Last
night, I could have gone to a local wrestling show. After a
conversation with a good friend of mine earlier in the week, I
convinced myself that my time (and money) would be better suited to
doing something that I wouldn't be tearing my hair out over... as
easy as it is to get material from the wrestling show in question, I
felt that the time had come to move on to things more worthwhile.
Instead I went to the gym - one of my new favourite things - as well
as doing one of my other, fairly new favourite things: listening to
podcasts.
Whilst
in the gym, earphones in, I listen to the likes of Steve Austin,
Chris Jericho and, my choice this time around, Jim Ross. On this
particular episode, he would again refer to the potential
Wrestlemania scenario of Brock Lesnar dropping the WWE title to Roman
Reigns in a 'passing of the torch'. Although this seems to be the
general consensus amongst those in and around wrestling, I can't help
feeling that this can't be the only option. For one, I'm still not
sold on Reigns being the 'chosen one' just because that's what they
want us to believe. He's got a long, long way to go and we're four
months away from the biggest show of the year.
JR
would also say, as he has done for weeks, that Lesnar's contract
might be up right after 'Mania which, inevitably, will do the rounds
and become common knowledge, thus confirming the outcome of any such
meeting with Reigns at that show not only to smart-ass fans, but
everyone else, too. I got thinking about other possibilities and
almost came up with half of the card that could be a better option in
the long term. I haven't banged on about 'the future' for a while on
my blog as WWE seemed to be heading in the right direction with
regards to that; finally giving Daniel Bryan his big win, making Bray
Wyatt a bigger player (despite the Cena feud), and having all three
members of The Shield have relevance as individuals.
The
matches below are just some of my ideas that will, hopefully, help
following Wrestlemania:
Rusev
vs. Randy Orton
This
might be a weird match to see but the alternative that is being
talked about for Rusev doesn't sound good in the slightest. Rumour
has it (as it always does) that Rusev is on his undefeated streak
that will lead to a program, and match, with the mighty John Cena at
Wrestlemania. Admittedly, that sounds great; a top opportunity for
Rusev to step up to the next level and all that. But I really worry
for Rusev after this because, in my mind, he's definitely losing that
one. It's the ultimate 'Russian guy has been tearing through the
roster; who can possibly stop him?... if there's anyone that can,
it's John Cena!'. I know that there are those that say that wins and
losses don't matter, but in situations like this THEY DO. If Rusev
beats Cena then that is a huge feather in his cap as nobody ever
beats Cena. Ever. It elevates him. But if he loses then he
potentially gets thrown on the scrap heap like everyone else that had
an undefeated-something against Cena: please Google Muhammad Hassan
and Chris Masters' Masterlock Challenge for examples.
I'm
not saying that them two guys were ever going to be top guys, but
they had undefeated streaks that came to a crushing end thanks to
Cena (not his decision, but you get my point). Bray Wyatt is a strong
enough character that he has come back from being obliterated, in
feud terms, by Cena earlier this year, but for Rusev things are a
little different. It's all about strong wins for him. If, on the lead
up to 'Mania, Rusev gets the Accolade on Cena and looks to be a
threat then great. But what happens to him once he's disposed of by
Cena? I can't keep being convinced that having a feud with Cena, or
having matches with Cena automatically 'makes you' or elevates you.
If there was a chance of gaining a win from the situation that's
brilliant, but if it's just Cena coming out on top EVERYTIME, then
how is that productive or making things move forward. It wouldn't
hurt for Cena to lose here and there. It literally NEVER happens so
if it does, he won't be worse for it; he'll still be the top guy,
miles above everyone else. There's literally no downside to him
losing one every once in a while.
This
is the point of a match with Randy Orton. At the present time, Orton
is going to come back as a babyface after the beatdown that he
received this week. He's the number two guy in the company after Cena
and has been for ten years now. He's at the same level as Cena
(just?) except that he's likeable, he hasn't just been a good guy his
entire run and his worth as a top guy isn't damaged by losing. In
fact it must be even greater as he's the biggest scalp on Roman
Reigns' list so far. Therefore if you need a big name against Rusev,
why not have him in that role? It showcases Rusev on the biggest
stage against one of the biggest names out there with a chance of
coming out with a win. Save Cena vs Rusev for a later time where it
isn't as crucial. With Rusev vs Orton, you have people wondering who
could win. You could have Orton break Rusev's streak and it wouldn't
be as much of a roadblock as if Cena were the man for the job. You
could also have Rusev win; at Wrestlemania; against one of the
top-two guys in the company, and Orton wouldn't lose any value in
doing so. Rusev would only gain. WWE would also gain in having an
unstoppable heel to go after their newly made star (?), Roman Reigns.
