The Fink’s Payload 04.02.07: WM24
Posted by Sforcina-Marsico on 04.02.2007
Long Term Booking…To The EXTREME! Well, not really, but it’s hard to get a sense of urgency for year long angles.
Matt: Well, Wrestlemania 23 is over. And what a show huh? That shock heel turn, that title win, the main event, that major, MAJOR spot in MITB, seeing Vince bald…
Can you tell I'm putting this together before the show?
Nick: Well I'm writing my part after the show. I had fun watching it, but I didn't watch the show as much as I was chilling with friends whilst we all goofed on everything. I'll watch it again and have some real thoughts in my Friday column.
Matt: So, we got a lot of ideas for long, long term booking. WM is at it's best with long term booking. WM5's main began at WM4, arguably with roots at WM3. WM10 was based on WM9, and WM20 really was 20 years in the making, in a way. So if 24 is to be awesome, the seeds are to be planted now. So, we'll start with Madmex, and his idea using the MITB shot and a world title.
I would have Kennedy run into Cena before Money In The Bank, and cut a promo about watching your back, when Money In The Bank comes around and he can do the whole Miiiiiisssster Money In Theeeee Bank… (walks off & Cena shrugs) bank!!! Making Cena jump a bit. Then Kennedy would say see you in 24. Most people would assume he means at Raw, because he expects to win the Money In The Bank match. But it's called foreshadowing. Mr. Kennedy could lose the MITB and would have all year to earn a shot at Cena, who will lose the title for a while, but have it by Wrestlemania 24. Fast forward to 24, and Kennedy tells Cena at some point that I told you I'd see you in 24, (video plays of Kennedy saying see you in 24), Kennedy says Wrestlemania…. Wait for it …. 24!!! I know you're going to say, wrestling fans don't have a long enough attention span for an angle that takes that long to come to fruition, but I think it would be cool. Or just have Kennedy win MITB, and Cena lose. So you have a year of Kennedy waiting for Cena to win the belt so he could use the briefcase to take it from Cena, but the opportunities are missed, until the universes align, Cena is champ at the Royal Rumble. And before the winner of the Rumble can name his champion of choice, Mr. Kennedy, goes to the Raw GM, (take notes here Fink) JBL, and issues a challenge to Cena for Wrestlemania 24, cause its always been his dream to headline WM for a title shot, and he's waited all year for this chance. Or something like that…
Matt: I like the idea of someone winning the MITB, then very arrogantly declare he'll cash it in in one year. Kennedy is the guy to do it. And it's a nice pun. But beyond that…huh?
Nick: I'm thoroughly confused. Please formulate your thoughts better before you type something out.
Matt: Dan from Brooklyn NY has an idea, the general idea you're going to get a fair bit there Finky.
Part 1: Money in the Bank Ladder match: The Hardys and CM Punk do crazy ladder dives sending Kennedy, Booker and Finlay through tables leaving all 6 men dazed. That leaves the former tag champs Edge and Orton alone. They climb the same ladder fighting to the top and grab the case and BOTH men end up falling with a hand on it. They are named CO-WINNERS of MITB III, thus doing 2 important things, preserving Edge's Wrestlemania winning streak, and giving Edge and Orton feuding material for the next few months before Triple H returns as a face for them. Edge can even cut a cocky promo backstage after MITB talking about his undefeated streak being intact.
Part 2: Undertaker defeats Batista and regains the World Heavyweight Title and preserving his own Wrestlemania streak at 15-0. Taker defends the title over on SD against Batista, Kennedy, maybe a heel turned Benoit, Umaga, Mark Henry, Khali, whoever else. Edge meanwhile can feud with Orton over sole-possession of MITB, then on to the Champion (Michaels). When Edge cashes in his shot he gets screwed by Triple H setting up that feud. Finally Edge has had enough with DX and Orton and Cena and either by draft or any other reason they want, goes back to Smackdown. Taker keeps the belt till Summerslam when he losses to Kennedy. In the rematch at No Mercy, Edge attacks Taker and Kennedy wins. Survivor Series has a Team Taker vs. Team Edge/Kennedy classic Survivor Series match. Taker wins back the World Title at Armageddon, Edge wins the Royal Rumble 2008 and at Wrestlemania 24 its World Champion and Undefeated Streak of 15-0 Undertaker vs. #1 Contender and Undefeated Streak of 6-0, Edge. At Wrestlemania, the torch is passed and Taker does the job to Edge, giving him the World Title and retiring from active wrestling.
Matt: Co-winners is still my choice for the MITB match. And Edge/Taker is a gimme match. So yeah, it's decent, although I'd have Edge win the briefcase and use it to win the title by screwing Taker, then Taker loses the rematch at WM just to really put Edge over.
