WWE Hell in a Cell: Why Mark Henry Will Crush Randy Orton to Retain His Title

One down, one to go.

On Sunday, September 18, Mark Henry crossed one hurdle when he defeated Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship. After years of giving his all for the biggest pro wrestling company in the world, Henry was finally given his due and was rewarded with his first ever World Title.

He has never looked more dominant, stopping Orton’s offense at every turn, proving once again that just when you think you have WWE figured out, a pay-per-view like Night of Champions comes along and leaves all of us pleasantly surprised.

But it’s not over yet.

Hell in a Cell is October 2nd, and many fans have already begun the countdown, believing that Orton will once again do what he always does.

Win.

But call it wishful thinking, call it misguided optimism, the fact is, I believe that Mark will crush Orton in this epic rematch.

Think of all the work that WWE has put into Mark Henry over the past several months. Shelving Kane, Big Show and completely destroying every Superstar placed in front of him, Mark has been allowed to do what he never has before.

He has been allowed to be the monster that he can be.

When a guy gets a push on the level of Henry, it’s up to him to make it work. It doesn’t matter what the company does in the name of featuring him on TV, including spots and promos. All of that is great and crucial to getting him over, but if the man in question does not have what it takes to convince the world that he is ready, then the whole thing is dead in the water.

Mark not only stepped up, he exceeded expectations. Be honest, how many of us actually believed that he could look this good, this powerful, and continue all the way to the moment when his arm was raised at Night of Champions?

Yes, he had his doubters, as should be expected. After all, Randy Orton and John Cena have been the only two WWE Superstars given a considerable amount of championship spotlight in so long that to believe anyone else could be given a real opportunity to shine in that spot is a little hard to swallow.

In other words, Randy tends to not lose all that often.

But when Mark took the belt, in the fashion that he did, he also took something perhaps a lot more important. He took the focus.

Now, the spotlight is truly on him, and for the first time, he is not expected to achieve, he is expected to defend.

For me, the biggest reason why Mark should win this rematch is the fact that Randy does not really have any challengers ready made to face if he regains the gold.

Cody Rhodes is a possibility, as Randy has faced him three weeks in a row now and does deserve a legitimate shot at the top spot of SmackDown. Would a feud for the World Title against Orton be good for him at this point, or is it better for him to keep working his way up to that position at the steady pace he’s been moving at?

There is no question that their rivalry reached a new level on the most recent SmackDown when Rhodes was busted open from a shot by the ring bell. WWE Superstars do not intentionally get color these days, so there is a chance that this move by Orton could actually heel him out, giving Cody the push necessary to get to that next level.

But has he earned it yet? To expect Cody to suddenly be thrust in the position of World Title contender due to the strength of this incident and to perform at that level perhaps would be ill advised and too soon for the growth of his character.

Christian, a two-time World Champion, is an option any day of the week, as he and Orton have a history, and automatic heat, whenever they touch. But this match has happened so many times—would WWE go back to that feud again so soon?

The World’s Strongest Man, however, has three potential opponents lined up, ready and waiting, should he be the man to win at Hell in a Cell.

Kane and Big Show, when they do return, will likely have Henry in their crosshairs, and either man could challenge for the championship. The belt would add another layer of drama to each feud, and if Henry is indeed not a long-term champion, he could drop the strap to either man.

Then there is Sheamus, who I believe will be the next World Heavyweight Champion. His recent face turn has placed him directly in the spotlight on SmackDown, and having the crowd behind him may be just what the doctor ordered for him to once again be the top guy on the program.

Mark’s rather unlikely win over Orton was just the beginning. That’s in the past, and now the question is, will he be allowed to successfully defend the belt, once again putting all his critics to rest by his performance at Hell in a Cell? This is it for Mark Henry. The true test of whether or not WWE is actually committed to him and his push is coming on October 2nd.

One down, one to go.