31 Facts About Ryback

Ryback is best known for his tenure with WWE, where he performed from 2004 to 2016.

One of the eight finalists on WWE's Tough Enough 4, Reeves later signed a developmental contract with WWE and wrestled under the ring names Ryback and Skip Sheffield in its developmental territories Deep South Wrestling, Ohio Valley Wrestling, and Florida Championship Wrestling.

Ryback returned under the Ryback name in 2012, going on to headline multiple PPV events and becoming a one-time WWE Intercontinental Champion before being released in 2016.

Ryback would compete on the independent circuit for the next two years until his retirement in 2018.

Ryback Allen Reeves was born Ryan Allen Reeves in Las Vegas on November 10,1981.

Ryback started watching professional wrestling at the age of eight, and was a guest bell ringer at a live World Wrestling Federation event at the age of 13.

Ryback excelled at baseball and football while attending Western High School and Palo Verde High School.

Ryback played baseball during his freshman year at the Community College of Southern Nevada, but broke his leg and missed two seasons.

Ryback attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, entering its fitness management program.

Ryback spent time healing from his injuries in Las Vegas before heading to Atlanta, Georgia in March 2005.

Ryback's case was later featured on the CNN documentary Death Grip: Inside Pro Wrestling.

Ryback failed to capture the title twice more from Punk, first at Survivor Series, and then on the January 7,2013 episode of Raw, both times being interfered and attacked by The Shield.

Ryback then began a feud with Mark Henry after several non-verbal confrontations led to them attacking Drew McIntyre with their finishing moves in an attempt to one-up each other.

The match ended in a no contest after Ryback rammed Cena and himself into the electric backdrop at the top of the ramp.

Ryback was eliminated by Rusev, but Team Cena won the match, putting The Authority out of power.

Ryback defeated Team Authority member Kane in a Chairs match at TLC.

Ryback participated in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 31, but was eliminated by the eventual winner, Big Show.

At Elimination Chamber, Ryback won the vacant Intercontinental Championship, his first professional wrestling championship in WWE, by defeating Sheamus, Dolph Ziggler, R-Truth, King Barrett and Mark Henry in an Elimination Chamber match.

Owens won the match by pinfall after he raked Ryback's eyes, ending his reign at 112 days.

At Survivor Series, Ryback participated in a five-on-five elimination tag team match, teaming with The Usos and The Lucha Dragons to defeat The New Day, Sheamus and King Barrett.

On January 24,2016, Ryback competed in the Royal Rumble match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship as the ninth entrant, but was eliminated by Big Show.

Ryback teamed up with Big Show and Kane, being billed as "the titans" of WWE, to defeat Wyatt Family members Erick Rowan, Luke Harper and Braun Strowman in a six-man tag team match at Fastlane, with Ryback pinning Harper for the victory.

The next night on Raw, during a rematch between the two teams, Ryback walked out on Big Show and Kane, and later proclaimed that he was tired of being in tag team matches, turning heel for the first time since 2014.

Immediately after his WWE departure, Ryback began taking independent bookings.

Ryback amassed an undefeated streak on the independent circuit starting in August 2017, but has not wrestled since his latest victory in August 2018.

In January 2021, Ryback hinted that he may join All Elite Wrestling, and posted a video of himself standing in front of slot machines to seemingly confirm himself as the surprise entrant in the Casino Battle Royale at AEW's Double or Nothing event.

In December 2022, Ryback claimed that WWE had "given up and given their resignation" for the rights to the Ryback name, and that he was waiting for the patent office to confirm it.

Ryback said that "the next chapter begins in 2023 now that [his] health has been restored" but did not elaborate on any health issues.

The Ryback character has been described as "Goldberg meets The Ultimate Warrior meets Rob Van Dam's tights".

WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley said Ryback "had been doing a great job" in his solo promos, and that Ryback's first verbal interaction opposite Foley in 2013 "went really well".

Reeves's in-ring work as Ryback has been criticized by some writers and fans since 2012, when IGN reporter Matt Fowler described Reeves as "green", "unsafe", and lacking in stamina.