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GUEST EDITORIAL
By Adam Riemer of New York, PWTorch.com Reader

Torch note: Be sure to vote in our poll on who Chris Jericho's replacement tag partner should be. VOTE NOW!

WWE did the right thing in regards to handling Edge's injury - they told the truth. I am not saying that handling it the way they did with Batista is bad; it's just that everyone normally knows or finds out about the real reason why a superstar is sidelined so a story line like Batista's loses steam fast. Also not to mention the fact that this is the best way to turn Edge face, by having him berated by the best talker (and insulter) in the business.

Edge was one of the most disliked heels amongst fans for a few years now. He played the part to perfection and was just so good at being sleazy and getting under the skin of the fans. A simple beat down on Edge would not lend the same amount of sympathy as what Chris Jericho could do over the next few months and especially the time leading up until his return.

However, his unfortunate injury has left Jericho with the task of finding a new partner. This is one of the main reasons I am against monthly PPVs. With a guy like Jericho who has been widely regarded as one of the most entertaining and talented wrestlers of our generation, why not drag this one out? Let this be a program for a month or two, have him run down Edge some more, and take his sweet time visiting all the brands and interacting with all the superstars while he tries to find a replacement that fits his standards.

WWE could even have Jericho challenge two local jobbers now and then for the titles, getting DQ'ed or counted out right away, thus never having to really "defend" them while still defending them.

Alas, that will never happen. This is WWE where things need to move along at warp speed considering their target audience's attention span is close to zero (just the reality when you target kids). The real question is who is Chris Jericho going to choose?

I am noticing a lot of people speculating The Miz, who has been in limbo since he was hand fed to John Cena on two occasions. After all with their "Twitter" war (is Twitter making any money off all this exposure from WWE and TNA?), it seems that the WWE is viral marketing the eventual pairing of two, which I am sure would be very entertaining considering both of their mic skills.

Although I mostly agree with the assumption that they will be a team, I am not 100 percent convinced. I just don't see the Miz pairing with Jericho. Edge made perfect sense given their main event stature, history, ego and type of character they both portray. It also fit the storyline of their disdain for Teddy Long. The Miz though just doesn't fit the bill for me. He may be cunning, but he sure as hell looked weak against John Cena, and if the WWE writers have a memory they would know that looking weak against Cena is not something Jericho should be looking for in a partner.

So the question is who. I have compiled a list of Chris Jericho's possible replacement partners and why they would make sense for storyline purposes. Some may seem like only a wish, but in truth they fit the mold much more than the Miz does.

(1) Jack Swagger - Swagger just beat MVP clean on Monday Night Raw. I know WWE will probably continue this feud anyway, but Swagger could really shine with Jericho. He would learn from one of the best talkers in the business; he is cunning, talented, hungry and arrogant just like Jericho. Even though he hasn't been around long enough, he also has not been injured which seems to be one of the pre-requisites for being Jericho's partner and fellow champion. Yes, Swagger can hold his own just fine. But why not give him the major rub of teaming with Jericho? Let's face it, Swagger is going to be much more important to the WWE than the Miz down the line and the combination of Jericho and he could do wonders for his career.

(2) The Big Show - I know the WWE seems hell bent on making him the U.S. Champion, but squashing cruiserweight-sized wrestlers in Kofi and Evan Bourne will run its course faster than WWE thinks. Show is Show; he is huge, he is strong, and I always thought his best work in WWE was when he was Mr. McMahon's body guard, then when Paul Heyman took him under his wing. By acting like a bodyguard and partner to Jericho, he fits both roles of performer and protector. Jericho runs his mouth, and Show could be the one to back it up, something that could also help in making the Big Show fresh again.

(3) William Regal - Regal has arrogance, a mean streak, the devious nature Jericho talked about, and a lot of God given talent in the ring. He would be a great addition to the team, and would not be someone who would overshadow Chris Jericho. Regal has never liked the fans and berates them all the time, something Jericho is very good at as well. While I am not sure the WWE is behind anyone in ECW, Regal would be a much more logical choice than the Miz, although a possible let down as well to the fans.

(4) Christian - All WWE needs to do is have the ECW Title defended first (which I am sure they are going to do anyway since it's the throwaway title), Christian can lose by default when Koslov pins Dreamer. He can then surprise everyone by rejoining with his once tag team champion partner Chris Jericho later in the night. Christian immediately continues the Edge storyline and can get over very quickly as a heel by teaming back up with Jericho. Christian has been in limbo for a while chasing Dreamer for the useless ECW title. He needs to get off that brand and he will become instantly fresh again making a move like this. We all know that Christian has the talent and the mic skills. It would be nice if the WWE would give him a major storyline.

(5) Shawn Michaels - I am 100 percent agreeing with people who are saying WWE should pull a major swerve and have HBK be the mystery partner to Jericho. HBK grew stale in his role as a babyface. He showed signs of his old heel self against the Undertaker and we all remember his greatness when he took the heel role in the program with Hulk Hogan four years ago. I don't need to even mention the man's skills in the ring either. Shawn would be the biggest swerve WWE could pull in quite some time and would really make this program feel special.

This might be the biggest long shot, though, as we know a few things: Shawn does things on his terms and I really can't see him agreeing to go mega-heel this close to the end of his career. HBK teaming with Jericho will do that. Also Shawn isn't exactly the healthiest horse in the barn; he has had his numerous problems over the last few years with his knees. I don't think Jericho would state so prominently that he is looking for someone with a history of healthiness and then in the end have it be HBK. Plus the WWE is kid-friendly, PG-minded. HBK is a lot like Cena to the kids and I am sure that the strictly sales-minded Vince McMahon would not agree to damage the HBK merchandise sales.

Are most of these far-fetched? Most likely, but they do make much more sense than the Miz (except really for HBK). I am sure that a team of Jericho and the Miz will be entertaining if WWE does decide to go that route, but as much as I truly enjoy the Miz, I didn't think he was ready for Cena, and I just don't think he is ready to be teamed with Jericho. Now all we can do is sit back and really just enjoy Jericho being Jericho and pray that WWE does not botch this opportunity for a truly enjoyable and entertaining tag team angle.

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