The main event set for WWE Hell in a Cell has garnered so much dirt sheet column inches that anyone who frequents such sites as this one will likely know of the brutal dilemma WWE creative have made for themselves. Its a dilemma they havent faced in some time. Mainly due to the fact that WWE havent pushed a Rookie so hard so fast in several years! Regardless of the fact Ryback has been on payroll since 2004. The last I can recall would likely be Brock Lesnar 10 years ago. Even that had more legitimacy as the fans had seen him take apart some serious competition before defeating The Rock for the title. Its still a good thing for business though; as Im sure most people will be highly intrigued to see how WWE manage this situation. Its quite likely that the ending will be a cluster bomb of booking the likes of which we havent seen since WCW. How do they maintain Ryback as a legitimate threat to the rest of the WWE locker room and keep all his momentum without having him win the biggest title in the biz well before he is ready. Its a true mind boggler. In the coming pages I hope to highlight some ideas that could hopefully achieve both targets. To keep CM Punk as a strong looking champion while maintaining Rybacks streak. Ive ranked them from most boring to most outlandish. Hope you enjoy.
7. Ryback Is A Paul Heyman Guy
Im getting a horrible yet totally plausible idea out of the way first. What if Heyman had acquired the new human wrecking ball to fight alongside his WWE Champion and UFC Champion? What would you have, a team of such power that Evolution would look like a bunch of pansies.
How it could play out Like all betrayals / turns well take out of the equation the fact that Punk and Ryback would need to beat each other to a pulp in the most destructive match available to the WWE. We see them go at it for a good 30 mins, pulverising each other with weapons and ramming each other into the cage, so much so that a panel comes loose. At one point Punk looks to do something dastardly to Ryback, such as hit him upside the head with a Steel Chair while Rybacks head rests on the Steel Stairs. Out comes Boy Scout Cena to save the day. Punk swings the chair at Cena, our favourite fruity pebble ducks but gets meat hooked by a huge Ryback arm. It all becomes apparent that the Heyman guys were just setting a trap for Johnny boy the entire time and by the end of the night, Cena is no more!
Pros and Cons Why turn Ryback heel just as the fans are starting to really get behind him? Further down his career this could be a destructive stable simply set up so a young up and comer could get the rub from them to progress to super star status. Much like evolution did for others and then later to their own members Orton and Batista. Nice for the future, not right for the present! Ryback needs to keep the fan momentum behind him. It would set up a great feud to occupy Cena for a while though to keep him out of Punks hair leading to the inevitable Rock match at the Royal Rumble and give Ryback some ring time facing a veteran.
6. Cena Costs Ryback The Match
John Cena is still very much involved in this title picture. If it wasnt for his bum elbow, hed be in this main event and there would be much less talk regarding this match. Cena is still the face of WWE and he has to be shown as The Man at all times. If he doesnt make an appearance in this match, purely to remind fans hes top baby face, I will be fairly surprised. But it can only be done for the overall benefit of CM Punk.
How it could play out Im not saying a Cena heel turn, as much as I would love to see it happen simply to revitalize Johnny Boy. Im simply saying that its quite likely, in this scenario, that Cena will hinder the Monster Ryback unintentionally. Once again we see the two men go at it for some time. More than likely youll see Ryback pummel Punk but not be able to drop
Shell Shocked. Seems Punk will have done his homework. Countering the move at every opportunity! Punk, in a brief calm during the barrage, grabs some form of weapon. A weapon that will truly change the face of the match in his favour, but is also barbaric. Maybe a 2x4 wrapped in barbed wire (Course it wont be this but just an example), Cena runs down to make the save, perhaps he removes said weapon but inadvertently smacks Ryback upside the face. Punk throws Cena out and pins the monster.
Pros and Cons Its a little too obvious a finish really. As soon as the audience sees Cena, the first thought in many a fans mind as to what was about to happen would be the above. It does sound very WWE creative right now though in its staleness. However, it would create a nice feud between Ryback and Cena, much like the last point.
5. Vicki Guerrero Adds Ziggler To The Match
Most likely the most far out occurrence on this list. Its a good chance that Dolph will cash in money in the bank at some point during HIAC seeing as he has no other match to occupy himself and hes pretty much promised as such. Considering that and how Vicki Guerrero is now the supervising manager (or something) of RAW, its quite likely well see her stack the odds in her clients favour for the World title. But why not in Dolphs favour for a WWE title opportunity?
How it could play out During Cenas pre-PPV promo, we will likely hear him slate Vickis rise to the top of RAW management causing her to appear and start a verbal debate. During said debate, we could see Punk / Heyman come out to confront both, causing Vicki to go supersonic and book Ziggler in the main event. Another scenario we could see would be that Ziggler cashes in the MITB briefcase during / after the world title match but lose in his efforts. We then see him having a tirade backstage and Vicki comforts him by adding Dolph to the main event. Punk retains by pinning Ziggler. He could possibly win the World Title and Vicki rewards him by adding him to the Hell In A Cell match. Punk still retains by pinning Ziggler.
