Ryback opens today’s show by speaking about the adjustments that are necessary for performers when they’re returning from injury, and what it takes to get comfortable in the ring again. He informs that he was out of action for over a year and a half with an ankle injury while working for WWE, and when he came back he had his first match with Alex Riley.

He says that he loves Alex Riley, and calls him an amazing talent and performer. They were able to have a good match and he felt like he never left. He does admit that in WWE the rings are always the same size and they always feel the same. On the indie scene however, the rings are often different sizes and the mat quality can vary significantly from one town to the next. Nonetheless, he’s usually able to adapt to the circumstances fairly quickly.

A listener writes into the show and asks Ryback who he considers to be the hardest working person he’s met in the wrestling business. He says that everyone works hard in the business and that’s a very difficult thing to measure. Everyone works hard in different ways, and he points out that some Superstars even have to go home to and take care of young children after several days on the road.

Ryback points out that there are lots of questions surrounding Lesnar’s future with WWE right now. On RAW last week Roman Reigns cut a promo, accusing Lesnar of not wanting to work with WWE. Ryback thinks WWE is very good at this type of thing – creating interest in a match that’s been done already. He thinks it’s all being done on purpose and it’s creating talking points. He notes that Reigns would never go off script like that and shoot on Lesnar.

Ryback informs that he watched most of the Elimination Chamber PPV last Sunday and thought it was pretty good. Speaking about Ronday Rousey’s appearance, Ryback thinks WWE’s doing a great job of creating interest in her through a captivating storyline, but he’s interested in seeing her wrestle for the first time because he’s curious to see how her transition from the octagon to a WWE ring will go.

He adds that he met Rousey backstage at a WWE event one time, and she seemed like a very nice woman. She obviously “busts her ass” and puts the work in, but sometimes it takes time to find yourself as a wrestler. Nonetheless, he’s intrigued by this story and he’s looking forward to seeing her wrestle.

NXT’s Kairi Sane was ridiculed by fans at NXT event recently, who shouted things like “happy ending” and “Pearl Harbour”. Ryback thinks things liked this should never happen and he thinks it’s terribly unfortunate that Sane had to go through that. He points out that he wants wrestling fans to be able to attend a show and have a good time, but there is a certain line you can’t cross. These fans certainly crossed that line in this instance, but Sane certainly handled it like a true professional.

Undertaker and Kane reunited for an evening last week, making a live appearance to promote Kane’s run for the Mayor’s seat in Knoxville, TN. Ryback points out that Kane was one of his favourite people in WWE, and he’s well respected by everyone in the locker room. He adds that Kane is a great family man who’s very well spoken and articulate.

He does admit that he found it a bit strange that Kane did the appearance in his mask, but perhaps Kane’s hoping to parlay his wrestling personality into votes at the polling booth. Ryback points out that wrestling is very popular in the state of TN.

That sums up today’s episode of Conversation With the Big Guy. You can listen to the show yourself anytime here, and I’ll catch ya next week for another recap!