|
|
|
Pro's from the Palace (#206) - The State of WWE after John Cena's injury |
» Reported by Mike Siciliano of WrestleView.com
» On Wednesday, October 3, 2007 at 3:59 AM EST
Before I get in to this, I want to wish John Cena well in his recovery from this surgery. I can only imagine, well, truthfully, I can't even fathom the pain he must have endured during the match, and the road ahead has got to be down right staggering. It's a shame that this reign has to end this way, after 13 months, all of them I enjoyed, and yes, I said that, so go ahead all you people who hate this guy so much, go ahead and nail me to the wall, because I ask you very simply one question.
If Cena was so bad, who could have taken the ball and rolled with it? Do some research, check the rosters, and find me a body that could've gone with the company on his back for the amount of time that Cena did. Then, if you come up with something legitimate, and forthright, I'll publish it on my blog, and give you the proper credit. If not, I'll just publish your email and laugh at you, of course, to myself, but hey, we all need a hobby.
Now with that being said, let's get down to brass tax, and who's going to be in this match to crown a new WWE Champion. It's pretty much a foregone conclusion that Randy Orton will be one of the challengers for the title. I would suspect, due to his position as Intercontinental Champion, that Jeff Hardy could lay claim to a spot as a challenger for this title match. From there on, it's pretty much a crap shoot. I would doubt, although it would be a hell of a nice swerve, that they could maneuver Triple H and Umaga's match in to this picture, but hey, a six pack challenge to determine a new champion wouldn't be a bad course to go. Or the Battle Royal idea like what they did on Smackdown when Edge relinquished the title. Although there, Khali won, and we all know how much fun that was to endure.
Under the pretense that this match would've probably main evented No Mercy, I would say its a pretty good lock it's going to be a gimmick match of some kind. Minimum would say a triple threat, but I wouldn't be surprised if its something like a Fatal Four Way or a Six Packer. I also think that more than likely the Punjabi Prison match will end up as the main event for the PPV, but because it's a PPV match, and its crowning a new title holder, I think one on one would be too bland to show, unless you have two technical wizards or two down right brawling maniacs, which we all know we don't have, period, so let's just move on.
Quick aside, I took the poll on WWE.com as to whom should come out of No Mercy with the title, and I love how the WWE fans are so freakin' sarcastic, with Val Venis being the leader with 51% of the vote. Although I should talk, I voted for Hacksaw Jim Duggan. :)
Getting back to the matter at hand, I just thought of something that really could be a benefit for all parties involved. We all know that this champion is probably going to be a transitional title holder until the Game returns to the throne. It's a virtual certainty that the Game will turn heel, and basically mow down the competition leading to the title. So, how 'bout this option?
Ric Flair.
Hear me out, people. We ALL know Ric Flair is en route to calling it a career. We ALL know that Ric Flair has been less than thrilled with the company to this point, and we ALL know that the wrestling business owes a collective debt to Ric Flair for getting the popularity that it received back in its heyday. Now, with Flair on the way out, so to speak, this could be the absolute perfect opportunity to get him one last sniff at the top of the mountain. Let him run with the gamut one last time, and then, he can go in to the horizon as a 17 time world champion, and have the swansong worthy of a competitor with his type of resume.
OK. That option is probably not going to happen, hell, the chances of it happening are slim to none, and slim's walking out the side door. So let's try and think the way WWE thinks.
Simple. Randy Orton. They credit Orton with decimating Cena to the point that he had to give up the title, put him in a match with someone like Kennedy, and boom, there's your new WWE Champion, the right HEEL for the job until a FACE Triple H wins the title, and then turns heel on the fans. It's predictable, it's neat, it's tidy, and it keeps with the storyline.
In other words, lame as hell.
If Cena was competing, and lost the title at No Mercy, no question, I would not be surprised, and I would respect Orton as a champion, even though I still believe he's an immature punk. Sorry for the pun, CM. With this aura of chaos surrounding the WWE with the loss of its absolute star, wouldn't it be terribly refreshing to see someone entirely new take the helm as WWE champion? I mean, Orton is or was expected to be champ at some time during this feud, there really was no question about it.
So, let's try this one on for size, it just popped in to my head.
Edge is being touted for Survivor Series, which is next month. What about a surprise return for the Rated R era back on Monday nights? It's by far and away the right move to give Edge another run as champion because he had to relinquish the World title due to injury. And while it may hurt Smackdown in the forseeable future, it does provide the proper heel to take the reigns of Raw and hold on to it for the forseeable future, especially since its top talent is depressingly thin on all brands.
