WWE: Former Intercontinental Champion Ryback released
Monday 8 August 2016 18:42, UK
Ryback has been released from his WWE contract, the company announced on Monday afternoon.
The Big Guy debuted on WWE's main roster in 2010 as part of the Nexus stable and won his sole championship, the Intercontinental Title, at the Elimination Chamber event in May 2015.
"Effective today, Aug. 8, 2016, WWE has parted ways with Ryback and he is no longer under contract," read a statement on WWE's official website. "WWE wishes Ryback the best in all his future endeavors."
Ryback, then competing under the name Skip Sheffield, wrestled for Nexus at SummerSlam 2010 against a team captained by John Cena, having previously starred on the initial incarnation of NXT.
The Las Vegas native, whose real name is Ryan Reeves, broke his ankle later that year before returning to action at live events in December 2011 and then to WWE television in April 2012 as Ryback.
Ryback soon began to pursue the WWE Championship, but saw his bids to beat CM Punk dashed by interference from The Shield, before he came up short in matches against John Cena in 2013.
The Big Guy then formed an alliance with Paul Heyman and a tag team with Curtis Axel, before hernia surgery kept him out of the ring between August and October 2014.
Ryback returned in time to compete at Survivor Series, in which he represented Team Cena against Team Authority, while his Intercontinental Title victory the following year came when he defeated Sheamus, King Barrett, R-Truth, Dolph Ziggler and Mark Henry.
Reeves held the championship for 112 days, defeating The Miz and Big Show along the way, before he was beaten by Kevin Owens at the Night of Champions pay-per-view.
Ryback then failed to capture the United States Championship from Kalisto at WrestleMania 32 in April 2016, with his final match in WWE coming when he lost to Kalisto again at Payback in May.
