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"Now that Big Show is World Heavyweight Champion, he may just hold it until he retires."
-- John Bradshaw Layfield 10/28/2012
A bold statement made just after Big Show's epic win over Sheamus at Hell in a Cell, but was this profound pontification or merely high hyperbole?
As odd as it seems, I think JBL may be right, or at least speaking what he believes to be the truth. After all, he's the finest example of the transformative effect that a title win can have on a wrestler. Bradshaw's surprise WWE championship win in 2005 turned him from competent brawler into "Wrestling God." Once he got his hands on the gold, he ran with it and did whatever it took to keep it. In the process, he completely altered his career status from a footnote in wrestling history to a front page, bold-type headliner!
As for Big Show, he was already nigh unbeatable as a non-champion, but with his combination of an iron-clad contract and champion's advantage, along with his obvious size, power, and experience advantage he holds over virtually any other man in the business, he will be nearly impossible to topple.
As champion, he only has to confront worthy challengers when conditions are favorable. What if Show doesn't like how his return bout with Sheamus is unfolding at Survivor Series? He can simply channel his inner Honky Tonk Man and get himself disqualified. What if he has to face someone who might actually have a decent shot at beating him in the future, like a John Cena or Ryback? He can make like Mr. Perfect and vacate the arena... during the match!
Let's face it, for all his virtues, Ric Flair didn't hold the NWA Championship for the better part of a decade by upholding the spirit of competition. He did what he had to do to keep the belt, and bested many good men in the process. If Big Show adopts that kind of attitude, JBL might just be as prophetic in his commentating as he is entertaining.
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OFFICIAL WRESTLER WRANKINGS FORMULA:
- ANY WIN = 2 POINTS
- US OR INTERCONTINENTAL TITLE BOUT = 1 POINT
- WWE OR WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE BOUT = 3 POINTS
- NON "BIG 4" PPV = x1.5 BONUS
- SUMMERSLAM, SURVIVOR SERIES, ROYAL RUMBLE = x2 BONUS
- WRESTLEMANIA = x3 BONUS
The wrestler with the highest score when the season culminates at WrestleMania 29wins the coveted Wrankings Championship!
Now, without further delay, let's get to this week's scores:
Raw, 11/5/2012:
- Sheamus - 2 points (win)
- Kane - 2 points (win)
- Cody Rhodes - 2 points (win)
- Kofi Kingston - 2 points (win)
- Wade Barrett - 2 points (win)
- Heath Slater - 2 points (win)
SmackDown, 11/6/2012:
- Randy Orton - 2 points (win)
- Kofi Kingston - 3 points (IC title bout, win)
- Miz - 1 point (IC title bout, no win)
WEEK 32 WRANKINGS TOP TEN:
1. SHEAMUS -- 111
2. Ryback -- 81.5
3. CM Punk -- 81
4. Alberto Del Rio -- 70.5
5. Randy Orton -- 43.5
6. John Cena -- 42.5
7. Antonio Cesaro -- 41
8. Big Show -- 40
9. Daniel Bryan -- 37
10. Dolph Ziggler -- 33.5
Thanks for reading Cagesiders, we'll see you next week!