The Commentary: WWE Hits Restart, RAW Preview

Prior to last Sunday’s WWE Payback pay-per-view, I don’t think it’s deniable that the product had been in a state of “going through the motions.” It was, after all, that “June pay-per-view” period that we have become so accustomed to.

John Cena enters as champion. Giant tries to conquer. Kids are happy, marks are not.

Personally, it doesn’t bother me as much as it does others. It’s generally a downtime during this period, as the company aims to compete with the NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Finals in the United States, it’s primary audience. Don’t want to waste too much surprise for a slender audience. But with little intrigue with the Ryback, a major champion on the sidelines and some monotony in matches with The Shield and Team Hell No, something needed to be done to freshen up the product.

This past week of programming undoubtedly delivered. And WWE took what has happened since WrestleMania 29, used its mulligan, hit the restart button and is pressing forward towards the summer.

The Ryback was a flop, and all relative to the booking (or lack-thereof) that the company put into the character. You build up someone as a loser on the big stage, they will lose. And not only will they lose, they won’t get over with the people who they are supposed to draw a reaction from. It is unfortunate, as Ryback undoubtedly possessed the look and began to show improvement towards being a main fixture in the WWE Championship picture. Unfortunately, that is now a figment of the past.

Mark Henry is the perfect opponent to be of intrigue for a John Cena feud. And moreover, it makes sense.

Let’s turn the clocks back to the night after WrestleMania, where Cena and Henry face off in the main event. It seemed as if that would be the avenue that would be taken, but Henry would take time off to heal injuries as the Ryback stepped in. While starting with steam, it flopped.

Now is the time to right the ship. Mark Henry’s promo last week was one of the freshest segments in the last five years, and brings up a welcoming feud in which microphone work alone could sell it.

Henry is the perfect Goliath to Cena’s David. The question is, will Henry actually go forth and win his first WWE Championship? The fact that we can’t answer that question confidently is a good thing.

On a side note, if I am not mistaken, this will be Henry’s first time in the main event match of a pay-per-view, assuming it’s on last. Kudos to the big man, who has more than earned it in his time.

Then there is CM Punk.

Though many would have wished the Heyman split wouldn’t have been as fast and sudden as it occurred, I think this will work perfectly. Many, with the exception of yours truly of course, did not expect to get CM Punk and Brock Lesnar this summer, and I think now is the perfect time to do it.

Will the match be stellar? Maybe, they have two incredibly different fighting styles. One is a brawler, one is a technician. Will it sell?

You better believe it.

Whether it occurs in July in Philadelphia or in Los Angeles for SummerSlam, WWE has guaranteed money on its hands. I hope that this match becomes the big attention grabber that the first Triple H/Brock Lesnar bout could not become, as there is legitimate history between Punk, Lesnar and Heyman in this case. I’m also glad they decided not to continue the program with Jericho, as we have seen that already.

Speaking of Jericho, I fully anticipate him to be involved with Bray Wyatt. These two squared off in NXT a couple months back, and put on a show. WWE officials would be silly not to pair these two together. Wyatt can go on the microphone, as Jericho can as well.

Wyatt seems to be one of the most anticipated debuts in recent memory, and for good reason. WWE saw this opportunity to bring him in, the small opening amid a crowded scene, and will undoubtedly use him to their advantage. I believe Wyatt will be here sooner than some think, possibly as early as Monday evening. He must be handled with precision and eeriness, as must the rest of the Wyatt family.

Daniel Bryan seems as if he will continue his short-term feud with Randy Orton, which should get us to Money In The Bank on a solid note. Last Monday’s unscripted finish undoubtedly will have lit a fire within the belly of Bryan, who I think will make a huge impact to come over the next two months. I genuinely feel that he is ready to carry the torch, even despite his size disadvantage. Few know how to work a crowd like Bryan, and although some may be disappointed that Team Hell No is no more, I see gold.

Throw in a quality Divas program, along with a new Intercontinental champion and an intriguing McMahon storyline that could take us into the Fall, and I see promise on the horizon for WWE.

Let’s face it. Things since WrestleMania have been far from perfect. Now is the time to right the ship. And it appears that they are well on their way to doing so. Follow through now. Debut RVD effectively. Make the Cena/Henry program memorable. Deliver on Punk/Lesnar.

Get those numbers up. I’m ready. Are you?

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