WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his blog, which you can read in its entirety at JRsBarBQ.com. Here are some highlights of what he said about:

RAW’s Final Segment: “Watched Raw from our LA hotel Monday at 6 pacific. Loved the last segment but thought the show was talk heavy. That seems like a trend on both WWE and Impact….talking segments that would be more effective if shorter…IMO.”

Vickie Guerrero Leaing WWE: “Really proud of Vickie Guerrero for not only her run in WWE but most importantly for working on her college degree. Atta girl…great Mom.”

SummerSlam Poster Possibly Spoiling Money In The Bank Outcome: “This has to be frustrating for WWE….Summer Slam poster w/ Cena & Lesnar on it made public. Let the speculation begin re: MITB, etc.”

TNA in New York City: “Good luck to TNA in NYC..They likely have never had a bigger series of TV tapings. Hope NYC fans turn out and create a great atmosphere. LONG talking segments in abundance won’t be accepted in the Big Apple.”

ROH’s Nashville PPV: “Why did ROH select Nashville to present their first PPV? Antiquated and not tech friendly. Disappointed that the show looked much like their weekly show. Please Sinclair….buy a lighting grid. Talent worked hard nonetheless.”

• Shocking *SPOILER* — WWE Reveals SummerSlam MAIN EVENT, SPOILING MITB Outcome!!

Amazon.com just added the WWE SummerSlam 2014 DVD to their online store – and the cover art contains a MAJOR spoiler for Sunday’s ladder match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Money In The Bank.

As you can see below – the main event of SummerSlam will fact feature Brock Lesnar. If this DVD cover is any indication, it’s clear that John Cena will be Lesnar’s opponent – a very, very strong indication that Cena will be walking out of Money in the Bank with championship gold.

As noted recently, the new WWE logo, which has been used for the WWE Network, will become the official logo for the entire company starting the day after SummerSlam, August 18th.

It’s being said that the “3D bevel and gradient” version of the logo, which you can see below on the left, will be used for on-air programming and the WWE Network. The two logos on the side will be used for other branding, such as DVD and Blu-ray releases.

The following are highlights from the latest Jim Ross blog:

On ROH’s pay-per-view tonight: “Big weekend for ROH and I hope that they are ready for it. Sad that most of us did not see as much promotion on the ‘barker channels’ for ROH’s PPV this weekend as one would have preferred but the hay’s in the barn now. My hope is that ROH can pull this off without any significant production snafus and that the talents slow down, tell logical stories, SELL, have believable conclusions to the matches and give the announcers time to tell a meaningful story and not just try and keep up with the non stop action with wall to wall talking.

“Spot’ management is critical in these shows and the last thing that ROH mgmt should want is for the audience to be ‘numb’ by the main event at the end of the night. I wish everyone involved the best of luck and am hopeful for their success.”

On Brock Lesnar likely winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam: “Anyone that thinks that Brock Lesnar won’t be the WWE World Champion sooner or later this year in WWE isn’t paying attention. Lesnar is WWE’s mot imposing, name worthy, PPV selling superstar who can PASS THE TORCH the best to the next “Big Thing” who seems to be Roman Reigns. As I have stated on my fantasy booking segments on the Ross Report, I fully expect this to go down at WM31.

I’d book Lesnar to headline Summer Slam in Los Angeles and build the card around him. Yes, I’m prepared for the onset of knee jerkers who will say that Brock is part time and that part time talents are efficient. I don’t concur and think that overexposure is running rampant in the wrestling biz and Lesnar certainly isn’t over exposed. The WWE World Champion doesn’t need to be on every TV or at every live event. That concept is antiquated.

If some fans feel that this may be too predicable, then perhaps some are over thinking a pro wrestling storyline that makes sense. Making sense when executing a story line is much more important than doing the unpredictably stupid moves to just ‘surprise’ he audience. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good pro wrestling surprise as much as the next fan but NOT at the expense of doing the right thing.”

On Sting appearing on The Ross Report: “I will be talking to @Sting next week for a future Ross Report Podcast that will drop on Tuesday July 15 at 6 pm pacific time. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover and have been friends since he broke into the biz almost 30 years ago. Steve Borden is one of the nicest people in wrestling and his son is the starting tight end at the University of Kentucky.”

