HBK VS Hart, Austin VS Rock, Cena VS Punk.... What's Next?

[comrade_mario]

Do you know who it actually could have been? Jeff Hardy vs CM Punk.

It seems like there is a constant thread running through era defining feuds and that is a massive difference in character.

For Hart vs HBK it was the hard workin Canadian vs the flashy over the top Texan

For Rock vs Austin it was the bling wearing cocky guy vs the hard drinking red neck

For Hardy vs Punk the differences were massive and there for all to see, we even had the real life animosity that, though not on the same scale, Hart and Michaels had.

Could have been great had Jeff stuck around, and with the popularity of Hardy the WWE wouldn't have needed to rely on John Cena as their only merch seller to the kids

[SacredMesa]

Right now the only guy in the company that has any chance of replacing either Punk or Cena some day would be Ziggler. His show off gimik lends him well to an HBK/Jericho style face run that could really elevate him, hell he already gets more cheers than Cena turning him face would only increase that.

If I had to pick from the main roster who I think it could be there are a couple of potentials I see if they are booked correctly.

Daniel Bryan immediately comes to mind. He's over, "YES, YES, YES" and "NO, NO, NO" are still pretty huge and he has great in ring talent. If WWE gives him the proper shot I could see him really becoming a star.

Damien Sandow, it doesn't take a genius to realize this guy is one hell of a good heel and can get people pissed very easily. Book him right and it would be so simple to have a guy like him playing the heel to a face Ziggler. It would be the "intellectually supperior" heel against the athleticly talented face and a story like that writes itself with ease.

Dean Ambrose, this guy is amazing on the mic and damn good in the ring. If he went full psycho like he was in FCW it would be great to see it against Ziggler as well. So much potential if he's used right.


Those are the three potentials I see, I know some will say Seth Rolins but I'll be honest I haven't see much of his independant work to judge and while he seems like the stronger of the remaining 2 shield members I didn't mention I really can't say much for him as a singles wrestler. The three mentioned though have everything needed, aside for the muscled up look Vince likes, to become major stars given the chance. Here's hoping they get it.

[rge2010]

What, no mentions for McMahon vs Austin? Triple H vs Shawn Michaels? Cena vs Edge? These are all classic fueds...

I would also put Cena vs Punk neatly inside 'the reality era' which I think was born in 2011 after Punks pipebomb. WWE has left the PG era as far as I am concerned and edgier TV has come to the forte. Cant really think of any decent fueds between 2008-2011...ones that firmly stick in the mind anyway.

As for the future, well I have no idea. Maybe we will look fondly back on The Rock vs John Cena as a classic fued if it continues after WM29...some people will scoff at that but they probably said the same thing about Rock vs Austin 10 or so years back!!!!

And again, how anyone can overlook Triple H vs Shawn Michaels is beyond me. WWE need to make a DVD about these two in their greatest rivalries series!!!!

I can think of 10 PPV's they fought in, plus the Tribute to The Troops match they had.

[samfeeley34]

I'm sorry but forgive me not if I am wring but we're all looking at the new guys in WWE, are we forgetting Randy Orton is only 32? That's only a year older than Ryback! Not to mention he is under contract until 2019 plus he is coming from 9 world titles already! I think Randy Orton will be the one to carry WWE through the painful times when Cena and Punk decide they've earned their millions.

The only thing is, he'll need an opponent now I have several contenders:

Ryback: Ryback has promised to not just be as big as Cena but blow him out of the water, which to me seems cocky and arrogant but I also think he could be correct I mean look how over he is now and he hasn't even been around a year, plus its not about an undefeated streak anymore, its about kicking ass which correct me if I'm wrong is how The Rock came to be the biggest guy in the biz. He's got the look that's easy to market and his voice will come on over time but this guy will be up there.

Dolph Ziggler: I'm not usually a Ziggler guy but you've gotta admit he's being molded to be the next big thing, all he needs is that spot in the sun. I'all make a prediction right here, Dolph Ziggler will have been World Champ and WWE Champion by this time next year, I promise. WWE hears the cries from the IWC saying 'Ziggler is a god, give him the title' . They've heard it. They're just biding their time.

Seth Rollins: Now we've not seen a lot of Seth Rollins yet, but one thing is for sure, this guy is good. Hell WWE wouldn't put a guy they didn't believe was good in the middle of a Rock match. For the record I feel that The Shield interfering in the Royal Rumble title match and attacking Rock was a great creative decision, being involved with The Rock can make you sky rocket. You don't even have to have seen him in a match to know this guy is gonna be big. WWE's creative decisions tell you enough.

[Sedated]

I would say none of the feuds Cena has been in have defined anything. He hasn't done anything memorable with Orton, CM Punk.. or really anyone. I'm not saying he hasn't had good matches but no overall feud comes close to the likes of HBK/Hart or Austin/Rock.

Hell, HBK/HHH or even Batista/HHH have come closer than anything Cena has done. There really hasn't been anything though with the combination of quality/returning to the feud since Austin/Rock though.

[samfeeley34]

Originally Posted by Sedated

I would say none of the feuds Cena has been in have defined anything. He hasn't done anything memorable with Orton, CM Punk.. or really anyone. I'm not saying he hasn't had good matches but no overall feud comes close to the likes of HBK/Hart or Austin/Rock.

Hell, HBK/HHH or even Batista/HHH have come closer than anything Cena has done. There really hasn't been anything though with the combination of quality/returning to the feud since Austin/Rock though.

Nobody should ever doubt the Cena v Punk 2011 feud, it was the best feud we've seen in wrestling for a number of years and so many memorable moments were born because of it, we look back on things like Austins beer truck today and think that was awesome. In ten years time we will look at CM Punk's shoot and think that was awesome. Not to mention Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer giving Punk V Cena at MITB 2011five stars, the first WWE match to achieve that in almost fifteen years. Do not doubt the validity that this feud defined THIS era.