The Official Ryback Thread (For All Things Ryback)

**Automatic** · 10-28-2012, 09:53 PM

Last edited by Automatic; 10-28-2012 at 10:23 PM.

**Wade Barrett 1979** · 10-28-2012, 10:25 PM

Ah well at least they can move past all that Goldberg bullshit now.

**Androo** · 10-28-2012, 10:29 PM

"Notice: the ref."

**Wade Barrett 1979** · 10-28-2012, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by Androo

"Notice: the ref."

You're gonna dine off this for a while.

**Automatic** · 10-28-2012, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by Androo

"Notice: the ref."

Androo, I´m gonna copy something from a guy from another forum. He was going crazy about this. He even made a threat about it.

**Androo** · 10-28-2012, 10:33 PM

Originally Posted by Wade Barrett 1979

You're gonna dine off this for a while.

It's Come Dine With Me, and let's be honest, you all gave me a 10.

**Automatic** · 10-28-2012, 10:35 PM

Trivia: Who was the last man ever to hold the FCW 15 Championship and co-hold the FCW Tag Team Championship? Brad Maddox, formerly known in US indies as Beef Wellington.

What is Brad Maddox up to now? Well, he has traded in his wrestling gear for a more zebra-like look. For now.

Brad Maddox debuted on WWE television at Raw, on August 20, refereeing the Divas #1 contendership battle royal. Maddox, as seen above, had the privilege of raising Kaitlyn's hand in victory that night. On the night of his debut, I briefly noted the debut during the Raw TV Report that appeared on WrestlingObserver.com that night.

Quote:
Match: #1 Contendership Battle Royal to the Diva's Championship
Rosa, Natalya, Tamina, Aksana, Kelly Kelly, Alicia Fox, Eve, and Kaitlyn were in the match. Odd Beth isn't involved. Cole sarcastically called this riveting action. Lots of whatever eliminations. Kaitlyn eliminated Eve to win. Brad Maddox debuted as a ref here, raising Kaitlyn's arm in victory. An awkward minute of staredowns, camera cuts, and blank staring ended the segment.

I thought nothing of it. Why should I? There have been a few new referees brought up this year, ever since Justin King had to ruin the finish of a Chris Jericho match never to be seen again. Brad Maddox was interesting though, since he was not a referee in Florida Championship Wrestling, WWE's developmental territory. He had been a wrestler, and had seemingly not suffered any injury that would cause the change in his career path.

Brad Maddox also served as the referee on WWE Superstars that week, officiating a match between Drew McIntyre and Alex Riley. Now, obviously, if you had seen him in FCW this may seem a bit strange to see him refereeing all of the sudden on WWE TV. However, even if you were not familiar, he still seems a bit out of place. Although, honestly, who ever notices the refs? Unless you're Charles Robinson running swiftly down the aisle at WrestleMania, or Chad Patton getting brogue kicked by the world champion, or a special guest brought to the show to become a ref and keep two enemies in line, the ref usually blends into the action. So maybe nobody, except I and few others, had noticed anything.

But then, three weeks later, Maddox showed up again on Raw. This time, refereeing a singles match between Heath Slater and The Ryback. This is what I wrote on that night's Raw TV recap.

Quote:
Match: Heath Slater's Spray Tan vs Ryback's Entrance Theme
Brad Maddox, who went to the Tiffany School of Officiating, was your ref. I don't know the story, but his sudden appearance as a ref has me thinking this is leading to something, possibly small, sometime soon. Heath managed to DDT Ryback to get him down... briefly. Ryback then quickly won with his moves.

We've seen this before. Back in 2003, a new referee appeared in just a couple of matches prior to WWE No Way Out. That man then officiating the pay-per-view main event of Hulk Hogan vs The Rock. That referee ended up screwing Hulk Hogan out of a win, and would be revealed as Sylvan Grenier. Giving a new ref a few matches prior to a big angle seems like a good idea. It creates a situation where having somebody completely brand new in a big match all of the sudden is less of a giveaway of a potential angle.

Cut to Raw last night, and here this new ref was again! Brad Maddox was the official in a pretty cut and dry women's match early in the show, and I questioned it.

Quote:
Match: Beth Phoenix vs Eve
Layla was the guest at commentary this week, hopefully not to get into a childish argument with JBL... or even worse, Jim Ross. Brad Maddox is your ref. I'm telling you, something weird is happening. Layla said Eve has been a fake the last few weeks, even intimating that Eve had something to do with Kaitlyn's attack last night. JBL called her out on her loss. Here we go. Anyway, Eve rolled up Beth for the win in under a minute.

Later in the show, Maddox appeared again in the main event of the show. The match was CM Punk & Alberto Del Rio vs John Cena & Sheamus. At Night of Champions the day before, WWE official Chad Patton had ended the world title match of CM Punk vs John Cena in a controversial fashion. The referee controversy continued on Raw, so who better to put inside the match than your new ref who had blended in by now. John Cena won the match via pinfall over CM Punk, however, before the three count Punk had managed to put his feet on the ropes. Maddox didn't see it, and Punk argued with Maddox to close the show.

The reason for his callup now taking shape.

Brad has yet to be named during any of his Raw appearances, but that may change soon. It appears whatever angle had been planned for Maddox when he was called up is finally getting put into action. Where it goes? We don't know. Will it lead to him becoming an active wrestler on the main roster? That seems likely. I'm quite surprised that he's being put into the biggest angle the company has right now with Punk and Cena, but really, I shouldn't be. Afterall, Grenier in 2003 was put in right away with Rock and Hogan. Can't get bigger than that.

Brad Maddox WWE Debut

CM Punk & Alberto Del Rio vs John Cena & Sheamus

CM Punk argues with the referee and AJ Lee after the match
http://www.wwe.com/videos/cm-punk-compl ... t-26052999