Check out the complete blog at JRsBarBQ.com. You can also order JR’s Bar-B-Q products online at WWEShop.com.

WWE recently sent out a letter to all former contracted talents offering them assistance. The name of the program is “WWE Professional Development.”

Below is a copy of the letter that was sent out to talent, elaborating on some of the details of the program:

“WWE is pleased to announce a Professional Development Program available to former WWE talent, and in some cases, their family members. The Professional Development Program aims to provide guidance and support beyond your tenure with WWE. The first two initiatives are:Financial Education and Continuing Education.

Money Management International (MMI) is the largest non-profit credit counseling agency in the country and has partnered with WWE to provide financial education to WWE talent. Please see enclosed packet for more information. The use of MMI is free for you and your immediate family members. We encourage you to reach out to MMI for assistance.

WWE is now offering financial scholarships to former WWE talent in the amount of $5,000 per calendar year to be used for obtaining a college degree or completing a certificate program. In order to receive this scholarship, a former WWE talent must apply for the three annual scholarships that are available. Please note–the deadline for the 2014 award is Friday, 8/1.

To keep former WWE talent up to date with WWE news, we will be distributing via email an “Alumni Newsletter” on a quarterly basis. The newsletter will include information on WWE news, archives, wellness, professional development and more.”

WWE recently issued the following WWE Network show and theme week concepts to members of their “Fan Council”:

-Divas Week

-Screwjob Week

-The Worst of WWE Week

-ECW Week

-Randy Savage

-C.M. Punk (a week of programming including the “meteoric rise, surprising success, and near instantaneous disappearance from the WWE”)

-SummerSlam Week

-Old School Week

-Best of The Slammy Awards

-Sting (“New interviews unveil the mystery behind the often made-up man…”)

-The Real McMahon: The Definitive Interview

-Stone Cold Week: The Definitive Interview

-Steve Austin (Austin hosts a week of programming)

-The Kliq (including a reunion panel with all five members)

-Monday Night War Week

-Stone Cold Week: The Austin Podcast (televised recording of Austin’s podcast)

WWE sent out a survey today asking fans, “If Lesnar challenges for the title at SummerSlam, who would you like him to face?

The options include all 7 competitors in the upcoming ladder match at Money in the Bank for the vacant WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

So far, Roman Reigns is running away with over 43% of the votes. Cesaro is in second place with 15%, followed by John Cena (13%), Bray Wyatt (13%), Randy Orton (12%), Sheamus (3%) and Alberto Del Rio (1%).

Based on this poll and what we’ve been hearing from sources in WWE, it appears almost certain that Brock Lesnar will be wrestling for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam.

The plans for the top of the card for this year’s SummerSlam have reportedly been finalized in recent weeks. While obviously things can — and usually do — change a hundred times between now and then, especially in the case of a big show like SummerSlam, the company has apparently decided on the key directions they want to go for this year’s big summer event.

Originally the plans called for a Daniel Bryan vs. Brock Lesnar match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship on the show, however with Bryan’s neck injury and uncertain in-ring future, that idea is said to be off the table.

As things stand now, Lesnar will still challenge for the title upon returning, with the idea that Lesnar — coming off ending Undertaker’s streak — going for the title will make the belt seem more important.

The most likely scenario for SummerSlam would be Lesnar challenging whomever wins the title at the 6/29 Money In The Bank pay-per-view. With that being the plan, it’s expected that a top baby face — likely John Cena or Roman Reigns — ends up winning the title at the pay-per-view in two weeks.

There is a long shot that Cesaro could win the title, seeing is how there’s been a long-standing plan for Lesnar and Cesaro — the two “Paul Heyman Guys” — to eventually collide with each other. While there haven’t been any indications that the company plans on turning Cesaro into a face anytime soon, it is considered a possibility considering the built-in story line.

It should be noted that Heyman, when referring to the Money In The Bank ladder match for the title on 6/29, said it was a “spoiler” that Cesaro would win, the same word he used when promising fans that Lesnar would break Undertaker’s streak at WrestleMania XXX.

• HUGE WWE Superstar From The Past To Return SOON! [Full Story Here >>]

(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

As things stand right now, WWE is running with the mindset that Daniel Bryan will not be ready in time for their Battleground pay-per-view, which takes place on July 20th in Tampa, Florida.

