James Caldwell: This is PWTorch assistant editor James Caldwell joined by PWTorch columnist Greg Parks with our weekly chat looking at the week in TV wrestling. Greg, the most-talked about topic of the week has to be the Daniel Bryan and Michael Cole brawl. And there was a commercial-free Raw on Monday. What's been the biggest standout item this week to you?

Greg Parks: Daniel Bryan, no doubt. Not only that, but it was the most interesting (and possibly best) episode of NXT to date, thanks in part to that situation. I'm not sure where they're going with it, as it will be tough to come up with reasons to keep Bryan on TV when he was kicked off the show, but for one week, it worked.

Caldwell: I'm sure WWE has a plan for where this is going. I thought it was a hot angle (with inherent flaws on WWE trying to create this worked-shoot type deal that doesn't work in the long-term and undermines the entire show) that had the benefit of advancing Bryan's character. It didn't feel it really set up anything between Bryan and Cole because I would be shocked if we get a match between the two. Like you said, I don't know what's next here. I don't know if Bryan will continue to be on the show or if he's permanently kicked off or whatever the storyline is. At least they got the audience interested to see what's next.

Parks: Well, don't rule out a Cole vs. Bryan match just yet. This is WWE, and they like to mess with their announcers like that.

Caldwell: Oh no, not another Triple H vs. Jim Ross situation! I hope that's not where they're going. Perhaps Cole enlists Barrett's services and they set up a fight between Bryan and Barrett. Who knows. What about the latest elimination with Darren Young going home - any surprise, and is Barrett still the favorite to win the whole deal?

Parks: I had it down to Slater or Young getting eliminated, so not a total shock to me. I was surprised Justin Gabriel was actually one of the last two. I'd say Barrett is still the favorite. Unfortunately, the guy right behind him in the poll is David Otunga, another heel. Who do you root for between them?

Caldwell: They'll probably find a way to rig this (shocking!) to where it's a face and Barrett at the end. Slater seems to have lost momentum recently, while Gabriel picked up a win this week, yet, like you said, slid to the bottom. I imagine they find a way to have Barrett and Gabriel at the end. If it comes down to Barrett and Otunga, the audience has to root for Barrett. He's just a better heel then Otunga, I suppose. ... Let's talk about the commercial-free Raw leading to the PPV on Sunday. I'm really not captivated by this product right now and I think there are some flaws, but this week was more of a SuperRaw with Smackdown cameos and a big title switch. What jumps right out at you from Raw three days removed from the show?

Parks: I guess Bret Hart winning the U.S. Title. I'm not sure where that will lead, but probably to him forfeiting it and maybe becoming Raw GM? Also, the Christian vs. Edge match-up. The commercial-free format does allow for longer matches, and WWE took advantage of that nicely on this week's episode. The in-ring stuff was pretty strong for an episode of Raw.

Caldwell: Yeah, the in-ring was good. I just don't like the idea of giving away big match-ups like Taker vs. Edge (even if it didn't really happen), Edge vs. Christian (which WWE probably doesn't view as a big match-up they're saving for down the road), and Swagger vs. Orton (which was a World Title match on PPV just a few weeks ago) without proper build-up. I really think it waters down the value of big match-ups. See: Impact, TNA. Edge vs. Christian rose above that, though, with a great encounter to open the show. I really enjoyed that match and it was nice to see the match given proper time on Raw. I agree Hart probably relinquishes the title on Raw this week. I've gone back and forth on whether he should be named GM, but it makes sense and he could always appear "from WWE HQ" to make rulings without having to be on Raw every week. Who else do you think might be a candidate?

Parks: Tough to say. Vickie Guerrero I guess. Jim Ross is out there, but I see that as a long-shot. We should probably think of someone who has an issue with John Cena (if it's going to be a heel GM) or a top heel on the brand (if it's going to be a babyface GM).

Caldwell: I've been going back and forth on Hart as GM, because my sense is they'll find a way to get Vickie back in that slot. Or, perhaps they do something with Teddy Long after he was "over-ruled" on Smackdown with the Drew McIntyre deal and he's "on probation." Speaking of Smackdown, what did you think of how the IC Title angle played out last week and then setting up McIntyre vs. Kofi at the PPV?

