This Week in WWE: Burning Questions from This Week's Action

It's been a pretty crazy and entertaining week in the WWE, which has included the return of the Rock to in-ring action, CM Punk being crowned as the new WWE Champion, the demise of Awesome Truth and of course a series of creepy vignettes promoting the return of Kane and another anonymous Superstar.

In general, there has been some great wrestling (not sports entertainment) this week, that has truly reminded fans what the stars of the WWE can do.

With all that being said, it's been a week that's left me with many more questions than answers, so here's my take on the week's action.

Was John Morrison Thrown into the PPV as Part of the Zack Ryder Storyline?

It was a big surprise to most of the WWE Universe when it was announced that Dolph Ziggler would face John Morrison at Survivor Series and not Zack Ryder, but was this match all part of the bigger Ryder picture?

It wouldn't be unlikely that the WWE seemingly ignored Zack Ryder's petition in order to draw more heat on Johnny Ace and Dolph Ziggler. Or, alternatively, to put Ryder even more over than he already is.

It's plain to see that Ryder is the most popular Superstar in the WWE right now, meaning that the WWE can so easily draw heat upon another Superstar by pitting them against him.

Either way, Ryder's surely going to be facing Dolph at TLC...isn't he?

Is John Morrison Going to Re-Sign?

It's been flying around on the IWC for months; John Morrison's contract is nearly up with the WWE and there's been no indication that there will be a renewal anytime soon. Despite this, no one seems to know when it expires, we just know that it' soon.

At Survivor Series, JoMo and Dolph Ziggler put on a fantastic and entertaining match with great spots which truly showcased the talents of the two athletes. In fact, this match really put forward the case for keeping Morrison on the roster.

If I had my way, he'd been fronting a new Cruiserweight Division which we've all been begging for, but I think in reality his career will only continue outside of the WWE.

If Morrison Stays, Could a Feud with Ryder Be the Way Forward?

This is almost definitely Dolph Ziggler's last run in the midcard before he takes the step up to the main event, meaning that he will surely be dropping the US Title in the coming months. In fact what better way to lose it, than for Zack Ryder to have a Christian-esque moment in a ladder match at the next PPV, TLC.

If John Morrison re-signs then WWE will need to take his character in a new direction and a heel turn could really freshen him up. A feud with Zack Ryder would cement him as a heel because lets face it, if you're against Ryder, then you're against the whole WWE Universe.

For those of you who either don't watch Z! True Long Island Story or haven't seen this week's episode, I've put it above. This episode had me in stitches, and the off-screen "rivalry" could really develop into a real feud.

And Hey, we may even see Zack's dad make a guest appearance on Raw. Let's face it, he can't be worse than Cena's dad...

Is Sin Cara's Injury a Blessing in Disguise?

In the traditional 5-on-5 Survivor Series match Sin Cara got legitimately injured. Of course at the time there is no doubt that a lot of you were thinking that he'd breached the Wellness Policy again, and that it was a work, however this was not the case.

So Sin Cara is out for six to nine months thanks to a patella tendon rupture, which has let the WWE off a little bit as they won't have to properly finish the Sin Cara/Hunico feud which has been becoming less and less interesting.

As mentioned, this is beneficial to the WWE, but it can also be of benefit to the two parties involved.

Let's start with Sin Cara, who has had a less than amazing start to his career in the WWE, being known primarily for his inability to complete a match without botching a move. This injury gives him a well needed break from the limelight meaning that he can let his injury subside and then do some extra training (possibly a spell in FCW) and come back ten times better.

Like I said, this could also work for Hunico who can now focus on developing with his stable. Hunico, Epico and Primo almost remind me of the Latin American Xchange from TNA, and they could really add something to the tag team division, assuming that Epico is to remain on the televised shows.

With this stable joining Air Boom and The Usos, the WWE can really make the Tag Team division credible again.

What's Next for Mason Ryan?

Ever since his return a couple of months back, Mason Ryan has become a really popular name in the company. Since returning he has teased a feud with Vickie's stable, often making a run-in when Dolph or Swagger are leading a beatdown. Despite this, he hasn't really found a rival in the WWE.

A couple of months ago, I drew up a list of possible routes which the WWE could take with Mason Ryan, however they have never really settled on a particular idea, meaning that Ryan hasn't competed in any meaningful matches.

Maybe WWE could pit him against Brodus Clay when he finally makes his return to Monday nights, although this would be a terrible feud to watch in terms of Promos.

Was the Rock Really Ready to Wrestle?

