We're a little shy of a week and a half removed from the biggest pay-per-view of the year and even though we're better than a month away from the next one, some of the card is already starting to materialize. Following last week's RAW, I had devised what I believed to be an ideal card based on the direction certain storylines were going, but after tonight's show, most of the matches seem to be straying slightly from my template. Let's take a look at what's in the fold for the fans after tonight's show--
STEEL CAGE MATCH
TRIPLE H vs. BROCK LESNAR
Okay, so Triple H hasn't "accepted Brock's challenge" yet. Let's be honest, though. The only thing that's more of a lock than this is The Undertaker disappearing after next week only to return at Wrestlemania and win another match next year.
Long story short, the score is tied and there needs to be a decisive winner. Look for another war similar to the one we got at Mania, only a little more brutality and (dare I say it) maybe a little blood spilled. Brock has another good showing and Triple H gets the final victory in this rivalry.
What Should Be Booked In Its Place: Nothing.
Triple H is reveling in his status among the "Once A Year Club" (See: The Rock, The Undertaker, etc.) and really has nothing else to prove at this point in his career. Brock is signed for a finite number of appearances over the next couple years and to use all of them up this soon would be foolish. I understand that The Rock's sudden disappearance threw somewhat of a wrench into the works, but the dust needs to settle on Triple H-Brock Lesnar II before we go rushing into the last leg of the trilogy. Lesnar could still make an appearance and an impact without going into overkill on a rivalry that could wrap one year hence from their initial confrontation at Summerslam. WWE should give Hunter the night off on May 19, but alas, that won't be the case.
WWE CHAMPIONSHIP
JOHN CENA vs. RYBACK
Don't get me wrong, this match works. I am very appreciative of the fact that they were able to affix MONTHS worth of developing storyline to support this feud, but there's ONE element missing.
What Should Be Booked: Steel Cage Match--John Cena vs. Ryback vs. Mark Henry
Last week, John Cena was in a fighting mood and issued an open challenge to anyone who felt that they had what it took to go toe-to-toe with the new WWE Champion and the first man to step up was the World's Strongest Man, Mark Henry. After an admittedly anti-climactic finish, Cena won the contest by countout, but Henry wasn't finished. Before Ryback came down to make his statement, Henry made one of his own and flattened Cena into oblivion. Ryback will make a fine #1 contender, but it seems that Henry got the shaft here.
After dispatching Ryback last Sunday at Wrestlemania, shouldn't Mark Henry be able to stake a claim to making this a triple threat match? If there's one thing Creative likes to book for Cena more than overcoming insurmountable odds against one monstrous opponent, it's overcoming TWO. Take Cena, Henry and Ryback and throw them into a Steel Cage with the title on the line.
Have Cena retain if you choose, but have a twist ending prepared; say, PAUL HEYMAN cornering all three after the match and having THE SHIELD, BROCK LESNAR and CM PUNK close in from all sides. Punk slams the door on Cena's head, Heyman chains the cage door shut behind them and a post-match beatdown on all three ensues. A GTS to Cena here, an F-5 to Ryback there and a Triple Powerbomb from the Shield to Henry through the cage wall, signaling the dawn of a new Dangerous Alliance for The Mad Scientist of ECW.
WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
DOLPH ZIGGLER vs. JACK SWAGGER vs. ALBERTO DEL RIO
This will be a fine match on it's own, even not knowing what stipulation will be affixed to it. Ziggler has been well cast as the vulnerable, but capable champion and the opponents are filling their roles beautifully. Del Rio, works well as the determined former champion bent on getting the title back and Swagger, the slighted number one contender who gained some retribution by putting one over on the current titleholder makes a perfect third wheel. But again, I can't help but feel that this match is a little lacking.
What Should Be Booked: Six Pack Challenge--Dolph Ziggler vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Jack Swagger vs. Randy Orton vs. Big Show vs. Sheamus
In 2010, WWE took three storylines--John Cena's struggle against The Nexus, Chris Jericho and Edge's shady tendencies on the heels of the Summerslam match against said Nexus and their own personal desires to get back to the top of the game and added them to the main title hunt between then WWE Champion Sheamus and #1 contender Randy Orton. Combined, they created a solid six-man elimination match that saw Orton regain the belt.
Among (ahem) "Smackdown" storylines now, we have a similar set-up. There's the ongoing feud between Del Rio and Swagger, The new wrinkle of Ziggler as the defending champion, and we have Orton, Sheamus and Big Show battling between each other over their inability to form a cohesive unit against The Shield at Mania. In the course of the last year, 5 of these men (with the exception of Orton) have either held the gold or have been in the title hunt. And don't kid yourself, all of them would love nothing more than to hold it again. What better way to illustrate the "Ziggler vs. The World" mentality than to have him helplessly defending the strap against 5 very hungry challengers?
WWE Extreme Rules is taking place in St. Louis, MO. No doubt the hometown crowd would be WILDLY in favor of Orton leaving with the gold again. I could see the match coming down to Ziggler, Orton and Swagger with Orton dispatching the "Real American" with an RKO. From there, Coulter goes after Orton and gets one of those trademarked scoop slams. Ziggler capitalizes with a ZigZag and collects a nearfall.
