HYPOTHETICAL: The champ gets injured a week before Mania

[Xero]

Let's say, HYPOTHETICALLY, the WrestleMania 26 RAW main event is built to be Triple H vs John Cena (Cena is the champion). It's also clear that it's being built as the actual main event. The RAW before WrestleMania 26, during the main event, John Cena gets an injury which requires surgery and there is no possible way he could wrestle at WrestleMania.

Now, obviously they can put the SmackDown! main event in the last spot. However, this still destroys a 3-month build and the title must be vacated. They have three TV shows to find a solution for this (ECW, SuperStars and SmackDown!).

- How would YOU resolve this?

- How do you think WWE would resolve this?

Keep in mind that it's not the participants who are important here (anyone I put in there will have a "back up" feud they could use) but the situation itself.

[Swiss Ultimate]

Make a storyline about it. Whomever was feuding with Champ put him out of commission. This of course, will be the automatic heel-turn for the rival if the champ is a heel.

Or, play it completely straight. Be honest about the injury, hold an emergency tournament to decide who'll face who for the vacated title in the Main Event.

[Innovator]

Battle Royal on the show, say Kofi wins it. Kofi has a match later in the evening and wins it. Then has to face HHH in the RAW main event. SD mains.

[Cool King]

This is the first thing that came to my head.

Have an 18 man Over The Top Rope Battle Royal on Superstars consisting of the entier Raw Roster, where the winner will be the new WWE Champion.

At the end, both Triple H and someone else (You pick who), eliminate each other at the same time.

Instead of having both men share the Championship, they have a match at WrestleMania for the vacant WWE Championship.

[HBPunk]

Keep it quiet, at WM have Cena attacked by ______ who makes sense and add him.. done

[James Steele]

Easy Solution --> The Money In The Bank match is now for the spot in the main event to face Triple H to determine the NEW WWE Champion.

[Xero]

Easy Solution --> The Money In The Bank match is now for the spot in the main event to face Triple H to determine the NEW WWE Champion.

Makes the most sense so far, and it works out well. :y:

[Emperor Smeat]

If Cena was facing someone other than Triple H for Raw, have that person now replace Cena but shift the storyline from Triple H's road to the title to whoever hurt Cena denied Triple H any chance at the spotlight. Similar to Jericho wanting to "kill" DX and their dreams of being tag champions since that is Jericho's main trump card over Triple H. Then shift the Raw main event lower on the card while push Smackdown's as the main one or Undertaker's streak match if it was built great.

WWE might just end up having Cena wrestle but work it as a quick match similar to when other wrestlers are hurt and need surgery. Have Triple H hit a move that "hurts" Cena in the same spot as his injury and have Cena sell it as a devastating move. Raw main event still would be dropped to lower in the card.

WWE would still have a future rematch possible since Cena could say he was never 100% healthy and restart the Cena-Triple H feud months down the road.

[thedamndest]

I am thinking along the same lines as JamesSteele. Have Triple H wrestle someone in the first match of the night. Make Money in the Bank for a title shot against Triple H rather than an anytime shot. Then have another Money in the Bank match at Backlash for a briefcase with the guys in the previous match and probably the loser of the title match.

[Savio]

Drop the angle and pretend like it never happened

[Mr. Nerfect]

I would use the injury in storylines. Instead of saying "Cena's arm fell off," or whatever, they have him "taken out." You can reveal the attacker and give them a big push, or keep it a mystery.

If you have the attacked take the credit (let's say Sheamus), then you obviously go to Triple H vs. Sheamus at WrestleMania for the vacant title. This creates two big matches for when Cena returns. One is against Sheamus, because he took out Cena; and the other is the match we were "looking forward to" but never actually happened in Triple H vs. John Cena.

However, if the attacker is kept a mystery, then you can have someone step-up (perhaps Shawn Michaels) and say that they think Triple H did it himself so he could walk out of WrestleMania WWE Champion again. I don't know if I'd go with the full turn prior to WrestleMania, but tension is on both of the competitors, and whether one did take out Cena, or if the allegations are unfounded. You'd then either get a heel turn, or tension would continue to build until Cena returned, and then you'd probably have a situation close to Stone Cold's return in 2000, hopefully minus Rikishi.

[Schlomey]

Yeah the MITB idea is def. the way to go.

[The Jayman]

I also agree with the MITB idea or just doing a battle royal or something.

[Theo Dious]

This is pretty much a blend of the ideas that have already been put forth, but what I would like to see:

20-Man Battle Royal on Raw to determine the number one contender. Carlito wins.

Carlito faces HHH in a match that takes place second or third on the card. HHH wins dirty. The commentators lament the fact that while it was a good, solid match, it didn't feel like Wrestlemania, and it was a shame that HHH had to take the win like that.

Backstage later in the night, Carlito runs into Vince, who agrees to put him in the MITB match. He thanks Vince and makes a suggestive reference that when he wins, he'll cash in at Backlash.

Carlito goes on to win MITB.

During the celebration following the WHC match, Vince comes out and announces that we're not done yet, and sends Carlito and HHH for an acceptable WWE title match. Carlito wins with the same dirty move HHH used on him in the earlier match.

To me this would be an excellent culmination to the current "let's push newer guys" initiative, and it would build off of Carlito's standing up to Cena a few weeks back. It would also be a good idea to put the belt on a newer but not excessively green guy who's been around a few years. For those of you who insist on turning HHH heel, this would be a good way to go about it.

[Mr. Nerfect]

That would be pretty cool, Tedious.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Angle wrestled lesnar with a destroyed neck so the guy would prolly work unless his legs were broken.

[The Show Off]

Angle wrestled lesnar with a destroyed neck so the guy would prolly work unless his legs were broken.

But you're also talking about the guy that won an Olympic gold medal with a broken frickin' neck.

[KayfabeMan]

As a former booker myself...let me lay this all out for you.

The best way to do this is to have Cena still come out to the ring to face HHH.

The two fight for about 3-5 mins, then Cena is about to lift HHH for the FU when Shawn Michaels runs out and throws salt in the eyes of Cena.

Seeing this, Hulk Hogan runs out and checks on Cena - before soundly defeating HHH in under a minute or so.

[XL]

I think the MitB idea would be best.

You could even build off the back of it if you had the MitB winner lose the title match. He would be pissed that he was forced into his match rather than being able to use the briefcase whenever he likes as others have in the past.

[The Pope]

Have a hospital match. Have triple h beat cena up the whole time, then at the end have Cena get out his sleeping pills, stuff 'em in trips's mouth and go for the 3 count. (Cena Wins again)