Today’s Episode: Jericho is Raw
I had intended to write an article about people that should be fired in lieu of Mr. Kennedy, as there was rumor that he was on the chopping block. Still, in the wake of the events of last night’s main event, I think something needs to be said about our new World Heavyweight Champion, Chris Jericho.
This situation has me unbelievably conflicted. The fact that Chris Jericho is world champion has me completely elated, as if I’m flying over a land of rainbows and gumdrops, where children laugh and puppies play. He has brought his heel game so far in the past several months that he is easily one of the most detestable men in the business, and his ability to perform well in the ring while remaining hated is a tough line to toe in today’s jaded wrestling landscape. His win last night also makes me feel so much better than his initial run a few years ago, when he fully seemed like a transitional champion. He may easily be built up into the biggest heel for EVERYONE on Raw, carefully mixing real in-ring skill with Honky Tonk Man cowardice. This run could be a long run…
…which makes me a little sad. After all, Jericho’s gain is CM Punk’s loss, and he didn’t even have any say in the situation. Just as people were starting to buy CM Punk as a legit champion, he gets kicked in the head by Randy Orton (a “real” main eventer in the eyes of WWE), and is out of the match. I guarantee that if Cena had taken that kick, he would have stumbled out a few moments into his entrance, bravely saluted, and gone on to retain the belt. Why is Punk…well, punked out like this?
I certainly see the argument that Punk didn’t lose the title, and so has every right in the world to fight for it back. But the cynic in me suggests that the big blowoff feud isn’t going to be between Jericho and Punk, but between Jericho and Batista, who has had an ongoing story this year of simply not being able to win the big one. However, a burgeoning feud with Rey Mysterio might put that off for a bit, but building up to Jericho and Batista for Wrestlemania may be part of the plan if Cena is unavailable by March for whatever reason. The thing is, being concussed for the night due to a Randy Orton kick is something that I would imagine happening to Kofi Kingston, sure, but not the valiant world champion, who’s supposed to be the larger and life hero that follows his own beliefs and values.
Frankly, he looks like a chump. But the possibility of an extended Punk/Jericho feud is simply too mouthwatering to pass up.
Jericho has simply become that good. Even if he kind of sort of lost to Shawn Michaels, Jericho can still lay claim to showing all of the fans what Michaels really was on the inside: a vicious, deluded monster, and so, ultimately, Jericho was victorious, even if it has nothing to do with putting his shoulders to the mat or stretching him out in the walls of Jericho. The whole point of Jericho’s crusade was to tarnish, if not destroy, Shawn’s legacy, because the guy probably only has so many years, or months, of performance left in him if his injuries are mounting up to the degree that we’re being told they are. That’s why it’s so important that Cade is Jericho’s bodyguard: he represents a part of Shawn’s life where he tried to pass the torch for the first time since he lost clean to Steve Austin at Wrestlemania XV.
So, where can they go from here? If you feel that Jericho vs. Punk can’t draw, why don’t you have Jericho ducking him but running into guys like Batista and Rey, who are embroiled in a feud of their own, and, in fact, CM Punk could be kept busy contending with Randy Orton and the now-growing second-generation stable, which we all suspected he’d be taking over upon his return anyway. As all of these feuds resolve themselves, the Wrestlemania Main Event for Raw could be Jericho vs. Punk vs. Batista, while Rey finally gets a match with his diabolical enemy Kane, and Orton’s gang takes on Kofi Kingston, Cryme Tyme and maybe, just maybe, John Cena in a zany eight man tag. It works: you have the vile and vicious heel champion, the plucky former champ who never lost his belt, and the gladiator, strong and willful, destined to once again hold the gold.
The story is there. I’m just not 100% behind it.