We
really need to get away from this pedestalled idea that simply
breathing the same air as Cena makes you a star. Sometimes, just
sometimes, let's accept that wins are needed to hammer the point home
and have that person elevated.
Brock
Lesnar vs Cesaro
Now,
you're probably thinking 'well if Lesnar's in this spot and Cena's
not against Rusev, I know where this is going...' and you'd be right.
IF
Lesnar's contract is up right after Wrestlemania and there's no
chance of renewal then surely something else needs doing with him.
What better use of him than to elevate another guy that has needed
such treatment since Wrestlemania this year (and before). There's a
link in there with Heyman to make this thing come together, too.
WWE
are in dire need of top babyfaces. They have this dream of having
Roman Reigns be the next guy but that seems to be the only one that
has a rocket strapped to him. Why can't several guys reach that level
at the same time? Why can't Dean Ambrose get that sort of attention?
What about the ascension of Bray Wyatt? Let's not forget about Daniel
Bryan if and when he returns. There's so many guys that could be main
event players if the right care and direction is given to them. It
just looks like, after Wrestlemania, there will be Cena, Orton and
Reigns. That's just one guy different from the year before, or even
five years before.
This
match, just like the Rusev versus Orton match, could go either way
and STILL make Cesaro. Unlike a match versus Cena, it would all be in
the performance and a loss wouldn't necessarily kill the person's
momentum. If Cesaro is allowed to stand toe-to-toe with Lesnar, have
a decent match with him (which he would), trouble Lesnar in places,
then after Wrestlemania you'd have another babyface to join up with
Reigns going forward. And I say 'babyface' and Cesaro because if he's
not already one leading up to Wrestlemania, he definitely will be one
after a program with Lesnar (and Heyman).
WWE
title: John Cena (c) vs Roman Reigns
As
much as people will hate John Cena reaching Ric Flair's milestone
amount of World titles, I think it's needed in the ascension of Roman
Reigns. If Lesnar is to leave straight after 'Mania then something
else needs to happen to make it less predictable for a Reigns win.
What better way than to have Reigns have to overcome the biggest test
against the guy that “the future has to go through” and all that.
Obviously it would be babyface versus babyface with, probably, a
portion of the fans in attendance more in Reigns' corner (or maybe a
little more than that?!), but it could have a positive outcome in two
ways; first, you would give Reigns his big, defining moment against
the biggest star in WWE. If he fails after that then he fails.
Secondly, you might, and this is a very big might, generate some
sympathy and respect for Cena. This is obviously a huge ask and there
will be those that still boo the sh*t out of him, but if he were to
'do the honours' at Wrestlemania for the next big star, maybe people
would warm to him a little.
OR
maybe people won't buy Reigns as the next big thing by Wrestlemania
and boo the hell out of both of them?!
 |
| A better option? |
Conclusion
These
are just some of my thoughts last evening and they can be added to
all the other fantasy bookers out there. I know it's often said that
it's not the result that is important but the journey to get there
(Daniel Bryan is a fine example of this earlier this year), but if
Reigns isn't ready and they're going to force it upon us (as seems to
be the case) then they'll get the reaction that's coming to them.
With
Lesnar potentially not re-signing, what better use for him than to
elevate a guy, win or lose. It's the same situation with Orton; win
or lose, he's not going to suffer from it or have a stigma attached
of 'losing to Rusev'. He'll carry on in 2015 doing what he always
does. Cena is a different story, though. I hope I haven't come across
as a Cena-hater in this piece because I'm really not. I just feel the
need to point out the potential damage that losing to Cena could do
to up-and-comers.
There
seems to be this idea that being in the ring with the guy instantly
elevates you. I felt so bad for Bray Wyatt earlier this year because
he has such a great character that they can have him around for
years. I hate to liken it to being the 'new Undertaker' because I
really hope that he'll be the 'first Bray Wyatt' or whatever way you
would wish to say he's his own man with his own destiny. He gained
nothing from the Cena feud apart from “I had a feud with John
Cena”; he had one win over him – not even a pinfall win – due
to a creepy, singing kid distracting Cena. I just don't think Rusev
in the same position is beneficial to anyone.
If
I'm being honest, I don't think that it's NOT going to be Lesnar vs
Reigns or Cena vs Rusev, but we can all dream and fantasy book...
One
last one: how about Rollins vs Ziggler for the Intercontinental
title? It would be one of them classic IC title matches where both
guys should be at that level on the stage of Wrestlemania. It would
have all the potential to be a showstealer, too. You could even have
Rollins attempting to cash-in at the end of the show regardless of
the outcome to this match...
I'll
shut up now!
@jimmosangle