At Hell in a Cell, we will see Ryback take on CM Punk for the WWE Championship in lieu of John Cena, to allow for Cena’s surgically repaired elbow to heal fully. The general consensus is that the WWE have booked themselves into a corner. CM Punk is seemingly destined to walk into the Royal Rumble as the WWE Champ to face The Rock, and his almost year long hold on the title has become synonymous with his title as “Best in the World.” Ryback has crushed jobber after jobber, quickly mowing down every combatant until he was quickly injected into this angle with Cena and Punk. His current worth is tied into his status as a complete monster, undefeated. In a perfect world, neither one should be losing.

I was of the same mind for a while after the match was announced. It seemed like a rush decision. Ryback is still in his relative infancy with this gimmick, and a loss to Punk would destroy it. Even a DQ or screwy finish would corrupt the aura around him. He needs to stay undefeated to stay relevant. There’s the same argument for Punk. He waylaid The Rock, and set up a championship showdown at the Royal Rumble, which was the initial push for his heel turn. He needs the championship. He needs it to be “the best in the world.” The length of his title reign has continually been paraded in front of viewers.

Asked about the issue, here is what Chris Jericho had to say:

“Here is a chance to take a guy who people are getting behind. If he beats Punk at Hell in A Cell and after three hundred and thirty seven days or whatever and Punk is finally beaten, people are going to start to take notice of this guy. Those who don’t watch Raw are going to tune in to see what’s going on. Ryback beats everybody. Ryback faces Rock at Royal Rumble. What happens if a couple of weeks before that something goes on with Ryback and Undertaker got involved in the Rock match? What if Rock wins the title and goes on to face Cena we expected and what if its Ryback vs Undertaker at Wrestlemania? What if Ryback beats Undertaker at Wrestlemania? You have a new star for the next ten years to headline pay-per views and main events.”

And he’s 100% correct. Live crowds have been eating up Ryback (no pun intended). His first massive clothesline against Punk birthed massive sound from the audience, and I’m sure put even more impetus behind Punk facing him at Cell. We always talk about the spontaneous birth of Stone Cold, or any of the other great moments of yesteryear, when things weren’t so telegraphed, so predictable. For once, we get a guy coming out of nowhere, and now we criticize.

He should beat Punk. Then what? Who cares? Throw him at Big Show, at Sheamus, at a hopefully returning Mark Henry, at any number of guys, and let’s see what happens. Punk will be fine. He’s part of the elite now. If Ryback wins, it sets the world of WWE into chaos, and leaves us questioning what would happen next, something that hasn’t really happened since CM Punk blew Vince McMahon a kiss at Money in the Bank. My thoughts on that?

Finally.