Damien Sandow Deserves Another Title Shot vs. John Cena Despite Failed Cash-in

Damien Sandow came within an eyelash of becoming the new world heavyweight champion when he cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase on John Cena.  The October 28 edition of Raw was the platform for the title match, and even though many fans are hailing it as one of Sandow's best performances, Cena had his arm raised at the end.

But for me, that does not mean that it should be over.  In fact, I believe it should only be the beginning.

This match was entertaining and one of Cena's best televised bouts in a while.  And the fact that he is still selling his injury only added to it.  The injury gave Sandow a target, a focal point for the match that he capitalized on.

Sandow is a heel after all, and heels typically take any shortcuts available to them, sportsmanship be damned.  WWE is driving home the notion that perhaps Cena is not yet fully healed, and this brought out Sandow's aggression as he continuously beat down the champ.

And for many of the WWE faithful, this was a potential sign of things to come.

Sandow's character is entertaining.  From the way he talks down to the fans to the way he holds the microphone, he has completely embraced his role.  The way he struts in the ring is also a part of that character because he always carries himself with pure arrogance.

But what he showed in the ring against Cena on Raw was not arrogance or confidence—it was desperation.  Sandow appeared to be grasping at straws. Perhaps he was convinced that the only way to defeat WWE's top star was to throw everything he had at him. This was not about Sandow believing he could prevail; it was about Sandow knowing he had little chance unless he brought everything he had.

This is understandable.  I believe that many fans likely knew the outcome of this match as soon as it began.  

The fact is that Cena is the man.  There is no getting around that, and unless your name is Randy Orton or CM Punk, you basically do not have much of a chance of beating Cena for the belt.  The fault for this could be placed at Cena's door, but to me that has never made much sense.  

WWE takes the brunt of the blame for this one, and the fault lies in the booking.  After the WWE has spent so much time spotlighting Cena and just a select few others, it seems at times that no other Superstars are receiving enough company investment to get over the hump.

But could that now be rectified with Sandow?  Was his match against Cena a dress rehearsal for a potential main event run in his immediate future?

Sandow's fans surely hope so.  They have watched their favorite heel be the butt of many jokes and teasing, thanks to other stars like Cena and Sheamus.  Those insults come with the territory for a heel in WWE.  This is especially true in the case of Sandow, whose gimmick lends itself to cheap humor and one-liners.

If he is to be taken seriously as a main event-level contender, eventually his character must be tweaked.  And if his aggressive side is to become a bigger part of his repertoire, then maybe we are beginning to see him evolve.

The true measure of just how good a guy can be or how far he can go lies with how he looks against the top stars and how the crowd receives him when it happens.  For me, Sandow scored big on both fronts.  And that is why he should receive another world title shot against Cena.

If WWE were to move ahead with a program between the two men, there is no guarantee that Sandow would win the strap.  The truth is that November has just started, and it's only a matter of time before WrestleMania season is upon us once again.  To imagine that the company would go with Sandow as world champion before the big event or even that night could be a stretch.

But the point here is that Sandow has put in his time.  He has done everything asked of him and has looked good doing it.  And if he has impressed the brass in WWE, then the upward climb needs to begin eventually.  Otherwise, he's just standing still.

Sandow's attempt to win the World Championship from Cena was unsuccessful on the October 28 edition of Raw.  However that does not mean that he should never receive another shot at the title.  If he gets one, I believe that he will again prove why he more than belongs on that level.

You're welcome.