The current working plan is for Bryan to return at SummerSlam in one of the main events, although it’s unlikely that he’ll be working against Brock Lesnar in the title match on the show, which was originally the plan.

SummerSlam Plans Finalized: Brock Lesnar’s Return, Cesaro

In fact, WWE isn’t even sure Bryan will be available in time for SummerSlam. They do, however, expect him back in time for the Night Of Champions pay-per-view, which takes place on September 21st in Nashville, Tennessee.

It is believed that Bryan will work a stipulation match with Kane — possibly the originally planned “Buried Alive” match since the “Stretcher Match” was used on RAW this week — upon his return, as from a story line standpoint, he’s the guy who put Bryan on the shelf.

WWE is currently advertising Bryan for shows in mid-August. He’s not officially included in the advertising for SummerSlam, but is included in advertisements for the live event in San Jose, California on August 16th, which is the event that takes place the night before SummerSlam. He’s also booked to appear on one of the house show tours the weekend following SummerSlam on the West Coast, and television tapings after SummerSlam.

• HUGE WWE Superstar From The Past To Return SOON! [Full Story Here >>](Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

For the first time in several years, WWE will not be presenting a Summerslam AXXESS fan fest during Summerslam weekend in Los Angeles.

While SummerSlam AXXESS being dropped might seem like another budget cut by WWE, the decision not to hold the annual fan fest was made back in January, before WWE’s recent financial struggles began.

It’s also worth noting that WWE RAW the night after SummerSlam will take place from Las Vegas, not the Staples Center in Los Angeles, as in previous years.

(Source: PWInsider.com)

– The first chance for fans to get a hold of tickets for WrestleMania 31 will take place during a special pre-sale that will happen on August 16th, which is the night before this year’s WWE SummerSlam pay-per-view. Anyone who attends the non-televised live event in San Jose, California that evening will be eligible to get exclusive pre-sale tickets for WrestleMania 31.

– The following are some recent WWE live attendance figures:

June 6th in Detroit drew 6,500 fans
June 7th in Madison, WI drew 4,000 fans
June 7th in Las Cruces, NM drew 6,500 fans
June 8th in Rochester, MN drew 3,000 fans
June 9th in Minneapolis, MN for RAW drew 8,500 fans

Could UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey be the next member of The Shield? The wrestling world is still reeling from Seth Rollins’ shocking betrayal of The Shield last week on RAW. The heel turn took almost everybody by surprise, including Ronda Rousey, who is a huge WWE fan.

Video: Ronda Rousey Reacts To Seth Rollins Turning On The Shield

Earlier this week, a fan told Roman Reigns on Twitter that The Shield needs a female – THE female, Ronda Rousey. Reigns apparently thought it was a great idea:

"@MidgeBringsIt: The @TheShieldWWE needs a new member. A female. THE female. @RondaRousey , believe in the Shield! She seems like a good fit

— Roman Reigns (@WWERomanReigns) June 8, 2014

How did I not see this till right now!? #thisisawesome @wweromanreigns pic.twitter.com/ohdm9lR4Uw

— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) June 10, 2014

@RondaRousey well hell lets get a vest on u and start tearing the world apart! #BreakEveryRuleInTheBook

— Roman Reigns (@WWERomanReigns) June 10, 2014

Btw I fan-girled out on that @WWERomanReigns tweet so bad I screwed up like 5 times lol

— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) June 10, 2014

Rousey has been rumored to be interested in making some appearances for WWE, including a possible guest spot at SummerSlam in August.

Ronda Rousey & The Four Horsewomen To Appear At SummerSlam?

Two big matches are being considered for the upcoming WWE Money in the Bank pay-per-view. Aside from the tentative Daniel Bryan vs. Kane match and the Money in the Bank ladder match, WWE is also planning Seth Rollins to face his former partner Dean Ambrose and Randy Orton to compete against Roman Reigns.

The idea is that Reigns vs. Rollins would take place at Battleground in July, leading into the rumored Reigns vs. Triple H match at SummerSlam.

WWE Money In The Bank takes place on Sunday, June 29, 2014. As always, we’ll have live coverage the night of the show.

