Rather than my normal column on one specific piece of wrestling, I decided to take a look at all the on goings that have taken place in the WWE in the last week. There have been some newsworthy topics to talk about, so lets get right to it.
Chris Jericho Suspended 30 Days for Kicking Brazil Flag
This story is a little over a week old but I never really touched on it. Chris Jericho was suspended after kicking the Brazil flag on a recent tour of South America last weekend. Nobody knew the incident was illegal, so there really is no one to blame here. It is a traditional heel move by a wrestler so you can't fault Jericho. There were apparently police officers waiting to arrest Jericho after the match. I understand that each country has its own set of laws, but they do know that the WWE is only entertainment right? Jericho wasn't trying to make a political statement. It sucks that Jericho is gone now, especially with the way the roster is, but I understand why the WWE suspended Jericho from a P.R. standpoint. Especially with Linda McMahon running for Senate. We still don't exactly know when Jericho is leaving. I believe Jericho is advertised for live events through SummerSlam. That would be a good exit for him on the second biggest PPV of the year.
RAW Rating Falls to 2.7
I think there is a big over-reaction to this at WWE headquarters. There are apparently people panicking over there about this rating. But the WWE usually tends to struggle on Memorial Day. If the weather is nice out, people are going to go out and have parties in the afternoon and then be too tired and burned out to do or watch anything at night. And you can't attribute the low rating to John Cena not being on. As far as I remember, they never said that John Cena would not be on RAW. People were probably expecting him to come out at the end of the show. Hell, until the Big Show started his beat down I still thought Cena would come out and help Brodus Clay beat the Big Show.
The recent low ratings basically say to me that people don't think the WWE has a must see product on TV anymore. If the WWE's product was better people would tune in and watch no matter what holiday or day it was. But now, people are less inclined to watch a full two hours of RAW, especially if they have something better to do. They will go out and do their thing and catch the highlights or what they want to see on YouTube or read about it on a wrestling news site the next day. The WWE really needs to refocus on their television product, especially with three hour RAWs on the horizon. They need to get a better product out their and fast.
Will The Rock Be Around for Wrestlemania 29?
In case you didn't hear, The Rock's new "G.I. Joe" movie was recently pushed back to March 29, 2013. It was said that they wanted to convert it to 3D. I'm sure that made a good cover up. They probably didn't want the movie tanking while going up against the likes of Spiderman and Dark Knight this summer. The movie also apparently didn't test well with audiences. Sounds like the movie is off to a great start.
But with G.I. Joe coming out the weekend before Wrestlemania 29, will Rock have time to promote the movie and take part in RAW every week? Movie promotions are a lot of work. But The Rock loves to travel so he may very well do it. I for one can't see Rock missing Wrestlemania 29. What he does is still up for debate. I can't envision anything other than Rock/Brock or Rock/Cena for the WWE Championship.
Is There Anything to This Brock Lesnar/UFC Stuff?
No, I really don't think there is. But Brock Lesnar was in attendance at the last UFC fight and apparently had a meeting with UFC President Dana White. While the UFC and WWE have a decent relationship, UFC does not want to get involved with anything WWE. Dana White has set it multiple times. It's smart, it could turn off their fanbase if they mix with "sports entertainment." Brock apparently either wanted to do something with UFC or get UFC to get involved in the WWE to go along with Brock's storyline suspension.
I'm looking forward to Brock returning in July. He adds a needed breath of fresh air to the WWE product. And with Paul Heyman and C.M. Punk recently going on Twitter and teasing "something big" is on the horizon, I can't wait to see where this all goes. I still think a C.M. Punk/Brock Lesnar match at Survivor Series is the right route to go, especially if Punk holds the WWE Title the whole time. I would expect this angle to pick up again after No Way Out, but I wouldn't expect Brock back until mid to late July. The WWE has to limit his dates to coincide with his contract.
Randy Orton Suspended for 60 Days: Are There More On The Way?
This is the big one that came out this week. On Tuesday the WWE announced that Orton had violated the WWE Wellness Policy for the second time and would be suspended for 60 days as a result. For a roster that is already lacking star power this didn't help things. Orton is the #2/3 face in the WWE, depending on if you want to put C.M. Punk ahead of him. I would at this point, but that's another topic. I've been hot and colt with Orton over his career. I thought he's been decent the last year. He had a series of good matches with Christian. His feud with Mark Henry was well done, and the matches weren't bad either. He's been enjoyable to watch. I actually felt bad for him having to be saddled with Kane as a Wrestlemania feud. I think Orton deserved better.
So what does the WWE do now? With Orton gone and Rey Mysterio also suspended, Smackdown is all Sheamus. Christian and Sin Cara will probably be elevated to the #2 spots on Smackdown, but I don't know if they can hold up their that long. I mentioned this on Twitter the other day: If I'm the WWE, I'm making a call to the Undertaker. I know he seems to only be a Wrestlemania guy right now, but with the predicament the WWE is in I would make the call to him. And I would slide him right into the feud that Randy Orton looked ready for, and that was with Dolph Ziggler. Sure Dolph is calling out Undertaker for a match at Wrestlemania, but he's still calling out one of the greatest legends in WWE history for a match. Either have Dolph call Undertaker out at No Way Out or wait until an episode of RAW, but I think its something that could help make Dolph a star. It probably won't happen, but its wishful thinking.
As far as Money in the Bank goes, I still think the WWE is in good shape there too. But of course, that would be if I were booking it. People tend to buy Money in the Bank regardless of who's wrestling or what the matches are. But you're telling me a card like this doesn't sound good?
Smackdown Money in the Bank Match: Cody Rhodes vs Sin Cara vs Christian vs Alberto del Rio vs Kane vs Wade Barrett (assuming he's healthy)
RAW Money in the Bank Match: Dolph Ziggler vs Kofi Kingston vs Miz vs Santino vs Brodus Clay vs Jack Swagger
John Cena vs Big Show
World Title: Sheamus vs Chris Jericho
WWE Championship: C.M. Punk vs Daniel Bryan: Ironman Match
The WWE would probably have to go right up to 11 p.m. to fit the Ironman Match in, but they have been running a bit later with their PPVs lately, so it is very possible they could. And you know you would buy a PPV card like that. As far as SummerSlam? Well, you know what my card would be. It won't turn out like this but it is what I would do:
Brock Lesnar vs Triple H
The Undertaker vs Dolph Ziggler
WWE Championship: C.M. Punk vs Wade Barrett
World Title: Sheamus vs Cody Rhodes
John Cena vs Daniel Bryan
Out of all of those, the only one we know we will get is Brock/HHH. Apparently C.M. Punk is going against the Big Show. What does that leave for John Cena is my question. Does the WWE bring Rock back if he can't make it to Wrestlemania? Where would Daniel Bryan go?
And Randy Orton may not be the only suspension coming. According to Super Luchas, a magazine in Mexico, two other WWE wrestlers failed a drug test. One was Cody Rhodes, but he provided a prescription for what he was on. The other is unknown, but if said wrestler doesn't provide a prescription he is facing a suspension. Dark times could be ahead for the WWE.
That's all I got this week.
Until Next Time,
Justin C
Follow e On Twitter @JCWonka
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