Fix it: Injured WrestleMania Main Eventer

[Jeremy]

Lets just say that at a house show before WrestleMania, one of the main eventers (Cena, Batista, Edge or Jericho) suffers an injury that will cause them to miss the event. How would you fix this? Who takes their spot?

I am just curious as to how you would go about it, I am not sure of my idea as of yet.

[BorneAgain]

If one of the champions gets injured it'd be interesting if they didn't have him forfeit the belt until Mania and, via loophole, the MITB winner when cashing in immediately gets awarded the belt, leading to an impromptu match between him and the respective Wrestlemania challenger.

[Mayonnaise]

Since both champs are heels, it's pretty easy. Challenger is found unconscious in the back and it's assumed the champ did it, champ comes out as the first main event brags about being victorious without having to break a sweat, MITB winner comes out uses the contract and wins the belt.

Insta-feud for a few months, new main eventer and an open storyline for say Cena/Edge to return after the guy that attacked him (doesn't have to be Batista/Jericho either).

[whatamaneuver]

Anyone not in an angle already isn't worthy of being in a Mania main event, so you couldn't just hot-shot them into the match.

There's three routes to go down.

1. Triple threat unification match for both titles
2. Add a stipulation that Money In The Bank must be cashed in immediately for that title
3. Bring back a legend for the night (Austin, Rock, Warrior)

For me, I'd start the PPV with the MITB match, but have the title match later that night.

[Bam Neeley]

Cena gets injured: Batista attacks him at the backstage at Wrestlemania injuring him. Cena wants to fight but the match is a squash and Batista stands victorious. If Bret Hart is still involved with the storyline he'll call out Hart Dynasty and they have a improptu tag team match(Vince&Bats vs Dynasty). Batista soon decides to live and Vince is left alone in the right for a quadruple sharpshooter from all the Harts and Smiths. Next week on Raw it's announced that Batista [injury reason here] and he'll be out indefinently.

Batista is injured: Blatant hit to Cena's groin right at the start of the match and DQ. Batista then claims that Cena is not worthy of WWE title match etc. The beatdown is about to continue but the Hart Dynasty comes out and Batista backs out(because he's lazy, not because he couldn't beat THD). The same Vince shenanigans happen again. Next week on Smackdown Teddy Long says that because Batista is a Smackdown superstar the WWE Championship is a under his regulation(?). Therefore Batista is suspended and there'l be a RAW/Smackdown WWE Championship Scramble at Backlash.

Eh. I'll think of something else.

[darthobiwan]

cena out- orton (face) vs batista (heel), that senario hasnt happened (at least since breakup of evolution) and dibiase/rhodes are added to the tag team title match making it a 3-way

batista out- 3-way for the title with cena vs hhh vs sheamus

edge out- christian or kofi kingston win a battle royal to challenge jericho

jericho out- edge (face) vs cm punk (heel), I don't think they really had a match besides punks first cash-in and always wanted to see a followup to that. or could also put in mysterio for a 3-way

[Citizen Snips Has Left]

Mar 14, 2010 18:46:52 GMT -5 Bam Neeley said:

The beatdown is about to continue but the Hart Dynasty comes out and Batista backs out(because he's lazy, not because he couldn't beat THD).

Why do so many fantasy booking ideas suddenly elevate The Hart Dynasty to instant main event status? This isn't a knock against this one per se...it's just a LOT of fantasy booking around here seems to involve them.

[H-Fist]

I think the best option for replacing either Cena or Batista is having the remaining guy take on Triple H and Sheamus in a triple threat match.

For Smackdown's main event, an Edge injury would allow Jericho to gloat over being right about Edge always being injured and missing time. A Jericho injury would allow Edge to mock him for face heat about how the injury has *saved* Jericho from just another loss in the big one. It would be possible to use the Triple H/Sheamus match here, as well, so long as Jericho would retain or Edge would win outright.

Given the HBK/Taker match and assuming Cena/Batista and Bret/Vince still happen, then I could *potentially* replace Edge with Matt Hardy (I know, the irony) simply because he is so damn over and the fans would get emotionally involved. Stick it in the undercard and allow Jericho to spend the next week or two giving "Is that the best Smackdown's got?" promos while Creative shuffles the deck.


Another road to go down to replace Edge would involve NXT. It would be a good cross-promotional marketing move in that regard. If I had one week of TV to tape it, I could pull it off. An irate The Miz decides to teach Daniel Bryan a lesson in respect by booking him in a match against The Big Show as a surprise main-event opponent on NXT. Chris Jericho and Wade Barrett are shown looking on in the back with interest, as they have both had interaction with Bryan so far. Of course Big Show is toying with Bryan, giving him yet another chance to get sympathy without burying him. Miz and Show exchange some words/jokes, giving Bryan a chance to sweep the leg and roll him up for a fast 3-count (he needs a win at some point, and this "big" one would be forgotten by what happens next). Bryan gets out of dodge, going up the ramp as Jericho and Barrett come down it, slow-clapping. Miz and Show are in the ring, arguing. Big Show levels The Miz. Jericho and Barrett get up on the apron and step into the ring. Jericho starts to talk, but both he and Barrett take the KO punch. NXT goes off the air with a babyface Big Show standing over Jericho, holding the WHC high in the air. On Smackdown, the announcement about Edge is made clear. Teddy Long grants Big Show's wish of a WM title shot. Vickie Guerrero steps in and advises him that McMahon says to forfeit his half of the Unified Tag Team Championship to do so, and he must beat some *Smackdown* superstars to earn it. Angrily, Show hands over the belts. Then he gets a gauntlet of Knox, Zeke, and Gallows - three physically large heels, with the SES giving him a chance to get some face heat. Punk tries to interfere, Rey comes out as an equalizer...Russoized as all hell, but screw it, it's the go-home for Mania and I've just put Show, Rey and the SES in the ring. Big Show is left standing in the ring, and Jericho stands at the top of the ramp. Staredown. Show turns, points to the sign, and throws the chokeslam taunt in Jericho's direction. Miz can find a substitute for Mania (maybe Kozlov to piss off people even more and giving him one last chance at a push - MizLov or KozMiz could sound good for a night or two).

No one *really* wants to see Big Show in a World Title match, let alone as a short-term babyface, but that would probably be the easiest card change without screwing with the upper tier.

Needless to say, Taker/HBK goes on last in all scenarios.