In recent years, WWE has struggled to maintain intriguing, if not compelling storylines on a regular basis. Depth issues have certainly hampered the main event ranks in 2012 and most of the biggest feuds have involved part time performers such as Undertaker, Triple H, and Brock Lesnar.
CM Punk's program with Daniel Bryan will be heading into its third PPV if it is continued through Money in the Bank and arguably will have grown a bit stale before SummerSlam.
John Cena has been removed from both title pictures for nearly a year, which has helped some of his detractors warm up to him. One would have to think that the face of the company will be competing for a world title once again in the near future. While these advertisements are quite often inaccurate, WWE is promoting Cena resurrecting his quest for gold as early as MITB.
Also, recent reports suggest that the rumors of Orton's dismissal from the company are inaccurate and that he will be returning to the top of the card as soon as he is allowed to perform (after MITB).
So we here at SWR brainstormed on a possible angle that WWE could go with to help carry them through SummerSlam and the fall. Triple H versus Brock Lesnar is unofficially set for the August PPV and will be the anchor of hat show. So the build to this angle can wait until Orton's return.
Punk has held the title since November and is enjoying one of the longest reigns in company history. Punk gives both casual fans and wrestling purists a champion that they can get behind, but he can't hold the belt forever.
Orton has reportedly expressed a strong desire to return to a heel role. WWE has been reluctant to do flip his character because it would leave Smackdown without a top hero. The company reportedly feels that Sheamus is still not quite ready to carry a brand.
A perfect solution would be to have Orton make a surprise return when his suspension ends. Though the immediate reaction to his appearance would be a positive pop from the crowd, he could immediately attack a still reigning Punk after a grueling match. It could be announced that Orton had threatened to leave the company and in order to "re-sign" him, he had been offered a WWE Title match for that night.
The "selfish move" would obviously generate storyline heat and a cheap win off of a valiant and recently victorious Punk would instantly flip Orton back to heel status.
After losing his rematch, Punk could be traded or drafted to Smackdown where he could carry the show as the top face. Smackdown, being the more wrestling-heavy show, makes more sense as Punk's home than Raw anyway.Orton could then feud with Cena throughout the fall and give WWE an intriguing main event level feud to work with.