I suddenly feel dirty…
Nick: Pretty fun. I'm glad you didn't have ‘Taker holding the belt for the whole year. Hell, to be honest I don't even know if the Edge/Taker match has to be for the title, but really nothing will overshadow a clean ‘Taker loss at WrestleMania, so it doesn't really matter. Though his loss may overshadow a title win. But then it would just put over Edge even more, so I guess it's all good.
Matt: Well, for another view on it, Steve in Boston, you're up.
The obvious choice IMO is Undertaker vs. Edge "Streak vs. Streak". Taker doesn't have much longer left, hence why Vince is giving him this one last run in the main event title scene. The seed is planted at WM 23 when Taker wins the title and Edge wins the MITB match again. They can play this out because after WM Edge can feud with Orton for a bit (who turns face is anyone's guess). And what I would do is have Edge "cash in" the title shot at SummerSlam vs. Undertaker as your "main event". Taker can spend the spring/summer feuding with Kennedy, Batista, someone from RAW probably as well. I would give Edge the victory and the title on that. He can then feud with Cena, HHH, Michaels until the Royal Rumble when he loses the belt to HHH. Cena meanwhile wins his first Royal Rumble match, with the Final 4 being Cena, Michaels, Kennedy, and Orton. After Edge loses the title he becomes obsessed to prove he is still the best and has an idea of how to do it. On Smackdown there is a # 1 contender's match between Undertaker and Lashley to see who gets to face Kennedy (WWE Champ now) in the WM SD Main Event. Edge runs out and screws Taker. This sets up the 3 Main Events for WM 24 in Orlando
Raw- Cena vs. HHH (C) II-World Title "Face vs. Face"
SD- Lashley vs. Kennedy (C)-WWE Title
Streak vs. Streak-Edge vs. Undertaker (Hell in a Cell??)
I think because of the outdoor venue this would be a great top of the card to sell it. You could also put together other matches like HBK-Batista, Orton-Umaga, Rey-RVD (ECW title?), Booker-Benoit 2 out of 3 falls (US/IC title??), The Rock, Hulk Hogan and Stone Cold (one can hope??) vs. whatever 3 monsters/punks their pushing at the time??
Matt: Wait, the World Title goes to Raw? How do you get the WWE title over to SD? Bit confusing. And I'm not sure WWE could do the Cell in an open arena, alas.
Nick: I kinda like and I kinda don't like having Edge beat Undertaker before he faces him at WrestleMania. I don't know if you want him to break the ‘Taker streak or not, though. The title thing doesn't bother me because I'm more paying attention to the big picture, although I really don't like the Kennedy/Lashley match. And no Hell in a Cell, please. I don't want to see that match until a very, very heated feud no earlier than 2010 between a pair of guys who have never been in the match.
Matt: So, next up is David W. Crossan, and a feud that seems logical enough.
After Bobby Lashley beats Umaga (even though I wish he wouldn't) have a segment with him and John Cena in the back where Cena is like "Good win but watch how you ‘Main Event' the biggest show of the year". During the title match between Cena and Michaels have Lashley come out and watch as Shawn goes for the Superkick at the end have Cena duck under and hit the FU for the pin. As he is celebrating just have the camera pan out on Lashley shaking his head as he turns and walks back up the ramp. Let it die down a little and time will pass with everybody forgetting about the little interaction between these two. As Summerslam approaches and both of these guys are still holing on to the respected titles have them bump into each other again backstage and just give each other smug looks as they walk by. Once again let nothing be done up until the Survivor Series where they end up on the same team. They are down to just the two of them vs. the whole other team and Cena takes out one member of the other team and then takes out another member. Then Lashley comes in and eliminates two people as well. He tags Cena back in and after fighting for a little bit Cena gets rolled up and pinned which eliminates him. Cena is furious at this point. Because Lashley goes on to win the match. At December To Dismember CM Punk has finally earned his shot at the ECW title against Lashley. As this match is going on Cena comes out to ring side to watch the match. He doesn't try to distract Lashley but Lashley notices him and this gives Punk the chance to pick up the win to become the new ECW champion. Lashley can't believe this happens. The following night on Raw have Lashley blame Cena for him losing the title. With Cena saying he had nothing to do with it. Have them bicker back and forth for a few weeks before Lashley challenges Cena for a match at the Royal Rumble. Cena isn't afraid and he accepts the challenge only to have Vince or the current GM come out and say this will not happen because Lashley is a member of ECW not Raw. Lashley is mad but said fine if he can't just get a shot at Cena then he is entering the Royal Rumble and will win and challenge Cena for Wrestlemania 24. Have some other legit guys also say they are going to win the Rumble to not totally give away the winner all though they usually do give it away. Have Lashley win and then you have your Mania main event Lashley vs. Cena for the WWE Title. I know this will be the third straight Mania that Cena would headline but let's face it he is the new Hulk Hogan and he will headline Mania for years to come. It doesn't matter who wins to me but I would like to see these to stars of the future headline Mania with Kennedy defending the Smackdown title in the other main event.