Parks: I thought it was fine. It was a way to get a ton more heat on McIntyre, and for the first week, I think it worked. Mac hasn't exactly connected with the crowd as a top heel like WWE sees him, so this should help. McIntyre vs. Kofi at the PPV, depending on where it's positioned, should be an intriguing match-up.

Caldwell: I agree completely on finally getting some heat on McIntyre that will stick. I thought giving Kofi some time to celebrate and have a good moment really allowed for a nice heat transfer on to McIntyre for the fans to finally despise him more than just because he's a snooty, arrogant heel. I thought it put great emphasis on Mac, the IC Title belt (shock!), and was very effective for setting up the PPV match. I thought it was well done. What about Swagger and Show? Did they make you care any more about their feud and PPV match on Sunday?

Parks: Maybe a little. Building the heat around Jack Swagger getting his trophies destroyed is a little hokey, but when you think about it, Swagger has always talked up his credentials, especially the past few weeks. So it would make sense for this to get him really upset and want him to get revenge on Show. But we've still got the go-home Smackdown tomorrow, so we'll see how things shake out then.

Caldwell: Picturing their match on Sunday, I'm seeing a clunker where they try a slow dance and the audience sits quietly. I will gladly be surprised if they exceed expectations, though, and have a simulated fight where the audience is buying into nearfalls. What about Rey and Punk? Are you seeing anything new that tells you which way they're going? After all, Michael Cole says he has been trying to picture Punk bald for a long time. Ugh.

Parks: That's what I'm afraid of: a bald Punk. He has the mic skills to overcome it, but I fear a lot of his heat will be gone if he's forced to shave. Rey being a part of the SES for a short time would be far more entertaining, in my opinion. But with WWE being heavy on the PG, I don't know that they'd put Rey in that position.

Caldwell: I'm half-way serious when I say WWE might go with Punk getting his head shaved simply because TNA booked the "person is forced to join another person against his/her will" angle at Sacrifice when Chelsea was forced to join Abyss. I would still like to see Rey with Punk just for a short while before they book their way out of that, as it would be an interesting way to get more heat on Punk and more sympathy on Rey. I'm going with Punk winning, but I believe WWE will have Rey go over. ... What do you make of the angle taking the Women's Title off Beth and giving it to Layla? The babyface side of the Smackdown women's roster is thinner than a runway model, so where do they go from here?

Parks: I'm wondering how long it'll take for McCool to get jealous of Layla for being champion, turning Layla babyface. Kelly Kelly and Tiffany are basically the only faces on the show, I guess, and they could build around Kelly as the next challenger if they don't tease dissension between Simply Flawless.

Caldwell: I could very well see them pulling a quick turn breaking up Flawless and turning Layla babyface. That seems to make the most sense. What else has jumped out from Smackdown recently or have we covered the big stuff on the brand?

Parks: I think that's basically it.

Caldwell: Indeed it is. Greg, let's wrap with some predictions on the Over the Limit PPV on Sunday. Cena vs. Batista I Quit, Edge vs. Orton, Swagger vs. Show, and Unified tag titles are four big matches on the card. What do you predict for those matches?

Parks: I like Cena, Edge, Swagger and the Hart Dynasty. I can see most of those feuds continuing too, save for Cena vs. Batista.

Caldwell: Interesting on Edge going over. It makes sense, as it seems like Edge would get the first victory to set up Orton for revenge in the second match of their feud. I had Orton winning with WWE continuing to build up Orton as a second strong babyface next to Cena. What's your reasoning for picking Edge?

Parks: Just that I think the feud is just beginning to scratch the surface, and Edge going over would make it easier to continue the feud. But I can definitely see shenanigans there leading to a screwy finish one way or the other, too.

Caldwell: It might depend on where it's positioned on the PPV card. I definitely see some shenanigans, as it would be early to book either one to go over clean. Greg, anything else we need to cover before we wrap up tonight?

Parks: I think we hit the high points, James.

Caldwell: Sounds good, sir! You and I will be on the Livecast on Friday before you cover Smackdown leading to the PPV. Looking forward to it!

Parks: And I as well. Talk to you then!

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