Keys to the Game 5.26.07: Injury and Opportunity
Posted by Joe Estee on 05.26.2007
With the current slew of injuries to upper echelon superstars in the WWE, there is substantial opportunity for aspiring competitors to achieve, or in some cases recapture, a more privileged status.
Watching my beloved Boston Celtics get screwed out of their opportunity to acquire an impact player like Greg Oden or Kevin Durant last Tuesday night got me thinking… Ok, it got me drinking, brooding, and breaking furniture… but later on I actually got to thinking about this column's recent run of misfortune. Much like my downtrodden Celtics, the Keys to the Game has been in discord with the providence of the sporting gods.
Let's harken back to the days of yore when this column was in its infancy and we touched of the current squabble between Mr. Kennedy and Hornswoggle. After an exhaustive break down of the existing feud, as well as an in-depth analysis of the approaching contest and more importantly, an endless string of synonyms for little people, Mr. Kennedy expressed his regret for actions against the mighty mite at WrestleMania and thus, the match was eventually called off.
Shrugging off that modest misstep, The Keys to the Game, resolute in it's aptitude, went on to extol the achievements of the current WWE Tag Team Champions, Brian Kendrick and Paul London, and boldly branded them as a current Tag Team Dynasty. That same day, Kendrick and London were relieved of their titles by Deuce and Domino on SmackDown!.
Finally, just last week, this column swaggered in with its counsel to John Cena to avoid employing the use of his STFU entirely during his confrontation with The Great Khali…
Some pictures are worth a thousand words, while this one serves to render an article worthless.
However, this injury to my pride got me thinking about the current slew of injuries to upper echelon superstars in the WWE. Injury has decimated the roster lately. Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, Mr. Kennedy, and Gregory Helms, join Triple H, Rey Mysterio, and Booker T on the current IR list. This does mean that substantial opportunity for aspiring competitors to achieve, or recapture, a more revered status is ready for the taking. In this week's article, we will look at those who have the most preeminent openings to gain an advantage.
AT THE EDGE OF OPPORTNITY
Edge is a primary example of an individual who not only identifies, but exploits opportunity at every turn. Edge has won all three of his World Championships by making the most of his opportunities. Last year, Edge cashed in the Money in the Bank briefcase against a thoroughly drained John Cena, and just last week he repeated the deed against a beaten and bloodied Undertaker. Edge's other World Title victory came when John Cena delivered an FU to Rob Van Damn in a triple threat match. Edge proceeded to bash the championship belt across Cena's brow, and covered RVD himself.
But who else can follow in Edge's footsteps and pluck opportunity? Here are my top five:
#5 - CARLITO
Carlito has already taken the initial steps to recovering his past success by turning on Ric Flair, dropping Torrie Wilson, and beginning to focus more on his own calling rather than attempting to appeal to his followers.
The next piece of the puzzle for Carlito involves recapturing his propensity to shock the masses. Carlito stunned the industry by dethroning John Cena of his United States Championship, in his hometown of Boston in his debut match in the WWE. Carlito duplicated this feat when he ended Shelton Benjamin's historic Intercontinental title reign on his first night on RAW.
