WWE and Ryback parted ways almost 9 years ago. The former Intercontinental Champion has managed to stay somewhat relevant in the wrestling world since then, and recently made headlines with Kevin Owens and Cody Rhodes. Now there’s been a decisive update.
Rhodes and Owens went viral for several quotes from their recent chat on the What Do You Wanna Talk About? With Cody Rhodes podcast. At one point, The American Nightmare talked about how he charged a high fee of $600 for indie bookings after his first WWE run, and Owens recalled hearing about a former superstar that was charging “insane amounts of money” in the indies, so much that he only received a few offers, and wasn’t booked that much.
The Big Guy was believed to be the wrestler bleeped out in the Cody-KO discussion. Fans fueled the speculation as Ryback was charging $4,500 per appearance when he first left WWE. This led to a response by him on X/Twitter in a now-deleted tweet.
I was made aware & saw the clip of @FightOwensFight & @CodyRhodes, two guys I always liked & got along with. It’s clear they were referencing me, even with the name censored. For context: I was booked solid for 3 years straight after WWE. My rate was set by my then-manager Pat Buck (a promoter himself), and every promoter I worked with made money and got my full effort—meet & greets, matches, fan time, all of it. What’s often left out: I walked away from a multi-million dollar WWE contract. I wasn’t fired. I needed a 5-disc fusion and full right shoulder replacement at 34. I was told not to wrestle again. I had nerve damage that risked paralysis if I continued. I had to stop taking bookings entirely. Why? Because my doctors told me for the stem cells to work properly, I needed to stop wrestling,” Ryback wrote.
He continued:
“I also made the choice to stay home and care for my dog Sophie, who developed severe disc disease, had multiple ruptures and surgeries, and was paralyzed twice. I refused to put her down just to keep traveling and making more money—I already had what I needed. Sophie turns 10 this November. And every second with her was worth it. I poured everything into rebuilding my health and my brand with Feed Me More Nutrition. I’ve had 20 stem cell procedures and was blessed to regrow all 5 discs in my back. I’m now finally close to being able to return. So yes, I do feel the comment was a low blow—especially coming from two guys I respected and spoke well of. But I’m not bitter. I’ve made peace with @WWE and let go of the past. This isn’t a storyline. It’s real life. Survival. Growth. Perspective. I wish Kevin a strong recovery, and I send both him and Cody nothing but love, health & continued success,” Ryback added.
Ryback Shares Update Following Conversation With Kevin Owens
Ryback deleted his original tweet about the podcast chat between Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens, and has since issued an update to his loyal fanbase on X/Twitter. The 5-time Slammy Award winner spoke to The Prizefighter himself and confirmed that he was not the star in question.
“I want to clarify something from my recent post regarding the clip with @FightOwensFight and @CodyRhodes. After speaking with Kevin, he confirmed the person referenced in that specific comment wasn’t me. My name did come up in another part of the conversation, but not in that clip. I jumped to conclusions based on the name being censored and Cody mentioning working shows with the guy. Since I haven’t been publicly mentioned much in years, I assumed it was about me — and I was wrong. I appreciate Kevin for the honest conversation. We always got along, and I’ve always respected both him and Cody. This is a reminder to ask before assuming, and I’m grateful the post brought awareness to my story regardless, as a lot has been misunderstood in the past. Much love to you both. [fist emoji],” Ryback wrote.
I want to clarify something from my recent post regarding the clip with @FightOwensFight and @CodyRhodes. After speaking with Kevin, he confirmed the person referenced in that specific comment wasn’t me. My name did come up in another part of the conversation, but not in that…
— RYBACK (@Ryback) June 27, 2025
Ryback has stayed away from the wrestling world for the most part since leaving WWE, and worked less than 50 matches between August 2016 and August 2018. His last WWE bout was a loss to then-United States Champion Kalisto on the Payback 2016 pre-show.