• BACKSTAGE NEWS: Is The Undertaker RETIRED?! Find Out HERE! [Read >>]

(Credit: F4WOnline.com)

Here are some highlights of what Dolph Ziggler said during a recent interview with Alex of the Journey Of a Frontman website:

How He Prepares For His Matches: “I’m not one of those guys that has to, one of those guys that walks around with their Beats headphones on and get in the zone and bounce around. I do the opposite of that. I sit around in a corner and I focus on a game plan or psychology going into the match so I can get all my focusing in, think of everything I can that I can possible use against my opponent out there. So I like to sit and plot quietly. I listen to music on the treadmill every morning, little bit of a mixture of pop music and mostly hair bands and rock.”

Doing Stand Up Comedy: “Mick Foley has some stand up things going on also, so he’s giving me an opening invite if I ever have a day off. I can speak on stage with him and get a couple minutes in. Whenever I have a free minute, which is very rare, I am looking for mic time one way or another. Just know that a lot of my set has to do with Chipotle in a positive way. A lot of Chipotle talk!”

Who He Hopes to Face at Summerslam: “I would like to face Bad News Barrett at Summerslam. That guy, he’s come back from an injury, he’s come a long way. He’s found a way to recreate himself on The JBL and Cole YouTube show and actually bringing that over to television. He brought it over to television and it’s great. I love hearing him talk. He’s good and he knows what he’s doing. We’ve only been in the ring maybe two times together and we tore it down. I would love to get out there with him and put on a match that nobody else could follow.”

Could Sami Zayn Be The Next Paul Heyman Guy?: “I actually got to have a match with him overseas and it went really well. I think he could be next to hit the roster and maybe he will be a Paul Heyman Guy. When you walk through the door and you become a Paul Heyman Guy, there’s dollar signs around you. It makes you a main player in the game.”

If He’d Want To Be RAW General Manager: “I would hate that! That’s like having an office job. I need to be out there, I need to be out there in the ring. I would go crazy if I was GM.”

His All-Time Favorite Match: “One of my favorites for sure was me versus Edge at the 2011 Royal Rumble. We were the opening match for the World Heavyweight title. Edge was someone I had rode with and he’s been a mentor to me. It was cool to be in the ring with him and me being the bad guy. The crowd understands I’m good at my job. And I was able to hang in the ring with him. In the last ten minutes of that match, everybody was on the edge of their seats. It was a real special time for me. It was a great match. Edge was awesome, I hung in there with him and definitely held my own. We tore it down that night.”

UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey posted a video on Instagram of her reaction to Seth Rollins turning on The Shield and joining Evolution on Monday’s RAW. Rousey, a huge WWE fan, leads a fight team dubbed the Four Horsewomen that are rumored to be appearing at SummerSlam.

Ronda Rousey & The Four Horsewomen To Appear At SummerSlam?

We can confirm that WWE has a long-term plan right now to work towards a Daniel Bryan vs. Brock Lesnar match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at this year’s SummerSlam pay-per-view. These plans could change depending on what happens with Bryan and the title heading into the upcoming Money In The Bank pay-per-view at the end of this month.

With Bryan-Lesnar planned for SummerSlam, this would mean that the inevitable showdown between “Paul Heyman Guys” Lesnar and Cesaro, when Cesaro makes his eventual baby face turn, wouldn’t be taking place until after SummerSlam.

• BACKSTAGE NEWS: The Story BEHIND Seth Rollins Heel Turn Against The Shield

(Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

This week’s edition of WWE Raw took place in Indianapolis, IN and was the post-Payback episode of the longest running weekly episodic television show in history. The card featured a total of nine matches, including a contest between John Cena and Kane, as well as a Money in the Bank qualifying match between Dolph Ziggler and Alberto Del Rio.

The show also featured two incidents that will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the storyline for weeks to come. A lot of questions were answered, but many still remain. Here are five questions that need to be answered following this week’s edition of Raw.

5. Is Cesaro Going to Challenge for the Intercontinental Championship?

On this week’s Raw, Cesaro abandoned his partner Bad News Barrett, leaving him helpless against the team of RVD and Sheamus. After the match, Cesaro stood on the stage staring at Bad News Barrett, perhaps alluding to an upcoming feud between the two for the IC strap.

This feud could help both parties, as it would provide Barrett with a worthy opponent to work with, while also allowing Cesaro to challenge for the company’s second most important title. With rumors of Cesaro being the top contender to win the Money in the Bank briefcase, there are a few directions they could take with the King of Swing, and fans would likely welcome any push.

