So, here we are just a short time away from Hell in a Cell, and honestly, I don’t remember a time in recent years when so much with the WWE was up in the air. I don’t mean that to be a criticism, especially since it does seem like they have some idea where they are going, even if we the fans don’t. And honestly, isn’t that how it should be? I mean it wasn’t that long ago, after the shock and awe of the Summer of Punk had worn off, that things had become a little too predictable. Now there’s a pay-per-view this Sunday and I honestly don’t have a single match I’d put money on predicting the outcome.
I find all of this especially interesting because unpredictability is something I have always enjoyed about pro wrestling. Sure, in the Internet age and the era of the “smart” fan, we have all become used to certain tropes and clichés in regards to “the swerve,” the “heel turn,” the “evil authority figure,” the “transitional champion” and other standards that are recycled over the years, but every now and then we get a real surprise or, at least something where we just have to say, “I don’t know where this is going, but I like it.”
And, at least to me, that’s where we are with Hell in a Cell and in the WWE in general (and, as I mentioned last time out, TNA, with their Aces & Eights storyline). I don’t know how the WWE Title match between CM Punk and Ryback is going to go down. My gut tells me Punk retains through as-yet-determined nefarious means. But, really, if they put the belt on Ryback, I won’t complain. I like title changes, I love new guys getting their shot, and as much as I’d like to see Punk make it to the one-year mark with the belt, I would be much more intrigued with the fallout of WWE Champion Ryback on the road to Wrestlemania.
I mean, that’s basically what it has come down to, right? For all intents and purposes, Wrestlemania is the “season finale” of the WWE. It’s all, at least in theory, been building to WM29 since the Raw after WM28. Now, the great thing about wrestling is the new “season premier” is the very next day instead of three or four months later. No matter how shocking or how intense the cliffhanger is at the end of the season, the storyline must go on next season.
Now, obviously as the barebones outline of what to do and how to get from WM28 to WM29 was being laid out (that’s something that happens, right? Right?), or even as the Punk-Cena angle was being planned, no one anticipated John Cena being injured and certainly no one foresaw Ryback being slated in as Punk’s challenger at Hell in a Cell even a month ago, so we’re clearly now involved with a work in progress. Cena won’t be out long-term, so it’s not like he’s out of the mix or anything. So, where are we?
A quick search tells me that we have (in addition to 25 or so episodes of Raw, SmackDown, WWE Main Event, and whatever else they’ve got planned) Survivor Series, TLC, the Royal Rumble, and Elimination Chamber on the ppv schedule ahead of Wrestlemania XXIX (no pay-per-view in March? Is that normal? Is it just not scheduled? Anyway…). We have all made our own speculations and read others about what the big matches at ‘Mania are going to be. Let’s assume that as many as four top spots are going to be taken up by part-time/semi-retired performers, namely The Rock, Undertaker, Brock Lesnar, and HHH. In fact, those four in some combination could be two matches, effectively relegating the full-time roster to the undercard, but I don’t really expect that to happen (probably not, anyway).
How available are any of these guys going to be on any of the pay-per-views or TV shows over the next five months? And if they are on the shows, are they going to wrestle? And if so, are you going to put your current (and future) guys over at the expense of making already established guys look strong for Wrestlemania? Does that make sense in terms of building stars and continuing to grow the business? And if Ryback does become a mainstay at the top of the card, how does he fit into the picture going forward?
I say job them all.
Yes, even the Undertaker.
Before you boo me out of the building, I’d remind you that Andre the Freaking Giant jobbed on his way out. First to Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania III and then to the Ultimate Warrior (in less-than-a-minute squashes around the country, no less). I say, go to ‘Taker, and say, “Who is it going to be?” There can be no better endorsement and hardly a better claim to fame than “I beat the Undertaker at Wrestlemania.” I will add the caveat that if “the guy” doesn’t exist, give it one more year and find “the guy” by Wrestlemania XXX, or pay whatever it will take to bring in Sting for WM30 and put ‘Taker over to end both of their careers.
If I get my choice, I’m going with Daniel Bryan.
