WWE: Christian, Randy Orton and the Forgotten World Title Match

By a show of hands, how many of you would take a kick to the groin in exchange for the World Championship? Let’s see, one, two, three, okay, everyone put your hands down.

Christian’s World Title victory over Randy Orton at Money in the Bank has been greatly overshadowed by the WWE Championship match and the drama with Vince McMahon that followed on Monday Night RAW.

It’s a shame, considering the level at which both Christian and Orton worked, because they definitely brought their A game.

The match was well paced, hard fought, and not only reinforced the importance of the belt, but for me, also elevated the status of the championship.

In fact, I believe that perhaps it should have been Christian who kicked off Monday Night RAW. Coming out to a chorus of boos, smiling as he entered the ring, and standing triumphantly with mic in hand.

“Say hello to the new World Heavyweight Champion, and get ready to see a lot more of me because now that the WWE Title is gone, I will officially be appearing on both shows. I am the one and only defending World Champion in this company!”

Fans of Christian are undoubtedly elated right now, as the man who is arguably the Rodney Dangerfield of WWE, getting no respect, has once again received his chance at WWE immortality. And, yes, I am in agreement, Christian does deserve it.

The guy is a good worker, he’s good on the mic, his ring psychology has never been better, and he has always been the good employee for Vince McMahon, doing everything that has ever been asked of him. His history with Edge, who opened the door for a World Title shot when he retired, is well documented, and cements him in the minds of the fans.

Christian is much better as a heel, and he is right at home in his current gimmick. His cocky-yet-whiny victimization attitude has played out well, and the fact that he has appeared desperate in his attempt at regaining the strap only proves that he has fully embraced the role.

Christian knows how to sell a storyline, and if anyone’s time has come at the top of the heap, it’s him.

The question is, how long will it last this time?

Since he was traded to SmackDown, it has been universally acknowledged by fans the Friday night program belongs to Randy Orton. He’s considered the company’s other top guy, next to John Cena, and despite the controversial things that Orton says when he’s not within the four walls of WWE, virtually nothing ever happens to him.

He gets away with murder when he speaks, and he is also reportedly very influential backstage, getting his way when it comes to other talent and complaining when something does not go his way.

The term Prima Donna immediately comes to mind.

Randy Orton won the title back a mere two days after losing it to Christian the first time. Fans all over the world were outraged, believing that their favorite had been robbed, screwed out of something that he had worked so hard for and deserved to wear.

Christian’s character agreed with that sentiment, hence the storyline and subsequent heel turn that followed.

But the anger emanating from fans over Christian’s loss was not only because they felt he was treated unfairly, it also had everything to do with Randy Orton and his place in the company.

Be honest, how many of you thought that after losing the belt as quickly as he did to WWE’s other golden boy, that there was probably no chance that he would ever defeat Orton for the strap again? As noted earlier, SmackDown is Randy’s program, and in the minds of many fans, Christian is just not big enough, not important enough, to carry the gold, and the program.

Plus, as we all know, when Randy doesn’t get his way, look out.

The truth is, while I hoped that Christian would be given another opportunity, I also believed that he was done. Sometimes it’s good to be wrong.

I, for one, am happy for Christian. While I have written those words before, I say them this time with full confidence that no matter when or where he loses the belt this time, that Christian has been firmly established as a major player in the company.

Congratulations on the win, Christian. And thank you, Christian and Randy, for another great match.