Face it baby, Wrestlemania is here
How the biggest event in the wrestling calendar is being mismanaged
WWE Wrestlemania is right around the corner......but the creative team seem to have only just noticed, booking two babyface title matches last week on RAW.
It is a generally held concept that whatever happens in the WWE calendar, it builds to Wrestlemania. You sort the wheat from the chaff, and you make sure that the leading lights on their respective brands are in place to make the biggest show of the year a creative and drawing success.
But as this year's Wrestlemania rolls around, only just over 7 weeks away, you can't help but feel that plans must have shifted and may even continue to shift - headlining the show with two babyface encounters is a huge risk. And rumours abound as to the relevance of Donald Trumps recent involvments.
Two years ago, the WWE was a in a dream position. They had Batista in league with Triple H, but had the RAW dying to cheer for the big man. Over on Smackdown, John Cena was tearing his way through the ranks, having held the US title he was ready to step up to the big one.
The Royal Rumble came into view, and it was clear to all that Cena and Batista were the only candidates to win. And sure enough the finish came down to these two, and when Batista managed to prevail, the roof came off the Save Mart Centre, in Fresno, CA. Big Dave was supposed to be a heel, remember.
The Batista/Triple H storyline was a rarity in the sense that everybody knew exactly what would happen, but it was still captivating. Cena's popularity was peaking, and the WWE had the blessing of having champions who convincingly played the disliked heel, but know how to sell to get the face over.
Batista and Cena both claimed the belts at Mania, and it was clear this had been the build up in mind for some time previous.
But what about now? The last two people in the Rumble were Undertaker and Shawn Michaels. Very over faces, and legit stars and future hall of famers - but both have been on our screens for more than 15 years, and are both 41 years old. They will be taking on the aforementioned Cena and Batista (And yes I know Batista is 41 as well, but he hasn't had the TV exposure for a decade and a half like HBK and Taker)
In a ludicrous piece of booking, it was annouced that the main event for No Way Out will pit the team of John Cena and Shawn Michaels (the tag team champs) vs Undertaker and Batista - this is before the announcements of the title matches - no wonder the confirmation of Taker/Batista and HBK/Cena were not exactly met with shock form the live audience.
So now the WWE have a problem - the champions are both weaning in popularity. Batista hasn't captured his fire from before he got injured, and Cena's act has got stale in the eys of some - I am certain that he would have been turned heel long ago if hadn't have been for the promotion of The Marine.
The challengers are more over than the champions. This is not a new thing, but it may hurt the likes of Cena and Batista. In fairness to the RAW brand, I think both Cena and Michaels will be able to play heel where necessary, and I do believe that Cena will have to turn eventually - the problem is the WWE is suffering from a real dearth of emerging face talent. Cena may be needed to stay face for the time being.
I still think WWE will panic and go with what was my original pick for the RAW main event - a fatal four way including Edge and Orton. If this doesn't happen, the members of Rated RKO will surely face off.
Predictions? OK, I'm usually reluctant to do this, and will likely change my mind before belltime, but I'll say that Cena will be put over Michaels in order to try to cement his cred, but I reckon Taker will best Batista, maintaining his record.
Next time we'll have a look at two major "X-Factors" looming over Wrestlemania - the legendary Hulk Hogan and Stone Cold Steve Austin.
