurt the momentum.
ELIMINATION CHAMBER 2015: Mark’s pod broke and the entire match changed. It there everyone off and everything that was lined up her to be adjusted with a lot of guys trapped in the ring. Wade laughed all the way to the back, it’s actually quite funny how it all played out, but it was a mess.
WINNING THE INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE: The guys in the back giving a standing applause outside of gorilla meant the most to me. It was just a role with a prop.
WINNING A WORLD TITLE: Either would have been great. The whole WrestleMania Cena booking was the nail in the coffin of that first run of Ryback. Had all MERCH pulled when in the number 2 spot during that time also. They went out of their way to ruin everything built. While there I never let it slow me down and continued to bust my ass after all that and watched them toy with money and opportunities, but that’s life there. They would have ruined it no matter what the route was. I have explained my ankle situation on the podcast. They were never going to let me do anything in the top spot ever, so leaving was easy.
FAVORITE WWE MOMENT: First main event standing on the cell was a pretty cool moment.
SWITCHING TO TIGHTS: Just to show Vince what was leaving. I knew it would piss him off as well because I didn’t ask for approval and just went out there one night in them. I already made my mind up I would be leaving, just didn’t know when yet.
BACKSTAGE REACTION TO SAVING KALISTO AT PAYBACK 2016: There was none that I can recall. Nobody pays attention to the pre show matches. I believe he thanked me, we got along great. It was just instinct and he would have done the same.
HIS MMA ANGLE: It was very similar to that. Yeah I wanted to get the **** out of there and do something else. I had nothing to lose and could have gotten paid to be at home and just train. I was also seriously hurting and wanted time off, so figured if I could pitch it into an angle then all would be alright.
WWE MANAGEMENT: I have explained all of this on the podcast. I played my role to perfection and as you can see, when they don’t want someone to keep getting over they will go out of their way to cool them off. How anyone ever blames this on the talent is beyond me.
ANY GOOD TRIPLE H STORIES?: I once went into his office to speak with him about creative and he knew I was pissed and first thing he says is “I get it you’re pissed you had to drop the title to a fat piece of shit like KO.” I went in there over booking for Kalisto and had nothing to do with KO. He loves to talk shit about everyone behind their backs. He routinely would talk shit about Punk to me early on.
BIGGEST WWE GRIPES: The pay structure and how you’re not allowed to ask questions or have access to certain information.
LEAVING WWE: Best decision of my life. Watch Shawshank Redemption when Andy breaks free.
LOOKING BACK ON WWE CAREER: My career was exactly what they wanted. I played every role to perfection. Maybe in the eyes of some fans that treat the championships as real, but it’s all just roles to me.
AEW: Once I’m healthy I will speak to Cody if I feel I can contribute in a meaningful way. They are going to do very well over time I believe. They have an opportunity to do wrestling the way it always should have been done.
WORKING IN JAPAN: I think it’s well known inside wrestling of my health and that I’m not working right now. Japan isn’t an option my dog has broken her back four times in 15 months and had disc disease, so I have had to take care of her during all of this. That is more important to me. Have had 11 stem cell procedures for back and shoulder and two more in the summer. Business is my number one concern while getting healthy right now.
INDY WRESTLING: It is a great way to earn a living, but have taken a break from it to heal from all the stem cell procedures. Some really great promotions out there. Northeast Wrestling is probably number one in my opinion on just overall running consistent great shows for fans. It depends on the talent and mindset, but most guys make 500 dollars a show in WWE; they can easily get that on the Indies and work whatever schedule they like, but booking your own schedule is totally different than just showing up and having someone else handle all that for you. If a talent is frustrated creatively and financially, they have more options now to earn a living in wrestling.
DREAM MATCHES: Would have loved to Wrestle Edge, Eddie (Guerrero), and (Chris) Benoit.
CONVERSATION WITH THE BIG GUY PODCAST: Everything I have said is 100 percent truth. Some people can’t handle the truth.
WHAT HAPPENED WITH HIS ORIGINAL CO-HOST: He was caught stealing and put the show in his name and lied about it. It was an embarrassing situation and it’s sad to see him try and capitalize off his lies, but as you can see he failed with his show. It will be explained in my upcoming book in much greater detail, but he completely lied about everything. The guy is forever dead to me.
LIFE IN GENERAL: We live in a negative world. I believe being negative is okay, but it’s being positive in negative situations and living your best life. Who we surround ourselves with is key.
LAST WEEK WITH JOHN OLIVER: I’m raising awareness for the wrestlers. Vince has done a lot of bad things and I don’t put them on a pedestal like some. I treat good fans with love and respect, if I get something else I return it. I don’t consider bullet heads fans of anything though. The best thing we can do is pressure the sponsors of WWE; that is a large chunk of their money. I wish people would understand there is a great fear inside wrestling to speak up on this, but legally I can ruin them. And for what they have done to me and try to do to me, I have no problems speaking up for the talent. Change will happen eventually.
WWE UNION: Yes, this problem is something we all know has to be dealt with, but talent will be fired and lose out on opportunities for future money if they speak up. If everyone did at once change will happen, but it’s a really f—ed up situation. A union would protect the wrestlers from a man who uses their bodies to earn billions. There are no downsides to this and something needs to be done. They get away with murder there, and it’s beyond unfortunate the talent as a whole get treated how they do.
WHAT INVENTION WOULD HE HAVE COME UP WITH: Sponge Daddy
CHEAT MEALS: Pizza and doughnuts, maybe a rice crispy treat.
CLOTHESLINING A WOMAN IN HIS FEED ME MORE COMMERCIALS: The video went viral and increased sales. It served its purpose
CURRENT WWE PRODUCT: Still watch occasionally and think Elias is great along with Otis. I f—ing love Otis.
THE NEW BRAY WYATT: I love Bray and he will make anything work. Adding layers to the character and will be fun to see what he does with it.
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