Spare Thoughts: What If Ryback Wins?

Ryback is in the right place at the right time.

Due to the apparent lingering effects of John Cena's recent surgery, Ryback will be in the main event at the upcoming Hell In A Cell pay per view with a shot at winning the WWE Championship.

World Wrestling Entertainment is in quite a predicament. If the match goes on as scheduled, the powers that be in the company will have to choose between Ryback's undefeated streak and CM Punk's 300+ day reign as WWE Champion. If there's a third door, I don't see it right now.

As far as I'm concerned, the big question isn't "Will Ryback Win?" as much as it is "What happens next if Ryback wins?". You'd assume there would be the inevitable rematch with Punk, but what happens beyond that would be even more interesting, and perhaps problematic for WWE.

Royal Rumble is little more than three months away, on January 27, 2013. The Rock is scheduled to compete for the WWE Championship on that night. Ryback as WWE Champion, would be almost immediately on a collision course with The People's Champion.

If Ryback gets through Royal Rumble 2013 as WWE Champion, things get even more interesting. Now, he's in one of the top matches at WrestleMania XXIX, and I think I know who his opponent should be: Brock Lesnar.

This would do little to end the comparison between Ryback and Goldberg, but it seems to be the most logical outcome for Ryback's reign as WWE Champion. Lesnar's expiring contract makes him perfect cannon-fodder for someone who could become a main event performer for years.

One nice thing about a Ryback v. Rock match at Royal Rumble 2013 is the fact that it frees up other headliners to be in the Royal Rumble match itself. The list of competitors would be star-studded: John Cena, CM Punk, Randy Orton, Daniel Bryan, Kane, Big Show, Dolph Ziggler and Alberto Del Rio. Add in Lesnar and perhaps even The Undertaker and you have the makings of something special. Then, have Lesnar win.

Have him eliminate Cena to polish the one blemish on his record since his return to WWE. I think Lesnar would be as feared as ever, and a worthy opponent for the undefeated Ryback. The top of the WrestleMania XXIX card would look just fine with CM Punk vs. The Rock and John Cena vs. The Undertaker as the other headlining matches.

Like I said, WWE has put itself in a tough spot going into Hell In A Cell. If those in charge do pull the trigger on a championship reign for Ryback, they'd had better understand where that decision could lead.