By Greg Parks, PWTorch columnist

Mark Henry returned to WWE with vengeance Monday night. And it was truly a beautiful sight. On Smackdown Friday night, he qualified for the Elimination Chamber match, where the winner will become the #1 Contender for the World Championship. Presumably, that means that person will face the World Champ at Wrestlemania. As it stands today, Henry should win that Chamber match and face Alberto Del Rio for the title at Wrestlemania.

Only a few weeks ago, the World Title situation was clear as mud. I wrote about it in my column for the newsletter following the Royal Rumble. Would Alberto Del Rio still be champion come Wrestlemania? Who would he defend the title against? Would they be able to stretch the Big Show feud until Mania? Would Randy Orton turn heel to challenge Del Rio? Would Dolph Ziggler cash in his MITB briefcase, throwing a wrench into all predictions?

Today, the outcome seems much clearer. I don't see Ziggler cashing in the briefcase prior to Wrestlemania, and even before Henry's return, that possibility was a longshot: WWE is clearly building Del Rio as a major Latin babyface, so why would they stunt his growth by having Ziggler end his title reign prematurely?

Still, it was an option that needed to be acknowledged. Now, with the presence of Henry, the number of ways WWE could take the title match have dwindled. Henry is just the kind of strong heel who could bring out a major babyface reaction to Del Rio from the fanbase. On the downside, Henry is the kind of ass-kicking heel the New York area fans could get behind come Mania.

Still, based on how Henry has been booked upon his return (including a clean victory over Randy Orton last night), WWE appears to be going back to the big Mark Henry push. Of all the choices available to WWE relating to the World Title match at Mania, I believe Henry is the right choice to challenge for the belt.


Greg Parks has been a columnist for Pro Wrestling Torch since 2007. Follow him on Twitter @gregmparks for live Tweeting during Raw, Impact, and PPVs, as well as other bits of wisdom. Comments, questions and feedback are welcome, and can be sent to g_man9784@yahoo.com.

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