Bryan has the potential to be the new Shawn Michaels, appropriately, or Bret Hart, if that’s a better comparison. Fans appreciate him on every level, and he’s young enough to be able to have at least 10 more years of great matches. No one who is even close to the main event has the total package DB offers. Maybe Orton or Cody, but I don’t think they fit the spot.
Let’s assume for a minute they put Ryback over Punk. Okay, then what? I say let him beat Punk at Survivor Series, lose the belt back to Punk at TLC (in a three-way with Cena in the mix), and have Punk go on to face the Rock at the Rumble. Cena wins the Rumble and you do Cena-Rock II at ‘Mania. Give Cena the win and the belt. Say what you will, he’s the top guy on the top show winning the top belt.
Backing up a bit, I don’t care who wins the Sheamus-Big Show WHC match at Hell in a Cell, as long as Ziggler cashes in the Money in the Bank case and wins the title. I will even accept Ziggler cashing in the next night on Raw or Friday on SmackDown, but now is the time to put the belt on Dolph. He can defend it against whoever at Survivor Series (re-match with Sheamus sounds good, I suppose), but at TLC or the Royal Rumble, I want Ziggler-Orton with a double turn, ala Hart-Austin at WMXIII. They can have another match at Elimination Chamber, but CM Punk wins the Rumble and we get Ziggler-Punk at ‘Mania (or a three-way with Orton if he doesn’t have anything better to do). I don’t care who wins.
As for Brock and Ryback, put them both in the Rumble. In fact have them each eliminate a ton of people and then each other, and boom, instant Wrestlemania match. Put Ryback over.
As for HHH, if he wants to be on the show, job him out to Orton, or Sheamus, or Santino…I’ve had enough of Hunter. But if you really want to do something cool, put the tag belts on Cody and Sandow and build up to a Rhodes Scholars-DX ‘Mania match. If HBK isn’t down, throw in Mick Foley or give someone new the rub by teaming them with HHH.
So there’s my “armchair booker” Wrestlemania card:
WWE Title Match – John Cena vs. The Rock
World Heavyweight Title Match – Dolph Ziggler vs. CM Punk vs. Randy Orton
The Undertaker vs. Daniel Bryan (with Kane in his corner maybe?)
Brock Lesnar vs. Ryback
WWE Tag Team Titles – Cody Rhodes & Damien Sandow vs. HHH & Shawn Michaels
Plus, you know, whatever else you know, to fill out the card…
So, again, this is assuming a Ryback win at Hell in a Cell. I’m pulling for it, I guess. It’s not quite the classic “unexpected title challenger” story, like when Honkytonk Man’s epic Intercontinental title reign ended at the hands of the Ultimate Warrior. Granted it’s had more hype than Santino’s “Miracle in Milan” I-C title win over Umaga. One of my all-time storylines of this nature is from the old UWF. To set this up, “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert and Terry Taylor turn on Sting (back when that was something new). Sting then challenges Gilbert for Eddie’s UWF TV Title, but things go wrong for the Stinger…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y4KqtvOmDs
Gilbert was a great heel. And if you’re not familiar with their work, that’s Missy Hyatt screeching on commentary with Good Ol’ JR. Gilbert is just one more of many stars gone too soon, sadly. But this whole storyline could be lifted wholesale and used today to elevate someone. In fact, now that I think about it, what if Hell in a Cell had gone like this:
Don’t even mention Cena’s injury, and only go with the very first little backstage encounter between Punk and Ryback and never mention it again. On the Raw or even better, SmackDown before, Punk jumps and attacks Cena, so at least fans can have it in their head that Cena might not make the ppv, just so it won’t be a total bait-and-switch. At the ppv, Cena says he’s going to try and wrestle, but Punk beats him down again backstage. Come main event time, Punk is preparing to accept a forfeit win, when Vince comes out and says, “Oh, no, Mr. Punk! You’re challenger is right here!” Cue “Feed Me More!” and then you do whatever it is you have planned for Hell in a Cell.
Anyway, thanks for reading.
