Ryback Talks WWE Cutting Off His Media Appearances, Leaving WWE Because Of His Brand Being Tarnished
Recently on Conversation With The Big Guy, former WWE Superstar Ryback talked a bit about deciding to leave the world's largest professional wrestling promotion. Specifically, Ryback discussed how his dedication to WWE went unnoticed as well as how leaving the company was a decision made in part to protect his brand.
During the podcast, Ryback talked about growing frustrated in WWE prior to his departure from the company this year. The master of the Meathook Clothesline suggested that he gave himself to the company and did not see the payoff.
"When you work for the WWE, it consumes your life and you have to be all in. And I let it consume my life and that was part of the reason I was so frustrated. When you dedicate and you give so much to something and you give yourself to them and you say, 'work me to death – I want to be worked to the bone. I want media interviews on my days off. I want media every week. Every week, I want to do Monday and Tuesday interviews in the morning and on little sleep. I want to be all about this.' And then, 'no, we're just going to cut off your media altogether.' Like, it's not a good feeling. And it's like, 'well, f–k you then. Go ahead – find someone else then. I'm going to use this work ethic for something else.' And for me, letting that run out, be thankful for everything, now I can apply my energies to all these different things that I wanted to do for so long. And nobody can tell me 'no' anymore."
According to the former Skip Sheffield, part of his decision to walk away from WWE was about him not wanting his 'Feed Me More' brand to be tarnished.
"'Feed Me More', that is what bothered me so badly about WWE because I can't let that be tarnished. That is something I believe in too strongly and I've told them, 'I want to do other things with this brand.' I go, 'I cannot, we cannot, say that I'm a piece of s–t because that affects how my brand is perceived in other things.' And that played a huge factor for me in walking out and wanting to leave."
Moreover, in Ryback's view, 'Feed Me More' is about more than just professional wrestling.
"I created it and it's something. You don't, I don't, create something to hand it over to somebody else. I refuse to and that's the case. And that is who and what I am as a human being." Ryback added, "'Feed Me More' is so much more than just wrestling. It's a way of living life. It's just waking up hungry each and every day, and being your absolute best, and being thankful."
To check out the podcast, click here. If you use any of the quotes from this article, please credit Conversation With The Big Guy with an H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
Source: Conversation With The Big Guy