Matt: Ok, while I'm not sure that they can pull this off as them both faces, and with Cena as heel the story here doesn't work, and Lashley can't carry this sort of heel situation without a manager (Hey, isn't that Heyman guy hanging around?), it's still a nice, slightly offbeat idea. Although it does mean you curtail one guy a bit when Hulk Cena needs to carry the company and/or Lashley is still a bit iffy on his status. Still, not bad.
Nick: I like Lashley, but I don't like him in any other role than as a mid card guy. As the ECW Champion, that's more or less what he is. He isn't ready for anything else, and I don't think he will be by next year, either. I think you set things up too simple and at the same time kind of contrived. It doesn't really make sense for Cena to say what he does at WrestleMania. I also don't really get why Cena would be ‘furious' at Lashley tagging him in, either. You have to explain it better, because otherwise the motivations here don't make much sense.
Matt: And now for something pretty different. Pooley debuts on 411 with a different idea than those thus far.
At Mania 23 after the 2nd match they cut to a backstage segment where Elijah Burke asks CM Punk once again to join the New Breed, but still does not get an answer. Following that the New Breed vs. Originals match happens and CM Punk does not interfere in the match, but is shown watching it in the back. It doesn't matter who wins the match, but let's say Burke pins Dreamer to win. Also Punk does not win Money in the Bank, and Bobby Lashley defeats Umaga.
After Lashley holds feuds with Snitsky through April and May, Vince McMahon announces that the new #1 contender is Burke because it is now more evident than ever that he is the future of ECW. This also helps to continue Vince's feud with Lashley. Leading up to One Night Stand #3, Lashley has defeated everyone in the New Breed besides Burke. At the PPV due to lots of cheating, and McMahon led interference, Burke wins the Championship from Lashley. Lashley is not granted a re-match for the title but can go to either Raw to feud with McMahon more, or go to Smackdown and go after the title there, whatever I don't care. He's just off ECW and getting more exposure elsewhere.
After Burke and the New Breed pretty much run rampant through the ECW roster, making sure no one gets the title for months, they finally build up to a Cyber Sunday match where CM Punk wins the voting ahead of Rob Van Dam and Tommy Dreamer. Punk does not win the title here, or anytime, as the New Breed are successful in their interference. Burke also retains his title at the 2nd December to Dismember Extreme Elimination Chamber. Then Burke claims since there is no one on ECW TV to defend against, since he's already defeated all of the Originals, and Punk, he won't have a title match at the Royal Rumble. That's when Chris Benoit shows up, says he's an ECW Original, and he never beat him, and asks for a title shot. He's granted it after beating all 3 of the other New Breed members in a gauntlet match. At the Royal Rumble Chris Benoit wins the ECW title, as CM Punk comes out to save Benoit from the New Breed's interference. This leads to Benoit granting Punk a Wrestlemania match for the title, because he's never received his fair shake, and they have a mutual respect for each other. So my match for Wrestlemania 24 is CM Punk vs. Chris Benoit for the ECW Title.
Matt: I dunno, I'm not sure the New Breed will stick together for that long. But Punk V Benoit? Yes please, I'll have double helpings.
Nick: I like Punk vs. Benoit. It's decent otherwise.
Matt: So, now we get to the ‘main event' entries. Or at least the longer ones. So, first off, Edge vs. Taker, another take, by Joey Suba.
Going second or third on the card, as usual, the Money in the Bank Ladder Match happens, Randy Orton and Edge are fuming at each other all match, and near the very end, Kennedy and CM Punk are battling for the briefcase, when Rated RKO pushes the ladder over, sending the two front runners to the outside. They then stare at each other, and smile, shaking hands, and showing they are still good buddies. They start talking loud enough for the camera to hear, and Edge tells Orton to climb up, cause he's already won MITB, now its Orton's turn. Edge sets the ladder up, and Orton starts climbing, when Edge grabs a chair, and levels over across the back. Orton goes limp and falls to the canvas, as Edge climbs the ladder and wins Money In The Bank once again. Later in the night, Undertaker and Batista have a good 20 minute brawl, that goes all over the arena, and eventually leads to Undertaker Tombstoning the Animal twice to win the World Heavyweight Title.
The next night on Raw, Edge brags about how he is the only man to win MITB twice, and that's he's undefeated at WrestleMania still. Orton comes out, and without saying anything, jumps Edge, and the two brawl for a few minutes until officials break it up. Jonathon Coachman announces that Edge will defend his right at Mr. Money in the Bank tonight vs. Randy Orton!! The match happens in the main event, and through a little bit of cheating, Edge wins. He is celebrating in the ring, on the ropes, when Orton rolls back into the ring, and levels Edge with a steel chair. He lets him fall to the canvas, like Orton did the previous night, then proceeds to give him not one, but three Con-Chair-Tos, injuring off Edge.