Unlike most people my age, I am not a Rock mark. I don't drool everytime "IF YOU SMEELLLL" hits the Titantron, I don't eagerly listen when he's spouting a ridiculous promo via satellite and I think the People's Elbow is ridiculous.

With this in mind, I was sceptical when I read the spoilers that said he'd be partnering John Cena at Survivor Series because in all honesty, he's spent seven years out of the ring and he was surely going to be rusty upon his return.

Fast forward to the main event of Survivor Series, where in total the Rock went down once, and all we really saw were his signature moves and nothing that was truly wrestling.

I'm undecided whether this was a WWE ploy to leave the fans wanting more, or whether he's not quite ready to take on a full length match yet. Either way, I hope the main event of WM28 is everything we all wish it to be, and not just a dud.

Will We Be Seeing the Rock at the Royal Rumble?

By April, the Rock will have competed in two of the "Big Four" PPVs in the WWE, so why not make it three?

Neither John Cena or the Rock have any reason to be in the Rumble match because they are already in the main event, so why not have a match of some variety?

I'm not saying they should face each other, not explicitly anyway. Maybe another tag match where the Rock doesn't really give much more away and can bounce off a partner, or maybe as a special referee in a Cena match.

I'm sure any plans will become clear over the next month.

Is Mick Foley Back for Good?

After returning on last Monday night and providing us with possibly the worst segment ever (close seconded by the Michael Cole Challenge), the Hardcore legend has left fans wondering whether he's going to make a full return to the ring.

Foley didn't appear on this week's Raw, but it's also been confirmed this week that he is to host a live edition of Smackdown this coming Tuesday.

What's going to happen with Foley? Is he the Undertaker's WM28 opponent? Is he going to be a regular fixture on WWE television? Or is he possibly the next GM of Raw?

The WWE Universe awaits...

Are Jack Swagger and Sheamus Going to Feud?

This past Monday night these two squared off as a result of an altercation at Survivor Series, but the question is whether this will produce a meaningful feud.

Neither Superstar has anything else on right now, so it is definitely a possibility. A feud between the two could tie them both over to the Royal Rumble, and Sheamus needs a feud to help continue his rise to being the biggest face in the company.

Their match on Monday night wasn't very inspiring, so they'll need to work on the in-ring action to make the feud watchable.

Kane's Coming Back, Is He Bringing the Mask?

The vignette that aired on Monday clearly signed Kane's return to the WWE, but the biggest talking point of the video was the inclusion of his infamous mask.

Many long time wrestling fans uphold the opinion that Kane's career went downhill after he removed the mask, so could the WWE be bringing it back to give him one last good run.

In my Survivor Series predictions article, co-writer Sam Green mentioned that a return of the "Big Red Machine" circa 2003 would really add to the current roster, and in my opinion he could offer a legitimate threat to Mark Henry's title.

Despite the excitement of a possible return of the mask, the pessimist in me suggests that a second run could bomb and let's face it, the mask could look ridiculous with a bald head behind it.

I'd expect the return to come at TLC, and I'll be eagerly waiting to see what the WWE Creative have planned for him.

When Are We Going to See Nash vs HHH?

This match is basically a certainty to happen, the question is when.

I would wonder whether they'd save it for the Royal Rumble, or more importantly, the road to Wrestlemania. This is definitely one of these storylines where I think even WWE Creative are unsure where it's going (See Anonymous Raw GM), but I hope they do the pair justice and not book them in stupid stipulation matches. In this case, keeping it simple will be most effective.

In other words WWE, no ridiculous Hell in an Elimination Chamber Ladder matches or anything of the like please.

Who Is Responsible for Itbegins2012?

During Monday Night Raw a link appeared for a Youtube channel which contained only this vignette. Immediately people thought it was simply a promo for the return of the Undertaker in time for his annual Wrestlemania match, obviousky thinking back to his similar 2-21-12 vignette last year. Then the theories started.

The main names in the frame are Chris Jericho, NWO, Vince McMahon, Brock Lesnar and Batista, whereas wilder theories have included the likes of Goldust.

One things for sure, we won't really know until the January 2nd 2012 edition of Raw...or about two weeks before on B/R.

How Is the Rhodes/Booker T Storyline Going to Pan Out?

Little do many of you know, we've seen this all before. Not this exact storyline, but this is definitely a recycled angle.

I am of course referring to the Miz/Lawler storyline of last year, which culminated in a WWE Title match at the Elimination Chamber PPV which Lawler dutifully lost.

