WWE: 10 Reasons Why Mark Henry Will Be World Champion Until 2012

After languishing in the mid-card for 15 years, Mark Henry finally made the jump to WWE superstardom, vanquishing Randy Orton at Night of Champions 2011 to become the new world heavyweight champion.

Since that night, "The World's Strongest Man" has been on a tear, clobbering and destroying everything in his path.

A true heavyweight by definition, Henry has become one of the WWE's most impressive heels in years, hearkening back to the "irresistible forces" and "immovable objects," who, as Gorilla Monsoon might say, ruled the then-WWF in the 1980s.

What separates the current world champion from his contemporaries is that he doesn't cower in fear, run from danger or beg for mercy; he dishes heavy doses of destruction without a hint of contrition.

For all intents and purposes, the world heavyweight title is the best thing to happen to Mark Henry and vice versa. For instance, not only has Henry's credibility been legitimized as champion, he has returned the favor in full by bestowing great value upon the championship.

There are 10 reasons why the former Olympian will not be relinquishing his title anytime soon.

The WWE Hasn't Had a Dominant Heel Champion in a Long Time

The last time a dominant heel champion ruled the company was Triple H—over one decade ago.

The years 2000 and 2001 saw some of the best business the WWE has ever seen. Everybody was gunning for "The Game's" throne, hoping to overcome what seemed like an insurmountable task.

Wrestlers like Chris Jericho, The Rock, The Undertaker, The Big Show, Kane, Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, Rob Van Dam and even Taka Michinoku tried but couldn't unseat "The Cerebral Assassin" from his place atop the WWE hierarchy.

The WWE has once again found their unstoppable heel ruler in the form of Mark Henry, whose long-standing dominance will only build anticipation for his inevitable demise.

Henry Is Just Starting to Build Momentum

It's not easy turning around the fans' perception of you after being portrayed as a "Sexual Chocolate," or a lovable babyface who puts in a respectable showing once in a blue moon.

Yet, Henry has miraculously done just that by drastically revamping his image.

In the past five months, "The World's Strongest Man" has "snapped" The Big Show's ankle, overpowered the "Celtic Warrior" Sheamus, won a series of matches against Randy Orton and, just recently, had the entire wrestling world buzzing after causing the ring to implode at Vengeance 2011.

In addition, his work on the microphone has markedly improved. Specifically, he's calmer and more patient with his words and their delivery, making sure to do his character justice every step of the way.

There's More Money to Be Made with the Babyface "Chasing" the Heel

Overall, the WWE has more money to gain by booking fan favorites, like The Big Show, to try their hand at the invincible Henry.

A few years ago, a Mark Henry-Big Show contest, let alone on pay-per-view, would cause most fans to change the channel. Now, because of the way Henry's strengths have been accentuated on TV, viewers will not only watch, but they are willing to root for anyone—including The Big Show—who has a shot at ending the world heavyweight champion's reign of terror.

As each babyface attempts to topple the human tank, fans will become more frenzied until they're at a fevered pitch, hoping to witness good ultimately triumphing over evil.

Utilizing Henry in this fashion—over the long haul—will prove to be the right decision from a financial standpoint (TV and PPV).

The Big Show Has Little to Gain by Defeating Henry at Survivor Series 2011

The Big Show has been an established force in wrestling since winning the WCW world title in 1995 at only 23 years old—the youngest to ever do so.

In the last 16 years, Paul Wight has cemented himself as a living legend, having risen above and beyond his potential.

In essence, "The World's Largest Athlete" has nothing to gain by beating Mark Henry at the 25th anniversary of the Survivor Series.

As champion, The Big Show will neither impact the business for the better nor will he be able to advance his persona in the eyes of the WWE fans; he's already gone as far as he could go in the company.

Henry Is a Breath of Fresh Air in the WWE Main-Event Scene

For the past few years, the WWE main-event scene has been a revolving door, featuring the same five to seven wrestlers. Every permutation between Edge, The Undertaker, Randy Orton, Triple H and John Cena had been done to death, leaving fans to wonder if anyone else could break through the proverbial "glass ceiling."