Edge will then go on to have a well deserved 3 month rest, returning in July as a Face. My reason for Edge's absence in real life, is cause he has gone non stop for almost 3 years non stop on Raw, and deserves a break. He would then return in July, for the lead up to Summerslam, but without the Money in the Bank briefcase, cause the WWE wants the fans to forget he is holding the guaranteed contract. He comes back as a babyface to feud with Orton. The two get booked in a hellacious Summerslam match, which ends in Double DQ for excessive fighting. The rematch occurs at Unforgiven, inside a cage, which sees Edge win with a ConChairTo following his Spear.
Over on SmackDown!, Undertaker has gone through a rematch with Batista, multiple SD! defenses over King Booker, Mr. Kennedy, Matt Hardy, and his brother Kane. At the Survivor Series, Vince McMahon (now a regular on SmackDown!) booked Taker in a triple threat for the World Heavyweight Title with a fully heel Batista, and Mr. Kennedy. Kennedy ends up winning the match after Taker hit the ref with a big boot, Kennedy's group of allies, William Regal, Dave Taylor and Finlay run to the ring and beat Taker down, and hold him down for the Kenton Bomb, giving Kennedy the World Heavyweight Title. The next couple of weeks on SmackDown, Undertaker is forced to go through each of Kennedy's associates, until he finally beats all 3 in a 3 on 1 Handicapped match for the right to face Kennedy at the Royal Rumble for the World Title, where he reclaims his title once again. While Taker is celebrating in the ring, and does his trademark pose, a masked individual slides in and levels Taker with a briefcase. The dimmed lights come back on, and the man the fans have loved the past few months, Edge, is seen under the hood. The fans start booing, as Edge grabs the microphone. He says that for the past 6 months, the fans cheering him has made him sick, and that the fact he's had to hide the fact that he is Mr. Money in the Bank makes him even more sick, because its been his destiny since he last held the title, to once again become World Heavyweight Champion. And now his plan has come full circle, because he could easily cash it right here and now, and beat Undertaker's ass for the title, but he wants to make all the idiots in the crowd pay for it another time. He wants to do it somewhere he has never lost. Somewhere he has never stepped into the ring, and not stolen the show. Somewhere he has never main evented. That place is WrestleMania 24. World Heavyweight Title. 6-0 vs. 15-0. Streak vs. Streak. Dead Man vs. Rated R Superstar. Undertaker vs. Edge!
Matt: Edge as a face? I don't buy that. And he doesn't need a break. Apart from that, damm fine story. But Edge as a face from now on…nope.
Nick: I actually like the Edge as a face thing. The thing is that you just have to really push Orton HARD as a mega heel and do the Edge return perfectly. I think the Undertaker stuff is complete shit, though. Why is Kennedy hanging with those three? Why, all of a sudden, does he need all three of them when he's been doing great without them? Why the fuck do you like the idea of Undertaker beating those three excellent wrestlers in a three on one? That pisses me off.
Matt: For take two on Cena V Lashley, Angelo Velotta.
It all begins at Wrestlemania 23 with the Umaga vs. Bobby Lashley match. After a brutal brawl, Lashley hits a huge running powerslam for the victory and McMahon gets his head shaved. Lashley holds up his ECW title and walks proudly to the back. During the Money in the Bank Ladder Match, Lashley returns to ringside and watches the ending of the match where Edge remains undefeated still, and wins another title shot. Lashley then proceeds to walk backstage with his head down. Also, John Cena retains his title and The Undertaker wins the title that night.
The next night on Raw, John Cena comes out and talks about he has faced adversity, from the fans, from challengers, and now from the showstopper himself. He says he is welcoming all challenges, and before you know it, Edge's music hits. Edge comes out and tells Cena that he has beaten Edge, but can't get rid of him, because he is gunning for his title again. Cena says when he meant challengers, he didn't mean gnats. He says Edge has to work for it, even though he could be a coward and use it anytime. Next week on Raw, Cena will pick a tag partner vs. Edge and a tag partner. If Edge's team wins he can cash in his shot at Backlash, if not Edge has to wait until Cena picks the time. So next week on Raw in the main event, Edge comes out with his partner.....Shawn Michaels! Cena is surprised, but unveils his surprise, Bobby Lashley! The tag match takes place with some crazy action, with the ending coming after Edge and Lashley both go up and go for a spear, but Lashley hits Edge first and picks up the win for his team. After the match Lashley just proudly walks backstage as Edge is left in the ring irate. The next week on Raw Cena starts messing with Edge about not getting to use his title shot until his terms, but then Cena says he's not afraid of Edge anyway and will give Edge his shot at Backlash, on one condition. If Edge loses he can never face Cena for the title again.
