Can They Be Champ? 11.27.07: Triple H vs. ??? at WM24

I love seeing Jericho back. Yeah, I know, that’s not exactly a shocking proclamation, but I love everything about his return. I love his new titantron. I love his new pants. I love his new finished (The Code Breaker, which I’m ashamed to admit I originally heard as the “Coat” Breaker). Everything about Y2J being back rocks.

I’m also loving the way the card for Armageddon is turning out. Mr. Kennedy vs. HBK could rock, as could HHH vs. Jeff Hardy (the Charlotte crowd made me want to scream when they booed when that match was made). It looks like we’ll be having Y2J vs. Orton for the WWE title match, and some combination of Edge, Batista, and the Undertaker for the WHC match. Not bad at all. I’m going to be seeing this baby live, and I think I will be enjoying myself immensely.

One other interesting tid-bit; I’m going to the ROH show in Dayton, Ohio this weekend. This will be my first live ROH show, and I’m ashamed to admit that my exposure to ROH has been limited. That said, I’m looking forward to quite the education from this show.

As for today’s column, I want to discuss the Raw title scene, and where it looks like it’s heading for WrestleMania.

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I said that I was going to talk about the WWE Title scene, most specifically about where it could be heading for WM24. Well, my readers, I have a confession to make. I don’t have a clue. Honestly. I have no idea what the Raw Main Event for WrestleMania will be.

Well, that’s not entirely true. I have a good feeling that Triple H will be apart of it. I just have no idea who he could face.

Let me explain my situation in a round-about way. I think it’s clear that we’re going to have Jericho vs. Orton at Armageddon. Now, if you asked me who I think is going to win that match, I would say Jericho. That is, or course, until I think about WrestleMania 24 being not too far away. At this point, you’d figure that whoever is WWE champion by New Year’s will be the champion at WrestleMania. Now, that’s not necessarily true. A title change could happen at the Royal Rumble or No Way Out. Well, I doubt it would happen at No Way Out, since the build for WrestleMania usually starts before that PPV. But it could happen at the Royal Rumble, and has in the past (most recently when Cena beat Edge for the title in 2006).

Now, I said that I think Jericho has a good chance of beating Orton for the title. Now, do I think that Jericho has a good chance of being in the WM24 main event? No way. HHH vs. Jericho? That’s been done before, and I don’t think the WWE wants to go the face vs. face route again.

Alright, so what if Orton keeps the belt until WM24 and fights HHH? That would be a more traditional heel vs. face match, and it would be an opportunity for Trips to actually win at WrestleMania. Still, that match has been done before not too long ago. Hell, it’s been done twice in one night. Would Orton vs. HHH really have a big match feel? It could, but it would take a lot of work.

Some people are suggesting that we could be seeing Jeff Hardy vs. HHH. Well, it looks like the WWE has jumped the gun on that match, since it’s a part of the Armageddon card. Besides, that’s more of the face vs. face problem.

What are our other options? HBK vs. HHH? Been done a million times before, but not at Mania. I wouldn’t be too surprised to see the WWE going this route, maybe turning HBK heel for the occasion. Maybe we could have HHH vs. Flair, giving Naitch one more big win before his retirement.

You know, maybe I’m jumping the gun by declaring that HHH has to be in the main event. Maybe Orton could face some other super over face, like… Jeff Hardy and… I don’t know, maybe Bobby Lashley? I can’t imagine what other heel from Raw could be in the main event. The next biggest heels are Umaga and Mr. Kennedy. Umaga, while a fine mid carder, has no place in the WM main event. Kennedy has a bit too go before he’s ready for that spot, as well.

See what I mean, guys? The WM24 Raw main event is hard to predict right now. I’m already seeing a lot of fantasy booking for the event, which is expected, but be careful. This one is a bit harder to predict than Edge vs. Undertaker.

Ugh, must resist urge to make… final… prediction.

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ORTON VS. HHH!!

Hey, I read pretty much all of your articles and you would know better then most. Its likely Y2J will Face Orton for the belt soon. Im upset we was thrown into the title hunt so quick, that was probably a perk in his contract signing. I think Orton is a great heel, someone capable of carrying the belt into WM24 against someone of HHH’s caliber. Do you think Orton will keep the belt in some way after facing Jericho, and do you think he will carry it to WM?

