How Long Must We Wait?

WARNING: SMACKDOWN SPOILERS INCLUDED


Another week of WWE television and still no Christian.

Christian was reportedly ready to return on Sunday at the Royal Rumble, but WWE kept him out of the Rumble match. Christian not being a surprise entrant created frustration, but the reports of him being available excited his fan base.

On Tuesday night's SmackDown tapings, Christian was once again absent. The SmackDown Elimination Chamber match was initially booked as a Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Big Show vs. Mark Henry vs. Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett vs. Cody Rhodes. After a story-line angle during the show, Henry was taken out of the match and suspended indefinitely as a way to write him off of television while he deals with nagging injuries. That opened the door for hope that Christian's return would be announced later in the show as he takes the final spot in the Chamber match. Unfortunately, those hopes were dash by the Great Khali (seriously, the Great Khali - no joke).

We're back to square one. Allegedly, Christian is healthy. For whatever reason, WWE is reluctant to re-enter him onto television. My suspicion is that creative may not know what to do with him just yet. It's now too late for him to enter SmackDown's 6-man main event scene and his former rival, Sheamus, is beginning his push to Wrestlemania as the Royal Rumble winner. Christian could theoretically be brought back so that Sheamus has something to until after the Elimination Chamber, but remember, that's only eighteen days away as I write this. That would be only two more SmackDown tapings (four shows overall if you want to count RAW Supershow). It's quite possible that Christian could be held out until after the Elimination Chamber.

That is simply disappointing. I understand those who want to preach patience on this matter, but please understand this. There were two major opportunities for Christian to be re-written onto WWE television this week and WWE passed on both. Entering as one of the many "surprise entrants" for the Rumble would've been a believable return for him. Even with that off the board, there was still a prime opportunity to bring him back on SmackDown. What better time than while his rival Sheamus was coming off a Rumble win and needed something to do? Instead, Sheamus wins a pointless match with Cody Rhodes and doesn't get much mic time once again. It would've even worked to put him in the Chamber match right away - especially after Mark Henry was kicked out. How in the world can the Great Khali be a better option than Christian? Khali hasn't had a real match in several months and to make matters worse, he's as over with the audience as I am. I'm not just frustrated that Christian isn't back after two and a half months. I'm frustrated that WWE intentionally passed on two excellent opportunities.

At this point, I'm no longer concerned about Christian's hopes of re-entering SmackDown's main event. The focus now is whether or not he'll be included in Wrestlemania in anyway. Christian hasn't been in any 'Mania match since the 2010 Money in the Bank Ladder Match. He hasn't been in a singles match at 'Mania since his match with Chris Jericho at Wrestlemania XX. There are rumors of the MITB match returning to Wrestlemania. If that pans out, he's certainly a candidate for that. If not... 'Mania may be Christian-less once again.