BY MICHAEL GOODPASTER
(FOUR) CODY RHODES/BIG SHOW
I doubt many people would put this on their “Feud of the Year” lists, but I really dug this storyline. It worked out perfectly and was a fine mid-card feud that you don’t get all of the time. The Intercontinental Title used to mean something but fell wayside over the years. When Cody Rhodes brought out the white strapped old school IC belt we were all giddy old school fanboys. Since then there has been some magic brought back to the championship. This storyline and feud was a kick ass way to relaunch the belt. Cody was the little guy heel taking on the big monster Big Show. It was a cool role reversal. Rhodes went back and forth with Big Show in just screwing with each other. The “Tables Match” finish where Big Show “accidentally” went through the table and lost the match due to being so big was really cool and smart writing. I doubt many people picked up on the subtext, the dynamic they were going for, and just how well both the future someday World Champion and the often underrated Big Show did in this storyline.
(THREE) MIZ/KOFI KINGSTON
This was a one sided feud in terms of wins and losses, but it had to be the most entertaining and inspired feud over the Intercontinental Title in a long time. Miz was the champion for a while and got in a few good matches, but none of his IC title reign was all that impressive. The short back and forth with Sin Cara and Rey was okay at the time, but forgettable. Meanwhile, Kofi did what he could in the tag division and was really due another singles run. With a few solid promos and basically just some time with proper focus this feud got a chance to shine a little. It helps that Miz was on his A-game on the mic and Kofi finally got a shot to step up as well. Then the fact these two worked great together in the ring and got time in to tell a story was kick ass. Kofi won a million of the matches, but each of those matches was different and all good. I wanted to see this feud end with a Ladder Match and it could still happen. Regardless, I was just happy to see glimpses of the old school prestige of the IC Title in 2012.
(TWO) CM PUNK/DANIEL BRYAN
The matches between these guys were great. I was tempted to go with the Punk/Jericho feud but as shitty as it sounds the first thing that comes to mind is that horrible alcohol bottle to the head that broke before it hit. That was painfully bad and one of those things that just makes non-wrestling fans seem justified in calling us silly for watching. I’m not really blaming anyone. It happens. The feud was good, but that’s just the way it worked out. This said, the Daniel Bryan and Punk feud was just cooler. They had the indie backstory that longtime fans could get into and they’re two of the best newer main event guys they’ve added in the past decade. Great wrestlers who have chemistry will always put on great matches. It was like they never got into full gear though. Once the awesome AJ stuff went down the feud coasted on that aspect of it. It was good, but maybe this is a situation where my expectations were just too high. You know their paths will cross again and it’ll blow this stuff out of the water in due time.
(ONE) THE ROCK/JOHN CENA
I feel weird putting this as my number one, but I’m just being real. I’m not a fan of John Cena and despite being a longtime fan of The Rock I’m just not all that gaga over his comeback. The fact of the matter is that this feud got the most time to develop, grow, evolve, and tell a story. They crammed so many promos, specials, and backstory to this that it was hard not to get caught up in it. Their match at WrestleMania wasn’t the best match ever, but it delivered what it needed to. The Rock’s selling and facial reactions in that match were stellar. I’d love to be able to pick something more athletic and “cool”, but nothing was close to the level of “build” and magnitude. This was one of those “Wrestling History 101” feuds that are going to be part of the lineage of it all. It might not be the “indie cred” pick, but it’s the only logical one you can make.
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