My key options for title contenders in the company would be guys that the front office either can't push (Kennedy, HHH, Taker due to injury), being in hot water with the office (Orton for being a ******** in hotels), someone on the way out the door (RVD), someone who is no longer around (Jericho), someone who hasn't been pushed enough or pushed right to make the chase worth it (CM Punk, Nitro, or Benjamin), or someone who is just being wasted (Benoit). The company painted themselves into this corner and it'll be a miracle if they can get themselves out of it. I'd have also maybe chosen Umaga if his gimmick wasn't a fourth-hand recycled and hollow hackjob that shouldn't have been brought back with the Headshrinkers. As for who currently holds the belts? Edge is the only one who should have his title, honestly. This was another case of Smackdown's genius creative squad not leaving themselves any outs and having their top guy put on the shelf and a gaping hole in the program as a result. I weep for the future. On the positive side of things, as long as HHH doesn't blow out both quads again (thanks steroids!) and Kennedy stays healthy leading into next year's Wrestlemania, then they should be at least semi-okay. They need to focus on pushing the youth in the company and seasoning them for the top spots so they can actually do something other than tread water once they get there. They need to being working on a bonafide megastar that can work great as well as talk great. They haven't had a true one of those developed fresh in the last few years. No real new stars have been built.