![[a case of the blog]](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SY-CjpYjN_U/VF0vl6CNPjI/AAAAAAAAEOo/kQO_lGphFIs/s1600/newblogheader19.gif)
Edge's untimely injury has halted what was sure to be a wildly entertaining partnership between the Rated R Superstar and Chris Jericho. And with Night of Champions coming up, Jericho is forced to unveil a new partner.
However, they're in a bit of a sticky situation. Chris Jericho is one of SmackDown's top heels. Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes are henchmen to Randy Orton, Raw's top heel. That really limits the possibilities, as far as the heel/face dynamic goes. Last year Cody Rhodes turned on his partner Hardcore Holly to team with DiBiase, and it was a great heel turn. But if a face reveals himself as Jericho's partner, is it a really effective heel turn if he spends the entire match beating on the extremely unlikable Legacy?
Additionally, considering their placement on the card, and weeks of teasing, there are certain expectations that go along with this reveal. I mean, if Festus or Mike Knox comes down the aisle, a lot of people are going to be disappointed. Due to all these factors, there are really only three of four legitimate guesses as to who might be Jericho's partner. The other ones are mostly shots in the dark.
Click the "Read More" link for my predictions as to who Jericho's mystery partner may be:
10. Hardcore Holly - This is a long, LONG shot, especially since I believe there's heat between Holly and the 'E. But I suppose it's within the realm of possibility to have Hardcore Holly return after being released a year go, to take his vengeance out on Cody Rhodes. He'll come up short, and Jericho will beat the tar out of him after the match (couldn't happen to a nicer guy). That way they get the belts onto an actual tag team, Jericho doesn't have to be pinned, and he can retain his heel heat. But, again, a long shot.
9. Charlie Haas - With Shelton Benjamin now on ECW, it seems probable that WWE will give up on pushing Haas as a legitimate threat. So perhaps he'll revisit his impersonator character by dressing up as Edge? If that's the case, I see the same conclusion as the scenario above.
8. Hornswoggle - WWE loves doing those silly situations where a guy picks a completely humiliating partner so that he can fight the team of two on his own. Hornswoggle is your resident comic foil.
7. Lance Storm - People who frequent Storm's site know that he's training for an in-ring return for ROH. He's on good terms with WWE, so why not have him return for one night only so that Jericho can team with his first ever tag team partner? And, like the scenarios above, Jericho and partner lose the titles and Jericho takes it out on his partner.
6. Zack Ryder - The guy's getting a pretty major push on ECW, and his cocky character could have chemistry with Jericho. Plus, with the Unified Tag Titles being defended on all three brands, neither guy would have to switch shows.
5. Mark Henry - Could this be one of those scenarios where two people continuously fight, only to develop a mutual respect?
4. Kane - He's one of the biggest names on any of the rosters that isn't included on the card, plus he's the resident "muscle" everybody uses when they want to have another guy beat up.
3. Christian - How fitting would this be? Christian has been acting slightly more heelish recently, so what if he comes up short against Tommy Dreamer, only to return later in the night as Jericho's partner? It could work on multiple levels. First, he and Jericho have experienced great success as tag partners. Plus, he'd be taking the place of his long-time former partner, Edge. This would also be one of the rare scenarios where I'd see Jericho retain the gold.
2. John Morrison - While Morrison is getting a nice little push as a face, he's still a bit lost in the shuffle. Sure, he's pinned World Champion CM Punk a few times, but he's also been left off of the last few Pay-Per-Views. Another run with the tag titles, this time with Jericho, could bring him back into the spotlight.
1. Dolph Ziggler - This seems like the most logical guess. In fact, after Edge was injured, I wouldn't have been surprised if they pushed the plug on Ziggler's IC title contendership to seamlessly ease him into the role as Jericho's partner. After all, the two characters mesh together, and they've teamed a bunch of times. Like one scenario above, I wouldn't be surprised to see Ziggler come up short against Mysterio, only to team with Jericho later in the night and help him retain the championship.
However, they're in a bit of a sticky situation. Chris Jericho is one of SmackDown's top heels. Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes are henchmen to Randy Orton, Raw's top heel. That really limits the possibilities, as far as the heel/face dynamic goes. Last year Cody Rhodes turned on his partner Hardcore Holly to team with DiBiase, and it was a great heel turn. But if a face reveals himself as Jericho's partner, is it a really effective heel turn if he spends the entire match beating on the extremely unlikable Legacy?
Additionally, considering their placement on the card, and weeks of teasing, there are certain expectations that go along with this reveal. I mean, if Festus or Mike Knox comes down the aisle, a lot of people are going to be disappointed. Due to all these factors, there are really only three of four legitimate guesses as to who might be Jericho's partner. The other ones are mostly shots in the dark.
Click the "Read More" link for my predictions as to who Jericho's mystery partner may be:
10. Hardcore Holly - This is a long, LONG shot, especially since I believe there's heat between Holly and the 'E. But I suppose it's within the realm of possibility to have Hardcore Holly return after being released a year go, to take his vengeance out on Cody Rhodes. He'll come up short, and Jericho will beat the tar out of him after the match (couldn't happen to a nicer guy). That way they get the belts onto an actual tag team, Jericho doesn't have to be pinned, and he can retain his heel heat. But, again, a long shot.
9. Charlie Haas - With Shelton Benjamin now on ECW, it seems probable that WWE will give up on pushing Haas as a legitimate threat. So perhaps he'll revisit his impersonator character by dressing up as Edge? If that's the case, I see the same conclusion as the scenario above.
8. Hornswoggle - WWE loves doing those silly situations where a guy picks a completely humiliating partner so that he can fight the team of two on his own. Hornswoggle is your resident comic foil.
7. Lance Storm - People who frequent Storm's site know that he's training for an in-ring return for ROH. He's on good terms with WWE, so why not have him return for one night only so that Jericho can team with his first ever tag team partner? And, like the scenarios above, Jericho and partner lose the titles and Jericho takes it out on his partner.
6. Zack Ryder - The guy's getting a pretty major push on ECW, and his cocky character could have chemistry with Jericho. Plus, with the Unified Tag Titles being defended on all three brands, neither guy would have to switch shows.
5. Mark Henry - Could this be one of those scenarios where two people continuously fight, only to develop a mutual respect?
4. Kane - He's one of the biggest names on any of the rosters that isn't included on the card, plus he's the resident "muscle" everybody uses when they want to have another guy beat up.
3. Christian - How fitting would this be? Christian has been acting slightly more heelish recently, so what if he comes up short against Tommy Dreamer, only to return later in the night as Jericho's partner? It could work on multiple levels. First, he and Jericho have experienced great success as tag partners. Plus, he'd be taking the place of his long-time former partner, Edge. This would also be one of the rare scenarios where I'd see Jericho retain the gold.
2. John Morrison - While Morrison is getting a nice little push as a face, he's still a bit lost in the shuffle. Sure, he's pinned World Champion CM Punk a few times, but he's also been left off of the last few Pay-Per-Views. Another run with the tag titles, this time with Jericho, could bring him back into the spotlight.
1. Dolph Ziggler - This seems like the most logical guess. In fact, after Edge was injured, I wouldn't have been surprised if they pushed the plug on Ziggler's IC title contendership to seamlessly ease him into the role as Jericho's partner. After all, the two characters mesh together, and they've teamed a bunch of times. Like one scenario above, I wouldn't be surprised to see Ziggler come up short against Mysterio, only to team with Jericho later in the night and help him retain the championship.
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