So Backlash arrives and the main event is Edge versus Cena for the title. The match goes about 20 minutes when Edge goes for the spear and Cena moves out of the way, nailing the ref. With the ref out Edge goes outside to get a chair when Lashley jumps over the guardrail. Lashley takes the chair out of Edge's hands and nails Edge! Lashley doesn't let up however, and nails Edge repeatedly with chair shots, even when the ref gets up. This gets Cena DQed. Lashley just continues to nail Edge with the chair until security escorts Lashley backstage. Cena looks on confused. The next night on Raw Cena comes out and questions what exactly "went down last night." Lashley doesn't appear however. So things continue on normally on Raw for weeks and weeks, with Cena continuing his feud with Edge, and Lashley staying on ECW dominating all competition. This begins to change at Vengeance. The main event is booked as John Cena vs. Edge vs. Shawn Michaels. The match was going smoothly until Lashley storms down to the ring with a chair and knocks the hell out of Edge and Shawn Michaels. The match is ruled out, and Lashley continues to beat the daylights out of those two. Cena grabs the chair from Lashley and looks at him confusedly. Lashley just walks backstage. The next night on Raw Cena calls out Lashley again to explain himself, but again Lashley doesn't come out. Lashley was scheduled to appear on ECW the next night and defend the title against Elijah Burke, but he didn't appear. We find out Lashley has been suspended for his actions of late until Summerslam. The ECW title is vacated, and a tournament is set up to declare a winner. Meanwhile, Cena finally gets rid of Edge at The Great American Bash in a bloody cage match. Cena issues an open challenge at Summerslam. Everyone expects Lashley to take up the challenge, being that's when returns. Summerslam rolls around and Lashley instead finds himself in a match against Edge in a falls count anywhere match, in which he wins. Cena's open challenge is taken up by Randy Orton, and Orton actually wins after hitting a top rope RKO. The next PPV rolls around being Unforgiven, with Cena getting his rematch. Orton hits a regular RKO and goes for the cover, but Lashley appears from under the ring and yanks the ref from the ring. Lashley gets in the ring and nails Orton with a spear and puts Cena on top. The ref comes back in and Cena regains his title. The next night on Raw Cena starts off by saying "Thanks, but No Thanks to Lashley for his outside interference." He again calls out Lashley, who again doesn't come out. So Cena decides he's showing up on ECW tomorrow to talk to Lashley. The next night on ECW Lashley opens the show and says he's not ducking Cena, and he's not after Cena. He sets up a tag match on ECW with Lashley and Cena vs. Burke and Cor Von. Lashley and Cena win the match and after the match Lashley begins to walk down the ramp when Cena shockingly FU's him!
The next week on Raw Cena says he was sick of Lashley's games, and needed to get it out of him. Now he asks, where does L-Dawg stand? Lashley comes out and tells Cena "Thank you. Thank you for building my mental toughness. I'm not giving in, not yet, that wouldn't be champion like." Cena is confused yet again. Weeks go by and Lashley continues to tear everybody apart on ECW and Cena finds himself in a feud with Orton again. This stays like this until Cyber Sunday when Cena must defend his title against one of three choices, Orton, Edge or Lashley. The fans choose Lashley. So the match is set and it is a slobber knocker. Cena goes for an FU but it is reversed into a running powerslam for 2! Lashley sets up for the spear but Cena counters it into an FU for...2! Lashley some how kicks out. Now Cena locks on the STFU but Lashley refuses to tap. Cena eventually wins after Lashley is deemed unconscious. In the next couple weeks we see training videos for Lashley. Lashley says he is already strong enough, already mentally tough since he proved that by not tapping out, but now he is training for killing, for destroying. Cena meanwhile pokes fun at Lashley through satire. Lashley then announces later that he will destroy Cena at Armageddon in the brutal Armageddon Hell in a Cell, 6 man match, along with Edge, Orton, HHH and Michaels. The match comes and is insane, blood sweat and tears. HHH hits a pedigree on a surprised Michaels and Cena goes to break it up, but Lashley spears Cena into the side of the cell to prevent him from breaking up the cover, giving HHH the win. Lashley and Cena continue to brawl and it ends up on top of the cell. Lashley running powerslams Cena through the cell!