Carlito needs to reverse his downward spiral from bad boy to dog sitter. KEY – Regain Shock Value; Lose both bitches
#4 - THE BOOGEYMAN
The Boogeyman would be well served to pursue his blossoming friendship with Kane, a former World Champion and multiple Tag team Champion. Kane could help could propel Boogeyman to his first taste of championship gold in the WWE were they to focus their attention on WWE Tag Team Championship. While 2006 was indeed a banner year for The Boogeyman, taking home Pro Wresting Illustrated's Rookie of the Year honors, 2007 has not been as kind. Boogeyman not only endured his first defeat in the WWE, but he also fell victim to Hornswoggle, who recorded a pin fall on the Boogeyman back in February. KEYS – Kane, and avoid getting poned by a midget
#3 - CHAVO GUERRERO
While Chavo Guerrero may have finally put the death of his uncle Eddie behind him, he still needs to assert himself outside the cruiserweight division on SmackDown!. Even with Gregory Helms out with injury, Chavo has suffered several defeats at the hands of Jimmy Wang Yang. Regardless of how this feud eventually pans out, Chavo needs to take advantage of SmackDown's current lack of overwhelming talent, and challenge for one of the big two belts. MVP, while finally being able to get past Chris Benoit, would be outclassed by the in-ring antics of Chavo. Also, Chavo may eventually have one of the greatest prospective resources on SmackDown in the form of Vicki Guerrero. At this point Theodore Long will inevitably be removed from power as the SmackDown! General Manager (That may be another article in and of itself). But the final conclusion is that Vickie Guerrero will soon have considerable influence on the SmackDown! brand. KEY – Make sure Aunt Vickie gets a Christmas Card
#2 - CM PUNK
The first thing CM Punk needs to do is change brands. While ECW has served as a fine showground to polish his skills and prepare for life with the big dogs of professional wrestling, little opportunity awaits him on Tuesday nights. CM Punk should now focus his attention on asserting himself by pursuing a championship. And truth be told, with Vinny Mac reducing the ECW World Title into his own personnel paperweight, there isn't a title to be found anywhere in ECW. Conversely, both second tier titles on RAW and SmackDown! are ripe for the picking for the likes of CM Punk. Santino Morella, at best, is a flash in the pan, while MVP is an inexperienced champion. Both men would be excellent tests for the up and coming Straight Edged Extremist. KEY – Leave ECW
#1 - RANDY ORTON
At one point, Randy Orton was on a collision course with John Cena for a rivalry that could have rivaled Austin vs. Rock. Orton came off one of the most remarkable Intercontinental title runs history to prevail over Chris Benoit at SummerSlam 2004 to become the youngest World Champion in the history of the sport. Nevertheless, Evolution ultimately got the best of young Randall. First it was Triple H who appropriated the World Heavyweight Championship from Orton, and later it would be the phenomenon of Dave Batista that would push the Legend Killer aside.
Granted, allegations of defecating in Rochelle Loewen's handbag, harassing Amy Weber, being dishonorably discharged from the United States Marine Corp and being placed into a military prison, being injury prone due to hypermobility in his shoulders, being implicated in Sports Illustrated in their series of steroid investigation, being sent home from last month's European tour for allegedly vandalizing a hotel room, and being suspended by the WWE for unprofessional conduct on several occasions maaaaaaaaaaaaay have also played a trivial role in shaping this third generation superstar's misfortune.
True, I am a relatively big supporter of the Legend Killer. It may even be rumored that I have a mini replica of the World Heavyweight Championship belt autographed by Randy Orton sitting at home on my bookshelf, so I may perhaps be slightly biased. In any event; Randy Orton is once again focused on salvaging his career and reclaiming misplaced glory by re-embracing his Legend Killer moniker. Yes… I know, he's done this before, but I really believe him this time, ok? Don't take him away from me, officers. He's a good man. I fell.
And here's the thing, unlike my demoralized Celtics, Randy Orton posses all the talent to rise to the top. He stands 6'5", has incredible athleticism, is a fine technical wrestler, boasts fantastic in-ring psychology, and arguably possesses the most efficient finishing maneuver in the game today. Even the legendary Hulk Hogan could not gather up enough energy to kick out of the RKO at last year's SummerSlam, only able to get his leg on the rope to break the count and activate his Med-alert bracelet.
KEY – Rent a copy of The Self Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior
In conclusion, if Randy Orton and the aforementioned wrestlers can get their act together, as well as maintain it, they possesses boundless potential to achieve greatness in professional wrestling.
Granted, now that I have made these bold predictions, Carlito will contract E-Coli from a random apple, Boogeyman will be beaten senseless by the new faction of Mini-Boogeyman and Hornswoggle, aka the Lollypop Guild, Chavo will find Eddie's old stash and share it with a curious CM Punk. Finally, Randy Orton probably at this very moment is doing something spectacularly self-destructive like taking a hit from CM Punk's newly acquired bong, grabbing Carlito's unfinished apple to deal with the munchies, and then zip-lining into the ring using a discontinued harness from 1999 to face the Lollypop Guild in the first ever Limbo Inferno Match.
