WWE: What’s in store for Captain Charisma?

This past week on RAW, Wade Barrett was supposed to face Curtis Axel for his rematch. Instead, Vickie Guerrero came out and said he’d be facing a different opponent, someone who hasn’t been on WWE TV for a while, and was making his return. In my mind, I immediately thought ‘Christian! Finally!’, and I was right. To a huge ovation from the live crowd, Christian returned to Monday Night RAW, and he looked as good as ever as he went on to defeat Wade Barrett. During the match, he did some high cross bodies and other high risk maneuvers, which made it clear that he wasn’t suffering the after effects of his shoulder injury, and the fans cheered on as Christian came out triumphant. Backstage, Triple H asked Vickie Guerrero why Christian wasn’t featured for a month and a half, when he was cleared to wrestle, and this is where things get interesting.

Christian has been in the main stream wrestling business for over 15 years. Majority of it was spent in the WWE, and he spent 3 years in TNA Wrestling. Christian is one of the most liked/loved performers in the business, as the fans and critics alike see him as one of the best workers in the history of the business. Christian is also charismatic, has very good mic skills and people expected him to be much bigger in the business than Edge at the beginning of their WWF/E careers. Not to mention the fact that Christian is also a former two time World Heavyweight champion! So why wasn’t Christian brought in earlier? It hasn’t been just one and a half months since he has been cleared to wrestle, but it has been nearly four months now.

The WWE creative kept Christian on the side burner, saying they did not have a storyline for him at that time. Saying ‘We don’t have anything for you right now’ to a former World champion just proves how clueless the WWE creative is about professional wrestling. Christian has been one of the biggest names in the WWE history, and at a point in 2005, was the company’s biggest heel. Christian’s wrestling acumen is nothing short of impressive, and he can connect with the people, irrespective of being a face or a heel. Add to the fact that Christian is also one of the few Triple crown winners in the company’s history makes the lack of storylines for him that much more redundant.

With Christian finally coming back, it opens a lot of possibilities for new feuds. Christian’s feud with Randy Orton was one of the best rivalries in 2011, and Christian proved once again why he’s a phenomenal talent. He’s way over with the fans, and he can make others look good in the ring. However, Christian is in his element primarily as a heel, and is one of the few ‘natural heels’ that we love and talk about in this business, along the lines of Roddy Piper and Ted Dibiase Sr. Right now, the most sensible thing for the WWE to do would be to include Christian with someone who has no long term plans, like Sheamus. Will that work so soon? I don’t think so, as Christian returned this past week, and would need time to turn on someone and get over with the fans as a heel.

The other interesting possibility is Christian’s inclusion in the Money in the Bank PPV, possibly in either the RAW Money in the Bank bout or the Smackdown! Money in the Bank match. Further, it would be a pleasant surprise to see Christian winning the brief case, which can see him cashing it in on a crowd favorite, and turning heel in the process. WWE needs good heels, as at the moment, The Shield are probably the only ‘over’ heels in the company. Christian can fill the void left by Punk in the heel department, and can carry the belt for a longer duration than his last run. As it stands, I’m excited to see Captain Charisma back on TV, and I hope he’ll finally get what he’s due this time around.