Let there be no doubt about two facts.
First, upstart fan favorite Daniel Bryan challenging company stalwart John Cena for his WWE Championship is the best possible main event for this year's Summerslam supercard.
Second, Triple H is one of the greatest wrestlers of the modern era, a legend of the business, one of the most influential figures in the business side of wrestling today, and when he wants to be, an extremely polite and refined gentleman.
For all his virtues, one thing that Triple H is not is a professional referee. So why in the world did he insert himself as the presiding official for the biggest match of the year?
The blame falls squarely on WWE Chairman Vince McMahon and his lackey du jour, RAW General Manager Brad Maddox.
The skulduggery those two pulled on RAW this week (to the great Wrankings benefit of Wade Barrett) was simply uncalled for and easily could be construed as classless, illegal, and unsporting. Prior to the dissolving of the Jack Tunney administration, chicanery such as this would have been discouraged, exposed, and reprimanded, but in Vince McMahon's WWE, there is no check to his power.
That's why Triple H's self-appointment as referee for the Cena/Bryan tilt is so intriguing. It does nothing to help the integrity of this specific match, but perhaps it will serve as a first step to promote fairness and sportsmanship in the coming months and beyond. Triple H is making a stand for sanity and he'll make that stand in a black and white striped shirt.
The irony is that Brad Maddox himself is actually a serviceable referee when motivated to call things down the middle. In better circumstances, he would make a fine official for Sunday's main event.
My enthusiasm for Summerslam cannot be dampened, and neither should be your's. It's the biggest sporting event of the summer, with a litany of amazing match ups (even curtain-jerkers RVD and Ambrose will be boss!) and it's taking place at Staples Center, one of the world's greatest arenas. It's just a shame for the entire wrestling solar system to align perfectly, but for this one heavenly body sticking out further than Gigolo Jimmy Del Rey's... well, you get the idea.
Enjoy Summerslam everybody!
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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 BONUS = 1.5X
SUMMERSLAM, SURVIVOR SERIES, ROYAL RUMBLE = 2X BONUS
WRESTLEMANIA = 3X BONUS
The WWE season begins on the day after WrestleMania 29 and culminates with WrestleMania 30. The wrestler who accumulates the most points over the course of the season, wins the coveted Wrankings Championship!
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Monday Night RAW-- 8/12/13
- Alberto Del Rio - 2 points (win)
- Randy Orton - 2 points (win)
- Kane - 2 points (win)
- Wade Barrett - 2 points (win)
- Rob Van Dam - 2 points (win)
Main Event -- 8/14/13
- Alberto Del Rio - 2 points (win)
- Big E. Langston - 2 points (win)
SmackDown -- 8/16/13
- Curtis Axel - 2 points (win)
- Daniel Bryan - 2 points (win)
- Christian - 2 points (win)
- Miz - 2 points (win)
WRESTLER WRANKINGS, WEEK 19 *TOP TEN*
1. ALBERTO DEL RIO -- 45 points
2. Curtis Axel -- 41
3. Randy Orton -- 38
4. Dolph Ziggler -- 32
T5. Sheamus -- 30
T5. Daniel Bryan -- 30
T7. Ryback -- 26
T7. Christian -- 26
9. John Cena -- 25.5
T10. Chris Jericho -- 24
T10. Miz -- 24
Thanks for reading Cagesiders. We'll see you back here next week!