The match ultimately ends with Orton's RKO getting blocked and The Viper getting sent into Big E Langston's path. The momentary distraction is enough for Ziggler to stun Orton with another superkick a la Survivor Series and The Show Off picking up the victory. Dolph gets over as a Sleazy Heel, Orton gets robbed, and St. Louis gets a great elimination match.
SHEAMUS vs. MARK HENRY
This one is inevitable. On Friday, Henry put Sheamus through a table. This week on RAW it was a wall. With Henry's penchant for putting Sheamus THROUGH things, I suspect a Tables Match is on the horizon.
What Should Be Booked: At this point, I've made it clear that these two should be in contention for the respective WWE and World Titles. However, it seems that this is the match we'll get. Meanwhile, Randy Orton and The Big Show will more than likely find themselves as opponents in another match (stipulation TBD) at Extreme Rules. It just seems that the ball is being dropped in favor of more feuds that don't really have much of a build.
2-ON-3 HANDICAP MATCH FOR THE TAG TEAM TITLES
This is the one match that seems like it's on the right track to happen as I intended. Next week, The Shield will square off with Team Hell No and The Undertaker in London. Once the Deadman is removed from the equation next week, The Tag Team Champions will be at the Shield's mercy. And since each match at the next PPV will feature some form of extreme stipulation, expect this one to carry the "Handicap Match" label. The numbers game will catch up eventually and The Shield will capture the gold, whereupon they'll defend using the famed "Freebird Rule". After eight months of functional dysfunction, this is where Kane and Daniel Bryan will implode as a unit, leading to the renewed feud for which most of us have been waiting.
The rest of the card is still up in the air. With that said, here's the card I've been hoping for and the card I expect we'll end up getting.
YouTube Pre-Show:
What Should Happen: Elimination Tag Match--Tons of Funk vs. Team Rhodes Scholars
Honestly, I don't really want to see this match again, but the "blue chippers" as Jim Ross would call them, that being Brodus Clay, Damien Sandow and ESPECIALLY Cody Rhodes, deserve better than getting bumped from the card.
What Will Happen: Talented Up-and-Comers will get bumped again.
Big Show's fist must truly be a Weapon of Mass Destruction--just look what it's done to Cody Rhodes' career since Wrestlemania 28--Losing the Intercontinental Title a 2nd time (this time to Christian), losing the rematch a month later, an also-ran at Money In The Bank, missed out on Summerslam completely, failed to recapture the IC Title at Night of Champions, teamed with Sandow and spent the next four months losing out on the tag team titles, including a month lost to a concussion). Since February, Rhodes AND Sandow have been locked into a downward spiral of continued matches with Brodus Clay and Tensai and the situation is not improving. Rhodes Scholars would need to employ the isolation game, hopefully drawing Tensai into a count out before outnumbering Brodus and getting both of their careers back on track.
As for the rest of the show--
What Should Happen: Wade Barrett vs. The Miz in a Ladder Match for the IC Title
What We'll Probably Get: Wade Barrett vs. R-Truth (Stipulation TBD)
As a former champion, Miz is entitled to a rematch, but when it comes to the undercard, continuity doesn't matter nearly as much as it might for a main event scenario. A ladder match could ensure that Barrett retains in dramatic fashion and could create an emphatic conclusion to the angle started prior to Mania. However, as R-Truth picked up an unlikely victory over Barrett on RAW this Monday, it leads me to believe that they're taking a different direction.
What Should Happen: Fandango vs. Christian in a Falls Count Anywhere Match
What We'll Probably Get: Fandango vs. The Miz (Stipulation TBD)
I'm not sure about either scenario here, but honestly Christian would work better. This would give Miz his aforementioned rematch clause and would give Christian an opportunity to return to WWE TV. I don't know if Vince is actively trying to keep Christian off the roster, or if Creative earnestly can't think of a good way to write him back in, but with Jericho going back on tour, Fandango needs a new feud and a couple months with Captain Charisma could do the trick.
What Should Happen: Kofi Kingston vs. Antonio Cesaro in a 2 of 3 Falls Match for the U.S. Title
What We'll Probably Get: Kofi Kingston vs. Antonio Cesaro (Stipulation TBD)
I'm not sure that this match won't still happen. Stipulation notwithstanding, the fact remains that Cesaro is supposed to get a rematch. And while The U.S. Title has a tendency of getting bumped from the card, a 2 of 3 Falls Match could serve as a good in-between for main events at the show. Considering the solid match that saw Kofi take the title in the first place, it might serve the card well to hold the return match at Extreme Rules. The contest would see Kofi win the first fall, Cesaro take the second and would set up for an interesting finish akin to Monday's match.
What Should Happen: Kaitlyn vs. A.J. (w/Big E Langston) in a Lumberjill Match for the Diva's Title
What We'll Probably Get: Kaitlyn vs. one of the Bellas in a throwaway match on the card
I'm probably the farthest thing from A.J.'s biggest fan, but if they're going to continue to push her in the same stable as the defending World Champion, she needs to step up her game and actually mix it up in the ring once in a while. The outcome could work either way in a title match with Kaitlyn. Have A.J. win the title with an assist from Big E or some of the lumberjills OR have Kaitlyn retain and send A.J. into one of her world class tantrums. A good payoff either way.
There's still several weeks before the Extreme Rules PPV, but I can't help but feel like we could still get a better card with a few extra hours in the Writers' Room....
No comments:
Post a Comment