In regards to the events of Summerslam, the WWE Universe got “Punk’d” on two different levels.
One – the obvious – CM Punk beat Jeff Hardy after perhaps Hardy’s most incredible jump off a ladder to date.
Two – the already infamous “fan” interference during the Cena / Orton championship match.
If you didn’t catch it, the match was moving at a decent pace, with Cena and Orton trading blows for the first 15 mins or so. At one point, Cena appears to be getting the upper hand. In a classic heel move, Orton pushes the referee, drawing a DQ, and retaining the title.
At that point, Lillian called the match, and declared a NEW champion… but yet declared Orton’s name. About a second later, she declared that Vince was calling for the match to restart, including the stipulation that a DQ would result in a change of title.
Had Lillian just given away the eventual finish? At the time, we surely thought so. She looked rather flustered after the “slip” of words. But in retrospect, I believe that Lillian may have done that on purpose, and it was all part of a work…
Later in the match, Orton grabs the belt and draws a count out victory for Cena. Again, Lillian declares that Vince wants the match to go on, and that a count out would be cause for a title change as well.
Fast forward just a bit, and Orton pins Cena with his feet on the ropes for leverage (the top rope, at that… haha).
ANOTHER restart has to take place, as a second referee comes down to notify the original ref of the interference! Can you believe the circus this match has become? Seriously!
Eventually Cena gets Orton in the STFU (or whatever they’re calling it these days), and as Orton is perhaps getting ready to tap, a “fan” slides into the ring and puts the referee in a rear naked choke hold. The ref looked like he was really hurting, and Cena and Orton both looked shocked / appalled / dismayed. Had this “fan” just ruined the true finish?
Well, what else to do but find a way to end the match. Perhaps at this point, Vince called down to the ref’s headset and said “screw it – let’s just keep the belt on Orton and make another match down the road.” So Orton immediately hits two RKO’s and gets the pinfall victory.
I was satisfied with that explanation, until later in the night when I started to get the internet’s take on what happened.
It could be that the WWE creative team had managed to pull off the greatest “punk’d” moment on us – the intelligent wrestling fan base. Perhaps – mind you, I’m just speculating – but perhaps, Lillian “screwed up” on purpose. They wanted us to believe Cena would win. And then later, when the “fan” ran into the ring, they wanted us to think that the wrestlers and referee were at a loss for words and had to improvise something really quickly. I must say… they did a hell of a job, if that’s what they were trying to do. They didn’t even replay the “fan” incident and tried to avoid making mention of it on the broadcast!
Online rumors seem to all point at Ted Dibiase’s brother – yes, another Dibiase – who had been training at FCW – to be the “fan” who was choking out the referee. That being the case, this all makes sense. The up and coming Ted Dibiase turns face (as has been hinted at for months, now), and his brother steps in to continue with Twink Rhodes as Legacy, once the DX storyline blows over.
I’m embarassed. I really thought I knew what was going on. Haha. Times like these are the most fun as a fan. Keep it up, guys.
