Apparently, if you aren't Raw or Smackdown, your shelf life as a WWE television show is minimal at best.
It was just last year around this time that ECW closed its doors with Ezekiel Jackson and his freakish muscles winning the brand's top title in its closing minutes. That was supposed to lead to a major push.........and then he got hurt. A year later, WWE will be losing another show, but this time, it's not their choice.
WGN America, the Chicago-based television station that carried the show announced recently that Superstars will end its run on April 7. This leaves the brand falling just short of two years on the station, as the first episode aired April 16, 2009.
From what I've gathered so far, the reasoning behind the cancellation is WGN's disappointment in the program. Moreso than even poor numbers, WGM is upset at what the program has become. When they signed on to carry the WWE, they figured the alliance would help their brand grow to a national level. At first, it looked like that might be the case.
When Superstars debuted, it debuted with a bang. Early episodes featured big talent, as majors stars like the Undertaker and John Cena had matches on the show in that time. However, as time went on, it became clear that WWE's vision for the show was vastly different from WGN's.
It eventually became a supplemental show, using its time to showcase lower level talent rather than oversaturate the airwaves with the same main event talent seen on Mondays and/or Fridays. For WWE, this was a sound strategy as it gave these lower talents exposure to the audience and a platform to get their characters over both with the live audience and the television audience. For WGN, it meant that ratings declined, leaving them in the same precarious position it was in two years ago. Thus, WGN apparently decided that if WWE wasn't going to get them to where they wanted to go, it wasn't worth their time carrying their program.
So, after two years with the network, WWE Superstars will air for the final time on the channel on April 7. This will be an interesting time for the WWE, as it is right after Wrestlemania, Tough Enough will be redebuting, and Superstars will be leaving the airwaves. Well, at least in the United States......
When I started writing this a couple of hours ago, it looked like the program was going to be gone for good, leaving a lot of lower card workers quite nervous about their job security. That still is a concern given the usual "spring cleaning" that is done after Wrestlemania, but perhaps its not as dire as I thought just hours ago.
It now appears that Superstars will still exist, as overseas markets will still carry the program. It will also air on WWE.com, joining NXT as online exclusive broadcasts in the United States. I'm sure this will still be a secondary talent type of show, so that level talent will still be needed, but who will stay around?
Now that we have the newsworthy mumbo-jumbo out of the way, let's talk about one guy who needs to keep his job: Zack Ryder.
Yes, I have a bias. Zack is from Long Island just like yours truly, so I do want to see "Long Island Iced Z" get to stay around to make more of an impact. Despite this obvious draw, the kid has a lot going for him as well.
At only 25 years old, Ryder still has youth on his side. He doesn't fit the category of "having chance after chance" as he's barely been given one yet. Still, his character is unique and Ryder seems to show a knack for live performance. That is essential in an organization that labels itself "sports entertainment" rather than a wrestling company.
With Ryder, you have a young kid who is working hard to keep his job. He has recently launched a youtube channel where he does weekly shows that are hilarious. I have included the newest one below and you can see his unique humor come through uncensored. He has a knack for entertaining and that quality can be put to use anywhere in the WWE. I contend that he could definitely hold a midcard belt as a face or heel if given a new finisher, but we'll see if that ever becomes a possibility. Perhaps a tag team with a guy he dubs his "new broski" would bring hilarity and a credible team to the tag team division. The possibilities are endless.
WWE, I present to you this final argument. I know that superstars is not of great importance anymore, but Ryder deserves more than that show anyway. He's a hard working, blue-collar guy from Long Island who has a knack for being funny and entertaining. The last time you had a guy with those credentials, he held your top title in the company's most prosperous time. Of course, I refer to Mick Foley.
Ryder isn't Foley, but he is a great performer and one you can and should include in your youth movement. Very few have taken a character and ran with it the way Ryder has and I implore you to take notice. If you come across my site WWE, check out Ryder's video and I challenge you to find any guys on the chopping block who are self-promoting themselves the way Ryder has. He is going above and beyond what is required of his job and should be rewarded with job security and a push. Give this man a chance and I can guarantee that the Long Island Loudmouth will run with it and never look back. Woo woo Woo you know it!
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