WWE Has Golden Opportunity with 6-Week Gap Between Pay-Per-Views

With WWE’s congested pay-per-view schedule, there is rarely an opportunity to establish a new threat to one of the major titles or develop complex feuds with multiple characters without the first meeting between opposing sides feeling rushed.  

The six-week gap between Night Of Champions and Hell In A Cell is the perfect opportunity to put both of these types of storylines into action. 

The WWE has even engineered the background to allow both of these types of stories to happen. 

Sheamus is desperate for a new opponent and has few rivals left that he hasn’t defeated, having defeated Alberto Del Rio on four of the last five pay-per-views. Six weeks of a new challenger getting the better of the Irishman would certainly freshen the title picture.

Several candidates could use this kind of opportunity, with the most obvious name being the returning Wade Barrett. His tweaked character has been advertised for several weeks, and the longer time period between pay-per-views could be used to cement the changes. 

Certainly Barrett’s size and charisma would be an interesting challenge for Sheamus; the Irish fighter is used to being the more powerful, but this may not be the case against the Englishman Barrett. 

Others could also use the time to really develop a character that is capable of main-eventing WWE events. Cody Rhodes, The Miz and Dolph Ziggler have all got the potential to be lead heels but have suffered from too many losses at high-profile events. The gap between the two pay-per-views would certainly give them all time to readdress that balance before fighting on the big stage.

The WWE could even use the extended time period to bring in a completely new character to rival Sheamus.

Both Matt Morgan and Bubba Ray Dudley could have been pushed into the main event spotlight in this period, had they not both chosen to return to TNA. Even someone who did not live up to his potential the first time around like John Morrison or MVP could use the time to re-establish himself within the company.

Whoever is chosen, this is a real chance to create another main event talent.

The draw between CM Punk and John Cena is also a great opportunity to create a complex storyline with several important characters participating, especially as Paul Heyman has already been established on Punk’s side.

Heyman and Punk both have magnetic characters that could believably attract other wrestlers to be part of their group, and this should force Cena into the underdog role that he so thrives on. 

The big advantage of the six-week time period is that the way any potential group evolves and the suppression Cena receives can be developed slowly. This should allow the feud to flow without unduly dominating programs, and the plot could be sedate enough that younger viewers can follow the twisting saga.

All of this is only possible because a high-profile match, designed to sell pay-per-views, is not stuck in the middle of the programme. With an average of three to four weeks between every pay-per-view until WrestleMania to come, this is the only time such complex plans can be implemented well.

Other scenarios can also benefit from this break between pay-per-views.

New talent like Damian Sandow, Antonio Cesaro and Ryback, who have all been given plenty of television exposure without much direction, can finally have their first defining feud. The "bromance" between Kane and Daniel Bryan can also be given time to develop, as can the underperforming tag and women’s divisions.

After a summer of recycled material, this is the WWE’s chance to provide both the talent and the fans with something new and exciting. With so much depth in the WWE’s current roster, this should be a golden opportunity to point the company in the right direction for the future.

Fingers crossed that this new beginning is seen on Monday Night Raw.