I know that's a predictable one as well, but hell, it's more deserving to put the WWE title on Edge than Orton, in my opinion, because Edge's resume makes Orton's look like a school yard report card. Truth be told, I just don't like either of them, but if I had to choose between one or the other to be the next champion, I'd take Edge twice a day, and three times on sunday.
Who else? Would this turn of events be the carat to bring Shawn Michaels back to Raw? I doubt it, as it pretty much seems that HBK is done, unless this "Save_us.222" and "Savior_self" is a promotional code thing to get him back in to the mix, so it's something you have to throw out there, and at least contemplate. And for one thing or another, if Michaels were to come out of virtual nowhere and win the title, especially under these circumstances, it would be a nice refreshing aura of chaos for the show, which is always fun to watch.
Outside of Orton and HBK on the roster, who else would be ready to take the reigns as WWE Champion leading up to the Game's eventual rise to power.
Kennedy isn't ready. I know that's against every little thing I have said in the past and the laurels and acclaim I heaped on Kennedy, but his credibility and his overall stock has plummeted with this scandal, and, although I'll never know for sure, I think he was more at fault for the mistaken hip toss that cost Cena the title. I know I'll never be able to prove that, but it's the way I feel. And if I am correct, I think WWE is probably hot as hell at Kennedy for the bull he did with the scandal, and now for being involved in the match that took out their top man. Umaga? Possible, but if the rumours are true to set up a feud with Umaga and the Undertaker, the chances of him taking the WWE title are slim. Jeff Hardy? As Intercontinental title holder, he's got a legit claim to say he's the right man for the World title, but with no experience at the top of the mountaintop, the chances there aren't very good. What about from the other brands? Like I said, Edge, Ric Flair, both legit possibilities I think, but doubtful, if you're thinking like a WWE creative genius.
I have to mention Kane, and put his name in the mix as a potential title contender here. He'd be ready to return to Raw, and it'd be the right time to do it. It's been so damn long since Kane held the big gold, and he held it for such a small amount of time, this time, if he was given the ball, he'd probably make a hell of a champion for however long he had it, as he's so much more experienced with the character to play the appropriate babyface monster champion gimmick to keep the belt fresh and prestigious.
One name I hope and pray to God goes nowhere toward this belt is the Great Khali. I doubt it would happen, as he has his challenge for the world title with Batista, but if he were to somehow make it to the WWE title match, and God forbid win it, it would so badly degrade the value of the WWE title, since Khali tried so many times to topple Cena, and couldn't do it. It would also devalue Khali as a monster, which after watching the Summerslam world title match, Khali's value as a monster in my eyes is practically nil already.
Would this bring Booker back a little "early" from his hiatus? I know he's been suspended, for whatever reason with the wellness policy, but he has the resume to take the title in this type of situation, and with it being such a prevalent emergency, would it be in WWE's best interest to quietly return the King to active competition, and give him a run as the WWE champion, a title that has eluded the monarch of the mat till this point. Doubtful, but something to ponder.
Whatever happens here will be, or could be, a turning point for WWE. It could be the beginning of WWE's turn back to respectability, or its further demise to incredulous laughing stock looking straight in to a congressional hearing on drug abuse. With its virtual patriarch, the man who took the mantle Stone Cold carved out of granite, and virtually kept it at the same level gone for this length of time, it's really going to be a major proving ground for the talent of WWE, and more importantly, for the creative suits behind the scenes of World Wrestling Entertainment.
Now, as I close, I sit back and wait to hear the columns and commentary of all the marks and morons who can't stand this man screaming in joy that he's gone. Love him or hate him, I don't care, but this is the man's livelihood, and to sit here and celebrate the fact that this man got hurt entertaining you and could be unable to work for up to a year, that's pretty damn major whichever way you slice it, and the appropriate respect would and should be conveyed. And, for all those people who think otherwise, I would say that about ANYONE, and I mean, ANYONE who is unable to make a substansial paycheck for this length of time due to disability or injury.
The blog's been inactive due to circumstances beyond my control, but it'll heat back up. I'm sure people are going to come at me with some good emails. Anything I find that's enlightening, good or bad, I'll publish it on the blog. Here are the links.
The blog is available by clicking here.
If you'd like to email me your thoughts, you can do so by clicking here.
Thanks for your time.
Note: The opinions of this column do not represent those of the administrator of this website.
Back To WrestleView.com
|
|
|
