"If I Were the Booker" #1

Welcome to the weekly “If I Were the Booker” column. This column will appear each week and will only involve feasible and possible scenarios for the current WWE product. You won’t see me talking about the Ultimate Warrior returning to battle Hulk Hogan in a Hell in a Cell match, just storylines that could take place and would take place if I were running the show.

I recently was reading about Dolph Ziggler’s atrocious television wins and losses record in 2012. It’s terrible. For a guy who most fans (myself included) seem to have appointed as the next huge star in WWE, the guy certainly never seems untouchable. I think the thing that makes Ziggler so impressive is that fans don’t seem to remember how often he does lose. Wins and losses don’t mean that much, but I would challenge you to name any other star in the company who loses as consistently as Ziggler does.

Pay-Per-View after Pay-Per-View, I’ve watched with anticipation of Ziggler hopefully cashing in the briefcase. I have to say that the Money in the Bank concept is something that WWE has done extremely well over the last eight years, so kudos to them. The last time I personally have felt this much anticipation for a superstar to cash in was Rob Van Dam back in 2006 and he was the only one to announce his match prior AND win.

If I were booking the Elimination Chamber Pay-Per-View, I would for sure be having the Chamber match for the #1 contender status go on prior to the World Heavyweight Championship match, the final four being Randy Orton, Chris Jericho, Daniel Bryan and Jack Swagger. Orton turns his attention towards Swagger and prepares for the RKO, Jericho also staggers to his feet and Orton hits Jericho with the RKO–Orton finally turns heel. Eventually the match comes down to Bryan vs. Orton. Orton has the upper hand until Bryan wins out of nowhere. Daniel Bryan is going to Wrestlemania!

Next up: The World Heavyweight Championship match with Alberto Del Rio vs. Big Show. Somehow, by the skin of his teeth, Alberto Del Rio beats Big Show. Big Show then KO’s Del Rio with the punch. Out comes Ziggler, who cashes in on Del Rio and becomes the new World Heavyweight Champion. This sets up a true Wrestlemania classic: Daniel Bryan vs. Dolph Ziggler for the World Heavyweight Title at Wrestlemania.

Two weeks later on Smackdown, Alberto Del Rio has his rematch with Dolph Ziggler: No DQ. Daniel Bryan is at ringside doing commentary to “scout” his Wrestlemania opponent. Alberto Del Rio is gaining the upper hand when Jack Swagger comes out of nowhere and levels Del Rio. Swagger ends up costing Del Rio the title and leaving as Ziggler and Bryan have a face-off to close the show.

Why is this so awesome? In one Pay-Per-View and one weekly television show I’ve now set up three headline matches for Wrestlemania involving six high-profile superstars. Here’s what the card gains from this:

Dolph Ziggler (c) vs. Daniel Bryan for the World Heavyweight Title

Randy Orton vs. Chris Jericho

Jack Swagger vs. Alberto Del Rio (Possible submission match)

Book It!

-You can follow me on Twitter at @Eddy327