4. Will WWE Listen to the Fans and Push Dolph Ziggler?

One of the biggest injustices of the past year has been Dolph Ziggler’s demotion to the midcard. After finally cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase, Ziggler won the World Heavyweight Championship from Alberto Del Rio on the Raw after WrestleMania last year.

His reign would ultimately be cut short following a concussion, and after a few harsh words directed at John Cena, Ziggler’s burial was a certainty. He hasn’t been able to claw his way out of the doghouse since, despite calls from fans to give him a push.

There were chants for Ziggler during the match between Big E and Rusev at Payback, and it seemed like he might finally get back on track during a Money in the Bank qualifying match against Alberto Del Rio on this week’s Raw. The hopes of Ziggler fans around the world were quickly dashed, however, as he was forced to tap out to the Cross Armbreaker and it looks like Dolph has become a permanent fixture at the bottom of the card.

3. Who Benefited More from Their Feud: John Cena or Bray Wyatt?

During their last man standing match at Payback, John Cena literally buried Bray Wyatt after slamming him through a crate that was conveniently placed at the foot of a table.

Now that it appears their feud is over, one has to wonder which superstar benefited more from the program. It is hard to argue that any victory could put Cena over more. Wyatt used the program to get himself over with the audience, but he ultimately looked weak in each of their contests.

Wyatt lost two of the three matches, and his one victory came with the help of Harper, Rowan, and a child. Ultimately, Cena did not gain anything from the feud, and Wyatt is just as over as he was before and looked weak throughout, so I would say that neither guy really benefited.

Last night, the WWE Universe saw the soldiers overthrow their all-powerful leader, as the Shield destroyed the King of Kings and the rest of Evolution in a six-man tag elimination match.

The match was likely the last encounter between the two groups. Batista is scheduled to take time off starting tonight and there is little focus on the rivalry in tonight’s preview for Raw, so it seems unlikely that the program will be continued.

Roman Reigns dominated Evolution last night, ultimately winning the contest by pinning Triple H.

With Evolution in their rearview mirror, one has to wonder where the Shield will go from here. They have already feuded with a good portion of the roster, and none of the members are really in line to challenge for a title, so it will be interesting to see what happens with the Hounds of Justice tonight.

One thing is certain though: all of the members are being booked strong. This was evident last night, as all three members of the group picked up an elimination against Evolution, with Roman Reigns ultimately securing the victory by pinning Triple H after hitting a spear.

It is obvious that Roman Reigns is being groomed as the first breakout star of the group. There were rumors that he and Triple H are being booked to square off at SummerSlam, but after last night’s emphatic victory by the Shield, that idea seems a bit less likely.

Assuming last night’s contest is the final time Evolution and the Shield meet, it was a fitting conclusion to a great rivalry. Their first contest at Extreme Rules is without a doubt the match of the year thus far. It appeared that last night’s matchup would surpass their first meeting.

After all, it had all of the ingredients of a classic match. It had the backstory between the two groups, it had the no-holds barred stipulation that would make the contest more exciting, and it also had a sense of finality due to the fact that most knew Batista was leaving after the event. It failed to live up to the hype of their first meeting, however.

WWE SummerSlam is less than three months away and we’ve received some information regarding the top matches that have discussed for the show. The planning of these matches dates back to before Daniel Bryan’s neck surgery, however, Bryan will back in action before August so these preliminary matches could still be in the works:

– Daniel Bryan vs. Bray Wyatt for the WWE World Heavyweight Title.

– Triple H vs. Roman Reigns. This one has been rumored since around WrestleMania XXX and there’s a very strong chance it will happen. Triple H has handpicked Reigns his next big singles opponent.

– Brock Lesnar vs. Cesaro. As previously reported, Lesnar is returning this summer and WWE wants him on board for SummerSlam and Night of Champions in September, right after the 6-month mark of the WWE Network.

There is at least preliminary discussions within WWE of involving The Four Horsewomen (Ronda Rousey’s MMA “faction”) at the SummerSlam pay-per-view on August 17th in Los Angeles, California.

The feeling is that since it’s in L.A., and considering Rousey’s popularity, it would be a decent publicity stunt for the show.

Rousey has claimed to have interest in doing something at WrestleMania, but the timing didn’t work out for this year. She hasn’t ruled out possibly working at a WrestleMania in the future, such as next year’s, which takes place in California.