The next night on Raw we see a hospital video of Cena bruised and battered. Cena says Lashley may have crippled him, may have lost him the title, but hasn't won the damn war. He said book the next battle at New Year's Revolution. The two meet at NYR and Lashley hits the running powerslam. But instead of going for the cover Lashley goes and gets the steel steps and starts nailing Cena with it to get DQed. The next time these 2 meet is in the rumble, when Cena gets some revenge in eliminating Lashley. Lashley comes back in with a chair and starts nailing Cena with it until he eliminates Cena and they brawl to the back. On the next Raw Vince declares that those 2 are not allowed any contact until Wrestlemania, or they're FIRED! He does book the match at WM, in a Last Man Standing Match.
So Wrestlemania comes and the match is set. After 25 minutes of pure action, Lashley hits a running powerslam off one announce table through another one. Cena is down and out, but somehow miraculously gets up at 9! They trade massive punches when he gets back up until they both clock each other down. The ref counts. He gets up to 7 and Cena and Lashley are using the ring apron to try and get up. He's at 8 and Lashley falls back over. He's at 9 and Cena falls back over, the count reaches 10 and both men are out! The match is ruled a draw. The next night on Raw Cena comes out and says he is normally a man of many words, but tonight he is speechless. He said Lashley is a bastard, and can't believe the heart he has. Lashley comes out and says he is normally speechless, but tonight he has a lot to say. He says he gave Cena everything he had but it wasn't enough. He hit him with blows, chairs, tables, and it wasn't enough. He said Cena has some street cred, but every dog has his day. He said what separates wrestlers from superstars is managers. He then introduces his manager.......Theodore Long. He said he's tired of being held back because of this or that, and that he's done with Cena, he wants the damn title. Cena says he wants it, and the fans want it, a damn rematch! Lashley says he only wants the title. So the next couple weeks lead up to Backlash where Cena defeats HHH for the title so he can have another go at Lashley. It then gets booked at Judgment Day, Cena vs. Lashley for the title. Lashley hits a spear and then a running powerslam on Cena, but Cena kicks out at 2! Lashley looks at Long for what to do next but meanwhile Cena trips Lashley down and locks on the STFU, the only move that he's been able to beat Lashley with. Lashley fights for the ropes but Cena won't give an inch. Long distracts the referee and Booker T runs down to the ring and nails Cena with the scissors kick! He puts Lashley on top and Cena gets pinned 1, 2, 3! Lashley wins his first ever title, and celebrates in the ring with Long and Booker T.
From here on out Lashley and company feud with Cena until they have their biggest blow off match at Summerslam, a rematch of their Wrestlemania Last Man Standing Match. Another classic is delivered, and Cena wins the title back after FU'ing Booker through a table, Long FU'd on the entrance ramp, and Lashley FU'd off the top rope!
Now, this was long, and a few bullet points. The reason for Kennedy's World Title win, are 1, so that Taker doesn't hold the title for a full year, because honestly, he wont always be on SmackDown, and we need someone who can be a little more interactive, and more willing to fight every week, and not just do mind games. And 2, to test Kennedy as Champion. WWE has does this a few times before, giving someone the belt at a certain time period, PPV, or whatever, to see how the fans accept that person. I think Kennedy is deserving now, and in another 8 months, even more so.
Matt: Really, REALLY long term booking. But if Long is to be Lashley's manager, he should debut sooner rather than later. Lashley needs a mouthpiece ASAP. Apart from that, pretty decent.
Nick: This didn't make any fucking sense. At all. What the fuck is the explanation for Lashley going batshit on all of those guys? This is silly.
Matt: And lucky last, Mike Hauglid. And fitting, it's related to Cena/Michaels.
The night after WrestleMania 23, Shawn Michaels walks down to the ring with a sad look on his face. Michaels says that he tried it all that he thought he could dethrone ‘Da Champ.' "However, destiny intervened and I lost last night. I had that feeling. The feeling I always got when I stepped into the ring. The feeling that I could actually do something that I should not physically be able to do. Almost 10 years ago I broke my back and doctors told me I could never step in the ring again. I defied that. Everybody told me that I would never be champion again. I did that by winning the first Elimination Chamber match. Everybody told me I would not be as "springy" as I used to. I proved all of that wrong. I had top matches with Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, Chris Benoit, Edge, last night with John Cena, and with Triple H. But maybe I proved myself wrong. That at 40 years of age, I thought I could have that last run at the top. But, I've realized that I can't do this anymore. I have kids at home that worry about me. I have a wife that thinks one day I will re-injure my back and will never walk again. So, with a heavy heart, I announce my retirement from active competition."
