Ryback reveals details on contract situation & what is really bothering him

Ryan “Ryback” Reeves released a lengthy statement on his Tumblr account Tuesday night that details his current situation and his current feelings on the wrestling business that are fueling his frustrations.

Reeves said that he requested to be taken off WWE TV until he and the company can get a new deal done, something he said has been in the works since his Intercontinental title run began. “I was told to head home until we agree or not agree to specific terms and contrary to reports it isn’t over money or a bus that stuff was settled a while ago.” 

He then went into his main issue which is the discrepancy in pay between “the winners” and “the losers” and how in a pre-determined sport, it doesn’t make any sense to him why that is still the case.

“Why is it a guy who is told he is going to go out and lose and does everything he is told be paid not only less, but much less than said winner over a period of time. Every single performer for WWE sacrifices the same amount of time from home and their families and every single man or women goes out and does what they are told. Looking at this formula though losers turn into what fans like to call jobbers and their value decreases in the companies eyes and before you know it they get released. For what? For doing exactly as they are told!”

“Why not pay the talent equally? The winners have more MERCH as it is or are supposed to anyways so they get that extra perk, but why make the guy who is told to and agrees to lose earn less and sacrifice spots in big pay per view match ups etc. This is one of the major problems with wrestling and WWE today. Most guys take great satisfaction in helping making other talent, the bitching and the moaning we always hear about stems from the fact they know they are ultimately over time going to make less and live in fear of being released.”

He goes on to cite how merch and other factors are affected by losing, thus money is affected by losing. He’s got no issue with losing, but he is frustrated about the compensation level for doing so.

Reeves then ended with a few interesting lines:

“WWE may very well release me, which if it is the case so be it. If we can work things out a lot needs to change as I am not living in fear and creatively cannot continue to live a life that limits me creatively. I have many other interests and passions and have been very smart with my finances over the years.”