• BACKSTAGE NEWS: WWE To Make HULK HOGAN The NEW RAW GM?! [Full Story >>](Credit: Wrestling Observer Newsletter)

Prior to Daniel Bryan’s neck operation last Thursday, WWE was under the impression that he may be able to return to the ring in time to work the Money In The Bank pay-per-view on June 29th. The latest word, however, suggests that WWE may not have an active Daniel Bryan by that point, with the company targeting a potential Battleground in-ring return for him, which would be on July 20th. The SummerSlam pay-per-view in August is viewed as a worst-case scenario for Bryan’s return.

As far as the Money In The Bank PPV is concerned, the WWE creative team has been working on a new card for the show as a contingency plan in case Bryan is not back in the ring by then.

Many past WWE Superstars and wrestling legends have commented recently that Bryan should tone down his in-ring style, as there is actually a lot of concern internally that this recent neck surgery could be the beginning of some serious, long-term problems for Bryan.

Finally, the moves in particular that many feel Bryan should remove from his arsenal include his flying headbutt, missile dropkick and topes.

Madison Square Garden has announced several huge matches the upcoming “SummerSlam Heatwave Tour” live event from  New York City on Saturday, July 12th.

Tickets start at only $25. For discounted seats, visit Ticketmaster.com and use the code “SLAM.” You can also contact Cameron Nichols at (212) 631-5238 and cameron.nichols@msg.com.

Matches announced for the show include:

Street Fight for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship:
– Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Triple H

– John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt

United States Championship:
– Sheamus (c) vs. Randy Orton

Other stars advertised to appear include Dolph Ziggler, Mark Henry, The Usos, Ryback, Fandango, Big E and Santino.

With the first round of WWE Network subscriptions coming due on September 2nd, WWE is looking to beef up their Night Of Champions pay-per-view on September 21st.

As expected, Brock Lesnar will be returning to work the SummerSlam pay-per-view in August, and will reportedly stay and work a two-show program through the Night Of Champions show.

WWE issued a Fan Council survey today asking fans about WrestleMania XXX and SummerSlam.

To the fans 400,000+ fans who ordered WrestleMania XXX via traditional pay-per-view, WWE asked why they decided to pay full price for that event instead of subscribing to the WWE Network. The options were:

• Have a limited budget and chose to spend my money elsewhere
• Don’t have fast enough broadband
• Don’t know how to set up WWE Network on my TV
• Have data limit and want to avoid overage charges
• It would be too complicated

Regarding WWE SummerSlam, WWE asked fans which talents they want to see on the show:

• John Cena
• Brock Lesnar
• Cesaro
• AJ Lee
• Roman Reigns
• Batista

The Yes! Movement received the worst possible news this week on Raw, as their unlikely hero announced that he will require neck surgery this Thursday and will be out of action for an indefinite amount of time.

Early reports indicate that Bryan has a broken neck and will be out for at least one to two months, with his possible returning coming at SummerSlam. This is terrible news for Bryan, who after a long journey finally captured the WWE Championship at WrestleMania.

It appears that he also will not be appearing on television in any capacity for at least a few weeks, as the attack later in the show by Kane was likely a way to write Bryan off of television while he recovers from surgery at home. This leads one to wonder about the future of the WWE Championship, and also if Bryan can maintain momentum while missing at least a month of time.

After finally overcoming the Authority at WrestleMania, Daniel Bryan will miss significant time due to injury.

As of now, it is being reported that Bryan will not be stripped of the title. This could of course change at any moment, especially if the product becomes stale during his absence. If Bryan ends up missing the maximum amount of time, that seems like a very long time to go with essentially no champion.

In my opinion, if it is determined that Bryan will miss any more than one month, the Authority should strip him of the title. This could serve a few purposes. First, it would keep momentum strong by having the Authority still trying to hold Bryan down, especially with Stephanie McMahon being the storyline reason Bryan was injured in the first place after unleashing the demon Kane.

Second, it could allow for someone else to receive a push in Bryan’s absence. Imagine if a tournament were held for the WWE Championship similar to the one just held for an Intercontinental Title match. It could allow for a fresh face to hold the championship for a while and create interesting television over the next few weeks by having qualifying matches on Raw, with the championship match being held at Money in the Bank.