WWE Survivor Series 2011 Results: 5 Reasons Mark Henry Is Still Champion

At Survivor Series, Mark Henry continued his "Reign of Pain" and held onto the world heavyweight title, albeit with some drama.

Henry lost the match via disqualification to The Big Show after a blatant low blow, but as WWE announcers like to remind us, the title can't change hands on a DQ.

Although Henry eventually felt some of his own medicine before the night was over, Henry is still the champion for a number of reasons.

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The Title Didn't Need to Change Hands

Usually a title change happens as a result of a need for change. There was no such need in the Mark Henry-Big Show feud except for the need for it to end.

A Big Show win would do little for either man's career. Henry would lose out on all the momentum he's built up and Big Show as champion does little for the WWE.

Henry needed to retain the title Sunday night and, although he lost the match, he still has the belt.

New Methods of Promotion for Another Match

Per a report from wrestlenewz.com, the WWE creative team already has plans for another Mark Henry-Big Show match at the TLC PPV.

With the way Big Show seemingly outclassed Mark Henry throughout their match, and how Show leg-dropped onto a steel chair in Henry's leg, the WWE has a few different ways they can go about promoting the next match.

They could choose to feature how Big Show was stronger than Henry during their "tests of strength," or they could say that Big Show holds a victory over the current champion.

An option that I see as likely (and more easily done), is that the WWE shows Henry has "lost a step" and isn't the same monster he was before, thus giving fans a glimpse of a chink in the armor of Henry.

SmackDown Doesn't Need a Face as Champion Now

SmackDown already has a top face character and the title needs to be held by a heel.

The company only has two major heels right now, and Alberto Del Rio just lost his championship. Having Mark Henry as champion separates SmackDown from Raw and prevents the WWE from being stale. Well, any more stale.

If The Big Show would've won the title, Daniel Bryan would be shoved back into limbo, and it's clear by the fans' chants, they want Bryan to cash in soon.

With Show as a champion, the WWE had very little options for other feuds besides his ongoing one with Henry. At least now Henry can focus on defeating Show and fending off Bryan.

Mark Henry Would Be Vulnerable If He Had Lost

If Mark Henry would've lost, all his momentum as a "super-bully" would've been lost.

Henry's made quite an impact this year taking out both The Big Show and Kane. He then went out and thoroughly dominated Randy Orton in their matches.

He's being billed as an unstoppable force, and beating The Big Show only adds to his character. The idea that if The Big Show can't stop Henry's reign, who can?

Which leads into the biggest reason for Henry still wearing the belt...

Daniel Bryan Still Hasn't Cashed in Yet

The Big Show isn't the man to stop Mark Henry's reign. A Big Show victory would make Big Show the new unstoppable force and reduce Henry to "mortal" status. Neither is a viable option for the WWE going forward.

Daniel Bryan has yet to cash in on his Money in the Bank victory, and the WWE is no doubt setting us up for a Bryan-Henry clash.

Bryan gives us the classic "David vs. Goliath" match that has proven to be a formula for success. We saw it with Rey Mysterio Jr. and it will work with Bryan.

He has virtually no credibility as a title challenger, which is just what we thought before he won the Money in the Bank match.

Even Superman can fall victim to kryptonite. For Henry, Bryan is his kryptonite.