The year 2011 has shined a bright light upon not only Mark Henry, but also CM Punk and, to a lesser extent, Christian.

As headliners, these three have entered the coveted realm that had been occupied by only a select few before.

Today, unlike his two other peers, Henry stands firm as the only champion whose feuds, interviews and matches have revitalized the previously stale Smackdown brand.

Henry Deserves to Be Rewarded for Improving as Champion

WWE fans are well-aware of Henry's trials and tribulations up until this year—his weight issues, lack of mobility in the ring and his inability to be consistently "over" with the WWE audience.

What many forget, however, is the fact that "The World's Strongest Man" has not breathed a sigh of relief since achieving the pinnacle of his career; instead, he's continued to improve in the ring and on the microphone.

For instance, by working on his timing and flow, his matches have actually become entertaining—a far cry from his lumbering duds of yesteryear.

And on the "stick," his words are backed with substance and meaning, compelling members of the WWE Universe to believe in his "monster" status.

By keeping the belt on Henry, the WWE can set a good example for wrestlers who are willing to put in the hard work in order to advance up the card.

Smackdown Ratings Have Steadily Increased with Henry as Champion

According to 411Mania.com, Smackdown's ratings have remained impressively steady since Mark Henry became the world heavyweight champion at Night of Champions 2011.

In the last few months, the SyFy program has garnered between 2.94 and 3.25 million viewers, weekly. Compared to the Randy Orton era, the Mark Henry express has attracted, on average, between 150,000 and 250,000 more Smackdown loyalists.

This data corroborates the assertions that not only have fans responded well to a new face in the main-event picture, but as a domineering heel champion who takes all comers, Henry has become a legitimate draw.

Randy Orton Passed Henry the Torch for a Reason

At Night of Champions and Hell in a Cell 2011, Mark Henry trounced Randy Orton on consecutive occasions.

Neither match saw any interference, tomfoolery nor shenanigans.

"The World's Strongest Man" was simply depicted as having been too massive for "The Viper" to overcome. Going "over" in grand fashion not once, but twice, catapulted Henry to the upper echelon where he still resides.

Henry's ascendancy, though, came at the sacrifice of one of the WWE's biggest commodities—Randy Orton—who, along with John Cena, is the face of the company.

Prior to doing the "honors" for Henry on successive nights, Orton has never been manhandled in the ring like that before.

Certainly, the WWE would not have fed one of its poster boys to Henry unless it had every intention of publicizing his ascent to the fullest.

One Man's Rise (Henry) Will Beget Another's (Daniel Bryan)

If one were to venture over to the WrestleMania 28 web page, one will immediately notice that Daniel Bryan is already being advertised as the No. 1 contender to the world heavyweight champion, whoever that may be on April 1st, 2012.

If Mark Henry can sustain his momentum until then, throwing one wrestler after another into his "hall of pain," the anticipation for the despot's downfall will be off the charts.

And who better to fell the giant oak tree than Daniel Bryan, a modern-day David to Henry's Goliath? If it comes to pass, witnessing Bryan's in-ring ingenuity outfox the ponderous Henry would make for an indelible moment.

Similar to "The World's Strongest Man," Bryan can see his star rise to the top of the WWE mountain.

If Not Daniel Bryan, Then Henry Must Remain Strong for The Undertaker at 'Mania

Dating back to August 2011, a rumor about The Undertaker's WrestleMania 28 opponent has been making the rounds.

Although plans may have changed by now since becoming champion, the personification of a brick house, Mark Henry, was penciled in as the challenger to the Undertaker's undefeated streak.

Assuming Henry is still on tap to face The Undertaker at the WWE's grandest stage, it would be in the company's best interests to highlight "The World's Strongest Man" as auspiciously as possible.

That includes keeping the world heavyweight title around his equator-esque waist.

As a result, the outcome of Undertaker vs. Mark Henry will be (slightly) in doubt and the match itself will be a heat-filled, suspenseful affair.