Ryback Wonders Why Winners in a Scripted Sport Like WWE Get More than Losers

"It kind of seems like they are trying to phase Ryback out of the storyline and either get him to quit, or snap and go balls to the wall to add more depth to his character. The status quo hadn’t really been working, but last night was the first evidence I’d seen that he might be on a path toward becoming a pretty money heel."

Today, we get a clear indication that things have gone south between Ryback and Vince McMahon, when he posted a message on Tumblr airing several grievances and declaring himself as feeling free after being sent home. He started by letting slip that wrestling might have pre-determined outcomes.

"Wrestling is pre determined, we as performers know before we go out to that ring or perform a backstage scene who is winning and losing etc or have a general idea of what we are going to say. It blows my mind how in a sport which is pre determined from a company standpoint winners are paid so much more than the losers. Every single person who works for WWE from top to bottom is absolutely just as valuable as the next. The winners cannot win unless the losers go out there and agree to lose to them."

Ryback went on to point out that he has taken a 12-26 record in pay-per-view events, always doing what was asked of him.

"Personally seeing my money go down over the years though even though I was working as much as ever and being denied magazine covers and other projects as well as watching my role diminish no matter what I did or how hard I tried takes its toll on a human. Being told no matter how hard I work or how good I get doesn’t always pay off is something I fucking refuse to ever believe in my life."

Ryback seems to be demanding equal pay in part. He certainly has some point. Bad guys, who ultimately may meet their doom, don’t get paid less in movies. That said, prominent figures get bigger roles, and those that attract the audience get more. It is an interesting dropping of wrestling’s invisible wall, but probably means the end of Ryback and WWE.

[image via Getty Images]