WWE Raw Superstar of the Week (06/05/13)

Image credit: wrestling-android.blogspot.com

The reaction that a performer gets when doing his thing in a WWE ring goes a long way in determining the future of that performer, and whether he is going to stay a fan favourite or turn heel. In that way, the WWE superstars are no different than rockstars or comedians or other such ‘entertainers’. It also adds a huge wrinkle to the character when he/she is going after the title.

Ryback has been an unstoppable runaway train, laying to waste every single wrestler who has crossed his path so far (I emphasize single as Shield is a group). But when the top of the card was stacked with so many ‘good guys’, his act was starting to wear out and he can’t go bulldozing people around forever. Thus, I was very excited as a fan when he attacked Cena and made his intentions of going after the WWE title clear. I couldn’t help but wonder if fans, especially the young ones that he seems to have quite a few of, would care about his heel turn. But this past episode of RAW proved me wrong, as he was very good as the bad guy that everyone would love to hate. His mic-work was effective when he confronted Cena, despite Cena making dumb jokes at his expense, and laid down the stipulation for their match at Extreme Rules. He was every bit as believable as the monster during his backstage segment with the tag champs, Daniel B & Kane.

That segment led to a match between the two big guys, who worked well together to give a good match, and in another impressive show of strength, Ryback hit Kane with a Shell-shock for the victory. After the match, the Shield & Cena got involved, as Ryback used a chair on the champ and left him laying in the middle of raining boos. It was just the right reaction for his character and just the validation he needed for doubters, myself included, to believe in him as the company’s leading heel vying for the title.

Quite deservingly, Ryback is the ‘Superstar of the Week’.