The Ghostbusters ‘n’ Wrestling Connection
Who’s Zack Ryder Gonna Call?
By James Wortman
October 26, 2011
Spend a few hours with Zack Ryder, and you’re bound to hear him profess his love for Slimer and The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man nearly as often as he waxes poetic about tanning, fist pumping and Justin Bieber. Director Ivan Reitman’s Ghostbusters was a major part of the self-professed Internet Champion’s childhood, and Ryder’s fascination with the 1984 supernatural comedy has hardly dissipated over time. Even though he’s sporting ring gear a lot more often than his plastic toy proton pack – at least in public – Long Island Iced Z is as passionate about Ghostbusters as he was as a Broski-in-training growing up on Long Island, N.Y.
In the spirit of Halloween, Ryder spoke with WWE.com about his upcoming Ghostbusters-themed episode of “Z! True Long Island Story,” his lifelong obsession with the film and which Superstars he would want on his team of “Ghostbroskis.”
WWE.COM: You’re not shy about your Ghostbusters fandom. What is it about the film that you love so much?
ZACK RYDER: I saw it for the first time when I was very young, as a kid, chasing ghosts and busting ghosts looked so fun. Then as I grew up I got all the jokes, and I loved it on a different level. Now, it’s my favorite movie of all time.
WWE.COM: Keen-eyed members of the WWE Universe have noticed a Mattel “Retro-Action” Real Ghostbusters action figure making cameo appearances on “Z! True Long Island Story.” How big is your Ghostbusters collection?
RYDER: I have all of the new Mattel Ghostbusters action figures, and they’re awesome. I had the Kenner ones as a kid, and I think I’m going to be a Ghostbuster for Halloween this year. So I’m pretty excited about that.
WWE.COM: How often do you pump your fists to Ray Parker Jr.’s Ghostbusters tune?
RYDER: Pretty often. It’s on my iPod. I even have the instrumental version! I listen to it at least a couple of times a week, ‘cuz I’m planning for my next “Z! True Long Island Story,” which will actually have a Ghostbusters theme. So I’m working on something big for all of my YouTube Broskis out there.
WWE.COM: Speaking of Broskis, what would Slimer have to do to become “Broski of the Week”?
RYDER: He can’t really take care or spike his hair, but he ingests a lot of protein. So if he’s fist pumping and getting that protein in, I think he’ll do alright.
WWE.COM: We know your reputation with the ladies. Which Ghostbusters girl would you rather take to the club: Dana (Sigourney Weaver) or Janine (Annie Potts)?
RYDER: Janine’s pretty hot. She’s got those glasses and I wouldn’t say she’s a nerd, but I think when she takes those glasses off, she gets a little wild.
WWE.COM: What’s your take on Ghostbusters 2: Lackluster or underrated?
RYDER: I think it’s underrated, and it’s one of my favorites for sure. I liked it. I was definitely bummed out that there wasn’t a third.
WWE.COM: Well, there’s been a lot of talk about Ghostbusters 3 going into production. What role do you think you could play in such a film?
RYDER: I think I’d be an additional Ghostbuster, because you have to go with the original four (Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson). You can’t do it without them. I’ll be a rookie Ghostbuster. That’s cool with me.
WWE.COM: And what makes you an ideal candidate to be a Ghostbuster?
RYDER: I have the Tobin’s Spirit Guide, I know the facts and I’m always ready to bust some ghosts.
Really dig the Hulk Hogan episode, tho I was left with rather “wimpy” questions about both the Green Ghost and the pink gunk they were spraying. The pink stuff I guess is soup/shampoo, and if the ghost isn’t real, where was the hologram projector. I know I’m reading way too much into it, but can’t help it. The credits at the end list voice talents of James Avery (RGB:Killerwatt, TMNT:Shredder) , Pat Fraley (aka Jake Kong Jr. in Filmation Ghostbusters), Charles Adler (RGB: Genie?, Slimer!:Rafael). Also, being a Dic cartoon, much of the staff are indeed the same comparing.
Anyways, cool collection of trivia in this blog.
I skimmed the article hoping for a mention of the PKE Meter prop being in two movies that starred wrestlers (Suburban Commando w/ Hulk Hogan and They Live w/ Roddy Piper), but if it’s in there, I missed it.
Chuckling… did you intentionally misspell ‘annals’ in the last paragraph?
Considering you were talking about ‘Wrestlecrap’, it’s kinda fitting
@Devilmanozzy – Yeah, it’s best not to think too heavily about the plots in Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling. Much like the capers in classic Scooby-Doo, if you think about it too much, you’ll realize that it just doesn’t make a whole lotta sense. You just have to enjoy it for what it is 🙂
I was gonna mention the Hogan voice cast that’s also in The Real Ghostbusters and Extreme Ghostbusters, but I was already getting quite long-winded in my effort to provide details and still have an article that flows well. Here’s the cross-over cast:
* James Avery – Junkyard Dog (EGB:Dry Spell, RGB:Killerwatt, RGB:Jailbusters? [one where he voices a ghost judge])
* Ron Feinberg – Andre The Giant (EGB:Witchy Woman)
* Jodi Carlisle – Wendi Richter/Fabulous Moolah (RGB:Banshee Bake A Cherry Pie)
* Charlie Adler – Rowdy Roddy Piper (RGB: Genie?, Slimer!:Rafael)
* Lewis Arquette – Jimmy ‘Superfly’ Snuka (S&RGB Guest Voice?)
* Pat Fraley – Hillbilly Jim (Jake Kong Jr. in Filmation Ghostbusters)
@Alex Newborn – I didn’t include the PKE Meter prop being in Suburban Commando and They Live because the movies themselves are not wrestling-related; they only starred wrestlers. That’s why I also didn’t include Ernie Hudson’s appearance in the Super Mario Bros. Super Show; as the show stars a former wrestler/manager (Capt. Lou), but isn’t about wrestling itself.
Yes, I did intentionally misspell ‘annals’ in the last paragraph. The creator of Wrestlecrap makes that joke from time to time, and I felt it was appropriate. I wasn’t sure if anyone was gonna get it, but I’m glad someone did.
This reminds me of that song from Ghostbusters – Who you gonna call? GHOSTBUSTERS!! Old times! I have also seen some Zack Ryder match, not bad at all.
Please please remove the false information and story that you have wrong
On my father Richard Grupe NOT ROBERT GRUPE .
Also my name is Rona Grupe and NOT RONA GRUPE WEBER .
YES RICHARD WAS A WRESTLER UNDER THE NAME
RED GRUPE . He wrestled for eleven years in this country .
YES HE WAS THE INVENTOR OF “ THE TAG TEAM
Name The Vikings . Norbert would not have been a boxer
With out Richard training him as a young boy .
Richard was a champion of Europe in boxing . He was a boxer for 7 years with a total of 40 fights / 26 KO ‘s
Also Patricia Warren who wrote the Article
Of Norbert was an Idiot and doesn’t know the facts .
Remove the entire post you have
Thank you Rona Grupe
First you call my father Robert
The wrong name Robert
Then you switch To Richard in the story( the correct name .)
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