The crowd gasps and start chants of "Please don't go!" but none of it helps. Shawn lays down his half of the Tag Team Titles in the middle of the ring and leaves to chants of "HBK!" As Michaels walks up the ramp John Cena is there waiting for him and they say their farewells. The titles are of course held up with a tournament to determine that #1 Contenders. The winners of the tournament will face John Cena and a partner of his choosing to crown the new champions at Backlash. The Hardy Boyz win the tournament and Cena leaves his partner unknown until the match itself. The crowd is shocked when Randy Orton makes his way down the ramp to tag with Cena. Despite both men never tagging before and actually had be rivals until then, they had great team work and are able to upset the Hardys to win the World Tag Team titles. Cena and Orton continue tagging with Orton doing most of the talking and Cena just standing in the background not saying a word. Michaels eventually returns to tell Cena that what he is doing is wrong and that he cannot trust Orton. Cena retaliates by telling Shawn off about how he turned on him and left him with a tag belt. Cena gets so enraged that he actually puts the retired HBK through a table in the backstage area. After a successful title defense at Judgment Day against the reluctant partners of Edge and the new Mr. Money in the Bank, Mr. Kennedy, Orton shocks everyone and not only attacks Edge & Kennedy with chairs but takes out Cena as well. Orton & Cena lose the titles the next night to the World's Greatest Tag Team, which became a handicap match when Orton would not tag in.
This leads to a huge fatal four way for the next PPV (Kennedy has yet to cash in his shot, he actually earned this one.) Cena manages to win the match by pinning Orton. Triple H then returns to the shock of the crowd and lays in to Edge & Orton (Kennedy has escaped, along with his briefcase.) Triple H then shocks the crowd again by laying out Cena with a Pedigree. Triple H announces the next night he will not be able to compete until SummerSlam. He also says he will get Shawn Michaels to come out of retirement to participate in a 6-Man Tag Match with him & Cena against the now (still kind of shambled) Rated RKO & Mr. Kennedy.
Michaels does return but never tags in the match allowing Kennedy to pin Cena when Triple H was arguing with Shawn. Kennedy then cashes in his shot at the next PPV, because he is confident he will beat John Cena. Triple H is occupied with Randy Orton that night. Cena loses the title to Kennedy after interference from Shawn Michaels who takes Cena's head off with Sweet Chin Music. Michaels becomes Kennedy's manager and leads him into battle with his former partner in crime, Triple H. Kennedy is able to beat the Game thanks to Michaels. Cena runs in after the match but cannot get his hands on either man. This leads to a Survivor Series match with Team Cena/HHH (John Cena, Triple H, Ric Flair, & The Hardy Boyz) against Team HBK/Kennedy (Kennedy, Michaels (for "one night only", Carlito, Johnny Nitro, & Umaga.) Kennedy is eliminated and leaves it down to Michaels against Cena and the Game. But the Game opts out and leaves getting himself counted out. With Cena confused Michaels is able to hit Sweet Chin Music and get the pin on the former champion. Michaels starts to get cocky again and believes he needs to return to the ring. Kennedy keeps reminding him of the last run he had, but Michaels hears nothing of it and books him & Kennedy against Triple H & John Cena in Hell in the Cell! Michaels says he will go through hell and come out on top again. Michaels actually upsets Triple H enough so he finally attacks him. Michaels is however able to pin John Cena in the end to walk out again a winner. This leads to Kennedy defending the title against both Cena and Triple H at the Royal Rumble. Michaels (thinking he can do everything again) decides to try his luck at the Royal Rumble by entering #1. He gets close but is finally eliminated by Edge. Since a SmackDown! superstar wins the Rumble, the match at WrestleMania is being debated with Triple H, John Cena, and Shawn Michaels as potential contenders. A Triple Treat match is made for No Way Out and Michaels comes out on top by pinning Cena again. Triple H goes irate about not getting a shot in almost two years and brutally attacks Cena.
So at WrestleMania we have two huge matches: John Cena vs. Triple H and Shawn Michaels vs. Mr. Kennedy. I'm not sure who should win the Cena/HHH match, but Michaels should win against Kennedy and prove that he does have one last run at the top.
Matt: Shades of grey. I approve. No-one else will, but I do. I like it.
Nick: I don't like the shades of grey because none of it makes sense. It's more like people turning for the sake of turning and being ‘shocking' for the sake of doing something like that. It sucked, sorry.
Matt: So, now that those are out of the way. What are our ideas?
I'm gonna go off-kilter. Have London & Kendrick win the Tag Team Whatever DVD exclusive match, and have the match mentioned in the WWE wrap up, and L&K give a very mild, ‘fine, whatever' promo about winning it. Continue their quiet run, until about say Summerslam. At Summerslam, as Kennedy is defending his title against Punk or whatever, the Smackdown Main Event, L&K come out with chairs, and just destroy the guys in the ring, those who run out to help, refs, EVERYONE. The PPV ends with them nailing a camera, it goes to static. Total chaos and confusion. Have L&K crash Raw, and give a promo bitching about their lack of respect, they're the longest reigning tag champs in WWE history, but they barely get on the shows as is. Hell, at WM, they were only on the DVD match! So, they are sick and tired of the crap. Have them joined by Conway, WGTT, Victoria, Stevie, anyone talented and misused. This leads to WM, in a (say it with me people) Wargames match against the top 5 faces (Cena, Lashley, Taker, Rey and Flair in his retirement match, say).
