Needless to say, this has been a pretty newsworthy week in the WWE. We’ve had Title Changes, stars taking time off from injury, and a pretty big heel turn. I don’t know the last time the WWE had such a newsworthy week as far as major happenings with a handful of their big stars. You could make an argument that the landscape of the WWE has changed this week. For the past decade, the WWE has been centered around John Cena. Now, with Cena out due to an injury, the reigns have been handed over. Daniel Bryan is now the new face of the WWE. I commend the WWE for taking the risk they did in getting behind Daniel Bryan. While there is no doubt he is over with the fans, the WWE had to book everything properly to make sure that the connection wasn’t lost. Even after winning the WWE Title and losing it so quickly, Bryan didn’t lose any momentum the next night on RAW. It is very clear right now that it is Daniel Bryan and the WWE Universe vs the McMahons. When Daniel Bryan faced John Cena, he was built up as the under dog that some thought couldn’t beat Superman Cena. With Bryan taking on the McMahons, Bryan is built up as the underdog that the Corporate Giant does not want to see on top. This time the entire hierarchy of the WWE is against Bryan. That will make his eventual WWE Title win that much more sweeter.
Not only in the last week, but in the last month or so the structure of the WWE has taken a pretty big change. While he was never billed as the #2 face, most people kind of thought Sheamus was up there with John Cena. With both men now out due to injury, Daniel Bryan and CM Punk are now the top two faces in the WWE. I never thought that would happen in the WWE. Randy Orton has taken over the role of #1 heel in the WWE, as far as active wrestlers go. The Vince/Stephanie/HHH combo are the top heels in the WWE from an overall storyline perspective. The Shield has also been re-established as a top heel threat in this last week.
With all of that being said, my main focus here is looking long term. The WWE has A TON of momentum right now. They would have nobody to blame but themselves if they end up screwing this up. Daniel Bryan has the backing of pretty much all of the WWE Universe. Some would argue that CM Punk is the top guy in the WWE. I think he has just as much backing from the fans. But Bryan is involved in the top storyline right now. Looking ahead to the next few months and even the beginning of 2014, the WWE has a golden path they can take to Wrestlemania. It could make Wrestlemania 30 one of the best Wrestlemania’s of all time.
Lets start with the fall and work our way forward. The first major stop is Night of Champions in September. We already know that Randy Orton will take on Daniel Bryan here. Randy Orton retains the Title here with the help of The Shield. Meanwhile, after CM Punk defeats Curtis Axel via DQ (come on, we all know CM Punk isn’t winning the Intercontinental Championship) The Shield comes out and saves Paul Heyman from a beatdown and takes out Punk. As the weeks go on, CM Punk interjects himself into this storyline as well. I don’t think the WWE can have this Punk/Heyman story continue with just Curtis Axel. At Battleground Bryan gets one more match against Orton. The Shield tries to interfere again but Punk, Dolph Ziggler, Mark Henry and Big Show even the odds. With all hell breaking loose, Bryan hits the running knee on Orton to win back the WWE Title.
Oh and don’t think I forgot about the Smackdown side of things. After RVD wins the World Title at Battleground, he gets taken out by Alberto del Rio post-match. Damien Sandow comes out and cashes in to win the World Title. With so much going on with the McMahons on the RAW side, Smackdown can be allowed to add some new players to the mix.
At Hell In A Cell, Bryan and Orton fight one final time inside the Cell. Bryan comes out on top again. Triple H, getting fed up with Bryan as Champ and Orton failing to win back the Title, decides to fight Bryan himself at Survivor Series. Orton ends up teaming with The Shield to take on the team of CM Punk, Ziggler, Henry and Show. To close out the year, Daniel Bryan retains the WWE Championship in a Fatal 4 Way TLC Match against Orton, HHH, and CM Punk.
Vince McMahon opens the first RAW of the year going on a tirade. He “fires” The Shield as his hired henchmen and replaces them with The Wyatt Family. Vince then goes out and brings in the one man he feels can take the WWE Championship off of Daniel Bryan: Brock Lesnar. Yes, I understand that Brock Lesnar has a limited number of dates in his WWE contract. But I’m pretty sure that if you offer him so more money for an extra 5 or 10 dates, he isn’t going to turn it down. Vince also brings in Lesnar much to the dismay of HHH. This is where the tension starts to build between Vince and HHH.
Right around this time as well we start to get everyone back for the Royal Rumble. John Cena makes his return from injury as does Sheamus. At the Royal Rumble Brock Lesnar takes the WWE Title from Daniel Bryan. Meanwhile, CM Punk wins the Royal Rumble. And right there is your Wrestlemania main event. I know lots of people think Daniel Bryan is the choice, but I think Punk ends up getting the nod. It’s been brought up every now and then during his promos.
Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Title in an Elimination Chamber match. Meanwhile, HHH has finally had enough of Vince and breaks away from him. Vince turns back to Randy Orton after Orton beatsdown HHH, including a punt kick to the head. Triple H, unable to compete due to his past concussion history (storyline continuity!), picks Daniel Bryan as the man to represent him at Wrestlemania. HHH realizes that Bryan is a great wrestler and they make amends.
John Cena ends up challenging The Undertaker at Wrestlemania. It is one of the few big matches that they haven’t done with Taker yet. I know they have fought before but Cena wasn’t the star he is today. I read a report that Brock Lesnar might be the leading candidate. But I just don’t see the appeal in it. Plus, Lesnar working with an old and injury plagued Undertaker isn’t good for him at this point. On Smackdown, Sheamus wins the World Title and takes on challenger Dolph Ziggler at Wrestlemania. Sheamus turns heel the night after the Elimination Chamber with a vicious beatdown of Dolph Ziggler.
So what does my Wrestlemania 30 card currently look like? Here it is:
WWE Championship: Brock Lesnar (c) vs CM Punk Control of the WWE On the Line: Randy Orton (representing Vince) vs Daniel Bryan (representing Triple H) The Undertaker vs John Cena World Heavyweight Championship: Sheamus (c) vs Dolph Ziggler 6 Man Match with the U.S. and Tag Titles on the Line: The Shield vs The Wyatt Family 2 out of 3 Falls for the IC Title: Antonio Cesaro (c) vs Sami Zayn Retirement Match: Rey Mysterio vs Alberto del Rio Chris Jericho vs Damien Sandow Rob Van Dam vs Ryback Divas Championship: A.J. (c) vs Paige
Those last three matches I kind of just threw together to get some bigger names onthe card. A Chris Jericho/Damien Sandow feud would be great just to hear their exchanges on the mic. As far as the retirement match goes, Rey Mysterio is literally on his last legs in the WWE. I don’t know how much longer his knees will be able to hold up in the ring. I could see him hanging up the boots soon. RVD and Ryback is just a match to get those two on the card. And Paige will probably be up to the main roster by Mania season.
What do you think? Is this the path you want to see the WWE take when it comes to Wrestlemania? Can the WWE screw up all the momentum they have going?
Also don’t forget that the HTC Pulsecast is LIVE LIVE LIVE this week. Myself and co-host Cam Dougharty will be taking your calls during the show. Want to comment on this piece, RAW, WWE or anything wrestling related? Call in Thursday at 8 on BlogTalkRadio: 818-532-9786.
Until Next Time,
Justin C
Follow Me On Twitter @JCWonka