Pros and Cons An obvious pro is that we see Punk retain and maintain Rybacks streak. However, a massive con is that Ziggler would be beaten, possibly twice, on one PPV. Not great for his future as a championship contender. A massive pro is we could possibly see a unification of the world titles, crowning Ziggler as the Undisputed Champion. Much like when Jericho managed the same feat a decade ago, Ziggler would be an instant star. I feel people want this for him as his work ethic is second to none and also how the World Title doesnt need to be there. Again, a con of this scenario is where would that leave Ryback? Most likely in obscurity.
4. Punk Wins With A Roll Up
Bare with me for the shortest and simplest scenario. Simple tends to be safe for all talent and tends to create a number of opportunities going forward. Seeing the way WWE management have the creative ideas of monkeys nowadays. It may be boring, but it is totally plausible.
How it could play out There are no interferences, the match goes ahead as planned, Punk gets beat around for long periods of time, Ryback gets distracted or takes a chair shot, he stumbles, Punk rolls him up with a quick tug of the tights, 1-2-3, Punk retains. Ryback then DESTROYS punk for a further 20 minutes. Possibly with a big bump for Punk to take.
Pros and Cons It keeps the belt on Punk but still reminds everyone that Ryback is a monster. It could also show the audience that maybe Ryback has a downfall; he gets easily distracted and is susceptible to cheeky heel occurrences.
3. CM Punk Escapes The Cell
Again another simple one but this is probably the result that would lead to the most amount of fan backlash. With Punk being portrayed as a more cowardly champion by the minute, Im sure his character wouldnt want to step foot inside the Cell with the beast Ryback. His pride would make him go one step in front of the other into the structure, but his self-preservation for his own health may take over.
How it could play out We see the match as described on several of these scenarios. Punk gets beat up etc etc! At one point though we see Ryback throw the steel stairs or Punk into a higher up section of the cell wall causing a rip / hole in the mesh. After flooring Ryback in true heelish style, he quickly makes his way through said hole, escaping the cell and causing the match to be classed as a No Contest.
Pros and Cons I feel there are only cons in this scenario apart from the usual retain and streak. The audience would simply feel cheated at such an outcome to the most barbaric match in WWE history. For it to work the match itself would have to be brutal! There would have to be blood, weapons, and ludicrously dangerous spots, but in todays WWE, I would say this is highly unlikely.
2. Ryback Is Unable To Move
A fun and possibly great end to the match! A scenario that would probably be the most realistic end for a Punk retention! As mentioned in the previous scenario, Punks pride will force him to take the fight to Ryback. I dont see Punk as a heel champion who begs for mercy ala Ric Flair. Quite the contrary! We tend to see him getting reeled in by Heyman before he gets himself into trouble.
How it could play out The match is brutal! Weapons are strewn all over the ring area and both men are beat up. The steel steps make another appearance here as perhaps, with Rybacks immense strength, he picks up a (custom) set of steps. A set which does not have two separate parts as usual and are instead huge. Punk dropkicks / hits them as he carries them. Causing them to fall on poor Ryback. Punk climbs on top for the pin.
Pros and Cons Its a simple win win really. The audience will see that the only way punk can retain is with some seriously weighty help. It doesnt damage Ryback and makes Punk look opportunistic and cunning. Great stuff! The only downfall is that X-Pac and Kane used the exact same spot to end a PPV match of theirs in 2001 (I think). It could be done with a broken part of cell or something else altogether. It would be a stolen spot for those that remember.
1. Ryback Destroys The Cell /Ring / World
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsnZ7phlFKU This was the first idea I had when thinking up this list and the one that got me most excited. We havent seen Ryback stop destroying things until hes had his fill of whomever WWE superstar he is in the ring with. We have never seen him contained. Perhaps the beast simply wouldnt care for his own safety and would destroy his surroundings.
How it could play out Throughout the match, Rybacks tactics consist of ploughing Punk into the cell walls. We hear good ol JR say My god, how much of this beating can Punks body and the Cell take to which a Michael Cole replies You dont think the cell could break do you? Oh I think it can and this would really need JR to pull off. Ryback keeps ploughing into and throwing Punk at and through the structure. Eventually maybe a corner collapses but the structure remains standing. Punk then manages to superplex Ryback off the top rope causing the ring to collapse. The ring is destroyed! The match will still continue. One more effort of forcing Punks anatomy through the cell later and the Cell implodes! It crashes down (controlled of course) creating a steel rubble over a broken ring. Punk stays on the floor, possibly out cold, the ref calls for the match to halt. Ryback remains standing tall leading the audience in a rendition of FEED ME MORE on top of the untold destruction!
Pros and Cons Ryback as the biggest monster ever? Check. Punk retains? Check. Audience sees something CRAZY? Check. The only downfall would be the consideration of safety. Whether they could pull off the staged destruction securely without anyone at ringside getting squashed. IM sure someone could do it no problem though and it would be insane!
I could be wrong though with all of the above. Maybe WWE want to put the title on Ryback just to see what will happen. They need to try something to up the viewership each week on RAW. Any number of the above scenarios could do the trick but a Ryback upset? Now that would get people tuning in the next night.