Money In The Bank results, a couple of surprising returns and more injury news are among our primary topics this week in pro wrestling, along with a couple of other noteworthy tidbits making the rounds.
Last Sunday's sold-out MITB event in Boston saw WWE take the safe route as John Cena captured his 15th world title by grabbing the gold dangling from the cable above the ring during the ladder match for the vacant championship, a result of Daniel Bryan's neck injury. There was speculation aplenty that the company might or even ought to consider elevating one of the most promising youngsters in the bout (Roman Reigns or Bray Wyatt), but that did not happen as the true face of WWE closed in on Ric Flair's stated, technically, perhaps understated, record of 16 title reigns and returned to the top of the heap in his hometown.
Unfortunately, Daniel Bryan was out during the pre-show to announce that he did not know when he might be able to return to action from his neck surgery, as he still is having loss of sensation and may have to undergo another surgery if things don't improve in the near future. Sadly, Bryan was at the height of his popularity at the time of his injury and will have an incredibly difficult challenge to regain the momentum he had. Certainly, he has not been forgotten as San Francisco Giant pitcher Tim Lincecum did the "Yes" chant after his recent no-hitter, but timing is critical and the timing of Bryan's injury could not have been much worse.
Bad news for Barrett, the Intercontinental champion did not get to compete in the WWE championship ladder match due to a shoulder injury that necessitated surgery for him and leaves the belt up for grabs in a battle royale at the Battleground paypper-view (PPV). Randy Orton, who did participate in the MITB event, suffered a significant laceration on the top of his head from a ladder shot and needed a dozen staples to close the wound. It also resulted in one of the goriest visuals in quite some time on a WWE PPV as Orton's face was, in the words of the late Gordon Solie, "a crimson mask".
In the other MITB match for the briefcase, Seth Rollins emerged victorious in a very athletic and physical display that creates an interesting dynamic going forward by setting up a series of potential programs. Rollins was actually ordered by Triple H the next night on Raw to cash in the brief case after Kane had destroyed Cena after a tag match with a tombstone piledriver and had him vulnerable for an easy defeat, but Dean Ambrose came charging into the ring after Rollins to save Cena from a 24-hour 15th reign.
Earlier on Raw, AJ Lee returned and reclaimed her Diva belt from an overconfident Paige. Chris Jericho returned, but was summarily attacked by the Wyatts and Bray applied Sister Abigail to him to leave him prone on the canvas for somewhat of an ignominious return. Rusev's feud with Big E apparently ended with his victory at MITB, as Jack Swagger and Zeb are now set on stopping the bulging Bulgarian with an allegiance to Putin after an angle on Raw.
The main event for the Battleground PPV was also announced at Raw. It will be a Fatal Four Way pitting Cena against Orton, Kane and Reigns with the title on the line. One suspects Jericho might go after Bray Wyatt and Swagger is likely to tangle with Rusev. It also seems like a good place to find a Rollins-Ambrose duel. Paige could get a rematch with AJ Lee there as well.
Vickie Guererro, who finished up with a dip in chocolate recently, before pushing Stephanie into the same Hershey pool, is reported to be heading to college with hopes of a nursing career. She managed over eight years in WWE, taking advantage of roles as manager, love interest and general manager during that time.
I'm sad to report the recent death of Larry Shipley, better known in wrestling circles as Larry Nelson, who announced during the 1980s for Verne Gagne's AWA promotion during the years it ran on ESPN. Nelson, who lost his battle to pancreatic cancer, authored a book on his time in wrestling that was entitled Stranglehold.
Shamokin's Bill Gilger arranges each week's interview with The Insider.