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CALDWELL'S POLL ANALYSIS: Torch readers pick tonight's hypothetical Summerslam PPV Bonus Match Aug 23, 2009 - 6:40:40 PM
TORCH SUMMERSLAM POLL: What "bonus surprise" match/segment involving top young stars would you like to see added to the PPV? WWE's on-air talent have been hyping a bonus surprise match/segment during tonight's Summerslam PPV, so we asked Torch readers what they would like to see added to the Summerslam PPV tonight.
In our weekend poll, 35 percent of Torch readers selected a three-way match between Kofi Kingston, The Miz, and Evan Bourne for the U.S. Title. The three-way option received the most votes, followed by 25 percent for a Money in the Bank ladder match.
I had the two options reversed, as I believe a MITB match involving top young stars would give one wrestler an instant ticket to a main event program. What's needed right now is something to jumpstart the mid-card on Raw or help elevate a new star if Jeff Hardy is heading home to North Carolina for a while.
I've seen wrestlers talk about not being able to "force" a new star on the WWE fans; that you can't book the next Steve Austin. That's true and certain macro-factors have to be in play to make it work, such as WWE fans craving something totally new and different, leading to Steve Austin breaking the mold of what a WWE babyface looks like in 1996.
Summerslam is the right spot mid-way through the year to create a new star and give WWE fans an unexpected thrill that will get them talking about a Tyson Kidd or a Jack Swagger or a John Morrison on the level of Punk, Cena, and Hardy.
Limiting the options down to the #1 pick by Torch readers, Kofi vs. Miz vs. Bourne also has potential to create that same thrill for WWE fans. They probably wouldn't get much more than ten minutes of PPV time (and that's really stretching realistic time boundaries), but they're capable of putting together special to "get WWE fans talking" the next night on Raw.
The more realistic option is some sort of celebrity involvement that will create mainstream attention, similar to the weekly Raw guest hosting concept. This option received five percent of the vote to finish middle of the pack.
Celebrity involvement works on a short-term basis unless we're talking the Steve Austin-Mike Tyson build-up to WrestleMania 14. I don't think Miz cutting a promo on Freddy Prinze, Jr. from the front row is going to make anybody any money or create a new star.
WWE needs to be looking for star-making opportunities with their young talent tonight during their second-most important PPV of the year.
Link:Check out the Poll Results.
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