Rhodes/Booker T has been on the back burner for a while now, with Rhodes' baggers making sure to always give Booker a bag to cover his face, however the "Glass of Watergate" was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Cody's a great worker, so even if Booker's a little rusty it will probably still look good.

Are people looking forward to this feud or not?

Where's Andy Leavine and Johnny Curtis?

It only really dawned on me this week that we haven't yet seen either of these "stars" in action.

Leavine of course served a suspension for breaching the Wellness Policy, and Curtis has made numerous appearances on C-List show NXT: Redemption (when will this end by the way?), but both have not made any real appearances on Raw or Smackdown. Oh, and I don't include Curtis' 54-second job to Mark Henry as a real match.

His NXT win guaranteed him a shot at the Tag Titles, maybe it's time they paired him with someone and let him cash it in.

Is Ziggler Ready for the Big Time?

Dolph Ziggler and CM Punk put on a great match on Monday night prompting the idea that Ziggler is ready to make the jump from the midcard.

It's well known that Ziggler is one of the best workers in the company right now and has definitely merited promotion to the main event scene, and looking at his match this past Monday he could have a great feud with CM Punk.

First he will have to drop the US title to someone else on the midcard *cough*Zack Ryder*cough*.

Will Miz and Truth Feud When Truth Returns? or Will the WWE Brush over It?

We all know why this segment happened, but how will the WWE recover from this? There are genuinely lots of questions that will need answering.

Is Truth going to still be a main eventer when he returns?

Is he going back to being a face?

Will he get his retribution on the Miz? Or is this going to be another unfinished storyline from WWE Creative.

I for one think it's a shame that this has happened because I truly believe that the split could have waited until the Royal Rumble. Awesome Truth have been truly a delight to watch over the past month, and this angle has really brought the best out of R-Truth (the pigeon thing at Survivor Series was TV gold).

Although this discrepancy has put Truth at risk of slipping back to midcard mediocrity, the Miz might be secretly pleased with the fact that he could be heading for another singles feud with Cena, or even better, a title shot.

And that's the Truth. And it's Awesome.

Why Did WWE Not Seize the Opportunity to Turn Daniel Bryan Heel?

The opening of this week's Smackdown was great, well mostly that is. When Bryan came out and cowardly cashed in his MITB briefcase he went back on everything he'd said before, basically cementing the start of a heel turn.

And then the WWE ruined it.

Apparently the MITB briefcase that can be cashed in at anytime can't be cashed in on an opponent that is not fit to wrestle.

Really?

WWE took a great idea and ruined it, genuinely ruined it. Bryan's character is so plain at the moment and they could have easily made him exciting and edgy but instead they sent him packing and essentially made him look ridiculous.

Is Kaitlyn the Next Diva of Doom?

Following her tag match with the Diva's of Doom I was expecting Kaitlyn to lead a beat down on her partner AJ. She didn't, but she still turned her back on AJ and pretty much threw her to the wolves.

Kaitlyn's got a similar physique to Natalya, which sort of led me to think that she could fit nicely into their stable, and let's face it we need more hell divas on the roster.

Couple all of this with the fact that "bestest friends" Eve and Kelly Kelly have now recruited Alicia Fox to their Barbie doll faction, and you soon realise that Beth and Nattie could do with a third member.

I can't say I've paid much attention to Kaitlyn's time in the WWE, but I'm sure aligning herself with the Divas of Doom would really help her career take off.

What Are WWE Creative Planning for DiBiase and Mahal?

Ted DiBiase has been waiting on a feud since his rivalry with Cody Rhodes fizzled out, and for one reason or another, they've dropped Jinder Mahal in his lap.

Now I have no idea what they're going to base this feud upon, or how the in-ring action is going to be, but I for one am intrigued.

I'm not really a fan of DiBiase, but I'd be interested to see what the WWE can do with him and hopefully a feud for Mahal is a stepping stone for him.

What Is the WWE Doing with D-Bry?

Why would they bother making him the number one contender if he's already got the MITB briefcase? Don't get me wrong, I'm psyched for the cage match on next week's Raw but I think it's all in vain really.

The Big Show's bound to have something to do with the outcome, but surely he'd only be sacrificing his own title shot at TLC? The fatal four way on Friday night really made a mess of the title picture, and while exciting was a little unnecessary.

Will the WWE let Bryan get a sneak win on Tuesday, and then not have him cash in again at WM28? The key thing we all need to remember is that the contract is valid until July next year, not just until WM28, so if he picks up the title then he might not cash in until after Wrestlemania.

With all that said; Mark Henry losing the title in the near future? Unlikely.