Thanks so much,
Ryan

My column this week was pretty much on just that, so I guess I answered your question before I remembered that you asked it. One point for me!

What about a Hardy vs Hardy match at Wrestlemania? Matt gets jealous of all the attention Jeff is getting and turns on him. Neither has been bigger, would be fun.

– Jonathan Cooper

I do think we’ll see that match in time, but probably not at WM24. Maybe at WM25, once both brothers have achieved more, and maybe at least one of them has become a World Champion. I think they’ll both be involved in MitB4 at WM24.

While we all know now that Jericho is back to save the WWE from Orton, the question now becomes who can Jeff Hardy face for the IC belt? Now that Kennedy is feuding with HBK in what should be a great feud, there is no one that Hardy hasn’t faced yet that can provide a fresh challenge. The problem is that Carlito is buried to the point of extinction, and no one is going to take Snitsky as a viable contender unless they decide to use that as a stopgap feud.
My best guess is that they need to hold off until DH Smith returns. They could have him return as a blueblood heel who can work with Hardy and eventually win the belt. Since they really don’t have anything worthwhile for Hardy it seems for now, why not have some up-and-comer take him out for the belt and he can fight back for it. It’s a shame that the ‘e’ has not booked more believable contenders.
-John Reid
Unfortunately, Snitsky does seem like the most likely contender for the IC belt. Although knowing the WWE’s tendency to simply ignore the IC belt from December through April, I don’t think we’ll actually be seeing many challengers for Jeff’s belt. Now, DH Smith as a possible IC belt holder? Maybe. I’d like to see him accomplish a bit more in the ring first.

Hi there.
First of all, I’d like to say I enjoy your column very much.
I generally intend to agree with you. However, I’d like to
differ with you, and what seems to be the majority of the
IWC on a major issue. That being who should be champion and
be the main event. For some reason, many think that that
crafty veterans such as HBK, HHH and UT shouldn’t be
champions because they “don’t need the belt to be over”
or “they should be putting over young talent”. I strongly
disagree! The world titles should be given to those wrestles
who draw the most money and pops from the crowd of marks and
sell the most merchandise. The three names I mentioned are
still the best and most over wrestlers in the WWE. I would
go so far as to say that along with Y2J, Rey Mysterio and
Edge they are the best wrestlers on the roster. I don’t care
how long Orton holds on to the title. He’s nothing more then
a glorified mid carder! He just doesn’t have the talent or
the charisma to be a a main event wrestler that people pay
money to see or buy a PPV. Batista is a good big man but
needs to turn heal. He is simply boring as a face and
therefore a boring world champion. When I look at guys who I
think should be getting a tile rub any of these veterans,
other names come to mind: On Raw, Jeff Hardy has become
amazing. If he has no wellness issues, he deserves to be WWE
champ within a year. The same should be done with Umaga. He
is an amazing talent that should lose the stupid gimmick and
just be a bad ass like Sintzky, only he has talent. On
Smackdown the list is larger. Matt Hardy is the MVP of the
show and should be world champ by Summer Slam. Finley
deserves one run with the belt and MVP is the future. I
would also say that Khli might be in line for a second run.
I know, he’s very limited. But, he’s a giant. People pay to
see him. One more thing. Veterans are often accused of
refusing to job to the younger guys. So here is a list of
younger guys put over by these veterans. HHH jobbed to
Shelton Benjamin, Jhon Cena, Randy Orton Dave Batista and
Rey Mysterio(RR2006. HBK has jobbed to Randy Orton, Great
Khali, Jhon Cena, Edge. UT has jobbed to Brock Lesner in HIAC
(I never forgave him for that), Jhon Cena, Great Kahli, Dave
Batista and Kennedy. Just something to bare in mind

-Ariel

I can understand where you’re coming from. People like HHH and HBK definitely make the most believable champions, but at some point the WWE needs to take a chance and give an up-and-comer the belt, even if they may only be “mid-card” status in the eyes of some people. If not, then how else are people ever going to advance from the mid-card to the main event scene? Also, what happens once Trips, Shawn, and Taker retire?

I definitely agree that there is way too much complaining about veterans refusing to put over young talent. As your Triple H list show, it happens all the time. Hell, I can’t remember the last time HHH didn’t put someone over at WrestleMania.

That’s it for this week. Thanks for all the e-mail, everyone! I always enjoy reading and responding to it. Keep it coming!

Have a good week, and be safe.