Nick: Punk doesn't win MITB. He ends up in a feud with Elijah Burke and the New Breed after Burke calls him out for not only not helping them out at WrestleMania, but for not even choosing a side. Punk defends himself by saying he was too hurt to do anything after his WM match, but wouldn't have chosen Burke and his guys anyway. Burke and the New Breed beat Punk down. Punk has a match with Striker the following week that he loses due to Burke distracting him, and afterward the whole New Breed beats him down again. A rematch is booked for the following week, and Punk wins this time over Striker, and once again the New Breed beats him down, but this time Van Dam, Dreamer and Sandman make the save. He teams with Dreamer against Striker and Thorn. Dreamer ends up taking the fall as Punk brawls away with Thorn, but comes back and makes the save as Striker, Burke and Cor Von try to beat Dreamer down. At Backlash Punk defeats Thorn.
In lieu of getting too deep into detail after this, Punk and Dreamer end up beating Striker and Thorn in an Extreme Rules match at Judgment Day and Punk then beats Cor Von at One Night Stand. Burke had been putting all of his New Breed guys in front of Punk, obviously. Also at ONS, Burke takes the ECW Title from Bobby Lashley after Thorn and Striker interfere. At Vengeance, Punk finally gets a shot at Burke, as he and Van Dam take on Burke and Cor Von in a tag match. Burke and Cor Von win, and Punk takes the fall, getting pinned by Cor Von after a Pounce. Punk beats Cor Von again in a rematch at Great American Bash as Van Dam fails to win the ECW Title from Burke. Punk finally gets his title shot at SummerSlam and wins, but loses it back immediately on ECW that Tuesday night thanks to New Breed interference. The Originals didn't come out to help because Cor Von, Thorn and Striker beat Van Dam, Dreamer and Sandman in the opening match, Extreme Rules, and really destroyed them, leaving them out of action for the rest of the night. Punk doesn't get beat down by the New Breed, however, as Burke just gets the hell out of there.
Over this whole period, Burke has done his best to thoroughly hog the spotlight from the rest of his stable mates. This causes Cor Von to turn on him and Thorn to quietly just turn his back and walk away, thus not hampering his heel status. Striker stays on as a lackey to Burke. Elijah feuds with Cor Von and successfully defends his title at Unforgiven. Punk has unfinished business with Striker, beating him at Unforgiven. At No Mercy, Burke pins Cor Von again, this time in a triple threat involving Punk. Leading up to Cyber Sunday, ECW has a set of matches to qualify for the voting. Thorn beats Dreamer, Cor Von beats Striker and RVD beats CM Punk. Van Dam wins the voting but can't beat Burke. Survivor Series sees Punk, Van Dam, Dreamer and a reluctant Cor Von who only agrees to be on the team to get another shot at Burke against Elijah, Striker, Holly and Thorn. Punk and Van Dam are the survivors.
December to Dismember sees Cor Von vs. Punk vs. Van Dam vs. Burke in an elimination match. Van Dam eliminates Punk, but he gets rolled up by Burke, and Cor Von goes on to win the title from Burke. Punk challenges Van Dam to a match at Armageddon, just for friendly competition. Van Dam takes the win and then Punk wins a rematch at New Year's Revolution. Neither man wins the Rumble, but they do work together during the match to get some eliminations before they separately go out. The following Tuesday on ECW, Van Dam and Punk wrestle Matt Striker and Elijah Burke. They win, but after the match Punk makes his big turn and leaves RVD laying to end the show.
The next week Punk isn't in the arena, but instead we get another series of promos about his straight edge lifestyle, similar to the ones from July to August of 2006 when he debuted. They're get more into why he is straight edge, and the final one (we get them for the entire month of February) ends with Punk bringing us very shortly into how his partnership with Van Dam was a means to an end that was never realized. Just a waste of time. Also, that he will return the next week, the first ECW show of March. For those promos, think kind of the same feel of Foley's old ‘anti-hardcore' stuff. He comes back and after a match to open ECW between whomever, he cuts a promo in the ring and explains exactly why he did what he did. The whole means to an end stuff is explained shortly, and then he talks about RVD being a product of the drug culture and for glorifying it with his 4:20 stuff and he does off on the phrase that ‘nobody gets higher' than RVD. Intense stuff. This leads to the third PPV match (fourth overall), this time at WrestleMania in their first heel vs. face match, and Punk takes the victory. Their feud can continue for a while, but I've already booked a year's worth of goodness, so I'll leave it at that.
Matt: So, that's it for now. What's next?
From long term to short term. Book a Backlash match.
