It hasn’t exactly been sunshine and lollipops for John Cena recently. His refusal to acquiesce to Kane’s demands and embrace the hate has raised the ire of The Big Red Monster — never a good thing for any WWE Superstar. But Cena hasn’t been the only one made to suffer at the hands of Kane. The shrapnel of that intensifying rivalry has now wounded United States Champion Zack Ryder, leaving WWE.com to wonder: Is John Cena responsible for Kane’s recent attacks on Long Island Iced-Z?

While that sentiment may not sit well with some in the WWE Universe, let’s take a step back and examine how things have progressed over the past few weeks. Kane has taken umbrage with Cena’s positive outlook and aspirations to Rise Above Hate and in response, The Big Red Machine has decided to make the weathered leader of Cenation pay with a series of brutal attacks. But the assaults haven’t stopped with Cena.

Perhaps because Cena and Ryder are friends, Kane has also targeted the U.S. Champion, taking the normally jovial Zack Ryder to dark new places. Dating back to Ryder’s earliest days of filming his hugely popular YouTube series, Z! True Long Island Story, the Internet Champion has shared a special bond with John Cena. Being friends with one of the greatest Superstars of all time proved to be a boon for Ryder in those early days and helped him expand upon his already impressive number of followers.

Zack has gone out of his way recently to thank Cena for helping make his WWE dreams come true. But Cena’s not the only one responsible for Ryder’s ascension in WWE. The credit for that also goes to the WWE Universe — the fans that supported the little-known Superstar from the start and helped make him the champion he is today. Kane has shown the same hatred toward the WWE Universe that he’s heaped upon John Cena, and that raises an interesting point.

Ryder’s symbiotic relationships with both Cena and the WWE Universe have been hazardous to his health, and have resulted in a very real nightmare in the form of a lurking monster.

Kane’s unnerving attacks on Ryder have left Long Island Iced-Z—and the WWE Universe at large—thoroughly creeped out. Being hunted by The Big Red Monster is taking its toll on Ryder, who now must look for Kane around every corner and in every dark room. (WATCH)

Ryder’s fears are well warranted, of course, as evidenced by the unforgettable scene that played out several weeks ago on Raw. The image of Kane trying to drag Ryder into the abyss under the ring will stick in the minds of WWE fans everywhere for a good, long while. (WATCH)

That ghoulish example of what Kane is capable of led Ryder to say on Z! True Long Island Story that he was the most scared he’s ever been in his life. However, thanks to John Cena’s last-moment save, that instance turned out to be nothing more than a seriously close, if seriously scary, call for Zack. Still, it can be argued that Cena’s interference only succeeded in further angering Kane, who intensified his pursuit of Ryder on the Jan. 9 Raw SuperShow.

Kane stalked the Internet Champion all over the American Bank Center in Corpus Christ, Texas, driving Ryder to new heights of paranoia and making him jump at shadows. Despite Ryder’s heightened sense of awareness that night, however, when Kane eventually did materialize, he took the Internet Champion by surprise. (WATCH)

In an encounter reminiscent of a horror movie, Kane snuck up on Ryder and chokeslamed him off the loading docks outside the arena, leaving the United States Champion seriously injured and badly shaken. The dream that Zack so graciously thanked John Cena for making come true may now be in serious jeopardy. Ryder’s ability to successfully defend his U.S. Title against Jack Swagger Monday night on Raw is now called into question. Will Ryder be physically — not to mention mentally — ready to take on The All-American American? And if Ryder fails to retain his title, just how much blame can be placed upon John Cena’s shoulders? (INJURY UPDATE)

Adding another layer to this story, as the horror of Kane’s Jan. 9 assault on Ryder played out, WWE Diva Eve was left helpless, forced to watch Ryder — with whom she has a budding relationship — as he was terrorized  by the monster. In a WWE.com exclusive video released last week, Eve expressed just how terrified Kane has made her and questions the motives behind the monster’s tirade. (WATCH)

But Eve’s presence on the night of Kane’s attack raises even more questions. It’s become apparent that Ryder is only attacked when John Cena—and now Eve—is near. So what, if anything, does Kane’s hatred of John Cena have to do with Zack Ryder? What about Eve? What is her role in all of this?

If not for Ryder’s friendship with the leader of Cenation, would Long Island Iced-Z find himself in this predicament? And what about the role the WWE Universe has played in all of this? Finally and perhaps most importantly, can Ryder rise above Kane’s onslaught, or is he, as Kane has alluded, simply delaying the inevitable?