page_title: Ryback
section_title: RybAxel (2013–2014)
hierarchical_section_title: Ryback / Professional wrestling career / World Wrestling Entertainment/WWE (2004-2016) / RybAxel (2013–2014)
caption_attribution_description: English: Curtis Axel (left) and Ryback at the post-WrestleMania Raw on 7 April 2014 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
context_page_description: Ryback Allen Reeves is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time in WWE where he performed under the ring names Ryback and Skip Sheffield.
  One of the eight finalists on WWE's Tough Enough 4, Reeves later signed a developmental contract with WWE and wrestled in three of its developmental territories: Deep South Wrestling, Ohio Valley Wrestling, and Florida Championship Wrestling. In 2010, as Skip Sheffield, he participated in the first season of NXT, joined WWE's main roster as part of The Nexus, and headlined SummerSlam before being sidelined due to injury. Following his 2012 return as Ryback, he headlined multiple WWE pay-per-view events – generally in contention for the WWE Championship – and became a one-time Intercontinental Champion prior to his acrimonious departure from the company in 2016.
context_section_description: Ryback then began feuding with Chris Jericho, which led to a singles match on July 14 at Money in the Bank, where Ryback emerged victorious. In August, Ryback debuted a new gimmick, where he began bullying various backstage workers. Also as part of the gimmick, Ryback would back away from fighting opponents of equal size and taking advantage of smaller and vulnerable opponents.
  On September 15 at Night of Champions, Ryback aligned himself with Paul Heyman after helping him defeat CM Punk. Despite being a bully himself, Ryback claimed he hated bullies and vowed to stop CM Punk and anyone else who acted as such. On October 6 at Battleground, Ryback was defeated by Punk in a singles match following a low blow from Punk. On October 27 at Hell in a Cell, Ryback and Heyman were defeated by Punk in a 2-on-1 handicap Hell in a Cell match. The feud ended the following night on Raw, when Punk defeated Ryback in a Street Fight match after forcing him to submit to the Anaconda Vise, marking Ryback's first ever submission loss. On the November 11 episode of Raw, the alliance between Ryback and Heyman came to an end when Heyman verbally berated him. On November 24 at Survivor Series, Ryback was defeated by the returning Mark Henry after he answered Ryback's open challenge.
  Ryback then began a tag team with fellow former Paul Heyman Guy Curtis Axel collectively labelled as "RybAxel", and on the December 6 episode of SmackDown, they defeated WWE Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes and Goldust in a non-title match to earn a shot at the titles. RybAxel received their title shot on December 15 at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, but were defeated by Cody Rhodes and Goldust in a four-way elimination match, also involving Big Show/Rey Mysterio and The Real Americans (Antonio Cesaro and Jack Swagger). RybAxel received another shot at the WWE Tag Team Championship on April 6, 2014, on the WrestleMania XXX pre-show, but were defeated by defending champions The Usos in a fatal four-way elimination match, which also included Los Matadores and The Real Americans. At Payback, RybAxel defeated Cody Rhodes and Goldust in a tag team match. At Money in the Bank, RybAxel lost to Gold and Stardust. On July 2, it was announced that Ryback and Axel would be competing for the vacant Intercontinental Championship in a 19-man battle royal at Battleground, but neither Ryback or Axel managed to win. On August 26, 2014, Ryback underwent hernia surgery.
caption: Ryback and Curtis Axel as RybAxel in April 2014
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