What a difference a year makes. Last night's RAW saw focus on guys such as Orton and Edge, and John Cena played a prominent role in the main event. However, their presence didn't oversaturate the show like the main event did at this time last year. Like the story has gone for the last month, the up-and-comers, guys like R-Truth, Bryan Danielson/Daniel Bryan, the Harts, Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov all have gotten time to get their stories over. The most satisfying of these was Bourne's elevation-for-one-night, where he ate a spear in the opening segment from Edge and then came back to get him some revenge as Cena's mystery partner. Bourne wasn't just out there to absorb a job either. The guy got the pinfall against Sheamus, who's been protected more carefully than any other heel in the company since his introduction to RAW seven months prior.However, what happened last night is not enough. The WWE is notorious for short-term elevations only to have those same would-be stars crash down to earth like meteorites that have burned out in the stratosphere on their way down to ground. Kofi Kingston, MVP, Shelton Benjamin, Carlito and even as far back as Jeff Hardy during the Two-Man Power Trip angle have all had the rugs pulled out from under them after getting some rub at the top of the card. For the WWE to do the same to Bourne would be par for the course, but at this stage in the game would also be disastrous, not just for Bourne but for themselves.
The WWE for the last 18 months has enjoyed an unprecedented number of talented guys at the top of the card, enough to fill out two shows comfortably. Since WrestleMania though, that herd has started to thin out. Shawn Michaels retired. Undertaker's sabbaticals are becoming more frequent, and it's looking like he's going to retire any day now. Batista left the company to make movies. Triple H is hurt/making movies, and may have a limited shelf-life as an in-ring performer (especially since his post-ring future is about as secure as you can get). Rey Mysterio has no knees left and is starting to take sabbaticals himself so he can conserve his health for a future that lasts past 2011. Randy Orton and Edge are both injury risks. Chris Jericho, although in great shape and with recharged batteries, is still in his 40s and actually has mainstream viability outside the wrestling industry. The only sure things as main eventers right now are Big Show, John Cena, CM Punk and Sheamus, and Sheamus is arguably still in his nascency as a top-carder.
It's great that they're putting some mojo behind Jack SWAGGAH~! as World Champion, but with the potential net loss coming around the bend, there needs to be more of a build of stars. That's why it's imperative that Bourne gets more air-time next week and gets a more sustained push out of this ordeal, more than anyone else on the roster. The most important name listed in the litany of stars who may be about to bite it is Mysterio, a guy who fills two important drawing demographics: high-flyers and Latinos. Obviously, Bourne isn't going to draw with the Latino crowd like Mysterio, but everyone loves a high-flyer, and Bourne fits that bill to a tee. It's that bit of info that makes me believe that maybe Bourne's elevation wasn't a one-night deal. Or at least it makes me hope that's the case. At this point, my feelings about how freaking awesome Evan Bourne is may be clouding my judgment.
However, rather than looking at the one-night reaction from last night, there's still hope that they're going to inject some fresh blood into the main event scene sooner rather than later. R-Truth has been getting a sustained push, and while I really don't like him all that much at all, well, I seem to be in the minority, and hey, if the fans want to see him, then who am I to judge? With the introduction of the Uso Brothers as a tag team challenger to the Harts, it seems like they're going to be focusing in on a tag division that is made up of more than just main eventers or cusp-main eventers cobbled together, which in my view is absolutely ESSENTIAL for building a future roster. They also seem to be playing up that Christian wants to make a run for the gold on Smackdown, which is long overdue in my opinion.
However, the most urgent thing they need to do is get on in elevating The Miz to World Title level. He spent the better part of last year and the first couple of months this year as a protected heel before becoming a job boy to the Harts and anyone else who needed a pinfall. Obviously, he can't come out of this feud with Daniel Bryan as the victor, or else it'd undo everything that they've done to build The Best in the World as a credible WWE-level threat. However, once they come out of this, Miz needs to be protected again. The WWE is hurting for main event heels right now, and Miz is a guy that is perfect for a role at the top of the card. Still, he's all over RAW and gets a lot of air-time, so there's no urge to abandon ship on him.
Nearly everyone who watched RAW last night seems to have come from it with good vibrations about the company's willingness to push new talent. However, it'll mean nothing in the long run if it's not followed up on. Hopefully, the WWE gets the gravity of their situation, and the future is as bright as what we saw last night.
Photo Credit: WWE.com
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