In the latter half of the last decade social media took off with websites such as YouTube, MySpace, Facebook and Twitter. Social media is now one of the most dominant ways we communicate with one another in this day and age. So it would not be long before professional wrestlers would join the craze. WWE has gone as far as mention certain tweets during their television programs to put over the current storylines. WWE has effectively used Twitter to put over many of their storylines, but what about an actual superstar? One superstar that was tired of waiting for the WWE to push him, he decided to do it himself. That one superstar was the Long-Island Iced-Z, Zack Ryder and YouTube show called Z! True Long-Island Story.
Back in mid-2009, Zack Ryder was climbing the ranks of then third brand ECW with his unique ring attire and his Long-Island attitude. Zack Ryder reached the main event picture of ECW as he went on to challenge then ECW Champion Christian for the title and would force Tommy Dreamer to leave the WWE. With all the build while he was in ECW, Zack Ryder’s future looked to be bright when he was sent to Raw once the ECW brand came to an end. But that never came to fruition as Ryder was lost in the shuffle of the WWE’s flagship show and would be regulated to frequent appearances on NXT as a pro or WWE Superstars. Then earlier this year after about a year of waiting to be pushed, Zack Ryder would do it on his own with the power of YouTube. Z! True Long-Island Story started in February of this year and has been going strong gaining close to or over 100 000 views per week. Z! True Long-Island Story is Ryder’s platform to put himself over as a character in the WWE and speak out on many things in the WWE and pop culture. It has really shown the WWE Universe how funny and unique Zack Ryder is. Ever since this web series started, the Zack Pack (Zack Ryder fans) has grown tenfold. It is not uncommon for you to see many Zack Ryder related in the crowds at Raw and Smackdown every week or hear huge pops whenever the Long-Island Iced-Z makes an appearance on Raw or PPV no matter how big or small it is. The only question now is when will the WWE finally pull the trigger on Zack Ryder’s well deserved push? Ryder’s popularity rivals that of John Cena and Randy Orton. Whenever the WWE finally puts Ryder back on Raw on a regular basis in either singles competition or tag team competition with former tag team partner Curt Hawkins, they will be in store for a rude awakening. The WWE Universe want new talent brought up the ranks, not just John Cena, Randy Orton and sometimes Rey Mysterio hogging the limelight. Personally, I think we will see the hardcore wrestling fans, myself included, turn against them for new and potentially better talent found in the younger superstars. The “Ryder Revolution” as it has been called has started; it is only a matter of time until the WWE finally stops resisting and listens.
In only a few months, Z! True Long-Island Story has become an unbelievable success. The release of a new episode is a topic that many wrestlers mention on their Twitter feeds. Also Z! True Long-Island Story has gone on to influence former tag partner, Curt Hawkins to start his own web series, Callin’ Spots with Curt Hawkins. Z! True Long-Island Story is not the first web series of its kind, but it is no doubt the most influential to how superstars will get themselves over with the fans in the near future. So fellow readers and members of the Zack Pack continue to support the Ryder Revolution anyway you can. Bring Zack Ryder signs to WWE live events; follow him Twitter, like him on Facebook and try to buy his sold-out T-Shirt on wweshop.com. Woo Woo Woo! You know it, I know it and the WWE will soon know it!
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