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In some ways this is sad, but in other ways this is really interesting. The senior guys like Chris Jericho, Edge and even Kane suddenly get bumped up by default. While it would be nice if they got a rub or some such, when you look at many of the eras people define the WWE by, a lot of guys got moved up just because there was no one else. If the WWE can't rely on Shawn Michaels or The Undertaker or even Triple H as much (he won't be retiring soon, but it makes sense for him to move out of the spotlight a bit now that his family is growing and he's getting older), they won't be relying on them -- plain and simple.
The WWE will have to create new stars, and this is where things will get interesting. After WrestleMania XXV there was talk of elevating new guys, and we've seen some weird pushes come up over the last year or so (heel CM Punk, R-Truth, Sheamus and even, for a little while, Dolph Ziggler and John Morrison). With Randy Orton turning face, it also leaves room for a new power heel on RAW.
After being one of only three heels to defend a World Title successfully at WrestleMania, Chris Jericho is looking like a golden god right now. This is not a bad thing. With Shawn Michaels out of the way, he's also probably the best pure performer in the entire WWE right now. If The Undertaker steps down, then you can move up Kane, who finally won't be in anyone's shadow. As a mark for him, that is interesting for me. He's recently entered a stage where his ring work has been better than it arguably has his entire career, and he's been getting different sort of "respect pops" in some arenas lately. It's not just that he's consistently over, it's that he's over and he's been around for ages as a solid big man performer.
I just read an interview where Triple H not only put over Sheamus huge, but made note of Kofi Kingston and The Miz as guys with tremendous work ethic. As he takes on more of a grooming role, you gotta believe those guys are on his radar. Jack Swagger has just won Money in the Bank, and one of my thoughts during that match was how solid Evan Bourne was made to look. He not only got a WrestleMania payday, but he was put in the position where it looked like he could have won the match but chose to do something to please the fans.
Some of the veterans left over, like Big Show, Kane and even Chris Jericho may not seem like they are on the level of Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker now -- but when those guys aren't there above them, they will be seen as the top dogs by default. At least, I hope so.
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