Ryback opens today’s show by talking about Daniel Bryan’s return to the ring. Ryback thinks Bryan has felt as if he’s been healthy for a long time, and he suspected that Bryan would be leaving WWE when his contract expired so he’d be able to wrestle again. He’s very happy for Bryan because Bryan wouldn’t take no for an answer, and he continued to work hard in an effort to be cleared.
He saw Bryan at Rusev’s wedding last year, and he could tell that Bryan was very frustrated with not being able to compete in the ring. He loved that Bryan’s promo last week focused on being grateful, because he knows how grateful Bryan is. He thought Bryan looked great in the ring last week, pointing out that he hasn’t missed a beat.
However, Ryback thought WWE could have eased Bryan into physical action instead of having him take a powerbomb on the ring apron on his first night back. On the other hand, Bryan only has one gear – full speed ahead at all times – and that’s probably why the fans love him so much. Ryback notes that Bryan is a really great guy and it’s so easy to cheer for him.
Ryback mentions that WWE and Hulk Hogan have apparently been in discussions about a return recently. He thinks this is good news and a step in the right direction. If Hogan and WWE have mutual interest in working with each other again he’s sure they’ll find a way to make it happen.
However, WWE has a lot of major sponsors and he’s sure they’ll have to deal with some criticism from some sponsors. He notes that humans are great at forgiving and time heals all wounds. Hogan’s a cornerstone of WWE and Ryback thinks Vince McMahon will always be grateful and appreciative of what Hogan did for his company.
Ryback informs that he saw the Ultimate Deletion last Monday on RAW and he thought it was good. He’s getting a sense that Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt might soon be teaming together, and he thinks that’d be a great idea. It would add a new dynamic to Wyatt’s character, and it would allow WWE to do some comedic things with Wyatt.
Ryback comments on the news that Mark Henry will inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2018. He points out that you won’t find many people who’ll criticize Henry, and he really enjoyed his time working with him. Ryback recalls Henry teasing a retirement several times over the years, telling all of his co-workers that he was getting ready to hang up the boots. However, Vince McMahon would always convince him to sign for another year, and then another year, and so on.
He also points out that Kid Rock will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year. People love to criticize nowadays, but Ryback thinks this makes perfect sense from a business standpoint. He also notes that this opens up the option to have Kid Rock perform Undertaker’s “American Badass” theme live at WrestleMania this year. Ryback thinks it’d be cool if WWE did that, but then had Undertaker’s “Deadman” theme start right after. Undertaker would then come out as the Deadman. He thinks a mix of themes like that would be pretty cool.
Ryback comments on the announcement of the “Greatest Royal Rumble Ever” which will take place in Saudi Arabia. There has been some criticism to this announcement online, with some people pointing out that Women will be unable to compete there due to the societal norms of that area. Ryback points out that WWE can’t really control those kind of things, and he’s sure they’d have the Women competing there if they could.
Ryback sends his best wishes to Vader, who has had heart issues over the last couple of years. He points out that he just wants Vader to be healthy, after the big man has given his life to the business for the last several decades. Vader has said that he wants to continue to wrestle, and if he dies in the ring he’d be okay with that. Ryback points out that it’s nobody’s right to tell someone else what they should want, but he thinks there’s a time and a place for everyone to hang up their boots because health comes first.
A listener writes into the show and asks Ryback for some advice on how to become a professional wrestler even though he’s just 5’2”. Ryback urges him to work relentlessly, find a way to make himself standout, and learn how to sell. He points out that an undersized performer needs to be more aggressive and intense than people would expect.
Ryback points out that it looks as if CM Punk will be returning to the Octagon for another UFC fight soon. He wishes Punk all the best, and he’d love to see Punk have success in his second UFC bout.
That sums up today’s episode of Conversation With the Big Guy. You can listen to the show yourself anytime here, and I’ll catch ya next week for another recap!
