Other Media
Ryder started a YouTube web series called Z! True Long Island Story in February 2011, which has amassed over 12 million views to date. The web series is a collection of short comments from Ryder, containing comedic allusions to wrestling and pop culture; it also features cameos from his friends and family, as well as fellow WWE colleagues. The show's theme song Just Take Care, Spike Your Hair was written specifically about Ryder by The Luke & Duane Show. In April 2011, Ryder proclaimed himself WWE Internet Champion complete with a children's replica belt covered in stickers, as it was unsanctioned by WWE. In July 2011, Ryder would appear to defend his Internet Championship at a non-televised show in Australia against Primo, but later commented that it was a non-title match, and that he would never defend his Internet Championship. However, on a later episode of Z! True Long Island Story, Dolph Ziggler challenged Ryder to a match for the Internet title at Wrestlemania XXIX from NY/NJ, and Ryder accepted the challenge. Ryder soon replaced the toy belt with a $1,500 custom-made belt by Wildcat Championship Belts in July 2011. On episode 50 of Z! True Long Island Story, Ryder announced the show will be part of WWE's YouTube funded channel.
Ryder's online popularity also translated to social media. He has over 900,000 followers on Twitter, over 330,000 Facebook "likes", and over 120,000 YouTube subscribers. This led him to be featured in Sports Illustrated's list of the 100 most influential social media users in sports.
Zack Ryder was the inspiration behind the "RYDER OR RIOT RADIO" show from British independent record label Audio Antihero.
Ryder has appeared in several WWE video games, including WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009, WWE SmackDown vs Raw 2011, WWE '12, and WWE '13. Ryder's Internet Championship belt can be defended in WWE '13 for the first time ever.
Read more about this topic: Zack Attack
Famous quotes containing the word media:
“The media no longer ask those who know something ... to share that knowledge with the public. Instead they ask those who know nothing to represent the ignorance of the public and, in so doing, to legitimate it.”
—Serge Daney (1944–1992)
“Few white citizens are acquainted with blacks other than those projected by the media and the so—called educational system, which is nothing more than a system of rewards and punishments based upon one’s ability to pledge loyalty oaths to Anglo culture. The media and the “educational system” are the prime sources of racism in the United States.”
—Ishmael Reed (b. 1938)