As stated in a previous article, John Cena stepped aside this past Monday night to allow the up and coming superstar Ryback to face WWE Champion CM Punk at Hell in a Cell.
This was unquestionably the right call by WWE, allowing their most popular superstar to sit out one of the more grueling gimmick matches the company has to offer while also giving a rising star the opportunity to prove himself on a large stage.
But is the WWE Universe prepared to accept Ryback in the main event?
Judging from the reaction at the end of Raw Monday night, the answer is unquestionably yes.
John Cena lead the WWE universe in a ridiculously loud “Feed me more!” chant which serves as excellent proof that Ryback had been cultivating a fan base quite well as of late. This fact in addition to John Cena’s acknowledgment of Ryback as “the next big thing” will surely go miles in establishing Ryback as a top face for the brand.
Video: Ryback and Punk make their match official
Now one has to wonder how WWE will handle the Ryback vs CM Punk match at Hell in a Cell. Punk is currently on a roll as the heel champion, generating tremendous heat practically everywhere he goes. On the other hand, Ryback is enjoying a meteoric rise to the main event scene. In a no disqualification and no count out style of match such as the cell, there is no room for Punk to lose and keep the title; at Hell in a Cell, either Ryback’s undefeated streak ends, or CM Punk will lose his WWE Championship less than a month shy of a full year reign as champion.
With a WWE Championship match against The Rock coming up in just a few months time at the Royal Rumble, does it make sense to have your top heel drop his title before this extremely marketable match up? While it would seem to make more sense for Punk to hold the belt until the Royal Rumble, how would it affect Ryback’s push to the top to take a loss from Punk, even a loss in which a foreign object or some form of cheating was involved?
In spite of these questions, or perhaps because of them, this situation is something which is incredibly exciting for wrestling fans. Ryback’s rise, warranted or not, is at least something fresh and new. This Hell in a Cell main event makes for great discussion and a great deal of attention, something which WWE desperately needs as it makes a painful transition from one head writer to the next.
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