WWE Night of Champions 2011: If Triple H Loses, Who Replaces Him as COO?

If Triple H loses Sunday at Night of Champions, a whole other can of worms will be opened in the WWE.

The storyline of Triple H, Kevin Nash and CM Punk has gone astray when Nash was signed to wrestle and then left the company to pursue an acting career in Hollywood.

Punk and the COO of the WWE met face to face last night in the last segment of RAW. The vignette was awful and stilted and left us trying to figure out what the heck was going on. There is no arc anymore and there is no real drama to it.

Yes, the idea of the two wrestling is cool and the fans want to see it, but it has no place now other than the fact that Triple H wants to wrestle again and Punk, who had steam coming into the event, may have lost a little luster.

And how will the No Disqualification (code name for major wrench in a storyline) match play out? Who comes to Punk’s aid? Who comes to Triple H’s aid? Will other members of “The Kliq” be involved? Where does Stephanie McMahon stand in all this? And, while I am thinking of it, could Vinnie Mac show up to wow the crowd or maybe side with Punk?

Remember just a month ago, this was a feud with John Cena. Now, it is a feud that has gone nowhere. And for the life of me, I do not understand why Triple H has gotten in Punk’s face, hit his best friend for lying to him and then fired him, and gone balls to the wall with anger, but has not touched his opponent prior to the match.

If he does lose, and there is my inner gut telling me he will, here are the people that could be his successor.

Vince McMahon

Maybe the most obvious, but it would not be surprising.

McMahon is in the offices of the WWE just waiting for another chance. You know it has to be on his mind. He loves the attention and loves being on camera.

He would jump at the chance to move back into a primary roll of television.

Teddy Long

Remember this guy was a referee in WCW.

Long is the sinister-looking Smackdown GM. As the jive-talking man his character is, Long would fit right in calling the shots for the WWE.

He is quick to make matches and supposedly has the fans' interest at heart.

Shawn Michaels

This one is a long shot, but you could see some development.

Could Michaels be the one who comes out of the crowd, shocks the arena and helps Punk defeat his best friend?

Michaels could claim it was jealousy and that Triple H was not there for him in times of need while he was ailing from his feud with Undertaker or Jericho.

It is a long journey around what is going on, but it could get back to the primary focus and be something to watch.

Mick Foley

This way, we can all "Have a Nice Day."

Actually this one makes sense in that Foley has a creative mind and has been wanting to get back into the fray with the WWE.

As long as he sticks to management and does not get back into the ring, as it is reported he wants to do, this could be good for the WWE.

John Laurinaitis

"I am John Laurinaitis." Actually, we don't care who you are.

Johnny Ace, as he was known in wrestling circles, is the least liked of this grouping and while it is unpopular as ever, I could see him getting this promotion and feuding with someone like John Cena or even Punk later on for control of Raw or the WWE.

Stephanie McMahon

The unkindest cut of all could be the most logical.

Stephanie may be mad at her hubby for cutting daddy lose.

This also opens up the family angle again and the fans love the soap opera that is The McMahons.

It also will prove that once you scorn one McMahon, you scorn the entire family.

Plus, at times, she just looks evil.

Vickie Guerrero

OK, had to throw this one in there.

It scared you, didn't it?

It would not happen. Don't worry.